As a rule, we are National Day enthusiasts regardless of the occasion. But every once in a while a National Day comes about that fills us with the joy and enthusiasm of 100 puppies which is an apt metaphor since that day is in fact today: National Puppy Day! As you can imagine, the level of excitement at KDHQ is turned up to 11, and accordingly we’ve been gathering not only a selection of puppy merch at 10% off this weekend, March 23rd & 24th, with code PUPPYLOVE24, but also some super fun puppy facts that prove that alongside National Kitten Day (July 10th, mark your calendars!), this is the best day of all the days.
There are various means by which eras are defined: the invention of the wheel, the start of the Renaissance, and above all, Taylor Swift albums, tours - so much so the current one is literally named Eras - and romantic partners. Basically, enough things change enough and that means we're in a new phase. Having said that, we have been thinking recently of a contrast: animals and pets areconsistentlydominant in pop culture - no changes please and thank you - and every single era celebrates and records them. In our current human-centric age, this seems at first, ahem, glance odd, but as we have previously noted, there are 6.5 BILLION cat pictures on the internet which is only slight fewer than the number of selfies on Kylie Jenner's phone (7 billion, allegedly). In our view, this is as it should be, but it set us thinking: why? Why are animals more enduring across cultures, eras, continents, and content than anything else? Step this way...
As chroniclers of canine culture - if you're repping the Library of Congress, we have this column's complete archive ready to go - we are constantly on the lookout for what’s fresh and interesting in the doggosphere. New Year; new vibes: what's the skinny? Well, lately, the extent and variety of canine clothing has been a source of both fascination and delight: from the quotidian to the ceremonial, the warm winter jacket to the full fig, dogs all over America are serving lewks. Whether your dog is a homebody or a hiker, a big galloping girl or a little lap boy, we’re sure you’ll find fits to fit among our winter wear collection. Yes, people, it's dogs, but make it fashion. Catwalk this way! 💀
At some point, the food, the family, the gifts, and the fun turns into the forgetting of your own name, and when that point hits, it’s Quiz Time. A gentle first step on the path towards sentience and sanity, and a comforting reminder of your ability to read things besides texts, refund policies, and cooking instructions. Our quiz of course has the added benefit of being composed entirely from animal magic, and we all know that is the very best kind...
Between Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the biggie, National Horse Day, there is much to do and much to celebrate. So what better way to do so than with a 12 day treat extravaganza? That’s right, The Twelve Days of Treats are upon us!
What other holiday is there that asks so little and gives so much? Family, friends, food, and football. I’m in! And in the spirit of low-effort, high-reward holidays, your friends at King Dukes have gathered a truly Thanktastic assortment of goodies to reward, entertain, exhaust, and distract (circle all that apply) you furry friends over the Thanksgiving period. Woo-hoo!
Perhaps you that many ancient cultures held cats to be sacred creatures invested with mystical powers. Perhaps you have gazed upon the Great Sphinx of Giza, or spotted a Mountain Lion in the wild. But do you know the origins of cats' nine lives? Or what cats contributed to New Orleans in the roaring twenties? Or how cats more or less single-pawdly won WW2? Come with us on a journey in the catosphere, where feline mysteries unfold...
This Saturday, September 23rd, King Duke’s celebrates its FIFTH BIRTHDAY! According to the AKC, this makes us 36 in small, medium, and large dog years, and 45 in extra large dog years, and whatever the number, we are putting on our biggest and best party yet! What do we have in store? TONS!
This month, in honor of Responsible Dog Owner Day, we have put together our own guide to tip top pet parenting; for while there is no greater joy than a loving pet, as with all relationships, there are some non-negotiables.
Calling All Pet Photographers: whether yours is a mutt, a Westminster winner, a tiny kitten, or a pair of Persians, we want to see them! Send us your snaps and every month, the winning portrait will get a special King Duke’s prize package with which to spoil your photogenic pet!!
Who doesn’t love a summer playlist, and who doesn’t really, really love a Summer's-for-Dogs Playlist? In reverse order, Billboard Hot 100 countdown style, here are five of our favorite dog-inspired tracks. Tell us yours in the comments!
