Dog Care 101

Animal shelters and humane societies are overrun with abandoned pets looking for loving homes. The real tragedy is that thousands of these animals end up being euthanized rather than adopted. Sadly, shelter animals are often thought of as "sloppy seconds" or "someone else's problem." On the contrary, a rescued dog or cat can be a great alternative to purchasing a pet from a breeder. Lets be the solution to the problem of overcrowded rescue, shelters and pet homelessness. Adopting a pet from a shelter can be one of the most rewarding things you can do. The benefits are numerous.

1. Save 2 Lives & Enrich Your Own. According to The Humane Society of the United States sadly about 4 million dogs and cats are put to sleep each year because of overcrowded animal shelters. Pets who don't get adopted within a set time frame from a shelter are often euthanized due to shelter overcrowding & lack of supplies. Adopting a shelter pet means you are saving two lives. You are not only helping a deserving pet in need gain a home, but now there is shelter room for another animal in need to lay his or her head.

This is Arrisa, adopted in January. She's five years old and happily retired from her racing career. She's also a bully stick addict.

A picture is worth a thousand barks! Help us bark awareness about animal adoption & save lives. Share pic of your fuzzy face rescue on our Best Bully Sticks Facebook page!

Many well deserving & caring non-profit animal shelters and rescues rely upon the generosity of volunteers and donations to continue their rescue efforts. Animal shelters depend heavily on fundraisers so they can continue to operate their facilities and tend to the needs of homeless, abused and stray animals in need of extra love and care. So you can imagine that they need your help! Our friends at ehow have thought of some creative & simple things we all can do to help our local animal rescue & shelter raise money and supplies for their efforts.

1. Set a Monetary goal. How much do you want to raise, and in what time frame?

2. Organize a Spare Change Jar. Make a public announcement or send out email  at your work or school that you are trying to raise money for your local rescue & shelter. Set the jar and sign out for people to donate spare change. Every week you can collect the money and drop off proceeds to local rescue or shelter.

3. Host a dog wash event. Have volunteers sign up to commit some time to helping set up and participate in the dog wash event. Contact local pet stores to see if they can donate shampoo & brushes for the event and have people donate clean old towels to the cause.  You will also need a hose and access to water. You might want to consider hosting the dog wash in the rescue parking lot to draw awareness about the organization and spur on adoptions. Advertise that people can bring up their dogs for a bath and charge a fee. Local newspapers may advertise this event for free, and flyers can be distributed among the community.

4. Host a dog walk-athon. Choose a day and host a dog walk, either through town or at a local park. Charge a "walk fee" of maybe $5, and everyone walking their dog will receive a certificate, knowing that their money is going to help an animal shelter. See if you can get buttons or t-shirts donated. You can even set up a stand and sell items for a little extra money, such as bottled water or dog dishes.

5. Organize an auction. Collect donations from local businesses and people. Try to get a couple of large prizes, such as tickets to a major league baseball game or a mountain bike. Sell tickets for the prizes, and at the same time, you can sell 50/50 tickets to raise even more money. Refreshments are another option to make more money if you have enough volunteers.

6. Throw a garage sale and donate all money raised. Collect donations of items to sell, and advertise all over town. Make sure to be clear to everyone that all money raised goes towards the animal shelter.

7. Challenge the local community to give & get involved. Create an excitement that is infectious, and others will want to join in and do the same thing. Encourage others to do what they can to raise money for animal shelters and your efforts will go a long way.

You can also help Best Bully Sticks champion the rescue shelter fund-raising cause by doing the following:

8. Click to Give a $1 at Checkout! Participate in our Best Bully Sticks $1 Donation Program by shopping on www.bestbullysticks.com and clicking to donate a $1 at checkout. For every $1 you donate at checkout we will donate a $1 with a 100% of the proceeds going to rescues and shelters in need across the country. The money raised will help with out reach, basic animal necessities and rescue programs. Donations raised monthly by you will be given to 3 lucky rescues during our ongoing monthly Best Bully Sticks Rescue Shelter Giveaway

9. Enter our Best Bully Sticks Rescue Shelter $1500 Giveaway! Lend a helping paw by clicking to find out how you can nominate your favorite local rescue or shelter.

Food allergies and sensitivities are all to common in the canine world now a days which is cause for concern for loving pet owners like you and me.  Some of the common allergens in dog food include: beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, wheat, eggs, corn, soy, and whey. Before you can start treating your dog for food allergies you must first be able to recognize the symptoms. So, what are the tail tell signs & symptoms of a food allergy? Good question! Here are a few food intolerant symptoms that all pet owners must be aware in order to get your dog on the road to recovery.

