6 things to chew on

Hi friends,

We all know Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude. On Thanksgiving, I really try to practice it. I’m always like: The twinkling city! The blue sky! The leaves! The squirrels! My family! My friends! My house! This meal! Wow, I don’t need anything at all. I’m as thankful and content as a dog with a ball in her mouth! But then Friday rolls around, and I’m like: OMG SALES!!!

With Cyber Monday tomorrow and the holiday shopping weeks ahead, we decided to share a little something different for our newsletter. We’re sending you a small to-do list of things to read, chew on, think about, and do! We’ll also have an official “Pawliday Gift Guide” coming out later this week, and mid-December, we’ll be sharing our first doggy advice column. As always, if you need dog advice, send us an email at info@thecaninehotline.com. We’ll be answering some of your questions here on Substack. We’ve received some fun questions so far! Thank you again for reading and subscribing.

Here are six things we think are worth chewing on (or doing) this week:

1. Check out the internet’s cutest dog sweater

They are unsurprisingly on sale right now. Ordering immediately.

2. Okay, these little “coal” treats for your pup’s stocking are also a v cute gift

3. Go for a winter walk with your pooch

Cold weather shouldn’t mean staying inside, it should actually be a reason to nudge yourself outside. There are tons of health benefits to walking in the cold! Remember: you don’t need to live by the woods or ocean to benefit from an outdoor walk. Even just exploring your neighborhood or local park is a great reset (with lots of exciting smells!). Did you know most people spend 90% of their waking hours indoors? Take yourself (and your dog, of course) for a walk! Like, right now.

4. Keep Up With the Canines

In case someone asks, the Bracco Italiano, the Russian toy, and the mudi (pronounced moo-dee) were the three newly recognized dog breeds in the National Dog Show.  For the first time ever, the winner was a French bulldog, Winston!

5. Celebrate birthdays and wish friends Happy Birthday and go to your friends’ birthday parties

Nala (my rescue dog. Fern’s dogs are Bette and Oscar) recently turned seventeen-ish. Happy Birthday, Nala! You are my heart and soul. Here are some of her best looks. Had she competed in the fancy National Dog Show, I think she would have given Winston a run for his kibbles (will share her beauty secrets soon).

6. Practice the “The Leave-It” command

“Leave it!” is the training command you use when you want to train your pup not to lunge at the snarling German Shepherd, the dead roadkill, or something else that could be harmful for her. It’s primarily used for dogs, but lately we have been trying to also practice it on ourselves. “Leeeeeave it.” I say, whenever I start doubting, stressing, or feeling the urge to open up a new tab to shop for sweaters when we really should be finishing this newsletter. Sometimes the command works. Sometimes it doesn’t. In this case, it did work! We finished the newsletter! Hooray!

More soon.

Your loyal correspondents,

Fern & Seth

To learn more about Canine Hotline…

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