🐶 Welcome Back. Here’s your delightful dose of “hmmm… what dya know” dog‑understanding, digging in to the quiet superpower dogs use to read the world through you (& why they’re absolute masters at it). PLUS the slurpy science behind why some dogs suddenly start licking… the air… as if tasting an invisible snack. AND a gentle dive into what it means when a dog processes the world differently; the signs, the nuance, & how to support a pup wired in their own wonderful way…& more…

Enjoy!

‘Dog noses cannot detect blood sugar’

There is a moment every dog parent recognizes, even if they have never named it.

Your dog spots something new…a stranger, a wobbling bin, a dog in a raincoat, & before they react, they flick their eyes to you.

They are checking your read on the situation.

That behavior is called social referencing. Your dog uses your emotional cues to decide how they should feel about something unfamiliar. Children do the same thing.

Then they match their response to the picture you are painting.

Your dog is both reacting to the world & reacting to your version of it.

🐾MORE HERE

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Pretty much every dog parent has seen it, your dog suddenly starts licking… nothing…the air. Is it a “tasting that awesome oxygen” vibe or maybe the yummy spirit of last night’s roast chicken.

Air‑licking is one of those behaviors that sits in two neat buckets:
the charmingly odd & the quietly meaningful.

Sometimes dogs lick the air because:

These moments are peak dog, harmless, quirky, & very on‑brand.

Air‑licking can also be a displacement behaviour, a dog’s version of “I don’t know what to do with this feeling.”
Most often, it’s linked to tummy discomfort: nausea, reflux, or that annoying “something stuck in my throat” sensation.

Other possibilities

If the licking comes with gulping, grass‑eating, vomiting, or a sudden increase in frequency, that’s your cue to speak to your vet.

Occasional air‑licking? Enjoy the performance.
Frequent, intense, or new? Your dog might be sending up a flare & you’re exactly the one they trust to notice.

🐾MORE HERE

Dog parents are hearing more about “neurodivergent dogs” (dogs who process the world differently, much like neurodivergent humans do), & animal scientists like Dr Jacqueline Boyd, from Nottingham Trent University have pushed the idea into the spotlight again. It raises a big question: can dogs be autistic?

The simple answer is no, not in the human diagnostic sense.
But dogs can show behavior patterns that resemble human neurodivergence, & researchers are paying attention.

Some dogs display traits like reduced social engagement, repetitive movements, unusual sensory responses, or difficulty adapting to change. These patterns look similar to human autism, but they are not the same condition.

Veterinary behaviorists use a broader term, canine dysfunctional behavior. It is not a label or a disorder. It is a way to describe dogs whose social or sensory processing sits outside the typical range.

Genetics adds another layer. Dogs with mutations in the SHANK3 gene, strongly linked to human autism, show differences in social attention & sensory processing.

Diagnosis can be difficult as separately these traits can also be caused by other behavioral conditions such as anxiety, lack of mental enrichment or historical emotional trauma.

Dogs are not being diagnosed with autism.
But some dogs are wired differently, & understanding that helps us support them with more clarity, more patience, & far better care.

🐾MORE HERE

Secure window openings & screens. Regular insect screens aren’t built to hold up against curious noses or paws, they can pop out or tear easily, leading to escapes, injuries, or dangerous falls from higher windows. Check them regularly for damage. Keep windows only slightly open with stops, move furniture away from windows to prevent climbing.

Hmmm…My pooch won’t go near a swimming pool.🤔But then there’s Buster, who gives new meaning to rain, hail or shine! I mean, how happy can you get!!

With 2.6 million views of this video, that joy is pretty contagious.

& a taste of the thousands of comments says it all…

…“95% good boy 5% dolphin”

&,

…“Life’s isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass Its about learning to dance in the rain 🥰🥰🥰”

You sure are showing us the way Buster. Enjoy.💗

With training, dog noses can detect blood sugar. Diabetes Alert Dogs (DADs) can use their sense of smell to detect human blood sugar changes by detecting chemical changes related to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia with a success rate of 70 to 80%. They alert their dog parents or minders by pawing, nudging, or licking.

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

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