Dog Care 101

Last week, Best Bully Sticks commemorated Memorial Day in our Dog Care 101 segment, but this week we’re back to the weird stuff! If you didn’t tune in two weeks ago, BBS Healthy Dog Blog talked about some strange doggy behaviors: where they come from and what they mean. This week we’ll continue with the funny dog behaviors and we’ll talk about actions like eating grass, sleep running, crazy tails and more!

1. Eating Grass: Chowing down on the green stuff could mean a couple of things for your dog. One of the reasons is a throwback to your dogs primal urges, all the way back to when his ancestors were wild. Dogs were once scavengers and would eat just about anything to fill their tummies including berries and other vegetation. So when your dog happens to go looking for an immediate answer to his growling stomach, grass might just be the first option.

You’ve probably also heard it said that dogs eat grass to help them throw up; to alleviate a hurting stomach. Usually grass only causes this reflux action when swallowed in gulps. The grass can cause a ticking sensation in the throat and stomach lining and help the dog vomit. This is usually sought out by a dog when they do have an upset or gassy stomach. The most important thing to remember when your dog eats grass is that is isn’t harmful in any way.  The only reason to be alarmed is if your dog really starts ramping up his grass consumption.

2. Sniffing Dogs or People: It’s something you’ve seen hundreds of times, dogs sniffing other dogs or people. What’s that all about? It seems really strange to us humans to get that close to a creature’s bum, but there are two coinciding reasons why dogs behave this way. One, a dog’s sense of smell is the biggest way they “see” the world. In other words, a dog’s sense of smell is their way of inputting important information about another animals. The place where dogs find that information just happens to be anther dog’s behind. That’s reason #2. Dogs have glands in their anus that store fluid which tells another dog everything they need to know about them; their gender, health, diet and even mood. Read more

Break out the sprinklers, the grill and the checkered tablecloths! Best Bully Sticks wants to say, “HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!” Families around the nation gather to remember those service men and women who gave their lives to maintain our national freedoms as well as enjoy the company of those who are closest to us. That tight-knit group includes your dog, too! While you enjoy your Memorial Day, as well as a good burger, don’t forget to let Fido join the fun! BBS will be taking you through some past editions of the Healthy Dog Blog’s safety tips to keep your favorite pup safe while enjoying your Memorial Day festivities!

1. Don’t Share Food! There are lots of human foods that aren’t good for you dog, and while you may want to treat your pup, that treat may not be good to him. Make sure you keep all food and alcoholic beverages out of Fido’s reach.

2. Keep Fresh Water Available! Fresh water is essential to keeping your dog’s internal temperature down on a potentially hot Memorial Day. No matter where you are having your Memorial Day fun, make sure fresh water is available for your dog. Best Bully Sticks makes this easy with the Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain, or if you’re on the go, the Handi-Drink Portable Bottle/Bowl is a great travel-friendly alternative.

3. Memorial Day Travel with Fido! If you have Memorial Day plans down the street, across town or half a country away and decide to take your dog, make sure you’re keeping your pup safe in the car. But most importantly, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR!  BBS wants to offer some great tips for keeping your dog safe on the road. Read our Road Trip Dog Care Safety post to learn more! Read more

Dogs are lovers, not fighters. And sometimes, they’re downright comedians. Best Bully Sticks knows we’ve all been pretty tickled at our dogs because of things they do, but why do dogs do the things they do? Why do dogs whine? Why do they circle before laying down or eating? Why do they lick things?

We have to remember, dogs were once wild animals and their behaviors, while they have adapted to a humans over the years, are still wild at heart.  This is the first of a two part series that will detail some of your dog’s funny, weird or just down right alien behaviors. This week we’ll cover circling, whining, yawning, licking and elimination behaviors.

1. Circling before lying or sitting. No, your dog isn’t aspiring to be a ballerina, it’s just his ancestral wildness coming out.  Before your dog had a comfy, cushy bed to lie down on, the nearest patch of grass was the best option.  Circling was the way wild dogs would stomp down tall grass to make a nest. This behavior was also to see if there were any unwanted creatures in the area where the dog wanted to lay down. One more possibility could be temperature regulation. If moving the grass away from a spot would reveal a cooler layer of dirt, they the dog exhibit this behavior to find the coolest spot possible. When dogs circle today before settling down it’s just a leftover urge from the wild days, an old gene that never really left.

