Tag: safe dog chews

The Harrier is sort of like the middle sibling to the English Foxhound and the Beagle, but only in size. This breed has unique hunting abilities and temperament making it a wonderful and distinct breed. Read more about the Harrier in the BBS Breed Spotlight below!

History & Background: The Harrier has a cloudy ancestry, but more than likely this dog was developed from its close cousins, the English Foxhound. Since Colonial times, the Harrier has been a hunting dog for hare, thus it’s name, and fox as well. Slower than the Foxhound, hunters liked this dog because Harriers ran at a pace that was easy to keep up with, which is called a “drag” hunt. To this day English and Irish hunters still use Harriers to hunt. This dog was recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Height: 40 to 60 pounds

Weight: 19 to 21 inches

Coat: Hard in texture and short in length, the Harrier’s overall coat is dense and glossy. The exception is the dog’s ears where the fur is finer and softer. The underside of the tail has a slight fan of hair.

Color: Not seen as important by breed standards, the Harrier can be shown in any color. Eye color is hazel in darker dogs and lighter in lighter colored dogs. Nose is black. Read more

When you think “toy breed” what do you think? Pampered pups? Petite and dainty? High maintenance? While all these things may be true for some toy breeds, they’re not true for all; especially the Brussels Griffon. BestBullySticks.com thinks you’ll be impressed with this highly affectionate, intelligent and unique looking pup. Read on to learn more about the Brussels Griffon in the BBS Breed Spotlight!

History & Background: Hailing from Brussels, Belgium the Brussels Griffon’s ancestors were used as stable workers to keep rodent populations down. This Affenpinscher-like dog was later bred with the Pug, King Charles Spaniel and Ruby Spaniels to produce two distinct varieties of dogs—smooth and rough coated. This dog is also called the Griffon Bruxellois. Gradually the Brussels Griffon became a regular member of the family. There are old folk tales and songs telling of “bearded dogs” which refer to the spirited Brussels Griffon. Through WWI and WWII the Griffon largely decreased in numbers yet was brought back from the brink of extinction by dedicated UK enthusiasts. To this day the Brussels Griffon is a rare dog yet in the past decades has enjoyed a little more popularity in the United States. This is due to Griffons appearance in the movies and TV shows such as As Good as It Gets, Gosford Park, Sweet November, Spin City, and First Wives Club. The general interest in toy breed dogs has also heightened the interest toward the Brussels Griffon.

Height: 7 to 8 inches

Weight: 8 to 10 pounds

Coat: The rough coated Brussels Griffon has dense, wiry and hard fur. The coat shouldn’t be overly long and should have no silky hair. The head is covered with slightly longer hair, especially around the eyes, nose, cheeks and chin. This gives the Griffon a fringe. The smooth coated variety has short, straight and glossy hair with no wiry fur. These dog are referred to as Brabancon.

Color: Griffons only come in 4 colors/color combinations.

1. Red: This color combination is a reddish brown and can feature black at the whiskers and/or chin.
2. Beige: Black and red/brown mixture make up the beige coloring, which can also show a black mask and whiskers.
3. Black & Tan: This combination is black with consistent red/brown markings under the chin, on the legs, above the eyes and around ear edges and vent.
4. Black

Appearance: Small, but sturdy, the Brussels Griffon is a square and short dog with strong bones and a proud head. Large, black eyes and small, erect ears give this dog an alert expression. The Griffon has a domed head and short nose. Straight and well-muscled legs hold this dog’s thick body. Griffons have level backs and deep ribs. This dog’s tail is high and is usually docked.

Temperament: The Brussels Griffon has lots of personality. This cheerful, highly affectionate dog is naturally curious, spunky and very intelligent. These dogs are highly sensitive and should be socialized early but carefully. Griffons usually bond with one person more than others.

Health & Grooming: Griffons usually live 10 to 15 years and are generally healthy. Some health issues this breed may experience can be eye and respiratory problems, heat sensitivity and difficulty whelping.

The rough-coated variety of the Brussels Griffon will require more maintenance than dogs with smooth coats. Griffons shed little hair to none at all.

Product Suggestions: For a rare dog, try a well-known favorite—the 6 inch standard bully stick. A perfect daily dental dog chew for your toy-sized, this half-foot of free-range, grass-fed beef will have your Brussels Griffon hooked!

For a great dog toy, check out the Pet Qwerks Small Jingle X-Tire Ball dog toy. It's made out of rugged tire that's easy for dogs to pick up and fetch. The jingle bell hidden inside the tire will keep your pet enthralled for hours!

Do you know or own a Brussels Griffon? Tell us your Griffon story in the comments section below!

Curious about a dog breed? Check out our full list of Breed Spotlights to learn about some amazing dog breeds!

Here at BestBullySticks.com, we’re serious about pets. We’re pet owners just like you, and we started this company because we had a hard time finding quality dog treats and chews for our own dogs. With that, our quest began to find all-natural dog treats and chews that are safe and healthy for pets. Along the way, we found something called a Bully Stick. The more we learned about Bully Sticks, the more we liked them. In fact, we liked them so much we decided to name our company after them.

Bully Sticks are 100% beef, so they’re completely digestible dog treats unlike rawhide dog chews. We also found that not all Bully Sticks are created equal. Some manufacturers add preservatives and other artificial ingredients to their bully sticks. Part of our commitment to our four-legged customers (and our own four-legged family members) is that we steer clear of chemicals, additives and artificial anything. As an all-natural company, the Bully Sticks from BBS are truly all natural. You can trust the Bully Sticks and other products we offer because we’re committed to the safety and well being of pets everywhere.

One of our dogs’ favorites is the Knotted Bully Stick. We use two Standard Bully Sticks and tie them in a knot to create a fun gnawing challenge for your pooch. The knot is in the middle of this all-natural dog chew, which makes it easy to chomp. This high quality product comes from free-range cattle that graze on grass instead of those kept in feedlots. Our Knotted Bully Sticks are the perfect size for smaller dogs, but large dogs love them, too! Read more