Tag: dog care

We know your dog has tons of personality. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes sweet and others just plain human-like. But how do you capture these moments? BestBullySticks.com can help you get photo-ready for your dog’s next picture-perfect moment.

Things You’ll Need
Camera: Most any camera will do. A small digital camera or even your phone is just fine! Remember to always have it close by so you don’t miss a moment!

Treats: Any treats will do! Small beef treats like our Beef Bon Bons are perfect for gaining attention and rewarding good poses!

Patience: Getting the absolute best shot of your dog is going to take time. Make sure you set aside a good amount of time to dedicate to photographing your dog.

Natural Light: Using natural light from a window or from outside is always better than the flash function on your camera. By using natural light you avoid alien-like “red eye,” and washed out or distorted colors.

Tips & Tricks
1. Perspective: Too many dog photos are taken from the perspective of simply standing up looking down to the dog.  Make your photos more interesting by changing your point of view. By standing on a chair, getting down on your pet’s level or just by kneeling instead of standing, you are changing your perspective and creating a more engaging photo. Read more

If you live in a neighborhood in America, the night of October 31^st is busy! All Hallow’s Eve is night full of great costumes, flashy yard ornaments and maybe a future cavity or two. However, BestBullySticks.com knows Halloween can still be spooky and scary for some family members, particularly your dog. So whether you decide to stay in or go out, here are a few tips on keeping your pooch calm and safe.

Staying In
If you decide to stay in and hand out yummy goodies to trick-or-treaters, make sure your dog isn’t frazzled by the end of the night from frequent doorbell rings or door knocks. Here are some handy tips to work on ahead of time.

The Doorbell: Teach your dog to stay quiet when the doorbell rings by having a friend stand outside and ring the doorbell or knock. If your dog starts to bark, give them the “quiet” command and as soon as the barking stops, treat and praise your dog. Over time your dog will equate the doorbell with receiving treats and barking will become less and less.

Kid-Friendly: If your dog isn’t well socialized with children, make sure you keep your dog away from the open door. Halloween isn’t the time to learn. However, you should introduce your dog to children slowly and by giving him positive reinforcement, your dog will become kid friendly in no time. But remember, even dogs that are very kid-friendly can still be overwhelmed on a very kid-centric holiday like Halloween.

Simple Commands: It’s always good to remember the simple things like “sit”, “stay” and “leave it”. Work with these commands more than normal leading up to the 31^st to reinforce your dog’s ability to take commands. Read more

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Lure Coursing/Bully Breed/Crockpot Cooking/Newfie fun, catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Dog Sports: Lure Coursing • National Pit Bull Awareness Month • Easy Crockpot Chicken & Rice Dog Food Recipe • Breed Spotlight on the Newfoundland

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

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

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! What is that flying through the air!? Why, it’s a dog with a disc in its mouth! BestBullySticks.com continues in the great realm of Dog Sports this week with a look into Disc Dog!

What is Disc Dog?
A game of high intensity fetch with a flying disc. You throw. They catch. That’s the basic concept.  However, the details of this dog sport do get a bit more complicated. This sport is all about teamwork and training. But more on that later!

Why aren’t we saying “Frisbee?” The word “Frisbee” is actually a trademarked word for a specific brand of flying discs. In this Dog Sport the term “disc” is preferred.

History
The rise of Disc Dog goes hand-in-hand with the rise of flying discs in the early 1970s. However this sport was popularized after a very smart and gutsy college student jumped the fence at a nationally televised baseball game. Alex Stein, then 19, hopped over the outfield fence at a Los Angeles Dodger and Cincinnati Reds game in 1974. He and his dog, Ashley Whippet, immediately dazzled the crowd with their high intensity, fast-moving routine. Some of Ashley’s stunts included 9 foot leaps into the air!  After performing for eight minutes, Stein & Ashley were finally escorted off the field. But it was too late. His exploitation of the national audience paid off and Disc Dog was a new national phenomenon. Stein & Ashley preformed at many high profile venues and events after their publicity stunt including the White House and the Super Bowl.

Ashley Whippet is still a legend in the Disc Dog sport today. He is the standard by which all other competitive Disc Dog’s are measured. Today, at least four continents organize Disc Dog competitions to enjoy this great way to bond with their dogs!

Play
There are two basic types of play. Each is a one dog/one person competition. Read more