Tag: Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed

A relatively new breed to the United States, the Tibetan Mastiff has an ancient history in Asia. Marco Polo once described this dog as “tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a lion.” This large dog has a friendly disposition yet intimidating presence. Find out more about the Tibetan Mastiff in Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight on the Tibetan Mastiff!

History & Background: Potentially, Tibetan Mastiffs originated from Molossus breeds, an extinct large breed dog. It is known that Tibetan Mastiffs are an ancient breed that can be traced back to 1100 B.C. China. At a point, these dogs were seemingly isolated in the Himalayan Mountains in Tibet where it developed into the dog recognized as the modern Tibetan Mastiff. 

This dog was used as a guard dog for flocks, homes, tents and more. This breed was sometimes tied up to enhance aggressive tendencies. These dogs are still sometimes used a guard dogs in different parts of the world.

A Tibetan Mastiff was brought to Queen Victoria in the mid 1800s and popularity for these dogs began to rise. More were imported into England and the English began to breed and standardize Tibetan Mastiffs. The breed didn’t gain a lot of popularity in the United States until 1980. The Tibetan Mastiff was recognized by the AKC in 2006 and first shown at Westminster in 2008.

In Asia, the term “mastiff” attached to this dog’s name is somewhat of a misnomer. In many languages, including Nepali, Mongolian and Mandrin Chinese, all translations of this dog’s name simply mean “dog,” “home guard,” or “door guard.” The term “mastiff” was mostly likely used because it meant “large dog” but is suggested that a more correct name for this dog might “Tibetan Mountain Dog.” Read more

Best Bully Sticks has seen some furry dogs, some fuzzy dogs, but today’s Breed Spotlight is all about a shaggy dog! BBS is talking about the Briard, a French herding dog with a lot of spunk and a lot of heart. Read more about this shaggy dog below!

History & Background: It seems the Briard has been a popular dog for many ages. The dog originated as a French herding dog, as a mix between the sleek Beauceron and the wooly Barbet.  During the Middle Ages, the Briard was a beloved dog that has been seen in tapestries and written records. The breed was used mostly as a livestock herder and guard that was more prone to bite a stranger in defense of its breed, but became a “softer” dog through selective breeding. The Briard was used in the French Revolution & WWI as a messenger, sentry and to search for wounded soldiers. However, they’re most commonly used as pastoral dogs and served as herders, watchdogs and guard dogs. It’s said that Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette all owned Briards. The stories are conflicting about who, Jefferson or Lafayette, introduced the Briard to America.

Today, the Briard serves in many roles, such as police, military and search and rescue dogs. The Briard breed has also had a handful of on-screen roles that have included appearances on Dennis the Menace, My Three Sons, Get Smart, Married…with Children and Dharma & Greg.

Height: 23 – 27 inches (males); 22 – 25 ½ inches (females)

Weight: 66-88 pounds (males); 55-77 pounds (females)

Coat: The Briard’s coat is one if its most distinctive features, truly making it a shaggy dog. The long outer coat is dry and hard, so much so that it even makes a scratchy noise if strands of fur are rubbed together between fingers. Even though the coat is dry, a good coat will have sheen, denoting healthy hair. The hair falls flat on the body in long wavy locks, including the head. The head’s hair naturally lies flat and has a natural part down the middle, however the Briard’s long eyebrows do not lie flat and curve up and out to create a light cover over the eyes. The Briard also sports a mustache and beard. The undercoat is fine and tight against the whole body. As much hair as this dog has, it’s never so much that it covers up the dog’s shape or impedes vision. This dog needs steady grooming to look ideal and also be comfortable. An ungroomed Briard can develop matted fur. Read more

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the Afghan Hound.

Height: 24-28 inches (Male: 26-28 inches tall, Female: 24-26 inches tall)

Weight: Male 60-64 lb., Female: 58-62 lb.

Coat: The long, fine hair of the Afghan hound is shiny and silky to the touch. Though it is fine, Afghans have a thick covering of fur and many describe the texture as very similar to human hair.

Color: Fawn,Gold,Brindle,White,Red,Cream,Blue,Gray,and Tricolor

Appearance: Afghan Hounds are “The Aristocrat” of the dog world, carrying themselves with dignity and poise at all times. They are tall and lean, with long, narrow heads, high hipbones, long curling tails and a silky topknot that are unique to the breed. Their long, flowing hair covers their entire body, except for the face, and is truly a sight to behold when properly groomed. Afghans have almond-shaped eyes, which the AKC states, “gaze into the distance as if in memory of ages past." This breed comes in just about any color of the canine rainbow, so dark colored Afghans are just as common as light colored Afghans.

