Dog Treats

There's nothing cuter than a dog doing tricks.  While some dogs are easier to train than others (depending on breed and simple intelligence), here are a handful of tricks that you can teach your dog with a little patience but little effort.

Sit/Lay Down

Arguably the basis for any other trick you'll ask your dog to learn, teaching your dog to sit and lay down is probably one of the easier tricks to teach as it is something they'll do on their own without a command.  While there are numerous ways to teach your dog to do either, the two easier ways are to reward them when they perform the action you desire (saying "sit" or "lay down" as they do it on their own and rewarding them with a dog treat), or to use a dog treat as a focus point to maneuver them to the position you want.

To teach your dog to sit in this manner, simply hold a dog treat in your hand and very gently offer it to them while moving your hand towards them, applying pressure to their hindquarters, and saying "sit."  With a little patience, and some treats, your dog should quickly learn to sit on command.  From there, to teach them to lie down, simply have them sit, and use a treat to lure them to the ground while saying "lay down."  With these two commands learned, you have the basis for every other trick you'll want to teach your dog.

Shake Hands

Courtesy is key to dogs as well as humans, and having a dog that can shake hands is a great way to present your dog as a refined dog, just like their owner.  Start by having your dog sit.  Say "shake" or "shake hands" (whichever command you prefer), and take hold of his paw with your hand.  While holding your dog's paw, praise them both verbally and with a dog treat before releasing their paw.  Do this a few times a day and before long they will raise their paw at the command without you having to take their paw.

Roll Over

Start by giving your dog the "lay down" command.  Either standing over your dog or kneeling beside him, hold a dog treat by their nose and slowly move it around and behind him so that he follows it by rolling over, all while giving the command to "roll over."  This trick may take some time as some dogs are less eager to expose their bellies than others, but keep at it and always practice on a soft surface to make it easier on their back.

Play Dead

Nearly every TV or cartoon dog plays dead and the consensus is that it's adorable.  To teach your dog this trick, have them lie down on their belly, then gently roll them onto their back while giving the command to "Play Dead."  Have them keep this position until you give the release command, something like "wake up!" and then give them a dog treat to reward them and encourage the behavior.  Much like the "roll over" command, this trick may take some time as some dogs are hesitant to expose their bellies.

Give Kisses

This trick is easy.  Every time your dog licks your face say "Give Me a Kiss."  If your dog isn't a licker, put a little peanut butter on your cheek and give the command as he licks it off and then again after he has done so.  This trick almost doesn't require a treat since the peanut butter will be treat enough for most dogs.

Think Up Your Own

This is by no means a comprehensive list of tricks to teach your dog.  There are many other tricks, such as "high five," "fetch," and "stay" that you can teach your dog, not to mention something quirky that your dog may do on their own that you find adorable.  Remember to be patient and keep in mind that not all dogs are willing to learn all tricks.  Find ones that your dog is eager to perform and get those down before trying new ones that they are less willing to perform.

About the Author

Avrum Elmakis it the president of Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of dog treats, bully sticks, other dog chews and treats.  They can be found online at:  http://www.bestbullysticks.com .

Sam's Yams and Antlerz join already impressive list of dog treats

Richmond, VA – (PRWeb) – February 14, 2008 – Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of dog treats and chews, is proud to announce the addition of two new products, Sam's Yams and Antlerz, to their already extensive product line.

Created from dried, human food quality fresh sweet potatoes, Sam's Yams are a great alternative to bully sticks.  Rich in anti-oxidants, the sweet potatoes used to make Sam's Yams are, like all of Best Bully Sticks dog treats, great for the gums and teeth of your dog.  Essentially a vegetable rawhide chew, dogs everywhere are already falling in love with these chews.

