Bully Sticks

Ridding Your Dog Of Fleas

When your dog has fleas, it can make everyone in your home miserable. They cling to your dog’s coat, biting him and sucking his blood throughout the day. Then, the fleas lay hundreds of eggs. Some remain on your dog while others drop to the floor and become nestled into the carpet. When they hatch, more fleas emerge and the cycle begins anew. Over time, your home can literally become infested, making the environment practically unlivable. In this article, we’ll explain how to identify when your dog has fleas and what to do to get rid of them.

Identifying Fleas

When a home is infested with fleas, they’re easy to identify. A quick walk through the house will result in dozens of them perched on your pant legs. However, recognizing that your dog has them is more difficult because they’re small. If you notice that your dog is scratching himself continuously, inspect his coat. You’ll need to look closely because fleas typically move toward dark, hidden areas in a dog’s coat. They’ll hide under the fur, around his collar, or even on his underside.

Keep in mind that fleas are brown, making them difficult to find if your dog has a dark coat. But, even if you don’t see them initially, there may be signs of their presence. They leave black, pepper-like fecal matter throughout your dog’s coat.

Eliminating Fleas

If you find them or the black fecal matter they leave behind, you should take immediate action to get rid of them. Fleas multiply quickly due to their penchant for laying hundreds of eggs. If you wait, you’ll run the risk of an infestation in your home.

There are a few approaches to getting rid of them. A common mistake is to simply treat the dog, neglecting the eggs that have already been laid. The problem is that while the treatments are capable of killing the fleas, the eggs (many of which will have fallen to the carpet in your home) will hatch and new fleas will reclaim their territory.

Your veterinarian can provide oral medications that will effectively kill the eggs, so that new fleas will not be able to infest your dog again. At the same time that your dog is taking the medications, use a treatment that will kill the existing fleas. You can find several good options at your local pet supply store. Finally, wash the bedding on which your dog sleeps and vacuum your home thoroughly.

Fleas can quickly grow from a nuisance to a nightmare. But, once you identify them, they can be eliminated. The key is finding them early and making sure that you get rid of the eggs.  And after they are taken care of make sure to reward you furry friend with bully sticks or dog chews !

When Your Dog Has Arthritis

It’s estimated that 1 out of every 5 dogs copes with pain and discomfort in their joints. Under ideal circumstances, a dog’s skeleton will not only support their frame, but work seamlessly with their muscles while they’re active. Their joints have sufficient lubrication to allow their bones to move fluidly. However, many owners report that their dogs often have trouble moving without experiencing stiffness or discomfort. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at canine arthritis and provide a few tips to help you relieve your dog’s discomfort.

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)

DJD (also referred to as osteoarthritis) is a condition in which your dog’s cartilage gradually deteriorates. This can happen as a result of normal activity over several years or it can occur due to hip or elbow dysplasia (when the socket can no longer support the bone). Conditions such as hip dysplasia are often made worse by a dog overstretching or overexerting himself.

How To Identify Canine Arthritis

First, arthritis can affect all dog breeds (it’s not exclusive to certain breeds). Second, it is progressive. The earlier you can identify it, the more quickly treatment can be applied. The simplest way to tell whether your dog is suffering from arthritis is to watch his gait. If he’s constantly putting more weight on one leg, it may be a sign that he feels discomfort in one of his other legs. Also, watch your dog as he lifts his body after lying down. If he has difficulty doing so, he may have arthritis.

How To Treat Canine Arthritis

Some forms of arthritis can be treated surgically. For example, if your dog is suffering from hip dysplasia, consult your veterinarian. He may suggest that your dog is a good candidate for a hip replacement. If surgery is not an option, you can still provide your dog with relief from the pain by altering his diet (thus, controlling his weight) and having him participate in low-impact exercise (for example, swimming).

Some veterinarians will also suggest giving your dog joint supplements to help rebuild the deteriorated cartilage and reduce any inflammation. Finally, try to make your dog more comfortable at home by constructing small ramps in places that he frequents. By using the ramps, he can avoid putting undue pressure and stress on his joints.

