Dogs

The holidays aren’t just for people—your pup deserves a seat at the snack table too. Enter the barkuterie board: a festive (and totally drool-worthy) platter loaded with dog-friendly treats—perfect for parties, photo ops, or just showing your dog a little extra love this season. Ahead, we’ll walk you through creating your own holiday dog charcuterie board that’s as safe as it is celebratory. Whether you’re hosting a howl-iday gathering or just feel like spoiling your furry BFF, this is one treat spread that’ll get tails wagging. As with any human food, pet parents looking to incorporate new foods in their dog’s diet should consult with their veterinarian beforehand.

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Type “dog dreaming” into YouTube and you’ll get an adorable array of closed-eyed, twitching pooches. There’s a Dachshund furiously digging into a sofa and a Labrador Retriever seemingly chasing an imaginary tennis ball from a field in his subconscious into a very real wall. When watching a dog move and murmur while asleep, it’s easy to assume the pet is fetching an illusory stick or herding sheep on some great pasture of the canine collective unconscious, but is this anthropomorphizing? Do dogs dream and, if so, what do dogs dream about?

This Valentine’s Day give the one who stole your heart a gift to show them just how much you care—and, yes, we’re talking about your adoring dog. We’ve rounded up tried-and-true doggy faves plus new finds we’re so crushin’ on to show your pooch that you’ll be their valentine fur-ever. Don’t have a pup of your own? These gift ideas would be great for all the dog parents in your life. You’ll make their day by showing them you love their fur baby, too. From tasty treats and adorable valentine dog toys to heart-melting accessories and customizable attire, we’ve got you covered with the best Valentine’s gifts for dogs and dog lovers this Valentine’s Day.

Cucumbers are a yummy, crunchy, and hydrating treat (they’re 95% water!) that make a satisfying summertime snack. But can dogs eat cucumbers? Yes, they can—and in fact, they’re a great low-calorie, low-sugar treat option with several health benefits.  We spoke with Michael Robinson, DVM, owner of PACK Animal Care in Lorton, Virginia, for tips and advice on how to safely include cucumber in your pup’s diet.  Before introducing any new food into your dog’s diet, always check with your veterinarian. 

You may have noticed sudden, brief twitching at some point while your dog was sleeping and wondered if they were dreaming or even expressing some type of discomfort. These involuntary movements—where a dog is twitching in their sleep—only occur during dream states and usually don’t last long. Twitching can happen anywhere in your dog’s body but commonly occurs in the legs, tail, or head. It may be accompanied by small vocalizations. So is twitching just a normal part of dreaming, or are there times when you should worry? Why Do Dogs Twitch in Their Sleep?     Dogs sleep an average of 12-14 hours each day. While they sleep, a dog’s brain processes information and experiences from the day through dreams. Twitching is often related to active dream cycles in the brain. According to research by psychologist Stanley Coren, an average-size dog will dream about every 20 minutes, and these dreams will last about a minute. Larger breeds have fewer dreams that last longer—about every 45 minutes for 4 minutes. The opposite is true for smaller breed dogs; they will dream about every 10 minutes for up to 30 seconds. Dogs experience the same dream stages as humans, including non-rapid eye movement (NREM), short-wave sleep (SWS), and rapid eye movement (REM). During the REM state, a dog’s eyes move around behind their closed eyelids, and the large body muscles are turned off so the dream is not physically acted out. The part of the brain that contains these off switches is called the pons, which is part of the brain stem. In younger dogs, the pons may still be developing, while in older dogs it may be weakening from age. This is why twitching while sleeping occurs most commonly in younger and older dogs and less often in adult dogs. The amount of twitching depends on how much these off switches inhibit muscle movement. Puppies spend more time in dream sleep than adult dogs because they need to process more information. Dogs that sleep in a curled position will keep their muscles tensed and are less relaxed, which may cause them to twitch less than a dog that sleeps in a stretched-out position. Any outside stimulation from loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, or strange voices may partially awaken a sleeping dog and result in twitching as well.

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to seemingly harmless substances in the environment. People can be allergic to a wide range of things, but some of the more common allergens come from dogs and cats, including their dander. But is saliva on that list? If your skin ever started itching or you developed a rash after getting licked by a dog, you might wonder if you could be allergic to dog saliva. Can People Be Allergic to Dog Saliva? The simple answer is yes, you can be allergic to a dog’s saliva. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 30% of the population is allergic to dogs and cats. Many people believe that if you are allergic to pets, it’s the fur that’s the problem. But contrary to popular belief, dog hair is not the culprit. Instead, your body’s allergic responses are directed toward proteins found in a dog’s dander (skin flakes), urine, blood, and saliva. Dog saliva has multiple protein profiles that may trigger your immune system. In fact, a dog’s saliva has more protein types than their skin, so it can potentially cause more allergies than dander. If you’re allergic to the proteins in a dog’s saliva and the dog licks you, your immune system will activate and attack the proteins in the saliva just as if they were a virus or bacteria on the skin. This can result in a rash or hives, and your skin can become itchy, red, and/or swollen. In addition, if your pet licks their fur or your furniture, carpet, clothes, and other items, it leaves salivary proteins that can dry and be dispersed through the air. If you’re allergic to dog saliva and inhale airborne proteins, it can cause watery eyes, sneezing, and/or coughing. In severe cases, this can lead to an asthmatic attack. That means you do not have to be directly exposed to dog saliva to have an allergic reaction. Interestingly, 90% of households in the United States have detectable levels of dog/cat allergens, which means salivary proteins are carried around by people and on inanimate objects. As a result, people who do not have pets can still be at risk for a reaction through inadvertent exposure.

