Archive for January 2012

It's easy to see that Best Bully Sticks has a dedicated following. Without them we wouldn't have had such a great turnout for our latest giveaway.  HUGE thanks to the 574 Facebook voters! But more to the point--Our winners for our $2K Animal Rescue/Shelter Winners are:

1st Place ($1000 Prize) - Puppy Rescue Mission, Celina, TX

The primary mission of Puppy Rescue Mission is to fundraise and assist various organizations which help soldiers bring their furry friends home from war. Anna Cannan, president of Puppy Rescue Mission, originally created PRM to fundraise to help rescue"THE LUCKY SEVEN" out of Afghanistan where her fiance was deployed. Due to Anna's amazing fundraising success, several of "THE LUCKY SEVEN" are now living stateside along with their respective soldiers. While PRM's primary mission is to assist soldiers and their furry friends, PRM will also, from time to time, assist an organization in rehoming a stray animal.

2nd Place ($500 Prize) - At Risk Intervention, Knoxville, TN

At Risk Intervention seems to be everywhere at once.  As the "Force Multiplier in Rescue" they are simultaneously helping many different animal rescues.  While they are on the front end of some animal rescues themselves, they raise money for chain link fencing, emergency transports and vet expenses for rescues and shelters nation-wide.

"We're the partner you need to go to the next level without interfering with your frontline and internal operations. We can provide a 501(c) umbrella for your fundraising activities as well as help with the 501(c) applications. If you're like most rescues, two of your biggest problems are transport and home visits. We can help with that, too, with a national network of experienced home visitors and (soon) low cost transportation resources." (From www.atriskintervention.org)

3rd Place ($500 Prize) - Guardian Pit Bull Rescue, Woodlands, TX

Guardian Pit Bull Rescue is an organization dedicated to saving the lives of "Pit Bulls". Our goal is to educate people by providing accurate information about this amazing and misunderstood group of breeds and find good homes for these great dogs.

"Our first priority is to educate the public about the breed and promote responsible pit bull ownership. We strive to advocate for a breed who otherwise has no voice and falls victim to breed specific legislation, discrimination and cruelty due to an undeserved reputation. We work directly with local animal shelters to rescue the breed from euthanasia and aid in rehabilitation for permanent home placement as a beloved family pet. It is our goal to dispel the myth, fight ignorance and allow the public to know this breed for their loyalty, compassion and unconditional love that truly defines them." (From www.guardianpitbullrescue.com)

Congratulations to these winners!! We are so thankful for the work they do!

Dogs can get colds just like their owners.  If your dog has a cough, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, general lethargy and loss of appetite, he or she might just have a cold.  Also similar to human colds, dog colds aren't severe. Here are a few tips on helping your pup get back to romping around.

Comfy & Cozy: Keep Your Dog Warm & Dry. You'll need to make sure your dog stays inside as much as possible. Cold air can further constrict a dog's bronchial tubes if they are having a hard time breathing. Routine potty breaks outside should remain normal, but when inside keep your pup warm by adding blanket to their bed, covering them up or putting a hot water bottle in their covers.

Calories Every Day Keeps the Doctor Away: Making Sure Your Dog Eats and Drinks. If your dog seems indifferent toward their food, there are a few ways to get their calorie intake up.  If your dog won't eat dry food, try a hot low sodium chicken broth, or mixing up a combination of veggies, boiled chicken and rice.  Your dog is certain to be interested. Making sure your dog stays hydrated is equally important. If they don't seem to want to drink water, try a sports drink or add an electrolyte mix to their water. (Always check with your vet about the ingredients on these products!) This helps to replace fluids that your pup may be losing to mucus production.

Doggies In The Mist: Vapor & Moisture. There are a few ways to help break up your dog's congestion. Turn on a very hot shower and sit in a closed bathroom with your dog. You can also use a humidifier, which creates the same effect.  Both of these will help loosen any mucus your dog has built up.

The key to helping your dog get over a cold is pretty simple--If it works for you, it just might work for your dog. If the symptoms become more intense, please take your dog to the vet. It could possibly be something more serious than a cold.  Illnesses such as Parainfluenza, Kennel Cough or Canine Distemper are all more serious ailments that could be disguised as a cold. If you're an attentive dog owner, you'll pick up on the difference in a common cold and something more serious. Never second guess taking your prized pup to the doctor.

Best Bully Sticks is excited to now offer this amazing deal on our small and medium sized bully sticks. It's our Small/Medium Bully Stick 1 lb. Grab Bag! Sale price is $19.99 (originally 25.74)!

This is a 1 lb. variety bag of our popular bully sticks, in small and medium sizes. Small bully sticks will range from 5 to 7 inches and medium sized bully sticks will range from 11 to 13 inches. In the bag, you'll find an equal number of both sizes of bully sticks. Both sizes are our regular thickness size.

This variety bag is a great opportunity for dogs of all sizes to try out our bully sticks or for long time customers to get a great deal on the dog treats they've grown to love. These are our all natural low odor bully sticks.

Original Price: $25.74

Sale Price: $19.99

At Best Bully Sticks, we love all breeds of dogs--pure bred to mutt and everything in between.  That being said, dog lovers should note six new AKC registered dogs on the books. These breeds include the Cesky Terrier, the American English Coonhound, the Xoloitzcuintli, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund and the Finnish Lapphund.  All of these dogs will be added into the competition at the Westminster Dog Show which will be televised February 13th-14th.  In honor of this exciting news, BBS will be highlighting each of these breeds over the next six weeks in our Breed Spotlight. This week we look at the Cesky Terrier.

Height: 10 to 13 inches

Weight: 16-22 pounds

Coat: Ceskys usually sport long hair with a fine texture, which is wavy and glossy.  If this terrier's hair is shorter, it curls.

Color: Cesky puppies are born black, or black and tan.  Mature dogs (3 years and up) show shades of gray from charcoal to platinum gray.  Black colors usually show up around the head, ears, feet and tail.  White, brown and yellow colorings are usually seen on the head, beard, cheeks, neck, chest, limbs and around the vent.

Appearance: The overall appearance of the Cesky Terrier is a short-legged, long-bodied terrier which looks similar to the Scottish Terrier.  This terrier has a long head, bushy beard, mustache and eyebrows.  Their bodies are solid, but not heavy.   The blue-gray varieties have brown eyes and black noses and lips. Brown varieties have yellow eyes and liver-colored noses and lips.

Temperament: This breed of terrier is calmer than most but can still be playful, especially loving to dig. They can be reserved around strangers but are loyal to their owners.

Health: The Cesky sometimes suffers from the Scotty Cramp, which is a minor problem causing awkward movement but isn't painful or life threatening.

History & Background: The Cesky Terrier was created by a Czech breeder in 1948 and is a cross between Sealyham and Scottish Terriers.  This breed was created to be suitable hunter in the forests of Bohemia.

Product Suggestions: At BBS, we have lots of great treats and toys for dogs. For the Cesky Terrier, we would recommend a 4, 5, or 6 inch bully stick, which are great for smaller dogs. Because of the reserved nature of this breed, the Cesky might like Simply Fido Dog Toys, which come in a range of animals and sizes.

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Would your dog like to be in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.