Breed Spotlight

With its cheerful demeanor, curly coat and dedication to the job at hand, the Pumi has undoubtedly earned its reputation as a hardworking and loving companion. Whimsical and outspoken, this breed originated in the late 17th or early 18th century though a combination of Eastern and Western European crossbre
eding. BestBullySticks is excited to share the history of the Pumi on this week’s Breed Spotlight.

Hailing from the vast rolling farmlands of the Puszta — an area in east Hungary known for its expansive grasslands — the Pumi arose from a regional need for a better shepherd’s companion. The Pumi primarily owes its lineage to a breed that was, already common in Hungary — the Puli. However, unlike the Pumi’s “dreadlocked” ancestor, it’s hair does not grow into long hanging curls. Cross-breeding with newly introduced breeds of the late 17th century helped to eliminate the coat’s length yet retained the curls. Read more

Truly one of the first “American” breeds, the Catahoula Leopard Dog is the combined result of New and Old World dog breeding. The rise of the Catahoula Leopard Dog not only marked an important point in history, it presently represents the state of Louisiana for it’s historical importance to the region. Find out more about the Catahoula Leopard Dog below on this week’s BestBullySticks Breed Spotlight.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog — or more commonly the Catahoula Cur — got it’s unique name from Catahoula Lake in North Central Louisiana. Choctaw Indian in origin, Catahoula means “sacred lake.” Recognized by the American Kennel Club as a herding dog, this breed holds a special place in American culture as it’s rise coincides with some of the earliest cultural exchanges between American Indians and European settlers in the 1500’s.

The earliest known records documenting the origins of the Catahoula Cur date back to 1539. Hernando de Soto, a Spanish conquistador, was the first to describe the Catahoula Cur’s New World ancestors. This ancient breed accompanied early North American settlers from Asia and evolved into the American Indian Dog. This native breed was only half of the Catahoula Cur equation, though. Hernando de Soto’s expeditionary crew had crossed the Atlantic with dogs of their own. Similar in description to Bloodhounds, Mastiffs and Greyhounds, these European breeds were crossbred with the indigenous American Indian Dog giving rise to the Catahoula Cur.

De Soto’s hand in shaping the history of the Catahoula Cur would also be seen in the years to come. The journey inland into unknown territory, which cut through the south, demanded emergency food reserves. De Soto’s solution was to bring Caribbean pigs along for the ride. However, when de Soto’s expedition broke down in northern Louisiana near present day Catahoula, the pigs became too large of a burden on the group and many were released into the wild.

When settlers were moving into the American heartland two hundred years later they encountered the wild pigs let loose by de Soto’s group generations earlier. These “pineywood rooters” proved a nuisance for settlers. Relatively common in the region already, the Catahoula Cur— or Catahoula Hog Dog as it was soon to be known— was used to dispatch the invasive wild pigs. A superb hunting dog able to scale trees, the Catahoula Cur even came to win the favor of former president and renowned huntsman Theodore Roosevelt.

The Catahoula Cur also excelled at herding. The Catahoula Cur herds through constant antagonization and intimidation as opposed to the normal boundary patrol methods seen in most herding breeds. This is the result of their assertive nature and shouldn’t be confused with aggression. Even-tempered and intelligent, the Catahoula Cur is firmly dedicated in it’s protection of the pack making them an extremely loyal and family-oriented breed. However as with other herding breeds, there may be difficulties with smaller children.

While loyal and intelligent, this breed is fiercely independent and wastes no time attempting to establish dominance. Many owners have stated their Catahoulas believe they own them. As a result, this breed requires a firm and confident owner, able to lead by example and with respect. Treats certainly don’t hurt either! BestBullySticks offers many all-natural dog treats such as Bravo! All-Beef Hot Dog Training Treats to help build good habits.

With a medium to large build, Catahoula Curs often grow to 20–26 inches (51–61 cm) and weigh between 55–80 lbs (16–37 kg). A physically active breed, they require at least one hour of exercise daily. However, they are not a high energy breed like Weimaraners or Border Collies. Even still, boredom and a lack of exercise will almost certainly contribute to an increase in destructive and obnoxious behavior. Toys like the ChompChamps Duke Rope are perfect for keeping dogs of all types entertained!

The Catahoula’s coat varies greatly with yellow, brindle, black merle, red merle and red the most common. However, the most striking feature of the Catahoula Cur are their eyes. Akin to cracked glass or brightly colored marbles, it is the Catahoula’s intense gaze that sets this breed apart. Heterochromia (different colored eyes) is also a common among Catahoula Curs. This, in combination with their extremely varied coats, makes the breed’s appearance extremely diverse.

