Archive for December 0

BestBullySticks is committed to providing our customers’ dogs with healthy, nutritious chews and treats. However, our interest in providing all-natural, healthy dog treats extends beyond the occasional snack and all the way to food! Maintaining a healthy diet is the biggest factor in maintaining long term health, staving off disease and enhancing general well-being.

Many store bought dog foods are nutritionally poor and contain scarce amounts of beneficial nutrients. Others are healthy and do provide complete nutrition. Either way, there’s always room to supplement. As the saying goes, you are what you eat!

All Food Isn’t Created Equal

Many pet owners get up in arms if you tell them you feed your dog food from the table. But the fact of the matter is many of the healthy whole foods we eat for dinner, are pretty good for Fido too! Of course, there are some exceptions. But on the whole, we’ve got a lot in common with our canine companions when it comes to food. For today’s post we’ve selected five super foods — great for both people and dogs — that stand out among the rest.

5 Super Foods for Dogs

1. Fish - Oily fish like salmon, trout and tuna pack the highest nutritional punch for your dog. These fatty fish have higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids — two nutrients proven to reduce the risk of heart related illnesses. Additionally, fish is a rich source of healthy low-calorie protein and it’s also easy to digest! Making fish part of your dog’s diet twice a week is a great way to offer them some long term health benefits. Read more

If It Weren't For Fido Essay Contest Grand Prize Winner

Today, BestBullySticks is proud to share with you our Grand Prize winning "If It Weren't For Fido" essay.  When we read Sarah Payne's story around our offices, we were all reminded of the ways dogs truly transform our lives. We know you'll enjoy reading Sarah's story. 

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Some folks just seem to know how to be humans. I think I was standing behind the door when that was being handed out. I miss a lot of the cues of what people mean beyond what they say and it makes it difficult to find friends. That's a lonely way to live. I've been lucky, I met a man that some how gets me but that doesn't help me to understand things better. Even as a child, my only friends were animals in general and dogs in particular. I remember many family get togethers where I ended up alone in a corner or basement with my aunt's dogs. It sounds lonely but I fit better with them.

As an adult, my husband and I have always had dogs. We have rescued any critter needing a home from three legged hamsters to crazy cats to abused bulldogs. We've never had a home without a dog. It makes me feel more at ease and I love the larger breeds. When I come home to a wagging tail it some how makes the day in the human world easier. I might be awkward out there but home with a dog snuggled beside me it feels okay that I've always had trouble connecting to people.

We had planned to have children. That's what people do. We grow up, fall in love, get married, have kids, look forward to grandkids. I think a part of me has always hoped that if I had a child that I'd some how find I could understand people better. That maybe, somehow, by watching my child grow up and learn how to navigate the big, wide, world I'd learn too. I could see my husband, my kids and the dogs playing in the yard and it seemed like a good dream. Read more

BestBullySticks is back to mix things up with a brand new offering! A great addition to our already huge line of products — speaking of huge, these things are massive! In fact, The Monster Gullet Jerky is one of the biggest products we have! Made from the esophagus of cattle, these treats are full of nutrients essential to a healthy lifestyle.

Measuring a whopping 18-20 inches long and 2 inches wide, these single-ingredient chews are sure to please even the biggest hounds. Our Monster Gullets are sourced straight from Australia and only made from the highest quality beef in the region.

Naturally packed with glucosamine — a supplement shown to support healthy joints and mobility— these treats are easy to chew and fully digestible. Aside from helping rebuild tissue around joints, our Monster Gullet Jerky also supports oral hygiene. This super chewy treat will massage your pup’s gums and the natural action of chewing helps clean teeth.

BestBullySticks recommends these tasty treats for medium to large dogs. And as with all treats, pets should be supervised while chewing! To see a full line of our healthy and all-natural dog treats, visit BestBullySticks.com.

Don’t forget to follow BestBullySticks on Facebook & Twitter to catch the latest news, product giveaways and specials!

Our Training Tips series has provided dog owners with a solid introduction to a variety of training methods out there. First, we touched on How Dogs Learn, then we progressed into practical information about teaching tricks with clicker training. Now that we’ve laid a foundation to help you get your unruly pup in line, BestBullySticks wants you to get out there and put that knowledge to use!

The Loose Leash Walk

One of the most difficult things dog owners struggle with is being able to take their dog on a leisurely walk. All owners should train their dogs to go on a “loose leash walk.” This type of walk is simply one where the dog does not pull. There are many benefits to training your dog to do this.

