Dog Treats

A Tan and Black German Shepherd

Weight: 66 - 88 lbs (male); 49 - 71 lbs (female)

Height: 24- 26 in (male); 22 - 24 in (female)

Coat: Double-coat in either medium (most common) or long lengths

Color: Tan/Black and Red/Black are most common. Also come in: All-Black, Sable, All-White, Liver, and Blue. Liver and Blue considered serious faults, and All-White grounds for instant disqualification in some standards.

Appearance

German Shepherds are a large-breed dog with a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle and a black nose. Their jaws are strong and possess a scissor-like bite that serves them well as police dogs or for working their way through dog treats like bully sticks. Their medium-sized brown eyes are lively, intelligent, and self-assured. The ears are large and stand erect with the openings facing to the front. Their tail is bushy for the entire length.

The outer coat of the German Shepherd is shed all year long. The medium coat is the dominant and generally accepted version, with the long coat being recessive, rare, and considered a fault by the American Kennel Club.

Temperament

A highly active dog, German Shepherds are typically described as self-assured in breed standards. Possessing a willingness to learn, Shepherds are often trained as work dogs. Shepherds have a loyal nature and bond with people they know. That being said, they can become over-protective of their family and territory and will require correct socialization to curb this.

Shepherds do have a reputation for aggression, and have been banned in some areas because of this. In the US, German Shepherds are responsible for more random bitings than any other breed, but experts are quick to point out this number is partially due to the higher proportion of German Shepherds in the country than other breeds.

Shepherds are highly obedient, leading to their extensive use as work dogs in law enforcement and military use, but with their strong wills, they do require a firm hand when being trained.

Health

The most common ailments for German Shepherds are hip and elbow dysplasia, which can lead to arthritis later in life. Also, due to the large and open design of their ears, they are also prone to ear infections. Like all large dogs, they are also prone to bloat, a stomach condition. The average lifespan of a German Shepherd is 7 - 10 years, which is normal for dogs of their size.

Famous German Shepherds

Strongheart - Early canine film star

Rin Tin Tin - Canine film star

Sam the Dog - portrayed by Abbey and Kona in the 2007 film I Am Legend

Barkwheats Dog Treats

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new all natural product to our growing catalog of all natural dog chews and treats.  Barkwheats are made in the US (Maine) and are made from buckwheat which is actually a berry.  These treats are great for dogs with allergies or those that are on a gluten free diet.  The treats themselves are circular in shape about the size of a half dollar and taste great (Sushi and Espy definitely approve)! The treats come in two unique flavors SeaVeg and Chamomile and Ginger and Parsley.  The Ginger and Parsley treats are great to keep fresh breath and the SeaVeg treats are great for their calming and soothing affects.

The following is some information directly from the manufacturer:

• Barkwheats are all-natural buckwheat dog biscuits, hand-crafted in our bakery in Stockton Springs, Maine.
• They are baked with the highest quality ingredients, including certified organic dark buckwheat flour, free-range organic eggs, safflower oil, ginger, parsley, sea vegetable and chamomile.  Nearly 100% of our ingredients are sourced from neighboring farms.
• Barkwheats come packaged in a sustainably-harvested, biodegradable bag and sturdy 100% recycled paperboard box that you can easily toss in your compost bin or woodstove!
• Many dogs exhibit symptoms of grain allergies like itchy skin, hotspots, flaky skin, and a dull coat.  The problems may perplex their owners and sometimes...yes it's true...even perplex their veterinarians. The easiest thing to do is to get grains and gluten out of the dog's diet.
• Barkwheats contain no grain (or gluten), corn, soy, sugar, salt or preservatives.

Barkwheats are also unique these days because every ingredient makes sense, is there for a reason, and is easy to understand and pronounce; make sure to give them a try!

A reddish-brown Dachshund

Weight: 16 – 28 lbs (11 lbs for a miniature)

Height: 10 – 15 inches

Coat: Smooth, Long Haired, Wire (least common)

Color: Red is dominant, but also black, faun, brown, chocolate, tan. Can be tri-color or dapple as well as solid color.

