Tag: Dog Care 101

BestBullySticks.com knows that all dogs are different, with their own unique quirks and characteristics. But did you know that much of what makes up your dog’s temperament is determined by genetic influencers and instinctive behaviors passed down from their parents? Understanding your dog’s personality can help you understand the way they act, view the world and can help in training your dog. BBS thinks these methods developed by Jack and Wendy Volhard will not only help you understand your dog more completely, but grow your relationship. Read on to take the Dog Personality Test!

Your dog’s behaviors can be lumped together into three broad motivations, called drives.

Prey: Is your dog easily excited by motion, sounds or smells? Or does your dog live for chasing small animals or destroying their toys? These are examples of prey drive.

Pack: This motivator relates back to when wild dogs were a part of larger groups of dogs. Dogs with a high pack drive will long to be a part of a social hierarchy; meaning they love working on a team, physical contact and playing. They show reproductive behaviors like mounting and cleaning behaviors, like licking ears. Petting, grooming and close companionship is desired by this dog and being left alone is not.

Defense: Fight and flight behaviors are found in defense drives, which makes this motivator more complex. A very territorial, protective dog that doesn’t like grooming or petting exhibits fight behaviors. Flight behaviors are shown by a dog who is unsure in any situation, hides and runs away and simply lacks confidence. This is seen more in young dogs. Read more

Chances are, you know your dog pretty well. You know when he’s not feeling well, when he needs to go out or even when he needs a cuddle. However, your dog’s body won’t always be on the same schedule as your yearly checkup. That’s why BestBullySticks.com is outlining easy ways to perform a physical exam on your dog from home. These simple steps will keep your dog’s wellbeing in check as well as make you aware of any problems that arise.

Starting at the nose and working to the tip of the tail, follow these simple ways to make sure your pup is in good shape.

Nose: Is your dog’s nose wet or dry? A normal nose will be moist and clean. Your dog’s nose can vary in wetness throughout the day depending on their activity level. An abnormal nose will be dry, cracked, bleeding or have a nasal discharge.

Eyes: Bright, clear and clean eyes are healthy eyes. When looking at the whites of the eye, make sure no red or yellow tint is present. Bloodshot eyes, unresponsive pupils or abnormal discharge should all be checked into further.

Ears: Clean, dry and pain and odor free ears are healthy. Watch for buildup in your dog’s ears as well as sores, bumps, smell or swelling. Some ear problems manifest themselves through irregular ear carriage, such as droopy ears when they should be erect. Cleaning out ears is as simple as a using a cotton ball with a little hydrogen peroxide and sweeping out the inside of the ear. Read more

Tired of bending over to pick up your dog's waste? Never again! With Cadet's Hands Off Pet Waste Remover, you only need one hand to operate!

To use this product, simply grip the handle to open the jaws at the bottom of the waste remover and let go to scoop up the waste. The remover uses spring action to remain closed before and after you've picked up your pet’s waste. Since this is also weather resistant, you won’t have to worry about leaving it outdoors when you're finished.

With Cadet's Hands off Pet Waste Remover, we at BestBullySticks.com know that walking your dog will now be a breeze. With one hand used to pick up your dog's waste, you will have a better grip on your dog's leash and every clean up job will be easy. $9.50

Want something new and different to use when playing fetch with your dog? Then this is exactly the toy you want! At BestBullySticks.com, we're always thinking of toys to offer you that not only entertain your dog, but to keep their mind and body sharp too! That's why Hyper Pet's Critter Toys are perfect for your dog!

Hyper Pet’s Critter Toys are a unique collection of interactive toys made for dogs of all shapes and sizes! This interactive toy has many uses, and can be played with by dogs of any size. Play fetch with your dog and help keep their body in tip-top condition, or play a few games of tug, and work out your dog’s urge to chew and pull. The tail will make it easier for your dog to retrieve the toy, while the attached ball makes the toy easy to throw long and short distances.

Toss your dog this toy they'll be sure to love it! $5.70-7.80

Sometimes called the easiest of all Dog Sports, Dock Jumping is certainly an entertaining event to watch and be involved with. Not only is this Dog Sport easy and fun, but it’s also open to any dog willing to take a jump off a short pier. BestBullySticks.com outlines the great world of Dock Jumping in today’s Dog Care 101 spotlight on Dog Sports!

What is Dock Jumping?
Also called Dock Diving, this dog sport is a competition of jump distance and jump height off of a dock into a body of water. This sport is governed by a few different organizations including Dock Dogs, SplashDogs and Ultimate Air Dogs, who partners through the United Kennel Club. For these clubs, there are two basic kinds of play: Long Distance Jumping and Vertical Height Jumping.

History
This sport really doesn’t have one particular point of origin. However, it can be pretty well guessed. Most likely a couple of guys were with their loyal companions for a romp down by the lake. One guy probably said, “Hey, Watch this!” and threw a tennis ball off the dock, into the water and his dog soared far through the air after his favorite toy. Voila! Dock Jumping was born.

Even though there is not a definitive account of who thought of Dock Jumping or where it originated, it is known that in 1997 Dock Jumping first appeared in Purina’s Incredible Dog Challenge. Since then, many clubs have sprung up and some dog’s can earn titles in the UKC for their competitions. Dock Jumping competitions are now in the UK and Australia. Read more