Breed Spotlight

The Borzoi—the graceful Russian hunting dog. Here at Best Bully Sticks, this big, fast and exotic wolfhound fascinates us. Read more about this Russian beauty below!

History & Background: The Borzoi is a sight hound that was bred by crossing Arabian greyhounds and a thick-coated Russian greyhound. “Borzoi” actually means “fast” in Russian and this dog was a constant companion to Russian aristocracy for hundreds of years. This breed was used to hunt wolves, fox and hare in the Russian plains. In 1936, this dog became known as the Russian Wolfhound in America.

Height: At least 28-30 inches for males; at least 26 inches for females

Weight: 60-105 pounds

Coat: The Borzoi’s coat is long and silky. The texture of the coat can vary from straight to wavy to curly. On the head, ears and fronts of the legs, the hair is short and smooth yet the neck should have dense hair. This dog’s hair feathers on the back and front of the legs, tail and chest.  Regular brushing and bathing are required to keep up the coat.

Color: This dog can be found in any color or color combination.

Appearance: Sometimes called the “long-haired greyhound,” the Borzoi’s history as a hunter has provided this breed with very specific and distinctive physical traits.  As an extremely fast runner, the Borzoi has muscular legs and smooth body lines. This breed looks very similar to the Saluki as well.  Read more

This week, Best Bully Sticks takes you to historical Zimbabwe and back for a surprising look into the history of a great hound dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback. This week's Breed Spotlight is sure to not only inform but create a newfound respect for this graceful and athletic canine.

History & Background: The Rhodesian Ridgeback’s forerunner was first native to South America where the breed is thought to originate from the Khoikhoi people’s dogs. These dogs were known to be extremely fierce and loyal and were used to hunt and bay lions, meaning they would hold the lion until the hunter would make the kill. This dog was also used to bay wild pigs and hunt baboons.

This Khoikhoi dog was first called the African Lion Dog while in the Rhodesia area of Africa and then progressed to the standard Rhodesian Ridgeback we now know through breeding by European settlers and traders. The standard Ridgeback came about in 1922 and was accepted into the AKC in 1955. Read more

This week, Best Bully Sticks is highlighting a dog breed with a rich history and lovable nature. The Portuguese Water Dog, with its endless energy, gentle and loyal personality makes for a wonderful pet yet has demanding grooming needs. Read about this great breed and let us know what you think!

History & Background: As the name suggest, the Portuguese Water dog hails from Portugal where it served as a working dog in the ocean. This dog fetched broken nets, dove for fish, carried messages between boats and to shore and guarded the boats while their masters were away. First called the Cao de Agua, or “water dog”, the breed almost went extinct in the 20^th century but was re-established by the work of a Portuguese shipping magnate starting in the 1930s.

This breed is still somewhat rare but has been rising in popularity recently for a few reasons. One of these reasons is the adoption of a Portuguese Water Dog by the First Family, the Obamas. Another reason has to do with the unique features of the PWD’s coat, which is seen as hypoallergenic because they do not shed. Read more

Best Bully Sticks is highlighting a very delightful dog today, the Bichon Frisé! This little dog is full of energy and extremely loving, not to mention absolutely adorable! The Bichon also has a very interesting background that we were surprised to learn and we hope you are too! 

History & Background: The Bichon Frisé is an early descendant from the Portuguese Spaniel and still has a liking toward water and retrieving.  This dog was traded by Spanish sailors and were kept on board many boats as a companion.  Because it visited and was used as barter on many continents, the Bichon became a favorite of many royal courts. Still today, Bichons are known as a great companion dog.  

Height: 9 – 12 in (from withers)

Weight: 10 - 20 lbs

Coat: The Bichon has a soft and dense undercoat and a coarser and curlier outer-coat, which together makes this thick but soft to the touch. The coat is springy and velvety. This breed is usually listed as a hypoallergenic dog, which doesn’t shed, but this is somewhat false. The curl in the coat of the Bichon limits the amount of dead hair and dander that will get into the air. Also, the grooming that this dog needs will remove any excess hair. Read more

Best Bully Sticks looks at an ancient breed this week, the Saluki.  This regal breed has been revered by kings all throughout history so we at BBS thought it important to pay this graceful animal some respect as well.  Read on to find out more about this ancient breed!

History & Background: It is thought that the Saluki is the oldest known breed of domesticated dog and has been seen in history as far back as the Ancient Egyptians.  Saluki’s were held in great esteem by the Pharaohs and were often mummified along with the Egyptian kings themselves.  This dog is known for it’s ability as a hunting dog and can chase prey over long distances and difficult terrain.  A Saluki is thought to be faster than a Greyhound at long distances and was credited as the fastest dog in the world in 1996 by Guinness Book of World Records.

Height: 23–28 inches at the shoulder

Weight: 40–60 pounds

Coat: The Saluki has a smooth, silky coat which feathers out at the bottom of the legs and on the tail.  Although the feathered variety is more common, a smooth, or short-haired Saluki exists.

Color: This breed’s coloring can come in many shades including white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, tricolor and black and tan.

Appearance: A Saluki has a very graceful appearance yet shows its ability to run at great speeds and their great strength. Their tail is long and curved and they have very deep chests and long legs. These dogs are sight hounds, which means they hunt by sight and this feature gives this dog a very deep yet gentle gaze.

Temperament: The Saluki is a very reserved dog that is very independent although gentle and affectionate. This breed is generally not easy to train and shouldn’t be left at home for long periods of time because this dog tends to get bored.  This dog needs early socialization to prevent becoming shy later in life. Because Saluki’s have a hunting background, they are prone to chasing moving objects. Read more