Appearance

Dachshunds are long bodied (which is why they are often called "weiner" dogs) and muscular. Their hair can be smooth, long, or wire. The wire hair Dachshund is the least common, and is often mistaken for another breed. Their eye color is typically dark, though lighter Dachshunds can have lighter eyes, and dapple colored Dachshunds are known to have different colored eyes (heterochromia).

Temperament

Dachshunds are playful, fun dogs with a propensity for chasing small birds, small animals, and balls with great ferocity. They are quite clever and rarely shy (considered a poor trait if they are). While not shy, they can be wary of unfamiliar people and may bark or growl at strangers until they get to know them. Fairly energetic, it is not unknown for some to be sedate, but they can become destructive if bored, so keeping them stocked with chew toys like toys and bully sticks is a good idea.

They may or may not be good with small children. Some will avoid children, whereas others will be fiercely loyal to them as family members. However, due to their back problems, small children should be taught to be gentle with them, and you may want to avoid having small children around them

Health

Dachshunds are prone to spinal problems, especially Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) due to their long spinal column and short rib cage. They can also be prone to Patellar Luxation, a condition where they knee doesn't move along the joint correctly. Dapples are prone to blindness and deafness.

Famous Dachshunds and Dachshund Owners

Andy Warhol (artist) – Archie and Amos

Kevin Smith (film maker) – Shecky

Pablo Picasso (painter) – Lump

Odie – Garfield comics and movies

Slinky – Toy Story and Toy Story 2

Schatzi – That 70's Show

A Black Scottish Terrier

Weight: 17-22 lbs

Height: 10 inches

Length: 11 inches

Coat: Short and Wiry on top; soft undercoat

Color: Black, Brindle, Weaten

Appearance

Scottish Terriers are a short, stocky breed, with a muscular body and an often appear barrel chested. They have large paws adapted for digging, erect ears and an erect tail.

Temperament

Scottish Terriers are great family dogs that are known for being alert, quick, feisty, independent, self-assured, playful, intelligent, and determined. Their stubborn nature can make them tricky to train, but so long as they are given a gentle hand when young, they are very trainable and make great house dogs. Originally bred to hunt and fight badgers, they have a strong prey drive towards small vermin (squirrels, rats, mice, etc.) and will need to be kept on a leash when walked. Their determination is seen in everything from digging to working over a bully stick.

Health

Scottie's don't have any congenital health problems like some breeds, though they have shown a predisposition towards some types of cancers. With few if any physical issues, they often live to be upwards of 15 years old.

Famous Scottie's and Scottie Owners

Franklin D. Roosevelt – Fala, Duffy, Mr. Duffy

Humphrey Bogart

Shirley Temple

Bette Davis

George W. Bush – Barney, Miss Beazley

Ronald Reagan

Jock – Lady and the Tramp

Monster Dog Chews

We have just recently launched two new and exciting products on Best Bully Sticks! We are introducing two new huge dog chews for the "big guys", as we are asked constantly to find longer lasting all natural dog chews especially for giant or aggressive breeds.

Our first new product is the Jumbo Bully Stick; these are 30-50% larger in terms of diameter than our thick bully sticks and will last much longer as well!  These sticks are truly a rarity in that they are low odor, all natural, and extremely thick.  They should last about as long as a 12" braided bully stick. As with all of our bully sticks we don't add any "extra stuff" like peroxide or potassium to make them "odorless"; we believe in keeping our products as natural as possible and any beef product should have a faint smell of beef to it....if it is truly natural.

Our second new product is the Monster Antlerz dog chew.  These are humongous...that is really the only way to describe them.  They should last even the biggest of dogs several weeks to several months depending on chewing time.   These Antlerz are about 6-8" in length and about 6-8" in circumference (wrapping a tape measure around the product).  Like the other Antlerz products, these are very high in trace minerals, which add some great health benefits to these chews also.  There are no other products on the market like this and it is about time that there is a natural dog chew available for "giant" breed dogs that will last an extremely long amount of time.

As usual, thank you for your continued patronage and support....we will continue to work on finding new and innovative all natural products for your furry friends.