Tag: Dog Toys

Scottish in origin, intensely loyal and loving by nature; the Sheltie is a great addition to just about any family! This “Miniature Collie” is an agile and highly energetic medium-sized dog that is a constant joy and surprise.  Read more about this dog in the Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight on the Shetland Sheepdog below!

History & Background: Like it’s larger counterpart the Rough Collie, the Shetland Sheepdog is a descendant of the Border Collie. However, unlike other miniature breeds, the Sheltie wasn’t developed by selectively breeding continually smaller sizes each generation. When Border Collies were brought to the Scottish isle of Shetland, they were bred with highly intelligent, long-haired, small dogs. Some of these breeds could have been King Charles Spaniels (not Cavalier), Pomeranians, and the now extinct Greenland Yakki. The first Shelties were more Spitz-type working dogs and then were bred with other Collies and taken to England.

When first developed, breeders called this dog Shetland Collies but Rough Collie breeders didn’t like the name association with their breed.  It was then this breed was given the name Shetland Sheepdog. The Sheltie was used as a herding dog, watchdog and general all-purpose farm helper. Shelties were first recognized by the AKC in the early 1900s.

Height: 13-16 inches

Weight: 16-20 pounds

Coat: A Sheltie’s coat consists of two layers, both very abundant with fur. The outer coat is long, straight and rough. The undercoat is fuzzy, downy and very dense, which gives the Sheltie have a puffy look. The outer coat is water repellent and the undercoat provides relief from temperature extremes. This breed does have a lot of frill and feathering, particularly in the form of a mane and on the fore and hind legs. Sheltie tails are thick with hair as well.  However, Shelties have smooth hair on the face, tips of ears and feet.

Color: There are typically three colors or combinations recognized for the Sheltie; black, sable and blue merle. Black coloring can be present with white or tan, ultimately making this tri-coloring. Sable coloring can range from golden to deep mahogany color, also combining with colors of white and tan. Blue Merle coloring consists of blue, white and tan in combination. Read more

Best Bully Sticks knows that trends come and go, but one thing remains constant: saving a buck here and there is always a great thing. In today’s culture, one trend that is making a comeback is the concept of making our own household goods from “scratch” instead of buying from a store. Do-It-Yourself culture is returning and Best Bully Sticks hopes it’s here to stay! It might take a little more time, but in the long run a unique, cost effective, and homemade product is worth it. This week BBS will show you some of the neat-o Doggy D.I.Y. projects you can make for your pup!

Doggy D.I.Y. will be a three part series. This week we’re covering a couple simple projects: a dog-friendly soap & a quick and easy tug toy!

Herb & Peppermint Soap
Bathing your dog is essential for a lot of reasons; keeping flea and ticks away, a better smelling and feeling Fido and a happier, more comfortable pet just to name a few. This D.I.Y. soap recipe is full of beneficial ingredients to keep your dog healthy and pest free, like herbal shampoo and peppermint oil. This soap can substitute for any current dog shampoo or soap you’re using. Plus, it’ll make Fido smell GREAT!

You’ll Need:
4 oz melt and pour base or soap flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons of herbal shampoo
10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil
Soap molds

Process
1. Melt your soap down using a double boiler method.

2. Once your soap is melted add the shampoo and essential oil.

3. Make sure you don't stir too vigorously or the shampoo will become frothy.

4. Keep stirring until completely mixed and then pour into your soap molds.

5. You can use some dog-shaped molds or bone-shaped molds for these soaps.

T-Shirt Tug Toy

Some dogs that are of the aggressive playing persuasion can chew up toys like it’s going out of style.  Buying new toys for your dog might be a permanent line on the shopping list. So why not save a little cash while recycling some of your old t-shirts? This T-Shirt Tug Toy D.I.Y. is so easy that your kids or grandkids could put it together! Check out this great toy your dog is sure to love!

You’ll Need:
20 1 inch x 20 inch (2.5cm x 50cm) Recycled stretch knit from pants or tops in assorted colors. (You can use recycled stretch knit from old t-shirts or pants or if you like or you can use new fabric.)

Process
1. Cut the fabric into 20 pieces that measure approximately 1 inch x 20 inches (2.5cm x 50cm) for a large dog. For smaller dogs reduce the length and quantity but not the 1-inch width.

2. Lay your pieces together in 2 sections of 10. Twist the 2 sections together and tie a large knot at each end as shown in the picture. Your knot should be tight and secure. There is no need for gluing or sewing.

3. Alternatively you can plat your strands together or add extra knots depending on your dog’s desire.

Check back here next two Mondays for 2 more Doggy D.I.Y. Projects!

