Archive for December 2012

Happy Christmas Eve! If you haven’t already started your holiday festivities, BestBullySticks.com knows there will soon be a whirlwind of places to be and people to see. We urge you not to leave your dog out of the holiday happenings! However, there are a few things to remember to keep Fido happy and healthy during this busy time of year. Here are a few quick tips to remember this Christmas!

1. Stay Calm! Your dog can feel your stress. Spending a little quiet time with your dog during your busy day will help both of you de-stress.

2. Keep to your Daily Routine. Dogs thrive on a predictable routine, so don’t throw him for a loop just because it’s the Holidays. 

3. Wear him out! If you’re worried about your dog being rambunctious before your big holiday get-together, play hard right before the party! This will ensure Fido will be too tired to get into too much trouble.

4. Food Prep & Food Precautions. Food prep and presentation objects like toothpicks in food or cooking bags can easily become foul play when your dog is trying to sneak a bite. Make sure your food is out of reach or free of anything that could cause Fido harm. Make sure you also keep a tight lid on the garbage can!

5. Pretty Poisonous Plants. Toxic holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, ivy, Christmas cactus and poinsettias. Call your vet or poison control immediately! National Poison Control can be reached at: 888-426-4435 and 900-680-0000

6. Visitors & Guests. If your dog isn’t used to being around large groups of people, a major holiday isn’t the time for socialization training. Keep Fido nice and cozy in a crate or his favorite room of the house. Visit your dog every once in a while to let him know everything is okay. If your dog is out, make sure you tell all your guests not to feed any table scraps! Also make sure your dog won’t bolt out the door every time a new guest enters your home.

BestBullySticks.com hopes these quick tips will help you remember Fido’s needs during the Holiday season. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the DIY Christmas Gifts/Dog Rescuing/Doggy Holiday Baking/Walking Cotton Puff 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:

Tip #194: DIY Dog Christmas Gifts • Rescue Spotlight: Last Day Dog Rescue •  Apple Cranberry Dog Treats • Breed Spotlight on the Coton de Tulear

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!

A walking cotton puff, literally. The French word for cotton paired with the town in Madagascar where the dog originates, Tulear, gives you the name of the living cotton puff—the Coton de Tulear. Read more about this adorable little bright and cheery puff on the BestBullySticks.com Breed Spotlight!

History & Background: A native of Madagascar, the Coton de Tulear is thought to the be descendant of the Coton de Reunion. This dog was said to have gotten Madagascar by swimming to shore from a shipwreck. The modern Coton was the offspring of the Coton de Reunion breeding with local terriers on the island. In the 17^th century, a tribal monarchy called the Merina, controlled the lives of these dogs because they were seen as so special in the eyes of the island people. Coastal tribesmen and non-noblemen were forbidden to own the Coton and the dog quickly became known as the “Royal Dog of Madagascar.” When the French came to colonize the island, they kept the same elitist rules for the Coton. When hard times came to Madagascar in the 1970s, Dr. Robert Jay Russell, a biologist studying lemurs on the island, sent Cotons back to America. Since, Cotons have been gaining in popularity even though they are still seen as a rare breed. In 1996, the AKC recognized the Coton de Tulear in their Foundation Stock Service breeds.

Height: 10 to 12 inches

Weight: 12 to 15 pounds Read more

In less than a week Fido will wake you up early, but not because he needs to go outside. In 6 days it will be Christmas and Fido will be bright eyed and bushy tailed to open Santa Paws gifts! It’s not too late to whip up a Christmas treat for your prized pooch. BestBullySticks.com brings you Doggy Dessert Chef’s Apple Cranberry Dog Treats! These simple and delicious treats will make your dog’s Holiday Season very special!

Ingredients
1 cup fresh Cranberries
1 cup Apple Sauce
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 cup Milk

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. Puree cranberries and mix with applesauce. Once combined add milk, cinnamon and whole-wheat flour until dough is well mixed.

3. Knead dough into ball and roll onto a heavily floured surface 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter of your choice.

4. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until browned at the edges.

5. Cool and refrigerate.

Recipe Note: Makes 2 to 3 dozen dogs.

Thanks to Doggy Dessert Chef for this amazing Holiday Dog Treat!

For more great Holiday Dog Treat ideas, check out Peanut Butter Pumpkin Puppy Treats, Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies and Peppermint Christmas Chews! These tasty treats are sure to be a hit this Holiday season!

If it were your last day on earth, you’d most likely feel hopeless. However, even in the most desperate situations, hope can win out. That’s what one Detroit-based animal rescue is doing, giving hope back to dogs that wouldn’t otherwise have any: Last Day Dog Rescue.

Recently, BestBullySticks.com was honored to award a 1^st place award to LDDR worth $2,500.00. And naturally, we wanted to share their story with you. LDDR was started in 2005 because Pam Peterson, now LDDR's president, saw a great need for dogs being overlooked by other rescues. These dogs, whether sick, a particular breed, or even a dark coated, were being passed up. Their mission is to save as many dogs being held in high-kill shelters or facing life in research laboratories. As a non-profit, LDDR’s all-volunteer staff gives these dogs a second chance at a wonderful life. We spoke with Amanda Krigner, LDDR’s Volunteer & Fundraising Coordinator, about her experiences with the rescue as well as some great success. 

When & Why did you start?
I started volunteering with Last Day Dog Rescue this past summer, but have been involved in rescuing for a few years. It is one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever imagine. When it comes down to it, rescuing isn’t about me or you or anyone else, it is about the innocent dogs that do not have a voice of their own. Humans put them through the cruelty they have endured and it’s up to humans to help them. Last Day Dog Rescue is such a pleasure to work with because no dog is discriminated against and we really do rescue a lot of dogs. In 2011, we rescued over 1,000 dogs. That is very impressive for a rescue that is purely foster-based.

I started getting really involved with rescue after I rescued my first dog; she was neglected and starving. Rescue dogs are fantastic dogs because they really do appreciate everything you do for them. They know how rough life can be and they are determined to make your life better because you gave them a second chance. My goal is to spread the word about rescue animals and to work together with local Michigan government to make as many shelters as possible no-kill, especially Oakland County (where I live).

What's different about your rescue?
Last Day Dog Rescue doesn’t discriminate based on breed, age, or health. We pull dogs based on their temperament and personality. Many of the dogs we rescue are old, skinny, heartworm positive, and dogs that not many want in their current condition. We rescue all of our dogs on their last day. We truly are their last hope.

LDDR is foster-based, which means the majority of our dogs are in homes before they go to adoption. In these homes they learn some basic training and how to trust humans again. Read more