Archive for August 2011

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige.  Thanks Lisa! We are excited to spotlight your adorable Chihuahuas. Everyone say “Hello” by sending out warm barks and tail wags to Dobby and Ringo!

Adorable Chihuahua's Dobby & Ringo

Height: 6-9  inches

Weight: 2-6 lbs

Coat: There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Chihuahuas have two coat types, smooth and long. The smooth coat should be soft and close, with a perceptible sheen. Long coats can be flat or wavy, with an undercoat, fringed ears, feathering on the feet and legs, and a tail that looks much like a plume.

Color: Chihuahua coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

Appearance: The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults.

Temperament: The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. Thus are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed may often be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior.

Health: The average lifespan of this breed is between 15-18 years. There are also a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. Prone to rheumatism, slipped stifle, colds, gum problems, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma due to protruding eyes, weight gain and susceptible to fractures. Also some Chihuahuas have a molera, an unclosed section of the skull which can remain open throughout life making them prone to injury. They often wheeze and snore because of their small, short muzzles. This breed is also susceptible to stress.

Is your dog barking for time in the spotlight?

Have your dog say "bully sticks"! Send a photo and 2-3 sentence bio for your dog to be featured in an upcoming Spotlight on a Breed series we run every Thursday. Email bestbullysticks@gmail.com with the subject "Spotlight My Dog"

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Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.

Crock pots are a cook's best friend! They make dinner fast and easy, revolutionizing the way we cook. Just throw a few ingredients into your crock pot in the morning, set the temperature, go about your day and let the slow cooker do all the work. All you and Fido need to do after a long day is to dish up and enjoy this ready to serve home cooked meal. Even the most inexperienced cook can produce a hearty, delicious meal in a crock pot. We have the perfect recipe to get you excited about cooking for Fido. Mesmerize your dog's taste buds with this delicious one pot wonder, chicken and brown rice!

Ingredients

Base
1 cup brown rice
2 cups water

Vegetables
1/2 lb. green beans, broken into segments
1 medium sweet potato, raw, cut into medium-sized chunks (leave skin on)
3 carrots, sliced into about 1" thick rounds

Protein
2 boneless chicken breasts (with or without skin)

Directions
1. Put all ingredients into the crockpot in the order given (layer, don’t mix).
2. Cook on low for about 8 hours, on high for about 5 hours.
3. When done, stir, breaking up the chicken into small pieces. Everything will be quite soft.
4. Let cool and serve; can be used with a quality kibble or by itself, in a serving size appropriate for your dog’s weight and activity level.

Refrigerate unused portion; keeps up to three days.

Substitutions are allowed! For vegetables, try broccoli florets, zucchini, spinach or any of several types of squash. For the protein source, beef cubes, turkey or lamb also work. Use organic ingredients if possible.

If you don't have a crock pot no problem, just use a large pot and cook dish low on stove top.

Courtesy of Bark Magazine

Stay tuned for delicious dog recipes every Wednesday in our Weekly Drool Recipes blog series. Check out our other drool-worthy recipes! Also, remember food is meant to be shared! So be a pal and submit your favorite dog recipes to be featured in this delicious blog series by emailing us at bestbullysticks@gmail.com.

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.

We are dedicated to spreading awareness about pet related causes such as pet adoption. So we are excited to announce our new Tuesday blog series “Spotlight on a Rescue or Charity”, to pay tribute and honor animal rescue, shelters and charities. These are our unsung heroes across America dedicated to enriching, saving and nurturing the lives of animals in need.  We hope you will champion our cause by barking the word about the importance of pet adoption, You can also donate your time and finances to help your local animal shelter, rescue or charity. Be a voice, email us if you know of a deserving animal rescue or charity that should be spotlighted and recognized. With that said, we are proud to spotlight “ASPCA“. Thanks for being the voice against animal cruelty and for saving lives!

About the ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world. Their organization was founded by Henry Bergh in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, they are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. They are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and proud to boast more than 1 million supporters across the country

Mission

The ASPCA's mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States."

What does the ASPCA do?

As the first humane organization to be granted legal authority to investigate and make arrests for crimes against animals, they are wholly dedicated to fulfilling the ASPCA mission through nonviolent approaches. Their organization provides local and national leadership in three key areas: caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty.

How Can You Help the ASPCA?

There are so many ways to join the fight against animal cruelty and get involved: by speaking up,
adopting, donating funds and shopping the ASPCA online store.

Be a voice! Support the ASPCA  by “Liking” their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter. Bark the word about their cause, join the fight to end animal cruelty!

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.

Best Bully Sticks Now Offering Free Shipping and Flat Rate Shipping!

Customer Service is #1. You asked for free and flat rate shipping, we listened! All orders over $89 ship free, all under $89 are a flat $6.95.

Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odor free bully sticks!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

Bark the Word! Join the Best Bully Sticks Free Affiliate Program & Earn 6% Commission or 6% Product Discount

An active dog is a healthy and happy dog! Whether you take your dog for a brisk walk around the neighborhood, on a jog or adventure hike. Proper exercise ensures your dog stays healthy. However, with the hectic pace of life today, as much as we love our pets, sometimes even the little tasks, like walking the dog, seem difficult to accomplish. It's okay to ask for help and call in reinforcements to carry some of the pet care load. Thank goodness for great dog walkers who come to the rescue!

1. Plan your schedule. Determine how often you can and cannot walk your dog. Once you know how often you'll need extra help you'll be able to find a dog walker available to fill in whenever you won't be around.

2. Word of Mouth. Don't just hire a random person to act as your dog walker. You'll want to invest the time and effort into finding the very best reputable dog walker you can afford. Get recommendations from other dog owners. Ask at your local dog park or speak to all your friends and family about dog walkers they've used in the area.

3. Arrange Meeting. Call dog walkers in your area and arrange to have meetings with those you are interested in hiring. Be sure to give yourself at least three options in case you have reservations about some that you've spoken with.

4. Interview potential dog walkers via phone. Ask a lot of questions of the dog walkers you call. For instance, you'll want to ask how much experience they have, what qualifications they have and how they handle disciplining the dogs. Also, you'll want to know how many dogs they walk at once.

5. Set up meet and greet. Introduce your dog to the dog walkers. This gives you a chance to see your dog's temperament around the dog walkers. As well as allows the dog walkers a chance to determine whether or not they would feel comfortable with your dog.

Ultimately you and your dog both need to feel comfortable with your choice. It is important that you are able to trust your dog walker with spending time with your beloved furry family member. If something doesn’t seem right, listen to your gut instinct. But when you do find the right dog walker make sure to show them appreciation.

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 10,000 fans.

When we reach 10,000 fan “Likes” all of our Facebook fans will be eligible to enter a giveaway to win a grand prize. We can’t spill the beans yet! The quicker we get to 10,000 “Likes” the sooner you can learn what that grand prize is. Thanks for “Liking” our page.