Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed: American Bulldog

American Bulldog: Tallulah
Photo source: Twitter.com/parrisreddog

The American Bulldog

Height: Males: 22 - 27 inches; Females: 20 - 25 inches.

Weight: Male: 75 - 125 lbs.; Female: 60 - 100 lbs.

Coat: The coat is short, close, and stiff to the touch.

Color: White coat or any color pattern including black, red, brown and all shades of brindle

Appearance: The American Bulldog is a stocky and well built, strong-looking dog. Its coat is short and either white, white with patches, black and white brindle, fawn and white, fawn and white brindle or a combination of all of these. Some may even have what is called a blue patch. The color conformation is quite varied, but white must be somewhere in the coat for the dog to be confirmed in most ABD clubs.
The Johnson type is a larger dog with a shorter muzzle than the Scott type. However, many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types. In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 60 and 125 pounds (27 to 57kg) and are 20 to 28 inches (52 to 70cm) at the withers. The American Bulldog is massive in comparison to both the French Bulldog and the British Bulldog due to the fact that the American Bulldog was never down bred to be a lap dog.

There are mainly five types of American Bulldogs:

*The Johnson type: This type is commonly known as the Classic or Bully type. These bulldogs are more aggressive and have pendulous lips, an undershot jaw, facial wrinkles and a shorter muzzle. Johnson's famous American Bulldog, the Incredible Mean Machine had 30% characteristics of an English Bulldog, and forms the foundation for most of the modern American Bulldog.

*The Scott type: This type is also known as Standard or Performance type. Bulldogs belonging to this type are large, coarse, leggy and used to catch wild hogs and cattle. They have an athletic look and a long muzzle.

*The Painter/Margentina type: They were developed in late 70s by Joe Painter, Margentina and Tappe, and are mainly used in dog fighting. They are small in size and weigh about 25 - 35 kg.

*The Old Southern Whites type: These are the original country bulldogs. They served as a raw material for Johnson, Scott, etc, and helped them to develop advanced breeds of the American Bulldog.

*The Hybrid type: These are mainly American Bulldogs whose bloodline is a mixture of Johnson and Scott type. Some of the successful breeders of this type are Kyle Symmes, Matt Boyd, Grey Souza, etc.

Temperament: The essential characteristics of the American Bulldog are those, which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle, loving family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder; Good with children; Good with pets.

Health: The average lifespan of this bred is between 10 – 14 years, and their main health concern is the development of hip and elbow dysplasia. Regular joint health supplements can lower their chances of developing severe dysplasia. American Bulldogs are also at an increased risk for bone cancer, eye conditions such as entropion and ectropion, and enlarged hearts.

Famous American Bulldogs
Chance- in homeward Bound I & II
Tallulah- owned by Jenah Parris

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Best Bully Sticks product demonstration on all natural lamb dog treats.

http://www.bestbullysticks.com product demonstration on all natural lamb dog treats. These lamb dog treats are made in the US and are all single ingredient. They are extremely high in quality and great for dogs with allergies.

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Best Bully Sticks Refer-A-Friend Program

Do to the overwhelming success of our Refer-A-Friend program, we have decided to bring it back permanently!  All you have to do is have a friend or family member order from us for their 1st time and put your name and Refer-A-Friend in the comments section of their order.  Once they order, we will send you a coupon code for 10% off!  There are no limits to this promotion, so you could save 10% off of our products indefinitely!

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How To Properly Clean Your Dogs Ears & Prevent Ear Infection- 101 Dog Care Tips- Tip 15

Has your dog mastered the art of not listening? Well perhaps there is underlining issue that needs dealt with and a good ear cleaning is in order. Regular weekly ear cleanings are important aspect of your pets care and should not be taken lightly.  Learning to clean your dog’s ear properly is the first step told prevention of discomfort, hearing loss, and ear infections. Ear infections are caused by bacteria that can lurk in the dark corners of your dogs ear canal. Although cleaning your dog-ears may seem like a chore and struggle at times it is VERY important.

Dogs and humans have a lot in common we both get waxy build up in the ears.  Over time if not cleaned the waxy build-up can set the mood for some bacteria & fungal growth leading to ear & fungal yeast infections.  Dogs with floppy ears have a higher risk of getting chronic ear infections. Their ears are warm, dark & moist with little airflow making them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. With that said dogs with floppy ears should be cleaned twice a week.

So what are the signs of an ear infection that all loving owners should be aware of? Redness, swelling, pain, head shaking, frequent ear scratching, thick ear discharge and odor are sure signs. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, seeking the aid of a certified vet is key.

If not treated properly and in a timely fashion the infection can make its way to your dog’s inner ear where he or she can suffer from permanent hearing damage. Even resulting in a dog’s version of vertigo, where your dog is unable to stay balance.

Here are a few helpful steps that will make cleaning your dogs ear an easy task. Make sure to have lots of dog biscuits and praise along the way to ease any discomfort and fears your dog may have. It’s important that you stay calm and upbeat through the entire process. Don’t panic or get upset if your dog does not cooperate, this takes time.  But the squirming, whining and struggle is well worth enduring for your beloved pup and precious ears.

