Tag: Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed

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 some excited to spotlight the West Highland White Terrier ( aka Westie).

Westie - West Highland White Terrier

Height: Male 11 inches; Female 10 inches

Weight: 15-21 lbs

Coat: The West Highland White Terrier has a weatherproof double coat. The outer coat is straight, long, harsh and wiry. The under coat is dense, short, fluffy, and soft. Their coat is brilliant white in color and lends to this breed an elegant look. They are moderate shedders.

Color: White

Appearance: The West Highland White Terrier is a compact dog with an all-white coat and a button black nose. The skull is wide and round, the muzzle blunt and a slightly shorter than the skull. There is a defined stop. The eyes are dark with a keen, intelligent expression. The teeth should ideally meet in a scissors or level bite. The ears are wide-set and sit erect on the side of the skull. The topline is level and the Westie is slightly longer than he is tall. The tail is 5 to 6 inches in length and carried gaily over the back. The white coat is two inches long and should never be soft or silky to the touch.

Temperament: he West Highland White Terrier is hardy and compact, self assured, energetic, spunky, curious, fearless, tenacious, spirited and well adjusted. They have attained the status of being one of the most popular breeds. They are intelligent and usually display good manners. The Westie is playful but can also be quiet and determined. They are devoted to their family, but are not very interested in being cuddled. They alert to danger by barking and are good watchdogs. They will bark at the slightest noise they hear, but after they are done barking at your guests, they will greet friends with a polite wag of the tail and then go about their business. The Westie is a wonderful family pet that prefers to be the only pet in the home. Westies get along well with other family dogs and enjoy playing with older children. They get along with children over the age of ten who are well behaved.

They can be demanding and assertive, and exhibit true terrier traits. They have a tendency to snap when irritated. The West Highland White Terrier is a social, fun loving breed that does best in an active and attentive household. These little dogs need plenty of walks and interactive play time, and like to be fully involved in all household activity. They are curious and like to get into everything, poking around in closets, cabinets and perching at the window to keep up on the neighborhood happenings. They still possess a strong desire to hunt rodents, so if you live in the suburbs or on a farm, you can be assured your property will remain pest-free, but beware, he is likely to present his “prizes” to you as a gift. They are a versatile dog, who make great companions for families of all sizes and ages.

Health: The life expectancy for a Westie  is over 15 years. Prone to chronic hernias, liver disease, Legg Perthes disease (hip problems), jawbone calcification and skin problems.

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” or tweet @bestbullysticks. 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.

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. Thanks Erin, we are excited to spotlight your beautiful Dutch Shepherd. Everyone say "Hello" by sending out warm barks and tail wags to Mae!

Dutch Shepherd Mae relaxing!

Height: 22-25 inches tall

Weight: 55-67 pounds.

Coat: The coat of the Dutch Shepherd is its distinguishing feature. The breed consists of three types, which vary according to the coat: shorthaired (fine and dense), longhaired (long, straight, flat and harsh), and wirehaired (medium duration and wiry). In short the coat is either long, short, or coarse.

Color: Dutch Shepherd  coat color is brindle, including gray, silver, yellow, red or gold and blue.

Appearance: The Dutch Shepherd has muscular limbs and a well-balanced frame. Its chest and belly is deep and the ribcage is slightly sprung. The facial features are dark, including the slightly slanted eyes. It has a long pointed muzzle with strong rectangular teeth. The ears are large, stiffly erect and triangular. Its tail hangs down below the hocks. The feet of the dog are relatively small. They do not have dewclaws. The dog’s toes are well arched and its nails and pads are black. In between the toes protective hairs are present. The dog’s tail is slightly curved.

Temperament: The Dutch Shepherd can easily be labeled its owners best friend.  The Dutch Shepherd is a intelligent, lively, and playful family companion with great endurance excellent for active households. The breed is not only devoted to its owner and family, but actually offers expressions of joy when around its family. It is an energetic breed that is a skilled worker and one that knows how to play. They will do all right around children and other pets, but due to their high energy should be monitored when interacting with children that are very young. It is intelligent and will actually enjoy training. This dog possesses a keen and cunning intelligence and does not tolerate other dogs or thrive in close confinement. If raised with kids or in apartments, they accept the situation, but the Dutch Shepherd pup has indefatigable curiosity and is in perpetual motion, challenging its master to provide activity, new experiences and training. Dutch Shepherd Hounds tend to have dominating natures although they can be trained to be very obedient. With natural protective instincts, this breed is excellent at guarding. While relatively aggressive with other dogs, Dutch Shepherds are gentle and calm with children and family members. Typically these dogs will form a strong attachment with just one person but their affectionate natures also make them excellent family companions.