Temperament: Despite his glamorous reputation, the Afghan hound is a hunter at heart, bred to chase down game over rugged terrain. While he maintains his regal bearings inside, he needs a daily chance to stretch his legs in a safe area. His worst trait is a reluctance to come when called. He will chase small animals outside; inside, he will coexist peacefully. The Afghan Hound is gentle with children and described by some as 'catlike'. He is independent yet sensitive and not overly demonstrative. He can be reserved with strangers; some can be timid. He has a clownish side.

Afghan Hounds are very loving, affectionate and sweet-tempered dogs. They are very responsive to calm talking and commands. They carry themselves very elegantly and with grace. Though they are somewhat aloof, they are a bit standoffish with strangers.  They crave affection and attention from their families and can be trained to tolerate children, though they do best with older children. Housebreaking this breed can be an arduous task but it is possible with time and effort put into the dogs.

Health: The Life expectancy for Afghan Hounds is 12 years and 18 years if the dog is taken care of. Major health issues are allergies and cancer. They are hypersensitive to pain. Even simple, common injuries can cause them great discomfort. Afghan hounds are also among the dog breeds most likely to develop chylothorax, a rare condition which causes the thoracic ducts to leak, allowing large quantities of chyle fluid to enter the dog's chest cavity. This condition commonly results in a lung torsion (in which the dog's lung twists within the chest cavity, requiring emergency surgery), due to the breed's typically deep, "barrel"-shaped chest. If not corrected through surgery, chylothorax can ultimately cause fibrosing pleuritis, or a hardening of the organs, due to scar tissue forming around the organs to protect them from the chyle fluid. Chylothorax is not necessarily, but often, fatal.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.

Max & Sam Miniature Schnauzer's alert & ready for a treat (pic by flickr KRO-Media)

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the Miniature Schnauzer.

Height: 12 to 14 inches (30 to 36 cm)

Weight: female 12 to 18 lbs & male 12 to 20 lbs

Coat: They have a double coat. The exterior fur is wiry and the undercoat is softer. Harsh and wiry when hand stripped, soft and curly when unclipped

Color: Black, salt-and-pepper, black-and-silver and white

Appearance: They Miniature Schnauzer are characterized by a long head with bushy beard, mustache and eyebrows; teeth that meet in a "scissor bite"; oval and dark colored eyes; and v-shaped, natural forward-folding ears. (cropped ears point straight upward and come to a sharp point.) Their tails are naturally thin and short, and may be docked (where permitted). They will also have very straight, rigid front legs, and feet that are short and round (so-called "cat feet") with thick, black pads

Temperament: Miniature Schnauzer are "alert and spirited, yet obedient to command. They are friendly, intelligent and willing to please and should never be overaggressive or timid. " Usually easy to train, they tend to be excellent watchdogs, with a good territorial instinct, but more inclined toward vocal notification than attack. They are often guarded towards strangers until the owners of the home welcome the guest, upon which they are typically very friendly to them; unlike some of their terrier cousins, they are not typically aggressive. However, they will express themselves vocally, and may bark to greet their owner, or to express joy, excitement, or displeasure.

Proper socialization with other dogs and people is important. The breed is generally good with children, but as with any dog, play with small children should be supervised. They are highly playful dogs, and if not given the outlet required for their energy they can become bored and invent their own "fun." Schnauzers have a "high prey drive" (appropriate for a ratting dog), which means they may attack other small pets such as birds, snakes, and rodents. Many will also attack cats, but this may be curbed with training, or if the dog is raised with cats.

Health: The average lifespan of this breed is between 12-15 years. While generally a healthy breed, Miniature Schnauzers may suffer health problems associated with high fat levels. Such problems include hyperlipidemia, which may increase the possibility of pancreatitis, though either may form independently. Other issues which may affect this breed are diabetes, bladder stones and eye problems. Feeding the dog low- or non-fatty and unsweetened foods may help avoid these problems.^. Miniature Schnauzers are also prone to comedone syndrome, a condition that produces pus filled bumps, usually on their backs, which can be treated with a variety of protocols.  Miniature Schnauzers should have their ears dried after swimming due to a risk of infection, especially those with uncropped ears; ear examinations should be part of the regular annual check up.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.

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We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the  Chihuahua.

Height: 6-9  inches

Weight: 2-6 lbs

Coat: There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Chihuahuas have two coat types, smooth and long. The smooth coat should be soft and close, with a perceptible sheen. Long coats can be flat or wavy, with an undercoat, fringed ears, feathering on the feet and legs, and a tail that looks much like a plume.

Color: Chihuahua coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

Appearance: The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults.

Temperament: The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. Thus are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed may often be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior.

Health: The average lifespan of this breed is between 15-18 years. There are also a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. Prone to rheumatism, slipped stifle, colds, gum problems, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma due to protruding eyes, weight gain and susceptible to fractures. Also some Chihuahuas have a molera, an unclosed section of the skull which can remain open throughout life making them prone to injury. They often wheeze and snore because of their small, short muzzles. This breed is also susceptible to stress.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.