Another great natural option for dogs living with arthritis is to give them beef trachea chews which are a lot like bully sticks in that they last for a while; but they also have the added benefit of being a natural source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

The Comfortable Companion

Most owners don’t consider the possibility that their dog can experience arthritis until it happens. Then, they’re often at a loss for solutions. If you notice that your dog is displaying signs of joint pain, take him to a veterinarian. Through surgery, weight control, low-impact exercise, and a comfortable environment at home, you can provide him with relief from the pain.

What do dogs think about pet costumes?

Ever wonder what your pet’s opinion might be about that silly pet costume you just bought off Ebay?

Take a look into the eyes of these too adorable dog’s and you might just get your answer.

My guess is they’re thinking “there better be a bully stick reward for putting up with this humiliation”.

If learning to “Come” when called is the first thing you need to teach your dog, then it would logically follow that learning to “Stay” would be the second.

I like to break this command into two sections, the Stay as in the stay where you are, and the AAATTT, as in freeze buster… don’t move a muscle. Both are equally important.

The Stay command takes patience and repetition to perfect and you need to take your dog’s attention span into consideration.

• Place your dog on the floor directly in front of you….make sure you have his attention.
• Hold your hand up in the stop position and say sternly…”staaaay”.
• Take a step backwards… If your pet moves, place him in the same spot and repeat the command
• Once you can take several steps backwards without your pet moving, use the “come” command and give him a treat.
• Increase the distance daily until you can leave the room without your puppy moving off the spot.

The AAATTT command is similar to the growl that momma dog gives her pups to keep them in line. It should sound like a growl and will get your pups immediate attention. Use it to set boundaries and to keep you dog from harm. A dog trained to respond to this command can be saved from running into oncoming traffic or eating something dangerous. Once you have your dogs attention then you can use the “Come” or “Stay” commands.
Using a combination of praise, attention, all natural dog treats and voice tone is an excellent way to communicate your requests to your pet.

Dog Barter

I’m not sure when it started but my Shih Tzu, Bonkers has become a top-notch barterer.

I can pretty much count on him bringing me all manner of stuff left unintentionally within his domain on a daily basis. The fact that he does not destroy or chew the stuff first is a real blessing, but I realize his motives are not pure.

His intention is to show me what he has and hold it hostage until I produce the much desired bully stick. Then and only then will he allow a “fair” trade.

It may go back as far as the “chewing puppy” stage, when I would give him a chew treat to distract him from chewing my son’s legos, or it could have began when my son got tired of chasing him in a vain attempt to retrieve a sock or favorite toy, and reverted to use the “Come” command and a bully stick reward.

Lately, Bonkers seems to be either getting lazy or he has decided that bully sticks are much better than his toys, because every time I turn around, he brings me another toy as barter.

3 Common Dog Training Mistakes

Training your dog is the only way to help him develop into a valuable member of your family while eliminating unfavorable behavioral issues. Unfortunately, many dog owners either neglect to train their dogs or do so irresponsibly. Some owners follow systems that are ineffective while others try to train their dogs on their own without a true understanding regarding what they’re doing. In this article, we’ll describe 3 common mistakes that dog owners make.

Mistake #1: Lack Of Patience

This is more important than many owners realize and it can have a significant impact on how well your dog learns. A lot of owners expect their dogs to understand their commands quickly. Dogs absorb and learn by routine, persistence, and repetition. They may require several tries before they respond with the proper action (i.e. sitting, barking, etc.). Realize before you begin that training your dog requires substantial patience. Though some breeds will need less time than others, all dogs need learn in the same manner: routine, persistence, and repetition.

Mistake #2: Lack Of Consistency

Dogs relish consistency. Even mature dogs that are fully trained thrive in environments that provide a high level of predictability. When training your dog, consistency is critical. They need to experience and understand the causal relationship between their response to your commands and your reaction. For example, if you command your dog to sit and he does so without hesitation, a treat rewards your dog’s response. But, in order to truly train your dog to respond with the same action, you need to consistently provide the treat whenever he successfully does so. That cements the concept in the dog’s brain that his response was the desired one.

