Archive for October 2012

This time of year, apple orchards around the country are sending delighted locals home with bushels full of all the diversity of the apple world. Red Delicious, Macintosh, Pink Lady, Granny Smith and more are gracing many tarts, pies and jam jars this Fall. BestBullySticks.com knows it wouldn’t be Autumn if the smell of some concoction of baked apples wasn’t wafting out of the kitchen.

Don’t let your dog miss out on the apple harvest! Melissa from her Yuki + Rocket (her two Schnauzers) blog has done it again. Her take on this apple-licious dog treats is sure to please your pooch! Here is Melissa’s recipe for Peanut Butter Apple Dog Biscuits!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of brown rice flour
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
2 tbsp flaxseed meal
1 tsp cinnamon
1 medium apple, grated, remove core and all seeds
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 cup natural smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup of fat free milk

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

3. In a large bowl, combine brown rice flour, wheat germ, flaxseed meal, and cinnamon.

4. With a fork, fold in apple and ginger, taking care the ginger does not stay in a clump and is evenly distributed throughout the mix.

5. In a separate small bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey. After combined mix it into the large bowl.

6. Add milk. Read more

Tomorrow is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day! BestBullySticks.com won’t shy away from an issue that needs to be addressed, especially when it comes to our dogs. That’s why we’re following the lead of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and sticking to the facts and dispelling the myths. You might be surprised by some of the statistics.  

The Facts
The 2010 Pet Obesity study conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association found that 43 million U.S. Dogs are estimated to be overweight or obese (16 million obese.) There are 77.5 million dogs in the U.S. This means 55.6% of all U.S. dogs are overweight or obese.

An overweight or obese dog is at risk for these serious health issues:
Osteoarthritis
Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Heart and Respiratory Disease
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
Kidney Disease
Many Forms of Cancer
Decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years)

Excuses
Many dog owners simply make excuses for why their dog is overweight. Some dogs do have health issues that could cause weight gain, however, many veterinarians find pet obesity a hard subject to broach with their clients. Unfortunately, you just might fall into this category. Here are some excuses that dog owners give for their pet being overweight or obese. Here are the “buts.”

 “But my dog doesn’t overeat. He eats very little each day!”
Overeating isn’t the only contributing factor to a dog’s weight issue. A sedentary lifestyle for your dog isn’t good because, just like you, bodies need to exert energy given by food. Dogs should be exercised each day to maintain healthy body functions. The life of a dog used to be one of work and now most dogs “work” through play, a walk or exercise with you!

“But my dog is always hungry!”
If you dog always acts hungry it’s because it’s either learned or instinctual. Your dog’s ancestors never knew exactly where their food was coming from, but your dog will usually get two meals a day. Discipline and a schedule is a good thing for your dog.

“But my dog will starve”/”I can’t bear to know my dog is suffering.”
If you are feeding your dog regularly, they won’t starve. If you put them on a diet they won’t starve. Overfeeding your dog is doing more harm than good because it puts the rest of their body in danger. Physical pain and discomfort from joints that are too weighted down from body fat is a terrible thing for your dog to endure. Do the right thing; alleviate your dog’s pain. It’s the best thing for them.

“But when my dog loses weight, everybody tells me they’re too thin!”
Your dog should have a clearly definable waist and you should be able to just see their ribs. The AKC states, “You should be able to feel the ribs below the surface of the skin without much padding.” Read more

Sit. Stay. Down. If your dog learned these commands easily, then Obedience Trial competitions may be perfect for your pooch. Through trust and training, your dog can be the next great Obedience Champ! BestBullySticks.com outlines the Dog Sport of intelligence and patience today on the Healthy Dog Blog.

What are Obedience Trials?
This dog sport asks dogs to complete a series of predetermined tasks from cues by a handler. However, according to the AKC the purpose behind Obedience Trials is to show dogs are not only purposeful to humans but can behave well in the home, in public and around other dogs.

Dogs and humans both need mental and physical stimulations, and Obedience Trials can give that. Intensive and thorough training is required for these trials and asks a dog to improve on and go beyond the standard “sit, stay, down, come” commands. The training process can be highly rewarding for handler and dog, providing a great hobby and closer bond for the human/dog team.

History
Obedience Trials have been around since the 1930s and are due to the credit of one woman, Helen Whitehouse Walker. Walker was the breeder of poodles who often had to fight the stereotype that poodles were only a pretty haircut. She wanted to prove the intelligence of these dogs, so she borrowed an idea from the English; competitive test used for Police, Army and Herding dogs.  After months of hard work, Walker held the first “test” in 1933 with 2 Labradors, 3 Poodles, 2 English Springer Spaniels and 1 German Shepherd. After the initial competition, interest in this sport gained momentum. She wrote this in the AKC’s newsletter:

Test classes could become popular-not only to prove the value of developing a dog’s brain, but also in interesting the average visiting public at a show.  The judging of dogs in the breed classes is a mystery to many, but a series of tests displaying the dog’s brain is something they can actually see. Read more

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Dog Athletics/Dog Rescuing/Pumpkin Eating/Old English Dog fun catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Dog Sports: Disc Dog • North Mississippi Great Dane Rescue • Gluten-Free Cheddar Pumpkin Treats • Breed Spotlight on the Old English Sheepdog

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

Old England: a green, luscious and pastoral place that reckons back to the family farms and quaint homesteads. The dog that fits into this scene is one that is old, English and friendly to boot. BestBullySticks.com spotlights the Old English Sheepdog, a dog with lots of fur and lots of happiness to share with his family.

History & Background: First simply called “The Shepherd’s Dog,” Old English Sheepdogs originated as working dogs in pastoral England. Most speculate this dog was developed from the Bearded Collie and Russian Owtchar.  Farmers quickly learned these dogs were highly intelligent and used the dogs as drovers and herders. Farmers began to dock these dog’s tails as a symbol the dogs were used for working purposes, which earned them a tax exemption. Just as the farmers would shear the sheep, the dogs were shorn as well and their coats make into warm blankets and clothing.

In the late 19^th century, this dog was first shown in Birmingham, England and gained popularity throughout England shortly after. This dog has changed very little since then. Exported to the U.S. in the 1880s, the breed quickly became a household pet in 5 of the 10 wealthiest American families.  To this day, Old English Sheepdogs are commonly seen as family pets and in the show ring.

Height: Males: 22-24 inches; Females: 20-22 inches

Weight: Males: 65+ pounds; Females: 60+ pounds

Coat: An Old English Sheepdog has a lot of hair, which covers the whole body, but not so much hair as to make this dog look overly fluffy or even appear fat. The texture of the coat is shaggy and coarse, not straight or soft. The undercoat is waterproof but is sometimes removed in grooming or nonexistent during warmer seasons. The coat is also a good guard against cold, heat and moisture. The body of the OES is well coated including the skull. The ears have medium-length hair. In confirmation showings, only the feet and rear are trimmed, otherwise this breed is show in its natural state.  Read more