1. Itchy skin. Excessive scratching, especially around the face.

2. Ear Infections. Recurrent ear infections that cause itching, swelling and a foul odor can be a tail tell sign your dog may be suffering from a food allergy

3. Hot Spots. Ulcerated, painful, itchy, hairless, & irritated sores on your dogs legs, paws, fur & coat which may worsen due to your dogs incessant licking & scratching.

4. Chronic Skin Infections. Ongoing skin infections may result from food allergies left untreated.

Is your dog keeping you up all night with his restless snoring? All that snoring and lack of a good nights sleep is leaving you both grumpy, tired and having people call you Mr. Grouchy Pants. Snoring occurs when their is an obstruction in the nasal passage or nostrils that causes airway constriction. It's time to retire those earplugs and get to the root of the problem. Here are few reasons why dog's snore and tips on how to remedy the situation so you both can get your beauty sleep.

Why Do Dogs Snore?

1. Obesity. Overweight or obese dog's have a higher risk of suffering from excessive snoring. They tend to have excess tissue in their throat which causes the obstruction that blocks the airways.

2. Allergies. Allergens like pollen, dust and smoke are a leading cause of nasal allergies.  As a result the mucus blocks the nostrils and causes heavy breathing.

3. Breed Specific. Certain dog breeds are predisposed to snoring such as Pekinese, Pugs, Boston Terriers. Dogs with short, narrow nostrils have to work harder to breathe than most other dogs. These breeds are known to snore as their windpipe flattens which makes it difficult to breathe.

4. Second-hand Smoke. Tobacco smoke is a big irritant that can cause your dog to snore. If you want your dog to quit snoring then you will need to put down the pack or take it outside. Make your home a smoke free environment.

5. Sickness. If your pet is battling a cold & stuffy nose then he might snore in his sleep until his nostrils are clear.

Tips on How to Stop Your Dog From Snoring

1. Clear the Air. If allergens is the culprit make sure you clean your dogs bedding every day. Take your dog on walks and outdoors when the pollen levels are low. Vacuum & dust regularly to rid your home of dust mites that may lurk under your couch,  rug and curtains.

2. Diet & Exercise. Get your dog up off the couch and outdoors for a good romp and play. Regular exercise will reduce your dogs weight, get you both in shape but and get the snoring problem under control.

3. Get a Snout job. Often times if snoring persist a vet checkup may be in order. Often times a small nasal surgery may be conducted on breeds predisposed to snoring during puppy years.

4. Purchase a Round Bed. Try to change the way your dog sleeps by either changing his bed or his sleeping posture. Dog's snore when they lie on their backs. By using a round, snug bed you will force the dog to sleep in a curled up position.

5. Prop up Your Dogs Head with a Pillow. Use pillow to elevate your dogs head which may help to reduce your dogs snoring not to mention the number of times you awaken tossing and turning in the night.

6. No Smoking Zone. Second hand smoke  not only affects the health and well being of children but pets also. Avoid smoking next to your dog. Keep him in a smoke free environment.

From Sushi, Espy and the entire Best Bully Sticks pack we wish you all sweet dreams!

BEST BULLY STICK HAPPENING UPDATES!!

Introducing Best Bully Sticks Rescue/Shelter $1 Donation Program!

Help Best Bully Sticks lend a helping paw to worthy animal shelters and rescues around the country who are dedicated to the safety and protection of animals. Please donate a $1.00 at checkout to Rescues and Shelters in Need around the country.

How It Works!

*Best Bully Sticks will match dollar for dollar. For every $1 you donate at checkout we will donate a $1 (i.e. If 500 customers donate a $1.00 for a total $500 Best Bully Sticks match the contributions raised)
*All the money raised will be donated to animal rescues & shelters (100% no administration fees) and audited by a Third party
*Donations raised by you will be given to 3 different rescues monthly. All money donated will be shown publicly and organizations that benefit will be announced on our blog.
*We will interact via contests, story submissions, guest blogs, etc with animal rescue and shelters for their chance to be one of the 3 organizations donated to each month.

NEW! PRICE-MATCH GUARANTEE!

We are so confident that we offer the best prices at www.bestbullysticks.com that we now match ANY online vendor price on any item we sell!

If you find anything on bestbullysticks.com for less on another website (excluding Amazon and Ebay), let us know and we’ll credit the difference to you. It must be the same item. For bulk items, we’ll try our best to match the price. Email us at bbinfo@bestbullysticks.com with any questions or to take advantage of this great new service.

