Fun Facts & Everyday Basics: the practical in-between questions

The most commonly accepted explanations are mild stomach upset relief, a natural instinct from wild canine ancestors, or simply enjoying the taste and texture — most dogs eating grass occasionally show no other signs of illness. Frequent grass-eating paired with vomiting or lethargy is worth mentioning to your vet, but occasional grass-eating alone isn't typically concerning.

This behavior (coprophagia) has several possible causes including nutrient deficiencies, boredom, a learned behavior from puppyhood cleaning instincts, or simply exploring with their mouth the way puppies explore with their mouths generally. It's common enough in puppies especially that it's not automatically a sign of a health problem, though persistent adult behavior is worth mentioning at a vet visit.

Once every 4-6 weeks is a reasonable default for most dogs without skin conditions, though dogs with oily coats or skin issues may need more frequent bathing while some breeds need much less. Over-bathing can strip natural oils and cause dry, irritated skin, so more frequent isn't automatically better.

Brain activity patterns during a dog's REM sleep closely resemble human REM sleep patterns, and the twitching, leg movements, and occasional vocalizing during sleep are widely interpreted as behavioral evidence of dreaming, though we can't know the content of those dreams. This is considered strong indirect evidence, even without a way to confirm exactly what dogs experience.

30 to 60 minutes total per day is a reasonable baseline for most adult dogs of average energy level, though this varies significantly by breed, age, and individual dog. Splitting this into two shorter walks tends to work better for most dogs than one long session, especially for puppies and seniors.

Health certificates, updated vaccination records, and researching your destination's specific pet policies (some countries and even some US states have breed-specific restrictions) should happen weeks before travel, not the day before. A travel crate your dog is already comfortable in reduces stress far more than introducing a new one right before a trip.