A Sweet Dog, A Salty Fridge

Did we lower our prices too much? A few chew toys are still available but when they’re gone, they’re gone. We can’t get them at these prices again. Nothing says Bah Humbug like rising prices. We have temporarily dropped the prices on toys so your family can be included at the holidays - grab yours quick because they’re almost gone!

What’s Wrong With Your Dog?

Most dog parents know the moment: your pup leans in, gives one perfectly placed lick on your nose, and then goes about their day as if nothing happened. It’s quick, precise, and oddly intentional - almost like a tiny Morse-code message sent from snout to soul. But why one lick? Why the nose? And why does it feel oddly… personal?

The short answer is that a single nose kiss is your dog’s version of a “micro-check-in.” In dog language, small gestures can carry big meaning. Wolves and wild canines use quick licks around the face to signal peace, reassurance, or to reinforce social bonds without making a big display. Your dog isn’t thinking about wolf politics, of course, but that instinctive code is still baked into their behavior.

A nose lick specifically hits a sweet spot for them. Your nose is front-and-center, easy to reach, and loaded with scent markers that tell your dog how you’re feeling. That one soft kiss is like their way of saying, “I see you. We’re good. Just checking in.” It’s affectionate, but it’s also your dog taking a tiny emotional snapshot of you.

What makes the single lick especially charming is its restraint. Dogs reserve the all-out face wash for high excitement - hellos after work, treat o’clock, or the moment you pick up the leash. But the lone nose tap? That’s quieter. It’s the canine equivalent of slipping your hand into someone’s as you walk: a subtle connection rather than a full celebration.

Some dogs also use it as a way to nudge your emotional state. They can smell stress on your breath and skin, so that one lick can be their version of, “Hey, don’t worry, I’m right here.” It’s comfort offered in the smallest possible package.

So the next time your dog gives you that single, soft kiss on the tip of your nose, know that it’s not random. It’s a tiny ritual, rooted in instinct, shaped by your bond, and delivered with just enough tenderness to remind you that you’re part of their inner circle.

Shine on: Fake it til you make it
Not in pjs: This is how my dog knows too
bridesmaid: One way for your dog to be in your wedding

Culture

Smart fridges were supposed to make our lives easier - little kitchen geniuses humming along, tracking groceries, planning meals, maybe whispering encouragement when we make a salad. Instead, mine recently informed me that my tater casserole is “unapproachable.”

Unapproachable?

I don’t even have taters. And if I did, what exactly is my fridge trying to tell me? Did the casserole develop a bad attitude? Is it hiding behind the almond milk? Did it “fall,” as in gravity… or socially? Is this fridge a health coach now, blocking my comfort food like, “Nope, that’s off-limits for your belly, friend. Here - have a celery stick.”

This is the same energy my phone brings to the table. Every time I upgrade, the new one seems dumber. Swype can’t recognize a single word I type, even a year later. I try to text “bring milk,” and it changes it to “bingo monk.” Autocorrect doesn’t know me and frankly, it doesn’t want to know me.

So maybe the real question here is: do smart appliances actually make us smarter? Or are they just giving us more things to argue with in our own homes (asking for a friend)?

Take the fridge door alarm. “Your door is ajar,” it says. Ajar? No. If you want my attention, talk to me like a human:
“Come on, man, shut the door already! The yogurt’s sweating!”

And yet… beneath the chaos, there is value. Smart fridges can track expiration dates, cut food waste, and help you avoid that horrifying moment when you realize the sour cream expired three presidencies ago. They can remind you what you actually have so you don’t buy your fifth jar of mustard. They can even help you plan meals, though ideally without insulting the casserole.

Maybe that’s the future we’re heading toward: appliances that are helpful, a little sassy, and occasionally confused—basically like having a teenager in the kitchen, except it doesn’t borrow the car. Just don’t tell me to eat a celery stick.

Unlike in the past, most pet insurance claims are now super easy to process. Now, you can submit a claim right from an app and get the money deposited directly into your account within days. Many insurers even offer options for direct payment to the vet, reducing the out-of-pocket burden. Check out Money’s Best Pet Insurance list to find options with fast and painless claims processing.

See pet insurance plans.

Chuckle

The fib is A. Reindeer eyes shift from gold to blue in the winter to improve light sensitivity in darkness.

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