🤔Stop Saying These Things About Your Dog.

🐶 Welcome Back, here’s your healthy serving of better dog smarts, digging into the dog parent phrases we all say without realizing the trouble they can cause, PLUS the dog petting lesson every one of us needs, even the the most seasoned among us. We’re also unpacking the newest dog-science showing just how closely your dog’s emotions line up with yours. & there’s plenty more to help you understand your dog a little bit better…

P.S. …If you haven’t grabbed your FREE copy of our new book to read to your dog, ARE YOU THE GOODEST DOG? please see further below for how to get it for a limited time only.🔽

Enjoy! P.K. ❣️

🧐FACT or FLUFF??

‘Dogs recognize their own reflection’

Dig down the page to find out…

THIS WEEK’S WOOF WISDOM

• 🫸🏽Stop Saying These Things About Your Dog.

• 🐕Why Everyone Needs a Dog Petting Lesson...Even You.

• 🥰What We Now Know About Dogs Feeling Like Us

• Your Serotonin Boost: A Puppy Playing with a Doorstop.

• 🧐More to Chew On…

😏OK..NOW WHAT? (your Q & A)
Stop Saying These Things About Your Dog.

It’s a New Year, a time for resolutions & here is a good one. Some things we say about our dogs slip out without much thought, but they can quietly shape how we treat them & how our dogs feel around us, & cause us to miss what they are really trying to tell us.

Dogs don’t understand blame or attitude; they understand tone, safety, & patterns. When we use human labels like guilt, stubbornness, or disrespect, we react with frustration instead of helping them. As you will have learned in earlier Best DOG’S Life digests “guilty look” isn’t guilt at all. A few small changes in how we talk about them can make life easier for them and us.

These are phrases worth dropping or rethinking, & why they get in the way:

• “He knows he did wrong”: That look is worry, not guilt.

• “She’s being stubborn”: It’s better to think the are still learning or trying to tell you something. Most of the time they’re confused or unsure.

• “He’s doing it to annoy me”: Dogs don’t plan revenge, they may be seeking attention, are bored or nervous. They repeat what works.

• “She’s dominant”: This label often leads to rough handling & misses the real emotion.

• “He’s just being dramatic”: Maybe, but big reactions usually mean stress or discomfort.

• “She’s fine”: Saying this when she’s scared teaches her you won’t step in.

• “He’s a rescue, so…”: Their past matters, but it shouldn’t hold them back, & with care, time & decompression there’s a healthy fix.

• “She’s jealous”: Dogs do get jealous but what looks like jealousy is often insecurity.

• “He’s untrainable”: Every dog can learn with clear steps & patience. The problem can be as simple as training sessions that are too long rather than short & often.

• “I need to be the pack leader”: Old outdated thinking. Dogs need guidance, not dominance.

• “She’s disobedient”: Behavioral science suggests that dogs are rarely deliberately disobedient. They’re not defiant, they may be overwhelmed or distracted.

• “He has a mind of his own”: Yes, of course, but he might be choosing what feels easier or safer. If he has a strong character then that’s a good thing.

• “She doesn’t respect me”: Dogs don’t think in terms of respect, they think in terms of safety. Good behavior comes from good relationships.

• “He’s being difficult”: This is often a mismatch between what you want your dog to do & what your dog is doing. Struggling behavior is a sign a dog needs help.

Changing the way we talk about our dogs changes how we show up for them.

🐾LEARN MORE & DISCOVER SOME ALTERNATIVES HERE

💎POWER PRODUCTS FOR PUPS & PAWRENTS.
Our brand new story book for reading to dogs is here!

AND YOU CAN GET IT FREE FOR 48 HOURS!🙂

ARE YOU THE GOODEST DOG?

No catch, no strings, just caring cuddle time for your pup & you!

👉GET YOUR FREE COPY HERE (AMAZON LINK)👈

Plus it’s wonderful as a soothing bedtime story…

See your pooch relaxed and happier as you share more special time together.

What makes this book different? It's created with special word treatments & a reading rhythm that helps dogs feel enriched & connected. Your voice, their ears, shared quiet moments.