Mistake #3: Calling For Punishment

Many owners make this mistake and in doing so, they damage their long-term effectiveness. Dogs are similar to children with regard to how they react to someone calling them. If you punish your dog whenever he comes to you, you train that expectation in him. Over time, your dog will learn that when you call for him to come, he can expect to be punished.

Remember, your dog is most happy when he is treated as a loyal companion and family member. Punishing him disrupts that relationship and can have a lasting effect. If your dog responds poorly to your command, walk to him. If you must punish him (dogs learn best by positive reinforcement), do so after you have approached him.

Building The Relationship

Training your dog properly not only helps him to develop into a valued companion, but it also eliminates errant behaviors that may be characteristic of the breed. The key is to have patience, be consistent in how you react to your dog’s responses, and avoid calling your dog to punish him. Over time, a training system that emphasizes positive reinforcement will typically produce remarkable results.

Make sure to also give your dogs plenty of rewards like dog chews or bully sticks for a job well done…after all they do deserve it!

Why you should never feed chicken fat to your dog…

I just read a heartbreaking post from a fellow blogger, Jan Ferrante. She lost her beloved pet, Maggie over the weekend. The saddest part is that Maggie’s loss could have been avoided.

Last week Jan made the mistake of thinking that chicken fat would be a good treat for her loving pet, only to discover to late that Maggie had pancreatitis. Within a day, Maggie was one sick puppy. It began with gas, and quickly moved to diarrhea. When her dog began throwing up water, Jan rushed Maggie to the vet, only to find it was too late.

Maggie died on Sunday. Our hearts go out to Jan and her family for their terrible loss.

Jan is now spreading the word to warn other pet owners not to feed chicken or poultry skin to their pets. With the holiday’s fast approaching this important message needs to be forwarded to all pet owners.

Remember to only feed healthy all natural dog treats like bully sticks to your faithful companions.

Pet Insurance For Your Dog

Dog owners naturally want to make sure that their dogs can receive the care they need in the event of an accident, illness, or even a routine checkup. The problem is that many types of services that are offered by veterinarians are prohibitively expensive. It’s not uncommon for a simple procedure (for example, a tooth extraction) to cost nearly $1,000. More complex procedures can cost far more. In fact, it’s estimated that pet owners will spend in excess of $11 billion in 2008 for veterinarian care (according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association).

Some owners opt to buy a pet insurance policy for their dog to cut costs. In this article, we’ll briefly describe how pet insurance works and whether it’s the right option for your dog.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance works similarly to health insurance. Dog owners can select from a number of different policies, each offering varying levels of coverage and associative premiums. And similar to health insurance, the price of the premiums will reflect the relative age and health of your dog. Many policies also carry adjustable deductibles and even co-payments. Plus, some policies will exclude conditions that are either hereditary or pre-existing (more an issue for dogs that are purebred).

The industry has expanded over the past decade and policies now offer a lot of variability. For example, some will cover accidents and injuries, while others may only offer partial coverage for older dogs and might entirely exclude dental procedures. Because there are so many different types of coverage, premiums vary widely (though between $5 and $40 a month is common).

Questions To Ask

Before investing in a pet insurance policy for your dog, find out how payment and reimbursement works. Also, ask whether the premiums will increase over time or if they’ll remain level over the long-term. You should ask about coverage limits, deductibles, and find out about any procedures that are not covered by the policy. Finally, ask whether it covers the ongoing costs of medications if a veterinarian recommends them.

Making The Choice

Pet insurance isn’t the best choice for every owner. If your dog is older or suffers from chronic health problems, it may be a poor investment. After all, your dog is unlikely to be fully covered and the premiums will probably be high. Plus, many owners will not want to subject an older dog to a major operation, given a dog’s age and health.

Speak with a veterinarian about the prospect of getting pet insurance coverage for your dog. He’ll be able to provide an unbiased opinion based upon your dog’s current health and age. As long as he’s not receiving a commission for the insurance policy, you can feel confident in your decision to insure your favorite companion.

