Breed Spotlight

Two Best Bully Sticks adoring fans! Italian Greyhounds from Chicago on vacation in Folly Beach, SC. Roscoe chewing on a Bully Stick (Bailey in background drinking water)

Height: Males 28 to 30 in &  females 27 to 28 in

Weight: Males 60 to 88 lbs & females 60 to 75 lbs

Coat: Soft, smooth, fine, short, firm coat that sheds a little.

Color: Vary from white to black, including fawn, gray, red, or brown, and any pattern from solid to pinto to brindle.

Appearance: Built for speed, the greyhound features long, muscular back legs, straight front legs, and a streamlined body. Its back is muscular and strong, featuring a very flexible, arched spine. The feet offer great leverage with their long, narrow shape. Overall, the head is long and narrow, and it features a long, powerful muzzle with strong, even teeth. With a spirited and intelligent expression, the eyes of the greyhound are both dark and bright. The ears are small, generally folded back, and sit on the widest part of the skull. The neck is graceful and blends smoothly into the arched back. The long tail is curved slightly upward and is carried low.

Temperament: Although greyhounds are extremely fast and athletic, and despite their reputation as racing dogs, they are not high-energy dogs. They are sprinters, and although they love running, they do not require extensive exercise. Most are quiet, gentle animals. An adult greyhound will stay healthy and happy with a daily walk of as little as 20 to 30 minutes. Greyhounds have been referred to as "Forty-five mile per hour couch potatoes.Gentle, quiet, and affectionate, the greyhounds make wonderful pets. This breed is loyal, friendly, and sensitive.

Unlike breeds that must be socialized as puppies to temper their dominant tendencies, the Greyhound needs early socialization to give it confidence and build self assurance. A Greyhound puppy that is not accustomed to noise and people at an early age can be excessively fearful of loud or persistent sounds and painfully timid with strangers. The greyhound is good with children but rough-housing with the dog should be discouraged. The greyhound is not prone to excessive barking and is generally easy to housebreak. This breed is even-tempered and graceful – a loyal dog that makes an excellent companion.

Health: The life expectancy for Greyhounds is about 10-13  years. Greyhounds are typically a healthy and long-lived breed, and hereditary illness is rare. Some greyhounds have been known to develop esophageal achalasia, bloat (gastric torsion), andosteosarcoma. Because the greyhound's lean physique makes it ill-suited to sleeping on hard surfaces, owners of companion greyhounds generally provide soft bedding; without bedding, greyhounds are prone to develop painful skin sores.

Due to the unique physiology and anatomy of greyhounds, a veterinarian who understands the issues relevant to the breed is generally needed when the dogs need treatment, particularly whenanaesthesia is required. Greyhounds cannot metabolize barbiturate-based anesthesia as other breeds can because they have lower amounts of oxidative enzymes in their livers. Greyhounds demonstrate unusual blood chemistry, which can be misread by veterinarians not familiar with the breed; this can result in an incorrect diagnosis.

Greyhounds have higher levels of red blood cells than other breeds. Since red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, this higher level allows the hound to move larger quantities of oxygen faster from the lungs to the muscles. Greyhounds have lower levels of platelets than other breeds. Veterinary blood services often use greyhounds as universal blood donors.

Famous Greyhounds

Santa's Little Helper- Simpson's Cartoon
Peritas- owned by  Alexander the Great
Byron & Blucher owned by General George Custer

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Rebecca quotes: "Ben was my heart dog and I miss him every day!"

Today we have a very special Spotlight on a breed segment written by Rebecca one of our satisfied Best Bully Sticks customers. Her dogs love our chews, Sam especially loves our Himalayan &  trachea dog chews!! As the proud parent of border collies & director with the US Border Collie Club she lent us her expertise on this beautiful breed. She emailed over some amazing & beautiful photos of her & her friends border collies. We would like to dedicate this Spotlight on a breed segment to Rebecca's black and white border collie Ben a true unsung hero. Sadly he passed away last October at the age of twelve, just shortly after this picture was taken. Rebecca recounts an amazing story of how on two different occasions, Ben stopped rams from charging her. As she beautifully stated "Ben was my heart dog and I miss him every day!" Our hearts goes out to her and anyone who has ever lost & grieving your four legged best friend & companion.  As always we are honored when proud parents tweet or email wanting their dogs breed to be spotlighted.

Border Collie

History of the Border Collie in North America : The Border Collie actually was here working farms in North America, and even competing in sheepdog trials, long before the formation of any of today's overseeing organizations were around. The first dog to be officially registered here was Spot, imported in the mid-1920s from the UK, the Border Collie's country of origin. The North American Border Collie continues to enjoy a close relationship with the British breed - ABCA dogs can be registered overseas, and International Sheep Dog Society dogs likewise can be registered here in any organization. Many dogs continue to be imported here every year.

