Author: Callie

Saturday mornings mean a few things such as sleeping in, watching cartoons or doing yard work around the house, but the best part may the warm biscuits out of the oven.  A biscuit is one of the best comfort foods that will always be reminiscent of home and family.  Since your dog is just very much a part of your family, don’t leave him out on your next Saturday morning breakfast.  These easy Chicken & Cheese Biscuits will surely win you some Saturday afternoon snuggle time with your favorite pup.

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Bisquick

1 Cup Pre-cooked chopped chicken

1 Cup Low fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 Cups Water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine all ingredients in medium sized bowl (Mixing dough for approximately  3 minutes will ensure all ingredients were mixed well.)  Dough will be sticky.

4. Form dough into balls and place onto well greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

A couple of weeks ago, Best Bully Sticks held a one day contest where our fans could nominate their favorite rescue or charity to win 30 cases of treats from BBS. We had almost 1000 people vote over an eight-hour period and fans clearly wanted The Old Dog House in Jacksonville, Florida to win.  In honor of their win, we thought we would share with our fans a little more about this admirable charity.

As their name suggests, this rescue in Northern Florida’s sole mission is to place older dogs with families.  Most individuals or families looking to adopt a dog, really only look at puppies, but The Old Dog House chooses to educate the public of the joys of adding an older or senior dog to their lives.

Our intent is to “rehome” the older and senior dogs we rescue and rehabilitate. Sometimes, “rehoming” is not an option due to medical, behavioral, or physical issues. In these cases, the dog will remain a resident of The Old Dog House for the remainder of their life. We call these dogs 'Permanent Residents'.

Every dog at The Old Dog House is viewed and treated as part of the family. We do not have kennels, runs, or cages, rather they live in a true home environment with all of the comforts of home.”

As Kim Stordahl describes, it all started with a dog named Cindy. Read more

The last part in our safety series are two things BBS never hopes you have to do, but once again, we want all of you to be ready for any potential doggie emergency. CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and the Heimlich maneuver are two live saving techniques that could potentially save your dog.  

We could have easily written a very lengthy article about how to complete both of these procedures, but we decided to show off the great potential of the internet and show two instructional videos. These videos are very informative and concise and you’ll have a good understanding of how these should be done by the end of each. 

CPR 

Heimlich Maneuver 

We hope this series has in the least prodded you to begin thinking about first aid for your beloved furry family member, and at most, truly prepared you for any potential emergencies. 

Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight finishes off our new AKC breeds this week with the Finnish Lapphund. This dog has a very interesting ancestry and unique features, which makes it clear why it is one of the newest breeds recognized by the AKC. Read to find out more!

History & Background: The Finnish Lapphund is historically known as the helper dog of the Sami tribe, a semi-nomadic tribe in what used to be Lapland (now the northern region of Finland, Sweden and part of Russia).  After the Sami people settled down, they kept reindeer herds which the Lapphund helped herd and maintain. With the invention of the snowmobile, the popularity of this dog lessened. However, in Finland and Scandinavia, they are still extremely popular pets.

Height: 18-21 inches (male), 16-19  inches (female)

Weight: 33-53 pounds (depending on size)

Coat: The Finnish Lapphund has a very thick double coat.  The outer layer is straight, long and water-repellent. The Lapphund's under coat is soft, dense and fluffy. Males have a very thick mane of fur around the neck. This very thick and abundant coat makes this dog resistant to extreme cold.  Because of this, the Lapphund is only one of two dogs legally allowed to be kenneled outdoors during winter in Finland.

Color: This breed has many different color variations, but there is usually one predominant color. Black, white, brown red, sable and wolf-sable are often seen.  One of the most common combinations is black and tan (mostly black with tan legs and face.) Facial markings are often seen on Lapphunds, one of the most unusual being "spectacles."  These are a light rings that appear around this dog's eyes and gives the impression of wearing spectacles. Read more

Best Bully Sticks knows these homemade biscuits are sure to make an impression.  Packed full of chicken flavor, these adorable treats are great for everyday pup snacks or a puppy play date. We think you’ll have as much fun making them as your dog loves eating them!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup brewer's yeast

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons canola oil

1 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

2. Combine flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Pour canola oil in a large bowl. Add flour mixture to oil in 3 increments, alternating with 1 cup stock; mix until combined.

3. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes (dough will be sticky). Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out rounds using a 2-inch fluted cutter (bakedeco.com). Transfer to baking sheets.

4. Make an indentation toward the bottom of 1 circle using your thumb, then press dough to make an arch of 4 small circles on top of the thumbprint using the tip of your pinky. Repeat with remaining rounds. Freeze for 15 minutes.

5. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating sheets and lightly brushing with remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock halfway through. Turn oven off, and let stand in oven for 40 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen

Recipe Tip:

Dog treats can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month.

(courtesy of Martha Stewart)