Archive for July 2009

Belgian Sheepdog Madison at age 9-photo by ITGoddess.com

Belgian Shepherd Sheepdog (Groenendael)

Height: Male: 24-26; Female: 22-24 inches

Weight: 60-65 pounds

Coat: The texture should be hard and dense, never woolly, silky, frizzy, fine, or wiry. A full thin double coat, the outercoat should remain coarse yet soft, and the undercoat should be dense and fluffy.

Color: Completely black, or may be black with a limited amount of white. There may be a white patch or strip on the forechest, between pads of feet, on the tips of the hind toes, chin, or muzzle.

Appearance: The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog is that of a well-balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. He is a strong, agile, well-muscled animal, alert and full of life. His whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The male is more grand then the female who should have a distinct feminine look.

Temperament: The Belgian Sheepdog is intelligent, courageous, alert and devoted to his or her master. As an instinctual guardian of flocks they be protective of their master & property. They are watchful, attentive, and always in motion when not under command. They are observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive & should not show fear or shyness. Belgian Sheep dogs should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate and friendly, zealous of their attention.

Health: This breed has no major health concerns and has a life expectancy of about 13-14 years. Some minor concerns that have been seen are epilepsy, skin allergies, eye problems, excessive shyness, excessive aggressiveness and occasionally seen hip & elbow dysplasia.  Do not overfeed this breed, for it has a tendency to become obese and lazy.

Famous Belgian Shepherd Sheepdog (Groenendael)

Piccard D’Uccle- Perhaps the most famous Belgian Sheepdog who was acquired in 1897 and considered by many to be the father of the breed.

If you would like to recommend a dog breed for our next Best Bully Sticks spotlight on a breed please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks

Surfs Up!

The one thing dog’s love about the summer is the beach. Building ditches in the sand, knocking over sand castles, chasing seagulls, rolling in the sand and surfing the waves is what makes the beach so great for your dog. Here are some tips to make going to the beach fun and safe for the entire pack.

1. Follow the Rules: Check with your local beach to see if dogs are allowed. Some beaches with allow your beach buddy to tag along but he or she must be on leash at all times. So find out beforehand so there are no surprises & your beach trip is not spoiled.

2. Pack your dogs beach bag: Its important that when you pack for the beach to bring doggie sunscreen, life jackets, googles & basic necessities. Just, like you dogs can get sun burned.

3. You’re the pack leader: Since some areas of the beach will allow your dog to be off-leash its important that you have control over your pack. Dogs love to run & chase anything in site and have a keen sense of smell, so the beach will be full of intrigued and may cause your dog to wander off in a fast sprint. So be prepared to call your dog back in a stern voice. Trust me no one ones there sun bathing & surfing to be interrupted by a lost dog on the run. Make sure your dog is wearing his or her tags.

4. Flea Protection: Remember that the beach is home to sand fleas and dogs love to dig & roll. So safe guard your dog from those tail biters. Remember that wet flea collars won't do the trick.

5. Hydrate Your Dog: Make sure you bring along your dogs portable dog bowl & some fresh, clean water. Never, let your dog drink salt water it could make them very sick.

6. Take Breaks & Give Your Dog a Loving Timeout: With so much excitement of the beach your dog may forget to take a break & rest. As your pets guardian its important that you keep a watchful eye on whether or not your dog is become dehydrated or over-exhausted. The scotching sun rays, strenuous exercise runs in the sand, hot temperatures & lack of water can do a number on your dogs body. If your dog is feeling the effects of the sun & heat wave make sure to signal & call your dog to come rest in a shady spot.

6. Be Respect of Others Visiting the Beach: Dogs are social butterflies at heart and love to visit people. Especially if there nose sense something tasty in the air, perhaps someone is having a picnic. But some visitors may not appreciate a visit from your dog. Remember in a perfect world you and your dog would have your own private beach oasis, but in reality its a public place. So make sure you keep an eye on your dog so he or she does not disturb other beach goers.

7. Beware of... (you fill in the blank): Although the beach can be a relaxing & fun place, there are some dangers that lurk amidst the sands and the waves. Sea lice, jellyfish, undercurrents & ripe tides not only pose as threat to you but your dog. Keep in mind dogs are very curious and love to roam. So make sure to ask a lifeguard on duty if the area is safe. However, if there is no lifeguard to  be found make sure to look for warning signs posted on the beach like  "No Swim/Surf Zone".

8. Castaway's Found: Dogs are scavengers at heart and love a good beach scavenger hunt. Just remember that litter, dead fish, fishing lines, plant life may find themselves castaways washed up on the beach and in your dogs mouth. Many of these items are not safe for your dog and should not be his or her substitute chew toy. So, monitor your dogs exploration adventures, where a bout's and beach finds. Remember "No Litterbugs Allowed", so do your part to protect water life & dogs by throwing your litter safely in the trash can. Did you know if you litter you could be fined a hefty fine.

9. Pick up Your Dogs #2 Business: Help keep the beaches and water clean & tidy by picking up after your dog. No one likes to swim with your dogs floaters or step barefoot in your dogs sandy poop.

10. Give Your Dog a Bath: Prior to packing & loading the car after a long afternoon at the beach if you have fresh water on hand give your dog a good rinse to get off salt & excess sand. Its important that when you arrive home to give your dog a bath & spa treatment immediately. Chemicals from the sea water can be harmful & do damage to your dogs luscious locks & fur. Also, don't forget clean behind and inside those sandy & salty ears and tend to those achy, sandy paws which took a beaten all day.

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews , bully sticks & more. Great snacks for any four legged beach goer!

Bella Belly Buttons: "I love my Bully Stick. Thanks Best Bully Sticks!!"

Hello to all you wonderful makers of Bully Sticks!!!

