Author: Callie

Easter is in less that a week and is a great time to celebrate the coming days of Spring with your dog. BestBullySticks wants to share some fun and easy ways to make this Easter special with your four-legged family member.

Easter Egg Hunt
Your dog can find Easter Eggs, too! Fill break-open Easter Eggs with a bit of peanut butter of your dog’s favorite all natural dog treats. Scatter the eggs around in your yard and let your dog loose! The brightly colored eggs and your dog’s powerful nose will lead him to the hiding places!

Go to the Park
Take a trip to a park in your area and take your dog for a leisurely stroll. This is a great way to exercise your dog and let him explore in an environment outside of your home. New smells, sights and sounds will stimulate your dog and if you have company coming over, your dog will be calm because of his expended energy. 

Have a Picnic
If you’re already going to the park, why not plan a picnic? If it’s nice out, take a blanket and relax in a sunny spot. You and your dog will love this time out of the house and in the sun!

Easter Basket
Your dog is like a fuzzy kid to you, so why wouldn’t he get an Easter Basket, too? Check out all of our Easter Basket gift suggestions to say “Hoppy Easter” to you pup. Great bully sticks, all natural dog treats, toys and more will have your pup hopping around the block!

Hazards
Remember, there are some hazards you want to be aware of during Easter. Chocolate, sugar substitutes, Easter grass and Easter Lilies are all toxic to dogs. Read our full Easter Pet Saftey blog to make sure your dog stays happy and safe.

Watch the Busy Bee Dogs Easter story to see some highly motivated Easter Egg Hunters! 

Easter is just around the corner! Will the Easter Bunny come visit your pooch this year? Make sure you stuff your dog’s Easter Basket full of all-natural bully sticks, fun and safe dogs toys and great grooming products! But where can you get all of that in one place? Why, BestBullySticks.com of course! Let BBS be the Easter Bunny this year as we give you our Easter Basket Suggestions!

Dogs can’t have sugar, but this lollipop is just the right treat for Fido! We carry 6 and 10 inch bully stick lollipop so you can show your dog just how good he’s been! Knotted at one end, this all-natural bully stick lollipop gives your dog a fun and tasty challenge.

Simply cute. Simply all-natural. Simply Fido’s Lucy Bunny is made from organic cotton and is an adorable addition to your dog’s toy bin. Stuff this little guy in your dog’s Easter Basket and he’ll have a new favorite stuffed toy.

Don’t deal with that annoying Easter Basket grass! Stuff your dog’s basket with Bellrock Growers wheatgrass based dog treats! Most pets naturally crave greens as part of a balanced diet. With that in mind, Bellrock Growers has created Pet Greens, a line of pet treats packed with the nutritional benefits of organic wheatgrass! A gluten-free dog treat, the super herbs naturally promote proper digestion, clean teeth, and healthy skin and coat. It also provides immune support for your pet's lasting health!

For a long-lasting dog toy, the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Big Pup Bone has got what you’re looking for. This dog bone was specially designed to soothe teething puppies. The soft design can withstand moderate-aggressive chewing. Senior dogs will also enjoy this dog chew. It will help rekindle their younger years when they could chew and chew.

For a “springy” and Spring-inspired ball, check out the West Paw Jive Pink. This buoyant dog ball made from all natural materials will stand the test of time. With three different sizes, the West Paw Jive Pink is a great match for any size dog!

All-natural pet grooming is here in the form of great smelling, environmentally friendly Tropiclean Spa & Grooming products! Great products like Tropiclean’s Papaya Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo are made in the USA, 70% organic and come in eco-friendly packaging. Not to mention they’re soap free and don’t interfere with spot-on flea and tick medications!

BestBullySticks wishes you and your dog a “Hoppy” Easter! Check out these great Easter Basket items and more at BestBullySticks.com.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is truly a dog that looks out of place and time no matter the setting. This Italian breed is straight out of the history books as its ancestors can be traced back to ancient times.  Learn more about the Neapolitan Mastiff in the BestBullySticks Breed Spotlight!

History & Background: The Neapolitan Mastiff has ancient origins by way of its ancestor, the molosser-type dog, which was known to live around 3000 B.C. and originated out of Asia. Alexander the Great helped in developing the mastiff type and eventually the dog made its way to Italy during Roman Conquest. Molosser-type dogs were used as war dogs as well as in circus combats where they would fight lions, tigers and men. Mastiff is derived from the Latin word “masssivus” meaning “massive.” The Italians also call this dog the Mastino Napoletano. Over the centuries, this dog was bred to be a guard dog for Italian homesteads and earned the description “big dog of the little man.” Some even say the dog was bred to look alarming enough that their appearance alone would deter intruders.