Please make sure to take time out and visit our dog chew and bully stick site for a great selection of all natural dog treats and chews offering free shipping!

Dogs And Kids: Keeping The Peace

Most dogs are peaceful and friendly, unless they’re raised to be otherwise. However, despite their natural affability, they will occasionally bite children. Many canine behavioral experts estimate that at least 30% of children have been bitten - or nearly so - by the time they reach their teenage years. Not only can this result in physical harm for the child, but it can establish and reinforce a child’s fear of dogs.

While many owners will punish their dog for biting a child, they often do so without understanding what prompted the response. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of why dogs bite. Plus, we’ll describe how to identify the signs that your dog is agitated around kids and ultimately, how to prevent him from biting them in the future.

Why Your Dog Bites

There are many reasons why your dog may become agitated. And children seem to be habitually oblivious to most of them. First, dogs are naturally territorial, even as domestic pets. For example, a child may not understand a dog’s instinct to protect its food. If he grabs the food away from the dog, there is a risk of being bitten. Second, loud, disruptive noises cause dogs to become anxious. Children, by nature, can be loud, making a dog nervous around them.

Third, kids often don’t realize that dogs have a natural aversion to being handled in certain ways. For example, many children will grab a dog’s paws. This can quickly frustrate a dog, leading him to bite or snap at the child (often, more as a warning than a sign of aggression).

Identifying The Warning Signs

Dogs are not mysterious. If they’re agitated or angry, it’s usually easy to tell. They’ll raise their tail and bare their teeth. Under extreme agitation, a dog will raise the hair on his back. On the other hand, if your dog is frightened, you’ll notice his ears are plastered back and his tail loops under his hind legs. But, it’s important to remember that he’s just as likely to bite when he’s scared as when he’s angry. Your child should be taught to identify the signs.

Curbing The Biting Behavior

Curbing a dog’s tendency to bite a child when he’s agitated or frightened shouldn’t be focused on eliminating the behavior. After all, it is an instinctive response. Instead, children should be educated regarding what actions are inappropriate in a dog’s company. They should not handle a dog while he’s eating. Nor should they surprise him when he’s sleeping. Also, kids should be taught to recognize the signs that a dog is anxious or frightened. When he is, they should back off.  Another idea to curb the biting behavior is to help with your dog’s urge to chew by giving them bully sticks and other dog chews on a regular basis.

Assuming your dog is naturally friendly and sociable, keeping the peace between he and your children is a matter of educating them. In time, they’ll realize what sort of behavior is unacceptable, and thereby avoid being bitten.

I use to watch in absolute bewilderment at the stupidity of a former neighbor as he often bellowed and screamed at his lovable lab. It was almost a daily ritual with the bouncy lab zooming out the front door heading down the street, tail between his legs with his Master cursing behind him. This would continue for half a block before the owner would finally give up and stomp home, leaving the lab to his mischief. When the lab picked up the nasty habit of chasing cars, it was no longer a laughing matter.

In my opinion, every dog owner should be required to ensure that their pet has the “Come” and “Stay” commands drilled into them until it is automatic to immediately obey. A dog’s life could be a stake.

Teaching the “Come” command is one of the quickest and easiest ways to build communication between you and your dog. All it takes is a friendly voice and an all natural dog treat, like bully sticks. Note: be sure to offer age and size appropriate all natural dog treats. You should begin the training the first day you bring your new puppy home.

• Let the puppy see and smell the treat - give him a small taste so he will want more
• Each time the puppy wonders away from you, call him by name in a friendly voice
• When he comes to you, offer the treat and lots of praise and affection

If you do this over a period of a few days, the puppy will learn to associate coming to you with reward. Continue reinforcing the training and before long it will become part of his nature to happily respond to your call.

Never scold or hit your dog for coming to you, even if they didn’t immediately obey. Dog’s are not stupid, if someone is screaming at them and acting in a threatening manner then they are going to run. Wouldn’t you?