Refer-A-Friend now offering a 6% discount per referral

Having itchy irritated hot spots is no walk in the dog park. Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis) are inflamed, infected areas of your dogs skin caused by excessive licking, scratching flea infestation, allergies, tangled or matted fur . Hot spots symptoms are characterized by redness, oozing, itchiness and hair loss. Is your dog barking for some relief? Well, Aloe Vera can be used as a topical remedy on your dogs fur & coat to soothe and heal your dogs itchy hot spots Here are a few tips on using and applying Aloe Vera on your dogs infected hot spots to give your dog some much needed relief fast.

1. Carefully trim the fur away from the severely affected hot spots on your dogs body.

2. Soak a clean washcloth in cool water. Gently cleanse the hot spots.

3. Apply a thin layer of 100% pure aloe vera gel to the hot spots. For added relief, add a drop of essential oil of lavender or tea tree oil to the aloe vera gel.

4. Repeat this process every day, once or twice a day, until the hot spots begin to heal.

5. Once or twice a week, give your dog a cool bath with a dog shampoo infused with Aloe Vera and colloidal oatmeal. Apply the Aloe Vera gel to its hot spots after it is dry.

**Practice caution when using Aloe Vera. NEVER use it internally on your dog or allow your pet to ingest it. Speak with vet prior to using Aloe Vera on your dog. Always remember to consult vet if itching is persistent and does not get any better. This could be a tell tail sign of something more serious.

BEST BULLY STICK HAPPENING UPDATES!!

Introducing Best Bully Sticks Rescue/Shelter $1 Donation Program!

Help Best Bully Sticks lend a helping paw to worthy animal shelters and rescues around the country who are dedicated to the safety and protection of animals. Please donate a $1.00 at checkout to Rescues and Shelters in Need around the country.

How It Works!

*Best Bully Sticks will match dollar for dollar. For every $1 you donate at checkout we will donate a $1 (i.e. If 500 customers donate a $1.00 for a total $500 Best Bully Sticks match the contributions raised)
*All the money raised will be donated to animal rescues & shelters (100% no administration fees) and audited by a Third party
*Donations raised by you will be given to 3 different rescues monthly. All money donated will be shown publicly and organizations that benefit will be announced on our blog.
*We will interact via contests, story submissions, guest blogs, etc with animal rescue and shelters for their chance to be one of the 3 organizations donated to each month.

NEW! PRICE-MATCH GUARANTEE!

We are so confident that we offer the best prices at www.bestbullysticks.com that we now match ANY online vendor price on any item we sell!

If you find anything on bestbullysticks.com for less on another website (excluding Amazon and Ebay), let us know and we’ll credit the difference to you. It must be the same item. For bulk items, we’ll try our best to match the price. Email us at bbinfo@bestbullysticks.com with any questions or to take advantage of this great new service.

Refer-A-Friend now offering a 6% discount per referral

Many of you have taken advantage of our Refer-a-Friend/Family Member program, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for that-it’s the biggest compliment you can give us.

Are you new to Refer-A-Friend? It’s simple! Here’s how it works:
*Your friend or family member places their first order with Best Bully Sticks.
*On that first order, your friend or family member types your name and the words “Refer-A-Friend” in the “Comments” section.
*We send you a coupon code for 6% off when their order is placed!

There are no limits to the Refer-A-Friend promotion, so you save 6% off our products every time a new friend or family member places their first order!

Do you have a bone to pick with us?

Our dog chews & dog bones are all natural, and from either Brazilian or US meat sources. If you have a highly aggressive chewers then you came to the right place. Your dogs will fall in love with our grrreat selection, while you go gaga over our amazing prices! We are constantly adding new dog bones & chews, so make sure to check back often. Better yet sign up for our newsletter and receive the inside scoop on new products, special saving & discounts & stay up to date on Best Bully Sticks happenings for 2010. We have some wonderful things in store worth barking about, so sniff around our site daily!

Trudy says "Got my bully, life's good"

Offering you more of the best of the best-with your input!

Since you are our most valuable resource and we want Best Bully Sticks to be your go-to source for great pooch stuff, we need your help! Please let us know what you think we should offer, and how you think we can improve our website, for your best possible shopping experience with us. We will carefully consider all ideas.

Give the gift of  a good chew.  Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our NEW All Natural Free Range Odor free bully sticks!

Trudy and Jasmine play tug-o-bully !

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

Bark the Word! Join the Best Bully Sticks Free Affiliate Program & Earn 6% Commission or 6% Product Discount