It’s well tested, as is the Best DOG’S Life way, and dog parents are already seeing it:

"My dog sighed and leaned into me during the pauses." Jenny P

"She recognizes the book and comes over now." Mike R

👉 GET YOUR FREE COPY NOW 👈

Once you’ve read the book it would help a lot if you leave an honest review on Amazon, then other dog parents & read to dog programs can learn so they can share with their pup’s too.

…& when you do, please include a picture of your dog, they deserve to star.

Just scroll down to the “Write a customer review” button on the Amazon page or leave a review via your Amazon account page. Thank you.

Happy tails & enjoy! P.K. & the Best DOG'S Life Team

🧠🌿WOOF WELLBEING
Why Everyone Needs a Dog Petting Lesson...Even You.

Even the most seasoned dog parent needs a “petting lesson,” because old habits can stick around longer than a Labrador at a barbecue😀

Many of us were taught to pat dogs on the head, lean over them, or hug them tight, none of which feel good to most dogs. & while we all think we’re pretty decent at giving affection, the latest science says otherwise.

So yes, even the pros need a refresher.

& here it is. Your quick petting update (If you know it all, then good on you):

• Ask permission: Check with the owner first so you don’t surprise a nervous dog.

• Let the dog start it: Give them space to approach & sniff before you touch. Sticking a hand in their face without being invited is old school & can be intimidating.

• Read their signals: If they lean away or stiffen, pause & give them room.

• Choose the good spots: Chest, shoulders, & base of the neck feel safe & soothing for most dogs.

• Skip the head‑grab: Reaching over the head can feel threatening to many dogs, as can grabbing the face.

• Comfort & Relaxation: Proper touch, such as gentle strokes on the chest or behind the ears (if liked), feels good due to nerve endings & can help soothe an anxious dog.

• Preventing Unwanted Behavior: Petting a dog at the right time (e.g., when they are calm or follow a command) reinforces good manners. In contrast, petting them when they are pushy or overexcited can accidentally encourage unwanted behaviors like jumping up.

A little awareness turns everyday affection into something deeper.

🥰What We Now Know About Dogs Feeling Like Us

If you’ve ever looked at your dog & thought, “You’re basically a small hairy person who can’t pay rent,” you’ll be glad to know science is finally catching up. 

New research shows dogs are wired in ways that line up with ours far more than anyone expected.

Here’s what the latest studies uncovered, & why it matters:

• Shared genes: Twelve emotional genes match ours, including ones tied to worry & noise sensitivity.

• Stress transfer: Dogs smell human stress & often end up carrying the same long‑term patterns.

• Sleep disruption: A tough day can leave them restless at night, just like us.

• Face reading: They can spot a friendly face from an angry one, even in photos.

• Word & tone sorting: Their brains separate meaning from tone in the same way ours do.

• Toddler‑level emotions: They feel joy, fear, anger, & deep attachment, just like a young child.

Our pups are emotionally tuned‑in creatures more than previously thought, that are living in a human world that often misreads them.

🐾MORE HERE

🤔PAWSE TO REMEMBER

Regularly Check ‘Food Fit’. Checking your dog's "food fit" (i.e., the suitability of their diet) is vital because a dog's nutritional needs & health status change over time due to age, weight, activity level, & underlying medical conditions. Take the time to maintain the balance of healthy ingredients & supplements if necessary & remember to check food labels.

👃🏻QUICK SNIFFS
More to Chew On.

• 😰Ultra Chill??…Can CBD supplements make dogs less aggressive over time?

• ⚠️Dog Safety Warning! This toxic algae story can occur in many places.

• ❤️The Power of Dog Love. Cami saves her DogMum’s life…with cuddles.

😮OH MY DOG
Your Serotonin Boost: A Puppy Playing with a Doorstop.

Should I say adorable? Should I say cute? Should I say awwww?

Enough said. Watch & feel good💗 

@goldenboystitch

wat the hekk is this??? #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppy #dog

🧐FACT or FLUFF??...Answer.  FLUFF

No, dogs in general do not recognize their own reflection as being them the way we do. It’s because they rely more on smell & sound than sight for identification. In mirror recognition testing they usually perceive the image as another dog & can show confusion, aggression or playfulness. That does not mean that they aren’t self aware. Individual dogs differ. Like my dog, who watches me through the mirror in a different room.😏

We are here to please🐶…

Thanks for being part of the pack 😀

Keep yourself & your pups, happy & safe & see you next time!

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