During WWII the number of Neapolitan Mastiffs diminished greatly but by 1948 a group of dedicated Italians had built up the breed and qualified the Neo’s characteristics into a breed standard. In 2004, the AKC recognized the Neapolitan Mastiff.

Height: Males 26 to 31 inches; Females 24 to 29 inches

Weight: Males 150 pounds; Females 110 pounds Read more

BestBullySticks.com wishes you a Happy First Day of Spring! Why not celebrate with your dog and whip up a spring inspired treat? Jen Mitchell Oddi from My Dog’s Breakfast has just the thing. She baked a yummy and beautiful treat for a friend’s whippet Edward (aka Teddy). Since Teddy has a sweet tooth but dogs can’t have much sugar, Jen created Sweet Teddy’s Strawberry Swirls! You and your dog can enjoy these fruity, coco-nutty treats together!

From Jen – My Dog’s Breakfast
Coconut is great for dogs – lots of benefits, especially in terms of their coat. I wish you could inhale the aroma of these cookies right now, it’s helping lighten up this dreary winter day. Oatmeal, strawberry, coconut, cinnamon.

So dear Edward – I hope you enjoy these scrumptious Strawberry Coconut Cookies. They’re not just for dogs, by the way, they’re actually quite tasty when soft and warm out of the oven!

Jam Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups strawberries, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch

Dough Mixture

• 1 1/4 cup rolled oats (not instant)
• 1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 mashed up banana
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 375.
2. Mix together the chopped strawberries with the cornstarch in a saucepan. Over medium heat, let them cook together until it reaches a jam like consistency. It should be thick but not too chunky.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg, then add the canola oil, honey, and mashed banana. Add this wet mixture to the dry and mix ‘er up.
4. Cut a large sheet of parchment paper (about the size of a baking tray). Spread the “dough” mixture onto the parchment, then spread the strawberry jam on top evenly.
5. Now, use your parchment to roll this into a log. Start by lifting the parchment (the side nearest to you) and proceed to roll the dough away from you. After each roll over, lift the parchment off and begin another roll. This is akin to rolling sushi.
6. Firm it up into more of a cylindrical shape, then wrap the edges and let it cool and set a bit in the fridge for half an hour.
7. Unwrap your bundle of strawberry coconut joy and place the parchment with log on a baking tray. Gently, and with a sharp knife, cut your cookie rounds. Lay your cookies out on the parchment paper. Sprinkle a little coconut love on top of each cookie, and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Let them cool and let your dog drool before giving them a Strawberry Swirl.

Thanks to Jen Mitchell Oddi at My Dog’s Breakfast for sharing her wonderful dog treat recipe and photos! 

Be sure to check out all the scrumptious dog treats in the Weekly Drool Recipe category.

March is slated as Pet Poison Prevention Month, and this week as it’s focus week. To help you understand how serious this topic is one statistic from the ASPCA reports in 2012 more than 180,000 incidents potential pet poisonings were reported. BestBullySticks.com knows nothing can curb your dog’s natural tendency toward curiosity but many of these cases could have been prevented. What sort of substances were involved in the 2012 cases?

Top 10 Toxins from 2012

1. Prescription Human Medications
2. Insecticides
3. Over-the-Counter Human Medications
4. Veterinary Products & Medications
5. Household Cleaners/Products
6. Human Food
7. Chocolate
8. Plants
9. Rodenticides
10. 10. Lawn & Garden Products

Prevention

So how do you prevent incidents of poisoning in your home? Your dog is precious to you and your family. Follow these easy steps:

Use Pet-Friendly Products & Medications Only
Make sure you’re using pet-friendly products on your dog. Only use specially formulated products for Fido unless prescribed or recommended by your vet. Also, don’t use other pet’s medications. For example, don’t use cat flea and tick medication on your dog. These are formulated differently.

Out of Reach, Out of Mind
Keep hazardous substances out of your pet’s way. Your pet won’t be able to get to your medications if in a high cabinet or tucked away in a drawer. Even your pet’s medications should be put up and away as many meds have meat flavorings.

This tip goes for more common things like trashcans, too. If your dog is highly curious, make sure your trash can or other potential areas of concern are locked up tight. Read more