Breed Spotlight

A classy Lassie. Literally. The Collie is a first-class breed that is hardworking, beautiful and a wonderful family pet. If you don’t already know about this wonderful breed, BestBullySticks.com is excited to share this great dog with you! Read more about the Collie in the Breed Spotlight below!

History & Background: Though it’s history is fuzzy, the modern Collie is a descendant of the reliable herding dogs used by Scottish and North English shepherds. The name “Collie” doesn’t have a definitive history either, but it’s thought the original word was “coll,” an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “black”. This breed became interesting to fanciers after the Industrial Revolution and then into a fashionable breed after Queen Victoria owned a Collie. Though the need for the Collie as a working dog died out, there is a revival of using this breed as a working and performance dog in the United States and UK.

The Collie has enjoyed plenty of fame outside of the show ring on the silver screen. Undoubtedly the most famous Collie is Lassie, the star of many tv shows and movies. Multiple dogs played Lassie, the first of which was named Pal and were owned by Rudd Weatherwax.

Height: Males, 22 to 26 inches; Females, 21 to 26 inches

Weight: Males, 45 to 75 pounds; Females 35 to 65 pounds

Coat: The fur coat of this Collie is of particular importance as it helps differentiate from other similar breeds. Sometimes called the Rough Collie, the long, harsh outer coat and highly dense, soft undercoat distinguishes this dog from its closely related Smooth Collie. A Collie’s coat is abundant everywhere except the head and legs and feathering appears on the back of the legs and tail.

Color: There are four standard colors for the Collie including

• Sable & White: Fawn color varying from light gold to dark mahogany. White markings on chest, neck, legs, feet and tip of the tail.
• Tri-color: Mostly black with white markings like the Sable & White coloring. Tan shading on head and legs.
• Blue Merle: A marbled blue/grey coat with black and white markings and tan shading.
• White: Mostly white with sable, tri or blue merle markings. Read more

Do you have a “Man’s Man” in your family? An all-around example of what being a man is supposed to be? Well, get ready to meet the “Hound’s Hound”. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is commonly referred to the best hound breed because they exhibit all the best qualities of its relative breeds. Whether on the hunt or in the home, the Treeing Walker Hound is one of best! Read more about this hound in BestBullySticks.com’s Spotlight on the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

History & Background: Treeing Walker Coonhounds are descendants of the Walker Foxhound, which is from the family of English Foxhounds that came to America. After Thomas Walker imported the English Foxhound to Virginia in 1742 and the breed didn’t change until the 1800s when a stolen dog was bred to create a new breed called the Walker Hound or “Tennessee Lead.” However, it wasn’t until the 1940s that the Treeing Walker Coonhound was recognized as a distinct breed. Through selective breeding, this dog has excellent hunting abilities, including it’s signature move to “tree” game.

“Treeing” means the dog will track game, then follow it to the tree where the game has run, usually accompanied by placing the front paws up on the tree trunk. A fast, smart hunter that is able to find game quickly and has incredible endurance, the Treeing Walker Coonhound has been called a trailing hound with treeing instinct. Usually this dog goes after small game such as raccoons and opossums. Though this dog is still used as a reliable hunting dog, it’s also known as a wonderful family pet.

This year marks the first time the Treeing Walker Coonhound be at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Watch the Treeing Walker compete in the show ring on February 11^th at 8 pm est on CNBC. Read more

Ready for adventure! Curious to a fault! Lover of Digging Holes! The Russell Terrier is smart as a whip and always on its toes. Owners of Russell Terriers are constantly surprised by the quickness of mind and physicality this little dog can manage. Read more about this spirited companion as BestBullySticks.com shares the story of the Russell Terrier in the BBS Breed Spotlight.

