Archive for July 2012

There must be something about California and Animal Rescues! All three of the past Best Bully Sticks 1-Day Animal Rescue/Shelter Giveaway winners have been from California! We’re glad West Coast pups are benefitting and we’re glad that we could help out! On July 17^th, Animal Compassion Team was added to the ranks of those winners. Hailing from Fresno, California, this rescue is a highly organized and well-networked group of people who are making a difference in their community and beyond. Best Bully Sticks talked with Brenda Mitchell, President of Animal Compassion team about their wonderful rescue. 

When & Why did you start? 
Animal Compassion Team (ACT) was founded in August 2009 by a group of like-minded individuals who were volunteering for the local high-kill animal control shelter and felt that there had to be a more humane and proactive solution to the animal control and care issues facing our community.  ACT founders set out to save as many lives as possible through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter, trap/neuter/release programs, and community education.

What's different about your rescue? 
ACT is a non-profit, all breed rescue.  We also engage in a variety of activities outside the normal "rescue & adopt" model, such as trap/neuter/release of some feral cats, community education, and "owner foster" programs in order to maximize our impact.  We are also run completely by volunteers, and have a group of approximately 80 foster parents who care for homeless animals.  We have successfully saved approximately 4,000 animals in the three years we have been operational. Read more

You just got a new dog. Congratulations! He’s so cuddly, cute and he’s got that funny but strangely wonderful puppy breath. You just can’t get enough of him. It’s Puppy Love.

Best Bully Sticks knows that this beautiful beginning is full of “Aww, how cute!” moments. However, the unspoken danger is that cuteness can also lead to oversights in development. Those, “Aww, how cute! He’s trying to put my shoe in his mouth!” moments soon become, “Aww! Why does he always chew up my shoes?”  New dog owners can’t forget that the first years of a dog’s life are developmentally important to train and teach your dog. Many dog owners overlook important training opportunities, or train incorrectly. Read about these common dog training mistakes below.

Procrastination & Inattention
Of course you don’t think of it as procrastination at the time, but as we said before, if you don’t introduce positive behaviors to your dog immediately, it could be too late. Walking on a leash, basic commands, house training and socialization all need to be a part of your pup’s life from day one.

It also needs to be said that behaviors you think are cute now, may not be so cute later. It’s important to always think ahead to when you dog is full grown. For instance, if you have a large dog, you don’t want to allow certain habits to form, such as sitting in your lap, or jumping up on people.

One Eye On The Puppy
When you have a new dog, it’s very important to keep an eye on him at all times. Young dogs are full of energy and curiosity and you have to remember, they don’t come preloaded with a sense of what items in your house are off limits. Zero boundaries are set, so you have to set them. Thus, the importance of having your eyes on him at all times.

The best way to correct a dog is while he is in the act, and not after. If a dog is chewing on a shoe and you only find it after the fact and scold him for it, that dog has no idea why he’s getting in trouble. You can only positively set boundaries if you correct mistakes as they happen. Your dog doesn’t “grow out” of chewing and jumping. They’re bad behaviors, not a life stage. Read more

Called a terrier yet classified as a toy breed, the Silky Terrier is a joyful, active dog that loves to snuggle as much as play. This little breed truly is the best of both terrier and toy worlds. A beautiful coat and a lively personality, this dog is a pleasure to have in any living environment. Find out more about this versatile breed in the Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight on the Silky Terrier.

History & Background: First called the Sydney Silky, this breed hails from Australia and is the product of interbreeding the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier. The goal of this breeding was to improve upon the Australian Terrier’s blue and tan coat. The Silky and Australian Terrier were recognized as the same breed for a long time and the Silky is very often mistaken for a Yorkie. After much breeding, the Silky Terriers were identified as a breed of their own, standards were set and the breed was officially called the Australian Silky Terrier.

After WWII, American servicemen brought home Silky Terriers and then hundreds of Silkies were imported from Australia after gaining popularity in the states. The AKC recognized this breed in 1959. This dog is primarily used as a companion dog, but still exhibits the terrier tendencies for hunting small animals, such as rodents.

Height: 9-10 inches

Weight: average 10 pounds

Coat: Just like the name gives away, the Silky Terrier sports a single, glossy and silky coat. The length of the coat falls below the body outline but isn’t so long that it touches the ground. A Silky has so much hair on the head that it seems to form a topknot. These dogs are groomed so that the hair around the face is parted down the middle and continues this way toward the full length of the body ending at the base of the tail. Despite the profuse amount of hair, the tail is covered, but not plumed and the ears are completely devoid of longer hair. The feet and legs of the Silky should have short hair and shouldn’t be covered up by the body coat. Read more

Summer time means grilling time! When you fire up the grill for you and your family, don’t forget Fido! Best Bully Sticks knows these Bacon-Cheese-Barley Burgers are going to have your pup’s sniffer going crazy well before they’re ready to eat. Your dog will feel truly apart of the summer time festivities with this great, drool-worthy burger recipe!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pearl barley (If you don’t have barley, substitute 1-cup white or brown rice.)
2 cups fat-free chicken broth
2 slices lean bacon
1 large egg
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1. Over high heat, bring barley and chicken broth to a boil.

2. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until barley is tender (about 20 minutes.) Drain excess liquid and let cool in a medium bowl.

3. While the barley is cooking, cook the bacon over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet until bacon is crisp (about 4 minutes). Keep bacon fat for cooking the burgers.

4. Finely chop bacon and add to the cooled barley.

5. Mix in egg, bread crumbs and cheese.  After mixture is evenly combined, divide into 4 patties.

6. Reheat the bacon fat and cook the burgers for 4 minutes per side on medium heat.

(top image and recipe courtesy of Rachel Ray)

Check out all the great Weekly Drool Recipes on the BBS Blog! Summer recipes are a-plenty every Wednesday throughout the season! Fresh Watermelon Salad, Bully Stick Popsicles and Blueberry Pie Dog Treats are just a few great summer recipes that are sure to please your pup this summer.

Home fires are the most preventable, yet one of the most common family disasters in America. The American Red Cross responds to more home fires than any other disaster. 88% of American families say that their pets are an integral part of the family unit, yet house fires affect 500,000 pets every year. In fact, pets start approximately 1,000 house fires each year!

July 15^th marked the 3^rd annual National Pet Fire Safety Awareness Day. Best Bully Sticks believes that you can prevent fires in your home and protect Fido from fires by following these easy tips.

Extinguishing & Unplugging
You should be following this rule anyway, but make sure when you leave the house, there are no open flames or high heat appliances in use. Open flames in a fire, stove or even a candle can incite a curious dog’s mind.  High heat appliances can include heat lamps or space heaters, which keep your dog warm in the cooler months. These might be a great idea, but when you leave home, it’s the best idea to turn them off.

Blowing Out Candles
Going back to the “Extinguishing” rule above; make sure you have all candles blown out when you walk out the door. Investing in flameless candles are not only a money saver, and even more possibly a house saver. Read more