First, dogs who pull exceptionally hard on the leash can injure themselves — especially if they’re not wearing a harness. Pulling on a collar can injure your dog's trachea and neck. If your dog does pull, invest in a harness to help reduce the physical stress of walking. Retractable leashes should be avoided as well. Not only to they offer little to no control while walking, the thin cords of these leashes can injure owners when trying to wrangle their dogs! We recommend a heavy duty leash like Krebs Reggie 6’ Leash. Thick and easy to grasp, it will make loose leash training way easier!

Second, dogs who pull are generally just excited to be outside. While they might be having fun, they are unable to remain focused on their owner and if they get loose, the chances of being hit by a car or running off increase dramatically. Loose leash walking will increase your dog’s focus on you (the owner) and put you more in control.

Practice Makes Perfect

Just like with any other form of training, practice is key! Many owners don’t realize it, but if their dog pulls on the leash, chances are they have unknowingly reinforced the dog to do so. Time to break this bad habit! Make sure you’ve got your clicker ready. Don’t forget to grab some healthy training treats like our Dried Bison Liver treats.

Begin loose leash training inside or in the backyard and with as few distractions as possible. The more distractions around, the harder it is to grab your dog’s attention.

1. Leash your dog and stand still. Wait until your dog pulls and the leash goes taut

2. Once your dog moves back and releases the tension, click and offer a treat

3. Remain still and only when your dog offers eye contact, click and offer a treat

4. Once your dog begins to seek eye contact, begin tossing treats closer and closer to your right foot

5. Begin walking slowly, click and reward when your dog maintains pace with you

Achieving results with these 5 steps won’t happen overnight. So don’t get frustrated right away if you can’t get past step 2. Only advance to the next step if the previous has been mastered otherwise you run the risk of confusing your dog.

Taking the Show on the Road

Once you feel your dog has the 5 basic steps of loose leash walking down, it’s time to hit the road. A new environment will distract your dog but by remaining consistent with the previous training sessions, things will get easier.

If your dog does pull once outside, come to a dead stop once the leash becomes tense. Don’t resume the walk until the leash goes slack and your dog comes to your side. Click, offer a treat and resume the walk. During a slow walk you can even place treats at your feet to help your dog maintain an even pace. By refusing to be led by your dog, he/she will begin to understand you’re the one in charge. Before you know it, going on walks will less stressful and way more fun!

BestBullySticks.com offers best selection of safe and all-natural dog chews and treats anywhere. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter to catch the latest news and product specials!

With the weather heating up, you and your dog are likely to need more ways to cool down. This week, we are excited to share a refreshing and healthy dog treat recipe from Sugar the Golden Retriever! Sugar and Mom, Rosalyn, were kind enough to let us share their Frosty Yogurt Berries Bone Parfait dog treat recipe! We know your dog will enjoy the frozen, tart berries and yogurt as their new favorite way to cool down this summer.

Ingredients

• ~1 tablespoon of Greek Yogurt
• ~1 tablespoon of Plain Yogurt
• ~2 teaspoon of fresh blackberries juice (=3 pieces of blackberries)
• 4 x-small pieces of strawberries
• 1 teaspoon of homemade toasted coconut honey oats (using old fashion oats, coconut oil and honey)

Directions

Use a Bone cookie cutter as a mold. Place it on a flat surface. We used a clear plate.

1. Pour into the mold ~ 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt.* Freeze it for about an hour.

*This is the first time we used Greek yogurt for frosty paw recipe. It does not freeze well unlike the regular plain yogurt.*

2. Pour ~2  teaspoons of the fresh blackberries juice. Smashed blackberries can be added too. Freeze it for about 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Place little pieces of strawberries.

4. Pour ~1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Freeze it for 20 minutes.

5. Place the tasted oats on top. Freeze it for another 10-15 minutes.

It was my treat for the day (whole day). Mom believes in portion control. She cut it into four pieces. I had one piece for breakfast, mid morning snack, after nap snack and evening meal dessert. It was DELISH! TASTY! The little pieces of strawberries inside and toasted oats were delightful. Using Greek yogurt as the first layer gave a thicker texture  but it tasted GOOD!

Bone Appétit & Enjoy!

Thank you to Sugar & Rosalyn at Sugar the Golden Retriever for letting us share this amazing recipe and photo!

To find the perfect pooch snack browse all of our healthy dog treat recipes in our Weekly Drool Recipe category. Or, go with a tried and true favorite like a bully stick!