The dogs were worked and periodically competed against each other, and several working registries were formed. In the eighties, the American Border Collie Association - http://www.americanbordercollie.org/ - was formed on the principles of democratic organization and with the mission of maintaining the breed as a working breed. At the same time, The US Border Collie Club - http://www.bordercollie.org/ - was formed to network those who enjoyed various pursuits with their Border Collies, but who were also dedicated to supporting working breeders.

Also in the nineteen-eighties, the US Border Collie Handlers' Association - http://www.usbcha.com/ - formed to standardize the system of trial competitions and offer the end of year stockdog trial championships which figure so importantly in the standard to which the breed has always been held. The ABCA, USBCC, and USBCHA work together today to offer the services of registry, breed club, and working competition oversight to breed owners.

In the mid-nineties, in a complicated political move, the AKC offered those who currently competed with Border Collies in various sports in the Miscellaneous class, an unpleasant choice.  They would either have to submit to the conformation system to be able to continue their participation in AKC events, or else get "kicked out."

The vast majority of Border Collie owners felt strongly enough about breeding ONLY for working ability, that they had no problem with the latter choice. But a few still wanted to participate in AKC events, and so there was a division in the breed. At this point, a small number of Border Collies are AKC registered. To the owners of these dogs, the AKC offers the Border Collie Society of America, - http://bordercolliesociety.com/ - which was formed in the mid-nineties as the AKC breed's parent club.

The AKC continues to offer open registration to dogs from any registry. The ABCA, however, is closed to dogs registered in the AKC only, so buyers are to be advised. But, although the AKC requires kennel club registration to participate in its events, all USBCHA events are open to all dogs regardless of registry, or even breed in fact.

Today, the majority of Border Collies continue to be bred with assisting the livestock farmer in mind. These days, with the rise in cost of labor, the dogs are expected to do the work that was once shared among several stockmen or wranglers. Cattle is the main concern of most farmers, and the dogs have somewhat different duties in these operations.

But just as in the past, the dogs are bred and selected for their ability to get the job done. The reason for the breed's existence and what shapes it, is the well being of the livestock. Each dog's quality is measured in his usefulness and ability to save steps for the stock handler. This standard produces a sound, clever, eager to please dog that can also be a top-notch partner in canine sports, public service, therapy and assistance work, and even just as active companions.

The lineup of young Border Collie dogs on the gate is to illustrate the wide variety of size, shape, color, and coat. These dogs belong to two of Rebecca's friends - they are all littermates

Height: (male); (female) Border Collies are considered a medium sized breed. There is no official standard as to height and weight, but the usual range is from 18 to 23 inches tall and 25 to 50 pounds. The reason Border Collies tend to stay within the same height and weight range in spite of no standard, is that the work they do (herding livestock) tends to keep them a certain size and shape.

Weight: 25 to 50 pounds.

Coat: Border Collies come in both "rough" which is a double coat with longer, weatherproof guard hairs, and "smooth," which lacks the long guard topcoat hairs. Both coats can show great variety, from smooth and silky, to curly and touseled, fine hair, coarse hair, extremely long rough coats or barely there. Again, there is no restriction on the coat other than functional ones. Surprisingly, shepherds in very snowy areas prefer the smooth coats, as paws with long hair tend to get ice frozen between the toes..

Color: Literally any color. Black and white is most often seen, in any pattern. Completely white heads are avoided when possible as deafness can occur in ears which lack pigment.

Appearance: The AKC has an appearance standard, but less than 10% of the country's Border Collies are bred under the auspices of the Kennel Club. Instead, in the ABCA and the working trial system, there is no standard to measure the appearance of one Border Collie against another as you find with show dogs.

Border Collies are judged against each other, by their work, not by their looks. The dog must be physically capable of covering as much as a hundred miles in a day and then getting up the next morning and doing it again. The dog must be able to outrun a 200lb ewe down the side of a mountain, get ahead of her and turn her back. The dog must be capable of gently guiding a new mother and her lambs back to the barn. The dog must be physically capable of taking a charging cow on the nose and turning her back.

Thus, since it is impossible to identify these qualities in a show ring, the majority of Border Collies breeders are commited to maintaining the working standard, by dedicating their time and energy and resources to training their dogs in their work.

Closeup of a "red" Border Collie named Kat, owned by the Rebecca's friend. Kat is working away herding sheep, with all that work a Best Bully Stick treat is in order for strong work ethic.

