Dog Stories

Dear Readers,

Today Best Bully Sticks celebrates Mutts Day. Since celebration should have reason and understanding behind it, we beg the question: why are we celebrating? We don’t know who came up with Mutts Day; there isn’t a named founder or creator.  Mutts Day is likely little known to much of the world. It’s not as if it’s a highly notable day, per say, but in the least it is fitting to say that every day with a mutt is a great day.

What are mutts? Mutts are the product of two or more dog breeds, creating a unique hybrid of dog. The word “mutt” historically has a negative connotation, but as any owner with a mutt knows, it’s just a word and nothing more. Technically called “half-breeds,” these dogs bring so much joy into the lives of their owners, no purebred status or high price tag matters. In fact, BBS would say most mutt owners would willingly pay the high price tag yet still keep their mutt-owner status.

So, again, why do we celebrate? Best Bully Sticks is celebrating Mutts Day to recognize the wonder that these dogs bring into our lives. Just as their lineage is indiscernible, so is the effect they have on our lives and it’s simply incredible. And maybe we love mutts because they are a reflection of us, of humankind. We are all a little mixed up ourselves and maybe we need an animal to show us just how joy can be found in any family or background. Mutts show us the past can truly be the past and the future is bright. Just like many other holidays, honor and recognition shouldn’t be confined to just a single day. Neither should it go without saying at all.

Best Bully Sticks also knows you can’t have Mutts Day without appreciating all dogs. All dogs, no matter their pedigree or history bring joy into the lives of their owners. Purebred or half-breed, dogs are intrepid animals. It’s been said that in even in the worst circumstances, dogs don’t know that life is unfair. Tail wags greet you at the door. Face licks aren’t gross; they’re welcome and cherished. And if your pup likes to snuggle, those moments are invaluable.  These fascinating creatures love us. We should love them and honor them every day.

Happy Mutts Day, Bully Fans!

Memorial Day is over, but Best Bully Sticks thinks honoring our soldiers shouldn’t be confined to just a few days a year. That’s why BBS is dedicating this post to a particular set of soldiers that are dear to our hearts: Military Working Dogs, or MWDs.

Jobs of Military Working Dogs
Dogs have been a part of military efforts in every society dating back to the Ancient Romans. However, the United States Military first formally trained dogs for service during WWII. Today many military bases include Canine Training Facilities that put dogs though a myriad of tasks to prepare them to fill certain rolls in military.  Some of these include roles as sentries, trackers, bomb and drug detection and dogs even go on rescue or reconnaissance missions. There are even dogs who jump out of planes!

Even the most high-ranking officials agree, the role MWD’s fill is irreplaceable. General David H. Petraeus said, “The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory. Our Army (and military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource.”

Breeds & Their Training
In 1942 when dogs first began training for military service, several breeds were trained and included Airedale Terriers, German Short Haired Pointers, Norwegian Elkhounds, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles, Dalmatians, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, Bull Mastiffs, Collies and more!

In today’s military training, there are three preferred breeds: German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds and Belgium Malinois. These breeds are used because they have been seen as the most versatile over the years. Once the dogs are selected for service, they are taken to Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. When they pass Basic Training, they move on to their Advanced Training facilities in different parts of the country. Advanced Training continues in the vein the dogs are best suited for and becomes specific to the mission of the military.

"One of the great things about our training is, we never take the dog out of the dog. We train them to do what they want to do," Fort Bliss Kennel Master, SFC James Allred explained. "We want each dog to maintain his individuality. Handlers have to understand the dog. We manipulate the behavior of the dog. For detection, to get a dog to respond, we use toys as a training incentive. The dog will work because if he finds what he is supposed to find, he'll get rewarded. Then the dog gets what he wants."

Two Soldiers, One Bond
In training, a MWD and a solider are paired for service. The soldier and dog go through training, training evaluations and then are sent out into the field. When in a combat zone or any other mission, the two soldiers stay together. Even if a dog gets sick or hurt, both the handler and dog come home. They are never separated. Even when MWDs retire, a current or previous handler usually adopts them. It’s a crucial and powerful bond that can’t be broken. 

Honoring All Military Related Dogs
There are a number of organizations that support military dogs in all facets.

“Adopted” Stray Dogs From Combat Zones
Puppy Rescue Mission
Nowzad

Dog Foster Services for Deployed Soldiers
Military Pets Foster Project

Military Working Dogs Support & Adoptions
Support Military Working Dogs
Operation Military Care K-9
Military Working Dog Adoptions
Save-A-Vet
K-9 Pride

Dogs are truly amazing in all they can do and dog owners are thankful for the joy they bring into families and lives. However, we must remember we also owe them a debt of thanks and gratitude, because after all, some of these dogs are out in the field of combat.  

"It's so funny how something as simple as a puppy can make even the hardest, toughened soldier melt upon a few kisses to the face."

Best Bully Sticks knows without a doubt this is true, and not just for soldiers. Dog’s have that innate ability to become instantaneous companions for life. This is the basic mission of one special animal rescue’s efforts. Puppy Rescue Mission reunites American soldiers with dogs that they befriended during military tours as well as helps local shelters place dogs in need.

“Anna Cannan, president of Puppy Rescue Mission, originally created PRM to fundraise to help rescue "THE LUCKY SEVEN" out of Afghanistan where her fiancé was deployed. Due to Anna's amazing fundraising success, several of "THE LUCKY SEVEN" are now living stateside along with their respective soldiers.

It is PRM's mission to continue Anna's work by fundraising and helping to rescue dogs and cats out of Afghanistan for soldiers who deserve to have their furry friends brought back from war.” (from PRM’s Facebook) Read more

On Monday, February 27^th, Best Bully Sticks ran a 1-Day Animal Rescue Contest.  As always, we had an overwhelming response with close races between several different shelters. This time around we had the honor to donate to S.N.A.R.R., short for Special Needs Animal Rescue Rehabilitation, in St. Martinville, Louisiana. We wanted to know more about this rescue so we researched their amazing rescue work and immediately wanted to share it with our readers.

Although this rescue was started in Louisiana, S.N.A.R.R. has a nation-wide reach with their main mission being to save those dogs, which in any other environment, might be past saving.

“S.N.A.R.R. saves the toughest dogs to place; those with serious medical conditions, deaf and blind dogs, severely emaciated dogs, aggressive dogs— the animals that nobody else wants; the dogs that would otherwise be euthanized,” said Robin Menard, President, Founder and Trainer at S.N.A.R.R. 

This passion for rescuing helpless and abused dogs isn’t a recent upswing in goodwill on Robin’s part; it’s a life-long love affair.  She grew up in a neighborhood where Pit Bull fighting was very active, but she took things into her own hands. Read more

A few weeks ago, Best Bully Sticks ran a Free Bully Sticks for a Year contest in which we asked people to send in videos of their dogs chewing on a BBS product.  We had a lot of great videos flooding in yet one in particular was receiving a lot of attention. The video was simply called “Bruno loves his Best Bully Sticks.”  Bruno was immediately getting a lot of votes, so after a little research, we learned Bruno had quite an amazing story and his foster family and other volunteers from Castaway Pet Rescue were truly looking out for this special pup.

“Bruno was found in an alley in Chicago with no use of his back legs at 4 weeks old!!!

Someone brought him into CACC and he was to be put to sleep. However Castaway Pet Rescue saw this little man fell in love with his on site and knew they had to save him!"

Here is a video recapping the rest of Bruno’s story.

Karen Erbach is Bruno’s foster mom and because is a professional videographer, she saw our Free Bully Sticks for a Year contest and immediately set to work. Read more