Tag: BBS Breed Spotlight

Chinook is an Inuit word meaning “warm winter winds.” BestBullySticks.com sees how the dog that shares this name lives up to the meaning. With a warm colored and thick coat made for winter, a warm disposition and incredible speed and agility; the Chinook is truly a beautiful dog. Chinooks were companions of great adventurers and today they serve as the state dog of New Hampshire. Read more about the Chinook in BBS’s Breed Spotlight.

History & Background: The first descendant of the Chinook passed on many things to the progeny of the breed, including its name. The father of the breed was named Chinook and was the result of breeding one of the dogs from the first North Pole expedition team and a husky breed. Chinook’s owner, Arthur Treadwell Walden, was amazed at this non-breed dog’s sledding ability and disposition. It’s thought that Walden, also the lead driver and trainer on the 1929 first Antarctic expedition, took Chinook to work with him but died while there. Chinook’s offspring and generations after were bred with Belgian and German Shepherds to create the modern Chinook.

Over the years, only a handful of breeders and fanciers were in charge of advancing this breed. Today about 800 Chinooks are in existence and are listed on the Foundation Stock Services and Miscellaneous class of the AKC. This breed isn’t used as a sled dog by many owners, but mostly serves as a wonderful companion dog for families.

Height: Males: 24 to 26 inches; Females: 22 to 24 inches

Weight: 55 to 90 pounds Read more

Defining the perfect family dog is hard, but this week’s Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight might come close. A historical European breed, the Ibizan Hound has been a family hunting dog for ages. Find out more about this beautiful and affectionate breed below!

History & Background: The Ibizan Hound (pronounced I-bee-zan" or "I-beeth-an) originated from Eivissa, or Ibiza, approximately 80 miles off the coast of Spain. The first name for this unique looking dog was Podenco Ibicenco.  This hound was used for its speed in hunting rabbits for itself and the farming families of this small island. This hound is similar to the Pharaoh Hound, the Cirneco dell'Etna, the Portuguese Podengo, and the Podenco Canario, all of whom have ancient roots. Depictions of an Ibizan-type dog are seen on the walls of ancient tombs dating back to 3400 B.C. and it’s thought the Phoenicians brought these Egyptian dogs to Ibiza.

Height: 22-29 inches

Weight: 45-65 pounds

Coat: Ibizan’s have two coat variations: short and wire-haired. The short coat is more common and just that: short. This coat is shortest on the head and ears and then lengthens on the back of the thighs. A wire-haired Ibizan’s coat can range from 1 to 3 inches and can have a mustache as well. This coat variety finds more hair on the back, back of the thighs and tail. The texture of both varieties are hard in texture.  Read more