“Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.”— Max Eastman

Happy Thursday! Here's the scoop:

  • The sweetest story of two unlikely best friends

  • Our favorite way to wine down

  • Painting with your pup

  • Meet: the Gerberian Shepsky

True or False...
All dogs have only 4 hind toes.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

Cheetah and Lab besties
You don’t always think of dogs and cats getting along, but this dog and cheetah? The story of their friendship is just as adorable as they are.

When you’re a lone cheetah cub out in the wild, that can mean trouble. That’s why Tavi the cheetah cub was moved to Wild Wonders Animal Education Center, a sanctuary in California. However, Tavi did not adjust right away.

In the early 1980’s, the San Diego Zoo tried implementing a buddy system for anxious cheetahs. It turns out that – just like with people – domesticated support dogs can really help little big cats adjust.

That’s where Yarra, a Labrador retriever puppy, enters the picture. Sanctuary workers introduced Tavi and Yarra, and soon the two started to bond. Today, Tavi and Yarra are besties. Experts say it’s likely that their friendship will last their whole lives. Tavi and Yarra are giving us major squad goals.

Image courtesy of Wild Wonders.

What we’re digging
You know what gets us just as excited as a dog when the doorbell rings? Well, the same thing really…as long as it’s our wine delivery from Firstleaf.

Firstleaf delivers world-class wine, tailored to your taste, right to your doorstep. Their winemakers taste over 10,000 wines a year and only the best make it into their boxes, so you know every delivery will be delicious.

If that’s not enough to convince you that you need this vino in your life, Firstleaf also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and they let you control when and how often you get your wine.

Start by answering a few short questions to build your custom taste profile, and get your first box for $29.95 plus free shipping (a $50 savings for Daily Dig readers!).

Build your custom taste profile here!

Do(g)-It-Yourself
Did you know that your pup might be a talented visual artist in the making? Painting is fun for everyone, and it turns out you can share this activity with your dog.

It’s easy to set up a painting party for your dog. When you’re done, you’ll have a beautiful work of art to admire and show off to your friends.

Make your own dog lick painting:

  • What you’ll need: a small canvas, masking tape, acrylic paint (3-4 colors), gallon sized Ziplock bags, and natural peanut butter.

  • Tape around the edges of the canvas to give the painting a gallery look.

  • Squeeze some paint onto the canvas. Remember: a little goes a long way.

  • Smear some peanut butter onto the outside of a Ziplock bag.

  • Carefully place the canvas inside the bag and seal it.

  • Place the bag on the floor and let your dog lick the peanut butter. (Make sure to supervise to make sure your dog doesn’t bite through the bag and ingest any paint.

  • Cut away the bag and let the paint dry.

  • Hang your dog’s painting on the fridge for everyone to see!

Wine and paint night, anyone?

Unique breed: Gerberian Shepsky
If you love playful dogs and can’t decide between a German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky, you’re in luck. The Gerberian Shepsky is a cross between these two popular dog breeds.

Gerberian Shepskies are beautiful with soft coats and big blue eyes. Often independent and outgoing, Shepskies are highly energetic. They make great hiking partners, even on chilly days.

Be warned: Gerberian Shepskies are problem solvers. This is not the kind of dog that you can expect will entertain itself in the backyard. More likely, a Shepsky will look for ways to escape. Since they need lots of exercise and mental stimulation, experts say that Gerberian Shepskies do best with experienced dog parents.

If you love the outdoors, lead a super active lifestyle, and live in a cold climate, a Gerberian Shepsky might just be your new best friend.

Image courtesy of Daily Paws.

True or False...
Answer: FALSE!

Dogs that fall into the "flock guardian" category typically have an extra hind toe or dewclaw. These breeds include the Australian Shepherd, Rottweiler, Shih Tzu, Standard Poodle, and many Asian breeds like the Shiba Inu.

The Great Pyrenees is the most commonly known polydactyl canine, and may even have six hind toes. The Norwegian Lundehund can have five toes on both their front and hind feet.

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