History & Background: Named after Reverend John Russell, the “Jack Russell Terrier” originated in England, but was developed into the modern breed in Australia. As a derivative of the Parson Russell Terrier, the Russell Terrier is an all-purpose dog. This breed was used as a small game hunter, especially for foxes, and ratter. Russell Terriers were also developed to be small enough to be carried on horseback in a saddlebag. As the breed type began to grow, many fanciers and terrier clubs wanted to draw a line between the wide range of working type terriers. It was then the Parsons Terrier and Russell Terrier were defined as two separate breeds with different body types. In other parts of the world, the Russell Terrier is known as a Jack Russell, but by American standards the Russell Terrier has shorter legs.

The Russell Terrier will be competing at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for the first time in this breed’s history. See the Russell Terrier compete at Westminster on February 12, 2013 at 8pm-11pm ET, Live on USA Network.

Height: 10 to 12 inches

Weight: 14 to 18 pounds

Coat: Russell Terriers can have smooth, broken or rough coats. All coats are paired with an undercoat, are waterproof and the dog’s body is well covered.  A smooth-coated Russell will sport dense, hard yet short and low-lying hair. Russell’s with broken coats have medium-length hair that falls somewhere between smooth and rough and have facial furnishings. Rough coated dog’s hair is dense, hard and medium-length. Russell’s hair is never thin, wooly, curly or silky. Read more

Independent, a little rugged yet very beautiful, the Lhasa Apso shares these characteristics with its native home of Tibet. This little dog was thought to bring luck in ancient times and now graces many home with its joyful disposition and mischievous personality.  Learn more about the Lhasa Apso in the BestBullySticks.com Breed Spotlight!

History & Background: The Lhasa Apso, or Apso Seng Kyi meaning “Bearded Lion Dog” hails from Tibet. This rugged country produced a rugged little dog that was kept in the home to as a special guard to the family. It’s said Lhasa’s hearing was so acute that the dog could distinguish a friend from a stranger. These dogs were mainly kept by nobility and Buddhist monks in the holy city that shares its name, Lhasa. It was even believed that the dogs themselves were sacred. The thought was when a Lhasa Apso’s master died, their soul entered the body of the dog.

In 1933, the first pair of Lhasa Apso’s came to America as a gift from the 13^th Dalai Lama to C. Suydam Cutting. At the time, the only other Lhasa outside of Tibet was registered in England. First called the Lhasa Apso Terrier, this breed started in the Terrier group and was moved to the Non-Sporting Group. Through DNA testing, it’s thought that the Lhasa is one of the 14 most ancient dog breeds. Read more

If you want a dog that will form a fierce bond with you or your family, the Kuvasz is the dog for you. Even to the point of self-sacrifice, this dog loves its family above all else. Read more about this beautiful dog on the BestBullySticks.com Breed Spotlight on the Kuvasz.

History & Background: Throughout history, the Kuvasz (pronounced KOO-vahz) has played a part in both the lives of European kings and shepherds. Though Tibet is claimed as this dog’s original home, the even larger predecessor of the modern Kuvasz is thought to have accompanied Turkish refugees fleeing the Mongols into Hungary. The Turkish word “kawasz” means “armed guard of the nobility” or “protector.” These dogs were the trusted friend of King Matyas I, the ruler of Hungary and many other nobles. Eventually, Kuvaszok became working dogs for shepherds.

By the end of WWII, numbers of Kuvaszok had greatly diminished. During the war German and Soviet soldiers would kill the dogs because they so loyally defended their families. Of the approximately 30 dogs that remained after the war, other breeds were interbred to repopulate the Kuvaszok such as Great Pyrenees. The result is the modern Kuvasz, which is smaller than its ancestors.

Height: 26 to 30 inches

Weight: 70 to 115 pounds

Coat: The Kuvasz sports a thick double coat of medium length that ranges from straight to wavy and is odorless. This dog also has a mane, starting at the neck and covering the chest. On the lower forelegs and hind legs short, smooth hair appears. An abundance of hair is found on the back of the thighs and under the tail, usually 4 to 6 inches long. During warmer months, the Kuvasz sheds most of its dense coat. Read more