Deafness is recognized as one of the breed’s largest shortcomings. A predominantly white coated Catahoula has an 80% chance of being born with bilateral deafness or unilateral hearing. Thankfully there are organizations dedicated to the rescue of deaf dogs helping to prevent unnecessary euthanization.

All things considered, the Catahoula Cur is a great dog for experienced owners. Their gorgeous coats and penetrating eyes give them a unique appearance unlike any other breed. The Catahoula Cur is without a doubt a breed like no other.

Are you a Catahoula Cur owner yourself? Share your experience with this fascinating breed on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to follow BestBullySticks to receive the latest news on products and specials!

An interesting breed, the Kerry Blue Terrier has a truly unique appearance matched only by its incredible history. Find out more about this fascinating breed on this week’s BestBullySticks Breed Spotlight.

According to Irish folklore, the story goes a little something like this:

One stormy evening a lone canine swam ashore. Leaving his owner’s wrecked ship behind, he braved the rough coastal seas and soon found himself on the plush grass of County Kerry, Ireland. Covered in a handsome coat of curly slate-gray fur, he set out across Ireland mating with all the Wheaten Terriers he encountered.

While the verdict is still out on the validity of this legend, we do know for certain that the Kerry Blue Terrier is from County Kerry, a lush and mountainous coastal region of southwestern Ireland. Able to trace their lineage to the Portuguese Water Dog, Kerry Blues are very at home in the water as legend would suggest. A working dog by nature, this energetic and fun-loving breed has a playful sense of humor and is eager to please at a moments notice.

Originally used by Irish farmers as a retriever for hunting, the Kerry Blue Terrier was an all-purpose working dog of the peasantry class. Loyal and obedient, the Kerry Blue found numerous roles in and around farms fitting of it’s breed characteristics. From tracking and hunting vermin to herding sheep and cattle, this versatile breed would eventually become the layman’s Irish Wolfhound.

The first breed to be registered with the Irish Kennel Club, the Kerry Blue Terrier was the breed responsible for the foundation of the organization in 1922. Read more

A dog breed with a rich history and personality, the Akita is treasured by an entire nation and the families it’s a part of. Find out more about this Japanese dog breed on the BestBullySticks Breed Spotlight.

History & Background: Originating from the island of Honshu in the region of Akita in Japan, the Akita Inu has lived a relatively unchanged life from its ancestors. In fact, the Akita is one of seven dog breeds considered a “Natural Monument.” In Japan, the Akita (natively pronounced AH-ki-ta instead of the Western version of a-KEE-ta) has been used in various capacities including police, military and guard dogs. This breed is also known for being a great hunting dog because of its “soft” mouth and ability to hunt in inclement weather.

Akitas were first brought to the US by Helen Keller in 1937 when the Japanese government gave Keller an Akita as a gift. This dog’s name was Kamikaze-go but sadly died shortly after Keller brought the dog back to the states. The dog’s brother was given as a gift in the next year and was named Kenzan-go. After WWII, many US Soldiers brought Akitas back to the states. Today, the original Japanese Akita and the American Akita are thought to be two separate breeds.

Height: Males: 26 to 28 inches; Females: 24 to 26 inches

Weight: Males: 100 to 145 pounds; Females: 80 to 120 pounds Read more

The Harrier is sort of like the middle sibling to the English Foxhound and the Beagle, but only in size. This breed has unique hunting abilities and temperament making it a wonderful and distinct breed. Read more about the Harrier in the BBS Breed Spotlight below!

History & Background: The Harrier has a cloudy ancestry, but more than likely this dog was developed from its close cousins, the English Foxhound. Since Colonial times, the Harrier has been a hunting dog for hare, thus it’s name, and fox as well. Slower than the Foxhound, hunters liked this dog because Harriers ran at a pace that was easy to keep up with, which is called a “drag” hunt. To this day English and Irish hunters still use Harriers to hunt. This dog was recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Height: 40 to 60 pounds

Weight: 19 to 21 inches

Coat: Hard in texture and short in length, the Harrier’s overall coat is dense and glossy. The exception is the dog’s ears where the fur is finer and softer. The underside of the tail has a slight fan of hair.

Color: Not seen as important by breed standards, the Harrier can be shown in any color. Eye color is hazel in darker dogs and lighter in lighter colored dogs. Nose is black. Read more