The Dutch Shepherd breed is not recommended for those with sedentary lifestyles. The Dutch Shepherd thrives on exercise, activity, and having a job to do. They are not recommended for apartment living and do best with a large securely fenced yard or rural setting. Physical and mental stimulation is absolutely crucial. They excel in agility, herding, obedience competition, and field trailing. Dutch Shepherd's also make excellent walking and jogging companions provided they are securely leashed.

Health: The life expectancy for a Dutch Shepherd is 12-14 years. Due to the rarity of the breed there are no recorded health issues for the Dutch Shepherd.

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” or tweet @bestbullysticks. 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.

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 feature the Whippet!

Whippet

Height: Male: 19-22 inches; Female: 18-21 inches

Weight: 20-40 lbs

Coat: The Whippet has a short, tight, and smooth coat. Firm in texture, yet soft. Coat patterns range from spots, and patches to blazes. Coat does not adapt well to colder climates so this breed needs a considerable amount of protection from cold weather. Coat should remain fairly weather resistant given the length, and texture.

Color: Beige, red, fawn, brindle, blue, roan, black, black and white, or white with streaked or yellow patches.

Appearance: The Whippet is a lean, graceful sight hound that looks like a tiny Greyhound. The head and muzzle are long, the chest is deep and the neck, back and loins are arched. The ears fold back when in repose and are semi-pricked when the dog is alert. The eyes vary in color, depending on the individual, but the darker they eye color, the better. The strong teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The short coat comes in a variety of colors and patterns including black, fawn, blue, solid or mixed. Since Whippets are so thin and have very fine coats, they do not tolerate cold weather and need to wear a coat when going outside in the winter.

Temperament: Whippets are amiable, fun-loving, docile, energetic, quiet and gentle dogs yet are quite happy sleeping on the couch all day. They are commonly known as the world's fastest couch potato. This trait makes them excellent apartment dogs coupled with the fact that they do not bark very much. When they are outside, they love to run and play, but care must be taken when exercising a Whippet, if they see anything that catches their eye, they are gone in a flash! Whippets are also surprisingly good jumpers and a well fenced yard is a must! Rather independent, this breed is also a quick learner but does require consistent training methods and variety as they bore quickly.They are easier to train than most sight hounds. Whippets have many athletic traits, and are great sprinters and excel at such sports as agility and fly ball. The Whippet is a very sensitive breed and should never be roughly handled, as shyness is a factor. They are very affectionate with their family members, but care must be taken with smaller children since this dog is quite fragile. Not recommended as a kennel pet, the Whippet is best suited as a household companion. They generally get on well with other dogs and house pets, but are not above occasionally chasing the cat. Some bloodlines can be timid and shy, so early socialization is important to have a good canine citizen.

Health: The life expectancy for a Whippet is about 12-15 years. They are generally healthy, and are not prone to the frequent ear infections, skin allergies, or digestive problems that can afflict other breeds. Genetic eye defects, though quite rare, have been noted in the breed. Hip dysplasia is unknown in whippets. Undescended testicles are common in the breed. The heart of a whippet is large and slow beating, often being arrhythmic or even intermittent when the animal is at rest. This sometimes causes concern to the owner, or to the vet not experienced with the breed. Whippets will, however, demonstrate a regular heartbeat during exercise. Cardiac problems were shown to be the second leading cause of mortality in Whippets.

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” or tweet @bestbullysticks. 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.

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. Thanks Irma, we are excited to spotlight your boxer Reilly!

Height: Male: 22.5-25; Female: 21-23.5 inches

Weight: Male: 65-80; Female: 50-65 lbs

Coat: The boxer has a short-haired coat, which is shiny, smooth, and fits tightly to the body.

Color: The coat comes in such colors as fawn, red, and brindle, with "flashings" of white on their underbelly, chest, and all four feet. In some cases the "flashing" will appear on their face. The Boxer is an average shedder that sheds year round.

Appearance: Square in proportion and consisting of good substance and musculature, the boxer features long, sloping shoulders and straight, firmly-muscled front legs. The back legs are strongly muscled and have broad, curved thighs. The compact feet offer well-arched toes. The head of this breed is clean and without deep wrinkles. Wrinkles are usually found on the forehead when ears are erect. The dark brown eyes offer an intelligent and alert expression. Some boxers ears are cropped, but if left natural, the ears are thin, flat-lying and moderate in size. The well-proportioned muzzle features a broad, black nose, and the typical bite of the boxer is undershot. Muscular and clean, the neck of this breed is distinctly arched and blends smoothly into the body. The short, straight back is firm and smooth. Usually docked, the tail is set high and normally carried in an upward position.