For German Shepherd lovers, it is abundantly clear that a house is not fully a home without their loyal companion. The “It’s Not a Home Without a German Shepherd” sign by Imagine This Company is the perfect gift for German Shepherd parents, because they can assuredly let every visitor know just how much they appreciate their smiley, four-legged family member. This charming sign expresses German Shepherd affection with an adorable breed picture and red paw print details. Manufactured and designed in Richmond, Virginia, the 10-inch by 5-inch wooden sign comes with an attached rope for indoor wall hanging. Find the “It’s Not a Home Without a German Shepherd” sign here.,German Shepherd gifts are a sweet reminder of the brave, self-assured, loyal and attentive breed. The quintessential police and military dog, German Shepherd Dogs takes pride in their work and life—whether on or off-duty—and their parents often take even more pride in them. When combing the internet, there are multitudes of gifts for dog lovers. But when searching for dog gifts specifically for adoring German Shepherd enthusiasts, it’s hard to beat the kind that exude immense appreciation for this kind-hearted and faithful breed. Here is a glimpse at several ultimate German Shepherd gifts that any German Shepherd pet parent would want.

By Diana Bocco Does your dog “hold it” when the weather doesn’t cooperate? Many dogs change their bathroom habits when it’s snowing or raining particularly hard, or when it’s a little too cold for their taste.  While this might not seem like a terrible thing at first, having a dog who refuses to step out of the house can lead to accidents inside—not to mention a very unhappy pup. “My own two dogs have snow issues,” says Dr. Lori Pasternak, owner of Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgery and Dental Care in Richmond, Virginia. “My Standard Poodle loves it but comes back inside with ice crystals and snow packed into his fur; my Chihuahua hates it and won’t go near it.” If that sounds familiar, here are some tips to help your pup brave the bad weather. Figure Out the Underlying Issue Dogs refuse to go to the bathroom in bad weather for many reasons, including personality, size, age, and type of hair coat. Understanding which factor is affecting your dog will help you find a solution more easily. “For example, the terrain may not only look different, but smell and feel different,” Pasternak says. “It may be slippery, scratchy, coarse, and especially freezing cold on the pads of their feet.” Pasternak also points out that dogs who are trained to go only on grass may get confused when there is no grass to be seen. Some dogs, especially those with tiny paws or thin coats, can be very sensitive to cold weather, says certified professional dog trainer Brandi Barker, owner of Barker Behavior in Chicago, Illnois, and Columbus, Ohio. “When the temperature drops, it becomes stressful for them to be outside, causing them to do what trainers refer to as ‘shutdown,’ meaning they can’t move, they can’t do anything, even urinate or defecate,” Barker says.

Hipster Boy Dog Names   Bushwick It might be a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, or it might be the best hipster boy dog name for a working-class pup. Darth Maul Not that you’d want a dog bad enough to evoke the double-bladed-lightsaber-wielding Sith Lord from “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”— would you? Kaden/Kayden Hipsters love a quirky, unexpected spelling, so take this name and make it your own. Kaiden and Caden are also known related names. Gentrification If there’s one thing you can count on hipsters to complain about in craft beer bars from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, it’s this. And just think: You can blame everything your dog destroys on gentrification. Haberdasher A dealer of men’s clothing, or a dog of man’s doting? Howl This name has a nice double meaning, given how much hipsters love “Howl” poet Allen Ginsberg and how much dogs love howling at, like, literally anything. James Tiberius Kirk For the hipster with an extensive “Star Trek” collection. Plaid This pattern is obligatory, especially in hipster circles where grunge is an everlasting style inspiration. Just don’t get confused and try to wear your dog as a scarf. Pomade There is, in fact, a brand of Hipster Pomade to help you get that faded-and-combed-over look. And besides, who wants to name their dog Hair Gel? Sasquatch Is that the mythical creature that haunts the woods of North America? Or is it just your dog, stuck in the bushes? Straight Razor Meaner than a junkyard dog. Wes Anderson The filmmaker’s trademark quirk – plus his unconventional visual style and preoccupation with appearances – has made him a hipster culture icon. Plus, he made that movie, “Isle of Dogs.”,You probably have a notion of what it means to be a hipster: They work at comic book publishing companies and rent studio apartments over juice shops. They have a collection of old-school sneakers or vinyl records. Their knee-jerk response to all new music is that “their old albums were better.” Hipsters are also highly creative about, well, everything—including naming their pets. We’ve got a lengthy list of suggestions for hipster dog names inspired by the stereotypical things they love. For more inspo, check out our list of 400 Dog Names.