Also joining Sam's Yams on the Best Bully Sticks product line are Antlerz.  A 100% natural, mineral rich dog chew, these treats are made from deer antlers.  Wild deer shed their antlers once a year, and these shed antlers are gathered by ranch workers and turned into Antlerz chews.  A renewable chew that won't splinter and chip like rawhide, Antlerz show high concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, with trace amounts of iron, zinc, and sodium – all great for a dog's health.

"We're so happy to be adding Sam's Yams and Antlerz to our product line," Avrum Elmakis, president of Best Bully Sticks said.  "They're great products that we know our clients' dogs will love as much as ours do.  They're the next best thing to a bully stick."

About Best Bully Sticks

Best Bully Sticks is a Richmond, Virginia based company that specializes in the sale of all natural dog treats, bully sticks, and other chews.  All of their bully sticks come from 100% Brazilian cattle and are free of any hormones or other additives.  Best Bully Sticks can be found online at:  http://www.bestbullysticks.com .

Contact

Avrum Elmakis

http://www.bestbullysticks.com

804-477-6033

While there are many things to consider when you have decided to bring home a new dog, the first thing you have to pick is which breed is right for you. With that in mind, here are a few things to think about when selecting which breed is best for you and your home.

Size

The size of the dog you choose can depend on a number of factors. How big is your home? Do you have a yard? How big is your yard if you do have one? What size dog do you have an interest in taking home? Keep in mind that while that Golden Retriever is cute and sweet, he requires a lot more space to live than the Boston Terrier you're also considering.

Hair

When considering a dog, look around your home and consider if you would like your carpets and furniture covered in the fur of your dog. While many breeds of dogs, both long haired and short haired, don't shed overly much, just about every dog is going to shed a little bit. Keep that in mind and pick accordingly, as it could be the difference between you choosing a Saint Bernard and a Chihuahua.

Temperament

How do you want your dog to interact not only with you, but with strangers and other dogs? While there is no such thing as a bad dog, some breeds are more aggressive than others with a larger prey drive to hunt. If you have small children, or are around small children, keep in mind how the dog you select will interact with them. Again, there's no such thing as a "bad" dog, but some breeds are better suited to being around small children because of increased patience.

Overall Health

Keep in mind that dogs, just like people, do get sick. Some breeds, just like some people, are more prone to genetic defects and will require medical care as they get older. While you should always expect to keep your dog for its entire life, do some research and make sure you know what some of the common health issues are for the breed of dog you select. It helps to know if they'll just need bully sticks to help with their teeth and gums or hip replacement surgery.

Intelligence/Trainability

Some dogs are more easily trained then others. With some, a few dog treats along with some basic commands and they're ready to sit, lie down, and play dead. Others are going to require a bit more work to not only teach tricks, but to housebreak. While patience will be required to train any breed of dog, some breeds are just naturally more intelligent than others and will have a smaller learning curve than others. Keep in mind how much time you're willing to spend training your new dog to perform the way you want when selecting a breed.

Amount of Exercise Needed

Every dog needs to be walked, but different breeds will require more exercise than others. Keep in mind how often your dog will need to be walked just to use the bathroom versus how much they need to exercise for reasons of health. Having a backyard is great, but it's no substitute for a brisk walk and being played with. Figure in how much time your schedule will allow you to walk and play with your new dog when considering the perfect breed for you.

Purebred or Mixed Breed

The decision to give a home to a dog that is purebred or mixed breed is one of personal taste. While a purebred ensures you get the dog you're looking for with traits you're expecting, mixed breed dogs are often healthier than purebred dogs as they tend to receive the best traits of their different breeds.

While some mixed breeds are now being intentionally bred (like Labradoodles and Puggles), most mixed breeds aren't planned and often result in interesting mixes. If there isn't a specific breed you prefer, considering a mixed breed dog is a good way to find the traits from different breeds that you like all in one dog.

Give the Gift of a Home

No matter what dog you choose, there's nothing better than giving a home to a puppy or dog in need. Remember to stock up on dog treats, chews, food, and, of course, bully sticks to make your new dog feel right at home. Keep in mind that there are a number of different sites like PetFinder that can help you find the dog you're looking for. Always consider your local animal shelter before turning to a breeder, but above all, make sure you get the pet you want.