Temperament: Border Collies can be best described by one of our breed's top writers, Don McCaig (his Border Collie books may be considered required reading for anyone who is looking into becoming a Border Collie owner):

"People often wonder just what trainers give the sheepdog in exchange for its boundless willingness. Food treats and praise sit on the trainer's shelf, untouched, unused. The sheepdog is shown its possibilities, he learns what life is like for a good dog and is invited to walk in a rational world whose farthest boundaries are defined by grace."

---- Donald McCaig, Nop's Hope

This quote covers two essentials that characterize the temperament of the Border Collie. BOUNDLESS willingless may sound great, but this means that these dogs desperately seek to do something, anything. If not offered some kind of routine and place in the household, a Border Collie WILL find something to do and rarely will it be acceptable to its housemates!

Second, the Border Collie looks to find what is expected - this is called biddability. Again, this sounds wonderful, but it means that one must be aware that the Border Collie you live with is ALWAYS watching and learning. Be sure your dog is learning what you want it to learn!

Border Collie puppies are extremely busy. It's said that they are, at times, an elemental destructive force of nature. It depends on how you raise them, of course. If you keep their minds busy and direct their energy in appropriate ways, you can survive your Border Collie puppy's first year! Just a hint, high quality chew treats like those from Best Bully Sticks are a MUST HAVE.

Upclose & beautiful shot of Kat the herding sheep queen!

Health: From the American Border Collie Association website: "The main goal of any Border Collie breeder should be to produce sound, useful, working dogs. While Border Collies also excel in many non-herding activities, they should be bred primarily to work livestock.  . . .In order to ensure a healthy gene pool for future generations of Border Collies, breeding prospects should be evaluated with reasonable concern for potential problems and realistic goals for what will be produced."

http://www.americanbordercollie.org/Health%20and%20Genetics%20of%20Border%20Collies.htm

The ABCA currently officially recognizes the following genetic diseases as concerns in the Border Collie:
CHD:  The recommendations at this time are to breed only hip tested, unaffected parents
CEA: The "affected" incidence rate in North America is currently 2.5% of the total population. There is a DNA test for genetic status with regard to this disease and puppy buyers should ask for this information.
Epilepsy: "Although it's clear Border Collies can be affected with epilepsy, the incidence and heritability in our breed are unknown. The ABCA is supporting research aimed at finding the gene(s) that may cause epilepsy in the breed." Ask about incidences of epilepsy in the relatives of a dog or pup you are considering buying.

Most importantly, a puppy buyer should inquire as to the work the parents do, and how often and how long they've been working. Selecting dogs from long-lived, long-working families helps ensure soundness in things that are difficult to spot in young or underworked dogs, such as soft tissue weakness, arthritis, unilateral or early

Rebecca's dog Ted is working sheep, he is about two and a half in this picture. As Rebecca says "Ted is now my right hand "man." That's my sheep, too.

Famous American Border Collie

Thankfully, most Border Collies in entertainment have played "all-American" dogs (for instance, the dog in Down and Out in Beverly Hills was a Border Collie). Within the breed, the yearly United States Border Collie Handlers' Association National Finals provide a gallery of just a few top dogs. A "Champion" for the Border Collie breed earns the title at these annual event - and there is only one for each category, for the whole year for the whole breed. Besides these there are dogs that produced progeny with such consistent results, that they figure in numerous pedigrees in spite of not necessarily being "champions."

In the Border Collie, it's all about what the dog does rather than their ancestors names or the titles they have. Their registered names reflect this - no long names, just nicely worn down, chummy handles like Jim and Ty and Spot and Nan. A "famous" dog will be identified by their working partner - Pulfer's Shep, Wilson's Roy, Fogt's Hope, Berhow's Nick.

5 month old pup Sam enjoying a Best Bully Sticks Himalayan chew. Rebecca says "Best Bully Sticks are a MUST HAVE for anyone raising a Border Collie puppy!!

If you would like to recommend a dog breed for our next Best Bully Sticks spotlight on a breed please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks. We are always honored & excited to spotlight your dogs breed.

Belgian Sheepdog Madison at age 9-photo by ITGoddess.com

Belgian Shepherd Sheepdog (Groenendael)

Height: Male: 24-26; Female: 22-24 inches

Weight: 60-65 pounds

Coat: The texture should be hard and dense, never woolly, silky, frizzy, fine, or wiry. A full thin double coat, the outercoat should remain coarse yet soft, and the undercoat should be dense and fluffy.

Color: Completely black, or may be black with a limited amount of white. There may be a white patch or strip on the forechest, between pads of feet, on the tips of the hind toes, chin, or muzzle.

Appearance: The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog is that of a well-balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. He is a strong, agile, well-muscled animal, alert and full of life. His whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The male is more grand then the female who should have a distinct feminine look.

