🐾 National Dog Day 2026 — 16% Off Everything! Treat Your Dog to Something They'll Go Crazy For

Many pet-focused retailers and brands celebrate National Dog Day with special discounts, promotions, and events. Pet specialty stores typically offer sales on August 26 — and Advance Pet Mart is no exception. This year we're offering 16% off your entire order with code DGDY26. Some chains also offer free treats in-store, adoption events in partnership with local shelters, and social media giveaways. Check your favourite pet brands on August 26 — most will have something special running.

Dogs see the world differently from humans — they are dichromatic, meaning they see primarily in blues and yellows rather than the full color spectrum. Research suggests that blue and violet tones have the most calming effect on dogs, which is why many veterinary offices and dog-calming products use blue-based color schemes. Soft, muted tones are generally more calming than bright, saturated colors. Harsh contrasts and very bright red or orange tones can increase arousal and anxiety in some dogs. For a dog's sleeping or resting area, blue, violet, or neutral tones tend to promote calm.

Absolutely — and more than you might think. Dogs can hear sounds at frequencies between 40Hz and 65,000Hz, compared to the human range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. This means dogs can hear sounds we cannot even detect. More importantly, research has shown that dogs process human language in a remarkably sophisticated way — they use the left hemisphere of the brain to process words and the right hemisphere to process emotional tone, just as humans do. A 2016 study published in Science found that dogs only register a word as genuinely praising when both the word and the tone are positive — they understand both what you say and how you say it.

While every dog is an individual, certain breeds are consistently ranked as the friendliest and most gentle in temperament surveys and breed assessments. The Labrador Retriever has held the title of most popular and friendliest breed for decades — known for patience, gentleness, and eagerness to please. The Golden Retriever is equally celebrated for its gentle temperament and love of people. Other consistently top-ranked friendly breeds include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Beagle, Poodle, Bichon Frise, and Irish Setter. That said, temperament is shaped by genetics, socialization, and environment — a well-raised dog of any breed can be extraordinarily gentle and loving.

The 7-7-7 rule is a socialization guideline for puppies during their critical development window (typically 7–16 weeks). It recommends exposing your puppy to 7 different people, 7 different places, and 7 different things during their first 7 weeks at home — all in a positive, controlled way. The goal is to build a confident, adaptable adult dog by ensuring positive early exposure to the variety of people, environments, and objects they will encounter throughout life. Some trainers extend this to 100 experiences in the first 100 days for more comprehensive socialization. Pairing each new experience with high-value treats creates lasting positive associations.

Sonic's famous "Pup Cups" — small cups of plain whipped cream given to dogs at the drive-through — have historically been offered free of charge at many Sonic locations as a goodwill gesture for dog-owning customers. However, availability and pricing can vary significantly by location and may have changed since this was written. The best approach is to simply ask at your local Sonic drive-through whether they offer complimentary pup cups — most locations that do are happy to provide one when asked. If whipped cream is a regular treat for your dog, it is worth knowing that dairy is not ideal for all dogs, particularly those with lactose sensitivity — watch for any digestive reaction after the first try.

Dogs communicate love through body language and behavior rather than words — and research has identified several ways to express affection in a language dogs genuinely understand. Slow blinking — making eye contact and slowly closing and reopening your eyes — mimics the "soft eye" dogs use with those they trust and is widely recognized as a gesture of affection. Leaning into them gently mirrors how dogs lean into those they are bonded to. Relaxed, unhurried interaction — sitting calmly beside your dog without agenda — communicates safety and love powerfully. High-value treats delivered with calm, warm interaction also create oxytocin-releasing bonding moments that dogs remember and seek to recreate. The most powerful "I love you" in dog speak is simply being present, consistent, and safe.

Given that dogs see primarily in blues and yellows, sleeping environments in soft blue or violet tones are thought to be most calming and conducive to restful sleep. Bright whites and harsh contrast can be stimulating rather than relaxing. However, dogs are far more influenced by other factors than color when choosing where to sleep — warmth, softness, familiar scent, and security matter far more to a dog than the color of their bed. A dog that chooses to sleep on your worn clothing rather than their expensive bed is choosing your scent over aesthetics every time. For bedding, focus on soft materials with familiar scent and muted, calming tones over bright colors.

Dogs are capable of loving their entire family — but most do form a primary attachment bond with one specific person. This happens for several interconnected reasons. First, socialization during the critical window (3–16 weeks) strongly influences attachment — the person who was most present and positive during this period often becomes the primary attachment figure. Second, whoever feeds, trains, and plays with the dog most consistently becomes associated with the greatest rewards and safety. Third, personality match matters — a calm dog may attach most strongly to the calmest person, an energetic dog to the most active family member. Finally, dogs are highly responsive to attention quality — not just quantity. The person who gives the most focused, engaged attention — rather than just being physically present — typically earns the strongest bond.