For more Doggy (& a few cat) D.I.Y.’s check out Best Bully Stick’s Pinterest “Pet DIY” Board. We feature lots of great exclusive content on Pinterest and this board is all about “doing-it-yourself” for your pets! Tutorials include everything from a pet ramp, doggy origami and even instructions for assembling a doggy cake! Check out our Pinterest page for more great content!

Best Bully Sticks is excited to announce a great sale on a great toy! Nina Ottosson’s toys are a great way to engage and challenge your dog. Best Bully Sticks knows that dogs are extremely bright, resourceful animals and we offer Nina Ottosson toys because we believe dogs need mental stimulation as much as physical stimulation.

These toys take treating to your dog to an intelligent level. Basically, you hide a treat in one of the toys and your dog has to figure out how to reach the treat. This is an exciting way to keep your pooch entertained for hours while you watch them figure out how to get to that hidden prize. The idea is that you and your pooch get to spend some fun and enjoyable time together. You demonstrate. The dog watches, listens and learns. And hopefully... finds those treats!

If you're interested in these great interactive toys for your dog, now is the time to buy from Best Bully Sticks.com! ALL Nina Ottosson Dog Toys are now 15% OFF!

Check out the full line that includes the Dog Dizzy, Dog Tornado, Dog Twister, Dog Casino and MORE! 

Now that it’s warming up, Best Bully Sticks knows you’ll be flocking to the water. Any body of water will be teaming with folks looking to cool down. And why not take Fido along too? A lot of dogs enjoy the cool water too but owners need to be aware of potential hazards of the water. Best Bully Sticks gets you and your dog ready for fun in the surf with these handy water safety tips!

Hang Out With Your Dog
Don’t leave your dog unsupervised. You brought your dog to the pool, lake or “swimmin’ hole” to hang out with you, right? Make sure you keep an eye on your dog. Not all dogs are good swimmers.

Buy & USE A Dog Life Jacket
Your dog might be an excellent swimmer, but he will eventually get tired, or be distraced or get a cramp. Buy and use a dog life jacket so your dog is always protected. Rip currents or undercurrents can also be a problem in larger bodies of water. You’ll always be happy you bought and put your dog in a life jacket.

Fun In The Sun & Surf
Best Bully Sticks offers a lot of great dog toys to bring out to the water. Floatable, durable and loads of fun, your dog will thank you for a great water toy! Check out BBS’s entire line of Balls for Dogs that will be great for the water. The West Paw Huck or Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Medium Orbee are both great choices!

Provide Shade & Comfort
Sun and therefore heat is more intense around bodies of water because of the sun’s reflection and humidity. Make sure you dog has a place to escape to, such as a towel on the beach (hot sand can blister paws), or shade to get out of the sun.

Water, Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink
Make sure you have fresh, clean water for your dog to drink. Chlorinated pools or lake water can both cause serious health issues for your dog. Chlorine is poisonous to dogs and natural water can contain parasites. Keep a gallon of water and a pop-up bowl for your pup when he’s romping outdoors!

BBS has a great portable water solution. Check out the Handi-Drink Portable Bottle/Bowl for your next trip out to the water!

More Water After The Water
After you and your pup with your fun in the sun and surf, rinsing your dog with clean water is important. This will ensure that your dog won’t keep any unwanted chlorine, salt or water parasites. Make sure to take off and let your dog’s collar dry as not to cause any hot spots.

Do your dogs like to romp in the water? Tell us your favorite water story in the comments section!

The “Grey Ghost” is visiting this week’s Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight! No, we’re not talking about some ghastly ghoul, but the friendly, alert and beautiful Weimaraner! Read about this sporty dog—its interesting history and great disposition in our look at the Weimaraner.

History & Background: The Weimaraner was originally bred for hunting in the early 19^th Century and was the hunting companion of choice for royalty. In fact, this breed gains its name from one of these royal courts, the Weimar Republic in Germany. Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Karl August first had these dogs, then called “Weimar Pointers,” used as large game hunters for boar, bear and deer.  Even after a loss in popularity, the dog was still used for hunting small game such as fowl, rabbits and foxes. However, this breed was also a great all-purpose family dog. Weimaraners could guard the home, go hunting with the family and love on the kids.

In past decades this breed has gained a pop-culture status for being the subjects of William Wegman’s photography.

Height: 25 to 27 inches (males); 23 to 25 inches (females)

Weight: 71–82 pounds (males); 55–71 pounds (females)

Coat: The Weimaraner’s coat is sleek, smooth and short. This dog has no undercoat and does not shed. This makes for an extremely low-maintenance dog. Where the coat is thin, the skin usually shows pink. Long-haired Weimaraners are rare, but are recognized by the UKC (United Kennel Club) but not the AKC (American Kennel Club.) Long-haired breeds can show up in a short-haired litter, but only if the parents both have the recessive gene.  This breed type has a long, silky coat with a feathered, un-docked tail. Read more