1.    First you will need the proper tools: ear cleaner, cotton balls (or cotton pads), Q-tips and lots of dog’s treats. Best Bully Sticks will surely do the trick and provide lots of chewing joy even after the ear cleaning is all said and done

2.     Warm up the ear cleaner bottle in a bowl of hot water for 5- 7 minutes, shaking the bottle occasionally and replacing the bowl of water with hot water as it cools.  Many dogs hate the thought and feeling of something cold in their ears. So, warming the ear cleaning solution will ease the discomfort and calm your dog.

3.    Sit the dog in a corner of a couch or arm chair and take your position alongside him.  This will help you and your dog maintain a comfortable position and prevent him from squirming out of the chair.

4.    Proceed by dampening a wet cotton ball or cotton pad with the ear cleaning solution and begin wiping the ear gently. Depending on how wet and dirty between the ears Spot is will determine how many cotton balls or pads will fall casualty. Once you have finished one ear move on to the next. Lucky for you and Spot this ear-cleaning regime will remove a lot of ear wax and dirt.

For floppy ear dogs, lift the ear upright so you can see the inside. Make sure the dog's head is not tilted as you need the cleansing solution to go downward into the ear canal.

Did you know that fur inside a dog’s ear canal makes them more prone to bacteria build-up. If your dog has furry ear canals making it difficult clean, slowly and gently pluck away or trim those dog ear hairs. Don’t worry this is not a painful process.

5.    Then dampen both ends of the several Q-tips with the warm dog-ear solution and begin venturing in the cracks and crevasse and outer portion of your dog-ear to remove the wax.  Keep in mind dog ears are not only sensitive to sound but also touch, so never stick the Q-tip into the ear canal. Only clean the portions of the ear that are visible.

No matter how young or old your dog is they can still reap the rewards of regular proper ear care with gentleness and praise. But as always we do advise that if you have a young pup or thinking about adopting a pup to start them getting use to an ear cleaning regime early. This will surely make them more cooperative and un-afraid through their pup, teen and senior years.

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Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed: American Cocker Spaniel

Photo source: Twitter.com/laurenmack1129

American Cocker Spaniel

Height: 15 ½ inches (male); 14 ½ inches (female)

Weight: 15-30 pounds

Coat: moderately long, well feathered, silky, fine & flat hair

Color: Divided into black, parti-color, and any solid color other than black (ASCOB in show catalogs). Black includes black-and-tan and should be jet black without liver or brown shadings. The tan markings are to be over the eyes, on the muzzle and cheeks, undersides of ears, on all legs and feet, and under the tail. Tan on the chest is optional.

Parti-color includes any color, including the mixed color known as roan, patterned with white. A third color is permissible. ASCOB includes blonde and red, with or without tan markings. Small white markings are permitted on the throat and chest of solid color Cockers, but nowhere else.

Appearance: American cockers come in three basic colors: solid black, any-solid-color-other-than-black (ASCOB), and multicolored or patchy. The cocker’s medium length coat is slightly wavy, requiring daily brushing and occasional professional grooming. A properly proportioned cocker has a balanced appearance, with a rounded skull; arched neck; compact, sloping body; large, round feet; and a docked tail. A healthy adult cocker weighs 18-28 pounds, depending on the dog’s height and gender.

Temperament: Cockers are lively, friendly dogs that develop a fierce loyalty to their owners. They are merry companions, and should be exercised frequently. Their keen intelligence invites games and tricks, and cockers will eagerly play fetching or chasing games and can excel in agility and tracking competitions. Cockers are excellent swimmers, and families should be cautious around unfamiliar bodies of water because cockers are quick to notice floating objects and may plunge in to retrieve them without encouragement.

Health: The Life expectancy for American Cocker Spaniels is about 12-15 years. American Cocker Spaniels are generally healthy, but they are prone to several disorders.

* Closed Tear Ducts: If your pet is tearing a lot, the ducts may need to be opened by a veterinarian.

* Conjunctivitis: Pink tissue lining the inner surface of the eyelids may become inflamed, particularly if the dog enjoys digging.

* Disk Herniations: Because of the dog’s athleticism, the back must be very flexible and could be susceptible to herniated disks.

* Ear Problems: Cockers may experience a variety of problems with their long, pendulous ears. Proper cleaning and trimming helps minimize these problems.

The best way to keep your American Cocker Spaniel healthy is through regular veterinarian visits, vaccinations, and home tooth and ear care. If the dog starts to behave abnormally or exhibits symptoms of discomfort or pain, consult your veterinarian.

Famous American Cocker Spaniels

Ch. My Own Brucie,- won two Westminster Kennel Club Dog Shows (1940, 1941), and greatly influenced the breed.

Checkers- owned by Pat Nixon and Richard Nixon (see Checkers speech)

Lucky Bundy- from Married... with Children

Solomon and Sophie- pets of Oprah Winfrey

Lady- from Lady and the Tramp

Freckles,-owned by Robert Kennedy

The dog who appears in the original Coppertone ad.

Acer- from movie Cheaper By The Dozen

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

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