Sugar & Spice, Puppies are Nice!

This past Sunday was National Puppy Day and it occurred to us that one day simply isn’t enough time to celebrate the boundless joy of puppies, so here we are with some extended content - the King Duke’s Puppy Multiverse, as it were - that enumerates some of our favorite puppy facts. Enjoy! 

1. Most puppies come from litters of between 5 - 6, though a normal range is considered anywhere from 1 - 12, but the largest known litter had a whopping 12 puppies! Tia the Neapolitan mastiff’s brood earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and, we hope, a Very Long Rest. Speaking of resting, did you know that around half of American dogs sleep in the big bed with their humans? This was not news to us; the Late, Great Lucy the Dachshund commandeered our bed from day 1, but she also had no fewer than 3 beds of her own.Of course she did! Should your puppy, momma, or other dog of the house be in the market for a new bed, then look no further! Our collection includes portable beds, cooling bed pads, and even designer beds - a well-earned treat for a mother of 24, perhaps? - and everything in between. 

2. The first sense puppies develop is touch. Born blind and deaf, and with no sense of smell, puppies first learn to navigate their surroundings through touch, assisted by their moms nuzzling them and helping them recognize the world around them. Not developing eyesight until they are 6 or 7 weeks old, puppies feel their way, which may explain how they end up in somewhat unlikely piles with their siblings, or fall asleep upside down on the edge of their basket, or sitting with their tails submerged in their water bowls. Adorable! In such circumstances, we are inclined to recommend something as cuddly, adorable, and soft as, well, as a puppy, in the form of a super squishy & cute Edsel the Elephant stuffie. Made with superior, ultra-plush outer fabric, he is a beloved member of our collection and will undoubtedly become your pup's top pick too! Awwww!

3. The word puppy has French roots, originating from the word poupée, meaning doll or toy, and it makes sense to us. After all, they are small, portable, as sweet as can be, and things which even the youngest among us feel bound to love and to care for. Before puppy / poupée was used, people used the German word whelp which of course remains in use to this day which is a rather nice connection to puppies down the ages. 

4. Puppies have baby teeth! Just like their human brothers and sisters, puppies get their very own set of first teeth when they are about 2 weeks old. Numbering 28, these milk teeth are replaced by a full set of 42 adult teeth when the puppies are 12-16 weeks old. Now anyone who has had a puppy knows how busy they get with their new teeth, chewing literally anything they can get their paws on, and so it is with that in mind that we present the Puppy Kong! Made specifically for young puppies with baby teeth, its natural rubber formula is gentler than other Kong rubber toys while helping to promote proper chewing habits. Plus, it provides a fun outlet for a puppy's natural instincts with its unpredictable bounce, keeping little ones occupied while pet parents take care of other tasks. Plus, plus, it can be used to make crate training a breeze - just fill it with puppy kibble and a small amount of peanut butter and let the fun lessons commence!

5. Puppies love baby talk! We confess this fact may be our favorite fact of all and we are sooo jealous of the people who got to run this study. Here goes! In 2017, 30 people were asked to look at photos of puppies and fully-grown dogs and read the same text: "Hi! Hello cutie! Who's a good boy? Come here! Good boy! Yes! Come here sweetie pie! What a good boy!" in whatever voice felt natural to them based on the photo. Afterwards, the researchers played the recordings for 10 adult dogs and 10 puppies; almost all of the puppies barked and ran towards the speaker when they heard the baby-talk recordings, whereas the mature dogs pretty much ignored the recordings altogether. So there you have it, the pups know what’s up!

Big or small, puppy or full grown, there is nothing we love more than celebrating dogs. For now, pack, that’s a wrap, but you can be sure we’ll be back soon with more barks, walks, treats, and tricks! 

🦮♥️🐩♥️🐕‍🦺🐾