The Canine Clubhaus LLC

06/23/2026

Check your Dog Toys 🧸

🐾 What’s Hiding in Some Dog Toys? Common Plastic Chemical Linked to Anxiety in New Animal Study

Researchers presenting at ENDO 2026, one of the world’s leading endocrinology conferences, reported that lab animals exposed early in life to DEHP, a plastic softening chemical commonly used in some PVC products, developed significantly more anxiety- like behavior as adults.

While this study was has not yet been published, it adds to growing concerns about all of the endocrine disrupting chemicals found in the environment. DEHP and related phthalates have been detected in soft vinyl pet products, including toys, bowls, collars, bedding, and other flexible PVC items.

Step 1: choose pet toys made with materials such as natural rubber, organic cotton, h**p, wool, and food grade silicone, to help reduce unnecessary exposure.

Step 2: use GABA to your advantage, if your pup has anxiety. When the researchers targeted GABA pathways (one of the brain’s primary calming systems), the anxiety improved . This is especially relevant because the gut microbiome can influence GABA signaling through the gut brain axis.

This is one reason Dr. Karen Becker includes the GABA-promoting strain LP815™ in PRIMITIVE PROBIOTICS™. In a placebo controlled study, dogs receiving LP815™ showed improvements in fear, aggression, noise sensitivity, separation related behaviors, sleep quality, and overall emotional balance.

🐶 Want a science backed probiotic that supports both digestive and emotional wellness? Comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll send you the link.

06/21/2026

🐽🐽🐽

Search Tip: Before you start any search, check how the air is moving.

Before you begin, pause briefly and ask: Where is the air coming from, where is it going, and what is it doing in this space?

This applies to interiors, exteriors, containers, vehicles, buried, training problems, sport trials, and detection searches. Target odor moves through an environment, and that environment can shape your first handling decision.

You do not need a full weather report. You need a quick read. Check airflow at your level, then remember: your dog is not hunting at your head height. Unless you happen to have a wolfhound with their paws up. 🤔

The air on your face may not match what your dog is working near the ground, under vehicles, along walls, around thresholds, or in corners.

Quick checks: feel the air on your face or hands; watch what already moves, like grass, leaves, flags, fabric, loose hair, or someone’s flyaway hair; notice doors, fans, vents, shade, sun, walls, vehicle gaps, container lines, and structures that push, block, or redirect air.

And yes, "dog glitter" counts. If you have loose hair on your fingers or coat, rub your fingers together and watch how it drifts.

Then use that read to shape your handling. If air moves toward you, give your dog room to sort odor earlier than expected. If air moves away, plan to get deeper before deciding odor is not available. If air wraps around an object, wall, vehicle, or container line, consider changing your angle instead of repeating the same path.

If the search stalls or your dog’s behavior changes, check again. Airflow can shift.

Try this in training: stand at the search start and predict where odor may travel. Check the air at your level, look lower to the ground, make one handling choice, then run the search and compare your prediction to your dog’s behavior.

The goal is not to overthink the search. The goal is one more observation before you decide how to move, wait, or change your angle.

Let me know if this helps in your next trial, training session, or detection search.

For more tools to understand airflow, or for a better understanding of how to use wind to your advantage, these two SWU webinars may help:

Use the Wind

Are Smoke Machines Required?

I’ll put links for both webinars in the comments.

I also added the Cirrus Wind Indicator as the product link on this post. It is my favorite tool for quickly reading airflow.

Full disclosure: purchases made through the Cirrus Wind Indicator product link may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

06/21/2026

Wishing every father a very happy Father’s Day. Here’s for everything you do every single day to be an amazing role model.
Happy Father’s Day ❤️

06/20/2026

Official CPR Certified yahhhhhhhhhh

Congratulations to everyone who got certified in Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid at yesterday's fundraiser for Rustic Rover Rescue and Lodge in Sevierville, TN with our outstanding senior instructor, Robin Cobb!

06/20/2026

Very informative

A 2024 study headed by Dr. Barbara Peťková set out to research aggression in various dog breeds, specifically taking into consideration breed-based public stereotypes.

The study divided dogs into the following groups:

🐾 Herding breeds
🐾 Hound breeds
🐾 Guarding breeds
🐾 Companion breeds
🐾 Mixed breeds
🐾 "Potentially Aggressive" breeds

With respect to deeming dogs aggressive or dangerous based on breed alone, the researchers in the Petkova study came to the same conclusion as previous studies before it:

Dog breeds often classified as "potentially aggressive" or "potentially dangerous" exhibit LESS AGGRESSION in many aspects compared to other breeds.

Aggression in dogs is context-dependent and often subject to human influence.

The Petkova study provides valuable insights into canine behavior by dispelling myths and offering evidence-based information.

Addressing the hotly debated issue of classifying certain breeds of dogs as dangerous and/or potentially dangerous, the researchers argue that such classification is unjustified, and their research supports this conclusion.

Moreover, the researchers hope these findings will:

(1) Promote responsible dog ownership,

(2) Eliminate and replace breed-specific regulations with legislation focused more on overall responsible dog ownership regardless of breed, and

(3) Encourage safer interactions between dogs and humans.

The study emphasizes the need to move beyond breed-based stereotypes.

🟡🔸🟡

"By focusing on empirical data and evidence-based practices, we can improve canine welfare and strengthen the human-animal bond, creating safer and more harmonious communities." ~ Petkova, et al.

🟡🔸🟡

🔸Study Name: Variations in Canine Behavioural Characteristics across Conventional Breed Clusters and Most Common Breed-Based Public Stereotypes

🔸 Authors/Researchers: B. Peťková, L Skurková, M. Florian, M. Slivková, Z. Dudra Kasičová, J. Kottferová

🔸 Citation: 2024 Sep 17;14(18):2695. doi: 10.3390/ani14182695. PMID

06/19/2026

❤️❤️❤️

We are excited to officially announce the 1st Annual Savannah Grace Foundation Cheer Competition & Showcase, coming to John Tarleton Park in Knoxville on Saturday, September 19, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM!

For more information please email us at [email protected]

06/18/2026

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

Jessica Davis-Casteel, Isabelle Ratai

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

06/15/2026

Time to secure your spot #250

06/14/2026

CPR for animals come and register

❤️‍🩹GET CPR CERTIFIED!!❤️‍🩹

🐾Rustic Rover Rescue & lodge is hosting a Canine & Feline CPR Certification Class at our shelter on FRIDAY JUNE 19TH from 6-9PM. Proceeds will benefit our shelter AND the rescue! Don't miss out on this opportunity, it may just save a life one day!🐾

✨Find out more and register here: https://petemergencyeducation.com/product/rustic-rover-rescue/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSXwk9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6UEtZMEZhYnFVSngxbGlBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmdXSE7c-Tt4paSt3WdZ3DyqCChfwnBdVgg9sQocPcPOE6pgRNnaGU2y3o1c_aem_nabPPXCW4BejzZeahLv4nA