Tag: toy breed

It’s here! No, not Thanksgiving. The National Dog Show! This Turkey Day event is just about as traditional as the turkey itself. Ongoing since 1842, the National Dog Show put on by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and is one of three major national dog shows. BestBullySticks.com is providing you with some National Dog Show Trivia that will make today’s viewing that much more interesting and special.

10 Past Winners

2002: Standard Poodle
2003: Doberman
2004: Terrier
2005: Colored Bull Terrier (Rocky Top's Sundance Kid)
2006: Toy Poodle
2007: Australian Shepherd (Buff Cap Creslane Arctic Mist)
2008: Pointer
2009: Scottish Terrier (Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot a/k/a "Sadie")
2010: Irish Setter (Windntide Mr. Sandman)
2011: Wire Fox Terrier (GCH Steele Your Heart)

Group Descriptions

Terrier: Most of these dogs evolved from the British isles and each had very specialized duties depending on what geographic location the were in. Most of these jobs included hunting small critters like badgers and otters. Tenacious in personality, these dogs have great confidence and courage.

Toy: Dogs in this group have been around for centuries to serve one purpose: companionship. To this day, their small size makes them perfect for any household and living situation.

Working: Breeds from the Working group have a wide range of shapes, sizes and looks, but they have been all been used as aids in their human’s work. Their intelligence and build have made these dogs excellent guards and herders and today still work as these as well as police, military, security, service and hunting dogs.

Sporting: These dogs were developed to help hunters, usually bird hunters using guns. The duties of these dogs can range from pointing and marking, flushing or recovery.

Hound: This group was once classified as sporting because they also can help with hunting, but usually hunt somewhat independently from their humans. Made up of scent hounds and sight hounds, this group has a lot of variety in size, shape and look.

Non-Sporting: At the inception of the AKC, there were only two group, Sporting and Non-Sporting. Many splits and reclassifications later, the Non-Sporting group consists of all the dogs that remain and contains the most variety in one group.

Herding: Characterized by the natural ability performed by these dogs, the Herding group is dogs that have been used on farms to gather and move other animals about.

There are 173 registered breeds; which dog will you root for?

Happy Thanksgiving! Have fun watching the National Dog Show! 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel exudes kindness, a gentle nature and playfulness. You can almost see it in their eyes; the Cavalier is simply loving and sweet. Best Bully Sticks takes a look into the Cavalier’s past this week—it’s origins and it’s journey to being a modern dog.

History & Background: From their beginnings, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has been a dog of comfort and companionship. Depictions of this dog can be seen all throughout English history in tapestries and paintings.  However to understand the origins of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel their history has to be traced through it’s predecessor, the King Charles Spaniel.

The King Charles Spaniel was a favorite of the court of King Charles of England and his court. These little dogs were called “Spaniel Gentle” or “Comforter” and were even believed to be able to keep fleas and sickness at bay. King Charles even was said to have his “little dogs” everywhere he went. These dogs had longer noses, and when King William III & Queen Mary II took the throne these longer nosed dogs were going out of fashion and pugs were beginning to grow in popularity. The long-nosed spaniel and the pug, or other flat nosed dogs, were bred together and a new type of King Charles Spaniel was created.

This “down-grade” of the breed appalled many and in the 1920’s an American, Roswell Eldridge set out to find a King Charles Spaniel most like its ancestor. Eventually, a male and female that met Eldridge’s requirements were found, however he died before he saw his plan come to fruition. Yet, a group of dedicated fanciers had grown behind Eldridge’s plan and the first breed standard set by this group and was called, “King Charles Spaniel, Cavalier Type” to set it a part from its ancestors. Not too long after, the breed became known as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that this breed came to America. The AKC didn’t recognize this breed until 1997. In pop culture, this breed is known to be the dog of the “Sex and the City” character Charlotte York.

Height: 12-13 inches

Weight: 13-18 pounds

Coat: Cavaliers have a medium length coat that is silky and can be wavy, but never curly. This breed’s coat feathers on the ears, chest, legs and feet. The breed standard by the AKC states that this dog shouldn’t be trimmed or clipped and should only be shown in it’s natural state. The only exception to this rule is for the hair that grows between the pads of this dog’s feet. Read more

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  Chihuahua.

Height: 6-9  inches

Weight: 2-6 lbs

Coat: There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Chihuahuas have two coat types, smooth and long. The smooth coat should be soft and close, with a perceptible sheen. Long coats can be flat or wavy, with an undercoat, fringed ears, feathering on the feet and legs, and a tail that looks much like a plume.

Color: Chihuahua coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

Appearance: The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults.

Temperament: The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. Thus are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed may often be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior.

Health: The average lifespan of this breed is between 15-18 years. There are also a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. Prone to rheumatism, slipped stifle, colds, gum problems, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma due to protruding eyes, weight gain and susceptible to fractures. Also some Chihuahuas have a molera, an unclosed section of the skull which can remain open throughout life making them prone to injury. They often wheeze and snore because of their small, short muzzles. This breed is also susceptible to stress.

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”. 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.