Temperament: The Boxer is patient, lively, strong, alert, curious, playful, loyal and dignified. He's self-confident, courageous, strong and athletic. hey carry themselves with pride, but are never arrogant. They have a stoic stance, and are intelligent, loving, delightful companions. He's a very social dog and loves people. He's craves your affection and physical contact. He thrives on pats, hugs, scratches and belly rubs. He loves to sit on your lap! He loves to be with you at all times; he will become your shadow. He is the kind of dog who is always in your face. He's a playful clown. He adores children and is very patient with them and loves to play with them! However because of his boisterous nature he could unintentionally knock-over a small child. He's lively and active (high energy level) around the home, constantly on the move. If he isn't getting enough exercise or becomes bored he'll find mischievous ways to occupy himself: usually chewing anything in sight. They exhibit curiosity, but are wary of strangers. He's wary and standoffish with strangers until he warms up to them. He's an instinctive guard dog, protective of his family and will not back down if threatened. They are keenly alert and have a heightened sense of hearing, which make them excellent guard dogs. He drools and slobbers quite a lot, especially after drinking. And he sometimes has flatulence which can be quite smelly. He is not a dog who can live outside.

Health: The life expectancy for a Boxer is about 10-12 years. Some major concerns are cardiomyopathy and other heart problems, sub-aortic stenosis, and thyroid problems. Boxers are also prone to cancer and skin allergies.  Sometimes prone to epilepsy and hip dysplasia. From age eight on they are more likely to get tumors than other breeds.  These dogs may drool and snore. May have excessive flatulence. Some white Boxers are prone to deafness.

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” or tweet @bestbullysticks. 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.

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 Great Pyrenees and honor Maxwell.

The Handsome Great Pyrenees...Maxwell

Kind Barking's from a Great Pyrenees Pet Owner:

Maxwell is a 3 year old, 140 pound Great Pyrenees, he drools, he sheds, he barks often and loudly... but I wouldn't have it any other way. Maxwell greets each person he meets with a sniff and a tail wag. Hee puts a smile on the faces of everyone he encounters. I once read a quote, I don't know who it is from.. "I have found it true that the Great Pyrenees does nothing in a hurry... especially when it comes to listening to my commands".. this couldn't be more true. There is a running joke on the Great Pyrenees forum I belong to... "If it barks like a Pyr, walks like a Pyr and most of all doesn't listen to you like a Pyr, then It's a Pyr!"

~Leah and Maxwell

Height: Male 27-32 inches, Female 25-29 inches

Weight: Male 100, Female 85 lbs

Coat: The weather resistant double coat consists of a long, flat, thick, outer coat of coarse hair, straight or slightly undulating, and lying over a dense, fine, woolly undercoat. The coat is more profuse about the neck and shoulders where it forms a ruff or mane which is more pronounced in males. Longer hair on the tail forms a plume. There is feathering along the back of the front legs and along the back of the thighs, giving a "pantaloon" effect. The hair on the face and ears is shorter and of finer texture.

Color: Great Pyrenees are white or white with markings of gray, badger, reddish brown, or tan

Appearance: The Great Pyrenees is a large, shaggy white dog with a majestic carriage. Their fluffy coats are deceiving, and while they may appear to be large, heavy animals, they are actually of medium substance and are not considered a giant breed. The head is wedge-shaped with a slightly rounded skull, and should be in proportion with the rest of the body. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark brown, and give the dog a thoughtful expression. The eye rims, nose and lips are black. The coat is either all white or white with yellow, reddish brown, tan or gray. The rear dewclaws should never be removed – they have bones that are functional. The tail is plumed, carried low, and may be carried over the back, "making the wheel," when aroused. When present, a "shepherd’s crook" at the end of the tail accentuates the plume.

Temperament: Great Pyrenees are described as regal dogs. They are thoughtful animals, very observant and vigilant. Their original purpose was to guard flocks and they were charged with making independent decisions about who was a friend and who was potentially dangerous. The modern Pyrenees takes his watchdog role seriously, quietly sizing up newcomers before making a decision. They are fiercely protective of their property, family, and even other household pets. Pyrenees are patient and gentle with kids in their own family, but often don't take kindly to outside children engaging in rough play with their charges.

These gentle giants love to play, and their favorite time to romp and play is after a good snow. Giving them a job to do after a snowstorm, like pulling kids in a sled or hitching the Pyrenees to a cart will keep him occupied for hours.

Health: The life expectancy for a Great Pyrenees is about 10 years. They are prone to bloat, hip dysplasia, bone cancer, luxated patellas and can develop skin problems in hot weather.

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” or tweet @bestbullysticks. 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.