2. Whining. There isn’t a magical machine that can translate all “dog-speak” so until that happens, we humans will just have to realize that whining could be a lot of different things. Whining means your dog is trying to communicate something and that could be anything from “I’m hungry” to “There’s a toy stuck under there!” but it does mean he probably wants something and it might just be your attention. Read more

Best Bully Sticks loves supporting animal shelters and rescues. (In fact, every Tuesday the Healthy Dog Blog highlights a rescue or shelter.) It’s pretty easy to figure out that our readers and customers genuinely care and hurt for rescue animals. But what happens when rescuing a dog falls into your own hands? Best Bully Sticks knows at some point you'll see a dog in need, whether you’re driving or just happen upon a loose, unattended dog. Today BBS will go over the correct way to handle the rescue of a stray dog.

Your Initial Reaction
Remember that your initial reaction is key. If you’re in your car, do not slam on your breaks. There’s no reason to get in a wreck. If you’re walking by your self, do not startle the dog.  Any dog, no matter how friendly, can act out when scared.

If You Don’t Feel Comfortable
If there is any reason you don’t feel comfortable rescuing the dog, don’t proceed! Whether it’s because you’re alone, you’re nervous or scared, or just don’t feel confident, by all means, don’t try to rescue the dog. Dogs can sense fear and you don’t want to provoke the dog in any way. Call your local SPCA, or 411 number to find out who to contact. Provide your nearest animal rescue organization with as much information as you can: coloring, markings, breed, color of collar, gender and where you last saw the dog and which direction it was heading.

DO NOT
If you decided to help the dog, here are some absolute no-no’s.
-Do not chase the dog. If you run, the dog will run and that could mean out into traffic, or just away where you can’t follow.

-Do not move suddenly or speak loudly. Again, you don’t want to frighten or provoke the dog.

-Do not proceed if the dog becomes aggressive. We shouldn’t have to say it, but it won’t be worth it or help either one of you if you are hurt. 

Securing the Dog
This part of the process is a very delicate one. First, try calling the dog to you and maybe even offer a treat and incentive. If you’re on the road, try slowly opening the door and see if the dog jumps in.  Dogs who are used to riding in cars will be familiar with this. If you don’t feel comfortable riding in the car with the dog, call your local SPCA or Animal Rescue to meet you where you are. If you happened upon the dog in your neighborhood, trying coaxing the dog into a fenced in yard or any closed off area. Read more

Now that it’s warming up, Best Bully Sticks knows you’ll be flocking to the water. Any body of water will be teaming with folks looking to cool down. And why not take Fido along too? A lot of dogs enjoy the cool water too but owners need to be aware of potential hazards of the water. Best Bully Sticks gets you and your dog ready for fun in the surf with these handy water safety tips!

Hang Out With Your Dog
Don’t leave your dog unsupervised. You brought your dog to the pool, lake or “swimmin’ hole” to hang out with you, right? Make sure you keep an eye on your dog. Not all dogs are good swimmers.

Buy & USE A Dog Life Jacket
Your dog might be an excellent swimmer, but he will eventually get tired, or be distraced or get a cramp. Buy and use a dog life jacket so your dog is always protected. Rip currents or undercurrents can also be a problem in larger bodies of water. You’ll always be happy you bought and put your dog in a life jacket.

Fun In The Sun & Surf
Best Bully Sticks offers a lot of great dog toys to bring out to the water. Floatable, durable and loads of fun, your dog will thank you for a great water toy! Check out BBS’s entire line of Balls for Dogs that will be great for the water. The West Paw Huck or Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Medium Orbee are both great choices!

Provide Shade & Comfort
Sun and therefore heat is more intense around bodies of water because of the sun’s reflection and humidity. Make sure you dog has a place to escape to, such as a towel on the beach (hot sand can blister paws), or shade to get out of the sun.

Water, Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink
Make sure you have fresh, clean water for your dog to drink. Chlorinated pools or lake water can both cause serious health issues for your dog. Chlorine is poisonous to dogs and natural water can contain parasites. Keep a gallon of water and a pop-up bowl for your pup when he’s romping outdoors!

BBS has a great portable water solution. Check out the Handi-Drink Portable Bottle/Bowl for your next trip out to the water!

More Water After The Water
After you and your pup with your fun in the sun and surf, rinsing your dog with clean water is important. This will ensure that your dog won’t keep any unwanted chlorine, salt or water parasites. Make sure to take off and let your dog’s collar dry as not to cause any hot spots.

Do your dogs like to romp in the water? Tell us your favorite water story in the comments section!