Temperament: The Belgian Sheepdog is intelligent, courageous, alert and devoted to his or her master. As an instinctual guardian of flocks they be protective of their master & property. They are watchful, attentive, and always in motion when not under command. They are observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive & should not show fear or shyness. Belgian Sheep dogs should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate and friendly, zealous of their attention.

Health: This breed has no major health concerns and has a life expectancy of about 13-14 years. Some minor concerns that have been seen are epilepsy, skin allergies, eye problems, excessive shyness, excessive aggressiveness and occasionally seen hip & elbow dysplasia.  Do not overfeed this breed, for it has a tendency to become obese and lazy.

Famous Belgian Shepherd Sheepdog (Groenendael)

Piccard D’Uccle- Perhaps the most famous Belgian Sheepdog who was acquired in 1897 and considered by many to be the father of the breed.

If you would like to recommend a dog breed for our next Best Bully Sticks spotlight on a breed please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks

The Beagle Bunch

Beagles

Height: Generally between 13”-16” high

Weight: 18 – 35 lbs.

Coat: Short, dense, smooth and weatherproof.

Color: White, black, tan, red, lemon and blue mottle. They can be any combination of Hound colors other than liver. Chest is always white. Tricolor Beagles are almost always born black and white, with brown and other spots appearing later on in life. Some Beagles change colors most of their lives.

Appearance: The general appearance of the Beagle resembles a Foxhound in miniature, but the head is broader and the muzzle shorter, the expression completely different and the legs shorter in proportion to the body. They are generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb (8.2 and 16 kg), with females being slightly smaller than males on average.

They have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black (or occasionally liver), gumdrop nose. The jaw is strong and the teeth scissor together with the upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw. The eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild hound-like pleading look. The large ears are long, soft and low-set, turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips.

Beagles have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long enough for them to easily bend to the ground to pick up a scent), with little folding in the skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist and a short, slightly curved tail (known as the "stern") tipped with white. The white tip, known as the "flag" has been selectively bred with the sole purpose of allowing the dog to be easily seen when its head is down following a scent. The tail does not curl over the back, but is held upright when the dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. The front legs are straight and carried under the body while the rear legs are muscular and well bent at the stifles.

Temperament: The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Beagles are "merry", amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watchdogs.

Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.

Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they have become popular family pets, but they are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety. Not all Beagles will howl, but most will bark when confronted with strange situations, and some will bay (also referred to as "speaking", "giving tongue", or "opening") when they catch the scent of potential quarry. They also generally get along well with other dogs. They are not demanding with regard to exercise; their inbred stamina means they do not easily tire when exercised, but they also do not need to be worked to exhaustion before they will rest, though regular exercise helps ward off the weight gain to which the breed is prone.

Health: The Life expectancy for Beagles is about 12-15 years. Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; Hip dysplasia, common in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in Beagles. Beagles are considered a chondrodystrophic breed, meaning that they are prone to types of disk diseases. In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age.

Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. "Cherry eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.

As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries such as cuts and sprains, and, if inactive, obesity is a common problem as they will eat whenever food is available and rely on their owners to regulate their weight. When working or running free they are also likely to pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, harvest mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass seeds can become trapped in their eyes, soft ears or paws.

Beagles may exhibit a behaviour known as reverse sneezing, in which they sound as if they are choking or gasping for breath, but are actually drawing air in through the mouth and nose. The exact cause of this behaviour is not known, but it is not harmful to the dog.

Famous American Beagles

Snoopy- Peanuts character
Odie- Comic strip Garfield
Bagel- Barry Manilow’s Beagle Kim & Freckles- Former US President Lyndon B. Johnson beagles

If you would like to recommend a dog breed for our next Best Bully Sticks spotlight on a breed please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats, dog chews, and of course our  bully sticks , the breeds chew of choice!

Like dogs our Bully Sticks & treats come in all different sizes so there is something for everyone. Bully Sticks and making dogs happy is our specialty. Reasons why you and your dog would love our wonderful growing selection of Best Bullys quality Bully Sticks, Dog Treats, and Dog Chews.

1. Provide defense against tarter by promote healthy teeth and gums.
2. 100% all natural
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4. 100% digestible treats
5. Encourages constructive not destructive chewing habits.
6. Keeps an active & easily bored dog preoccupied for hours.
5. Most importantly affordable
6. Dogs give out bully sticks and treats 4 paws up!

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Pepe a rescue Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix is on cloud nine with his Best Bully Stick. This is what the canine world considers enjoying a piece of heaven!

Pepe is a bad to the bone chomping machine!!

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