My name is Bella Belly Buttons (just Bella for short) and I reside in Fort Lauderdale, FL with my human, Judy Wolff. Great last name huh and easy for me to say!

As you can see by the pictures my human has attached, my life is incomplete without my Bully Sticks.

As a matter of fact my human was slacking this week and made me go a WHOLE day without one. It was a very sad day indeed.

Just as I had given up, they arrived!!!! Joy and Peace were had once again. Thanks to you, the makers of my Bully Sticks!!!!

Keep up the good work & I’ll keep your stock rotated.

-Bella Belly Buttons

Since a picture is worth a thousand barks, tail wags & belly rubs, here are some photos of me chomping away. I just wanted to show you all how much i love my Bully Sticks & heart the Best Bully Stick pack for making my life complete!

Just me & my bully stick, a match made in chew heaven!!

Well, I guess being a lady the polite thing to do is share. I am torn, but who could blame me. My heart says "yes" but my growling belly says "No"!

Okay, just give me a few more chewing minutes!! Better yet ask your parents to order some

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews and of course bully sticks. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for Best Bully Stick News, New Products & Discounts!! If you have a Best Bully Stick Chew-monial you want to share please email us, we love receiving & reading bark mail

Lucky you ! All of our Plato products are on SALE until Sunday June 12th at 5pm EST

All Plato Dog Treats are made in the USA and are excellent products that you can give to your dogs with confidence. They're the highest quality dog treats on the market!

Plato Dog Treats Chicken is certified USDA organic, and the entire line is made with world-class ingredients and probiotics.

Yummy! Delicious Plato Farmer's Market Yam Treats.

Here are the three choices in their new "Farmer's Market" line:
1.  Salmon and Vegetables
2.  Chicken and Vegetables
3.  Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Is your dog hypoallergenic?

Well don't sweat  bullets we even have some delicious Plato Treats for that sensitive allergy prone pup in your life.  Because every dog deserves a yummy dog treat! As many as 20% of all dogs have food allergies, especially to chicken (even all-natural organic chicken like ours). So for them, we recommend our All-Natural Duck Strips. They're made to the same high standards, with top-quality ingredients, and every bit as tasty as our other treats.

Wild Salmon Supplement great for Shiny Coats!!

And that's not all! We now offer Plato Pet Treats Salmon Oil, which we firmly believe is one of the best supplements you can ever give your dogs. Salmon oil helps maintain your dog's skin, coat, eye, heart, and immune system.  The oil comes in an opaque bottle for freshness and  is naturally preserved with rosemary. An added bonus of the rosemary is that it reduces the smell of the oil to a minimum.

Try Plato Pet Treats products-we're sure you and your dog will be pleased!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews and of course bully sticks. Also, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for Best Bully Stick News, New Products & Discounts!!

Missing a Bone? If there is a particular type of dog bone you would like to see offered on bestbullysticks.com , please let us know and we will do out best to make it happen! One of our motto's is "happy dog, happy owner & happy life".

The Beagle Bunch

Beagles

Height: Generally between 13”-16” high

Weight: 18 – 35 lbs.

Coat: Short, dense, smooth and weatherproof.

Color: White, black, tan, red, lemon and blue mottle. They can be any combination of Hound colors other than liver. Chest is always white. Tricolor Beagles are almost always born black and white, with brown and other spots appearing later on in life. Some Beagles change colors most of their lives.

Appearance: The general appearance of the Beagle resembles a Foxhound in miniature, but the head is broader and the muzzle shorter, the expression completely different and the legs shorter in proportion to the body. They are generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb (8.2 and 16 kg), with females being slightly smaller than males on average.

They have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black (or occasionally liver), gumdrop nose. The jaw is strong and the teeth scissor together with the upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw. The eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild hound-like pleading look. The large ears are long, soft and low-set, turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips.

Beagles have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long enough for them to easily bend to the ground to pick up a scent), with little folding in the skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist and a short, slightly curved tail (known as the "stern") tipped with white. The white tip, known as the "flag" has been selectively bred with the sole purpose of allowing the dog to be easily seen when its head is down following a scent. The tail does not curl over the back, but is held upright when the dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. The front legs are straight and carried under the body while the rear legs are muscular and well bent at the stifles.

Temperament: The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Beagles are "merry", amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watchdogs.

Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.

Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they have become popular family pets, but they are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety. Not all Beagles will howl, but most will bark when confronted with strange situations, and some will bay (also referred to as "speaking", "giving tongue", or "opening") when they catch the scent of potential quarry. They also generally get along well with other dogs. They are not demanding with regard to exercise; their inbred stamina means they do not easily tire when exercised, but they also do not need to be worked to exhaustion before they will rest, though regular exercise helps ward off the weight gain to which the breed is prone.

Health: The Life expectancy for Beagles is about 12-15 years. Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; Hip dysplasia, common in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in Beagles. Beagles are considered a chondrodystrophic breed, meaning that they are prone to types of disk diseases. In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age.

Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. "Cherry eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.

As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries such as cuts and sprains, and, if inactive, obesity is a common problem as they will eat whenever food is available and rely on their owners to regulate their weight. When working or running free they are also likely to pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, harvest mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass seeds can become trapped in their eyes, soft ears or paws.

Beagles may exhibit a behaviour known as reverse sneezing, in which they sound as if they are choking or gasping for breath, but are actually drawing air in through the mouth and nose. The exact cause of this behaviour is not known, but it is not harmful to the dog.

Famous American Beagles

Snoopy- Peanuts character
Odie- Comic strip Garfield
Bagel- Barry Manilow’s Beagle Kim & Freckles- Former US President Lyndon B. Johnson beagles

If you would like to recommend a dog breed for our next Best Bully Sticks spotlight on a breed please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews, and of course our  bully sticks , the breeds chew of choice!