We are frequently asked by our customers what items sell the best and what dogs seem to prefer; so we put together a Top Ten List highlighting our Suggestions:

10. Bully Bites- A fun treat or snack

9. Pig Ears-They have been around forever and all dogs like them 8. Open Gullets-These are like beef jerky for dogs

7. Shin Bones-A must for entertaining larger dogs

6. Chicken Fillets-Great treats that last a while and come in value sizes

5. Beef Tendons or Curly Bully Sticks- the friction of the curly ones is great for the teeth and gums

4. Sam’s Yam’s-Sweet Potato Treats, and Other Sweet Potato dog treats like Duck and Sweet Potato

3. Stuffed gullets are always a fun treat/chew that your dog is sure to enjoy (Bronze)

2. A proven healthy winner –Trachea and Stuffed Trachea (Silver)

1. A dog’s all time favorite is of course a bully stick!!! (GOLD)

As more and more pet owners search for treats and chews that their pets will enjoy and are good for them at the same time, the debate between two popular types of dog treats is raised once again.  Which is better – bully sticks or rawhide?  While each dog treat has supporters and detractors, a more in depth look at both may help to make the decision easier when you're looking at both in the aisles of your local pet supply store.

Rawhide

Rawhide treats and chews have been around seemingly forever.  Lining the aisles of pet supply stores, rawhide chews are available in a huge variety of sizes for both puppies and larger dogs, shapes that range from bones to twists and ties, and flavors including chicken, beef, lamb and duck.

The biggest appeal of rawhide is how affordable it is.  Available both individually and in bulk, rawhide dog treats can cost less than a dollar a piece, while lasting for weeks and sometimes even months at a time.  Considered suitable for dogs both small and large, compressed rawhide is generally reserved for smaller breeds as it can become a choking hazard for larger dogs when they attempt to swallow pieces of it whole.

Rawhide dog treats are often criticized for a number of different reasons, not the least of which is the choking hazard they can present if broken into smaller pieces through use and the inability of most dogs to actually digest the rawhide they do ingest, instead having pass through their digestive tract where it can cause damage if there are sharp ridges on the ingested piece.  Because of this, more and more dog owners are turning to dog treats that don't present a choking hazard and that can be digested by their pets as they would their food.

Bully Sticks

With the panic caused by contaminated pet food in 2007, there grew a huge demand for all natural dog chews and treats.  Because of that, bully sticks have grown in popularity with pet owners all over the country in search of dog treats that they feel comfortable with and that their dogs will enjoy.

Unlike rawhide treats, bully sticks are made from the beef of the cow, not the hide, allowing for it to be digested and processed by the dog as it would their food instead of passing it through their system like rawhide.  Much like rawhide, bully sticks are available in numerous sizes, from just a few inches for smaller breeds to nearly a yard long for larger dogs, styles including braided bully sticks as a way to work the teeth and jaw muscles, and flavors that include chicken treats for dogs and lamb treats for dogs among others.

Much like rawhide treats, bully sticks can last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the treat given to the dog, and while with larger breeds and rawhide you have to be wary of the choking hazard from broken pieces, bully sticks are easily digested by breeds both large and small and won't chip and break to present a choking hazard like rawhide.

Which One to Choose

While technically neither choice is incorrect, when it really comes down to it, the trend of dog treats and chews seems to be moving more towards bully sticks simply because of their status as an all natural treat that can be digested just like food without any worry of contamination.  With plenty of flavors, sizes, and styles to suit every size and type of dog, bully sticks are quickly taking the place of rawhide on the aisles of pet supply stores around the country.

About the Author

Avrum Elmakis is the president of Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of dog treats, bully sticks, beef trachea, and other all natural dog chews and treats.  They can be found online at:  http://www.bestbullysticks.com .