What are Bully Sticks?

One thing dogs really love to do is chew and chew and chew some more. Hopefully they do not exercise this gnawing obsession on one of our prized possessions. Well, luckily that is where bully sticks fit into the picture. Bully sticks offer your dog a treat they will absolutely love and will spend hours just laying around chewing. These delectable sticks are made from 100% pure beef and are not only safe for all dogs, but offer a number of health benefits.

Benefits of Bully Sticks

• Easy for your dog to digest since it is 100% natural ingredients and no pesticides or dyes.
• Prevents gum disease, bully sticks can stop plaque and tartar from accumulating on your dog's teeth, to prevent tooth decay.
• Low Fat Dog Treat, which make them a great choice for overweight dogs as well.
• Bully's contain calcium, magnesium, and other minerals and vitamins necessary for canine health.
• Contains taurine, an important amino acid that can help maintain your dog's health throughout his life.

• Safer then rawhide, because it is much more difficult to break off into smaller pieces and cause a choking hazard. To be on the safe side, it is best to replace a stick with a new one when it is approximately 1 to 2 inches long.

• Made from 100% pure protein, these all natural chews are chemical free and a healthy addition to any dogs diet.

Bully sticks, also known as beef pizzles, pizzle sticks, beef sticks or steer stix, are made from 100% dehydrated bull penis. Yes, I know the whole thought does not sound very appetizing. However, a penis is a muscle which makes it a great choice for a bully stick. Because it is really chewy. Many manufacturers will just tell you they are tendons or some other muscle, which is true, however the real reason has more to do with the psychology of marketing by avoiding the p word.

• A bull penis is usually 23-25 inches long. All the fluids are drained, which is important because this leaves the bully stick odorless. This is definitely a good thing!
• The bull penis is stretched twisted, braided and dried and then may be smoked for flavor.
• The end result is about 40 inches and is a long hard brown stick which is cut into several lengths (5″, 6″, 7″, 9″ & 12″) and sold as Bully Sticks.

• Bully sticks are manufactured all over the world, but the safest come from the US or South America. This is due to the reputation of inspection, cooking, and packaging standards in these two countries.

Compared to other dog chews, they tend to last alot longer, and most dogs love them. They're also naturally low in fat and can help keep your dog's teeth clean.

Bully Stick are simply the greatest dog chew. Dogs love the flavor of the bully stick. Since it is all protein and made from 100% beef it must taste pretty darn good. The chewing is mentally and physically stimulating and keeps them busy for quite some time.

I can only speak from my own observations from my two Scottish Terriers who actually have turned their noses to many treats, but have never turned down a bully stick.

They can't wait to sink their teeth into a bully stick and chew away. I buy Merrick 12" ones for my two Scotties. In the picture above, my scottie was only a puppy and approximately 9 pounds. That 12" bully stick was no match for him. However, it did take him several days to finish.

Bully sticks are expensive. Which is most likely due to supply and demand. Since, there is a limited supply of free range cattle available to make this natural dog treat.

Regardless, dogs love the flavor and they really do help to clean their teeth. Bully sticks are naturally low in fat and much safer than other types of chews on the market.

1. Store unused bully sticks in an air-tight container to preserve freshness.
2. Storing bully sticks in the freezer will prolong their shelf life and also increase their hardness.
3. Always keep an eye on your pup when they’re chewing on a bully stick and be sure to replace it when it is only an inch or so long to avoid swallowing it.
4. Always wash your hands after handling a bully stick.

One good tip I can offer is to remove the bully stick from your dog when it is half finished and put in the freezer overnight. The next day, offer the remaining half to them. It will make the bully last longer and save you money in the long run. Also, the freezing makes the stick hard again and more challenging for your dog to chew.

Not all bully sticks are created equal, so it is important to know what to look for when purchasing a high quality bully stick. Here is some criteria to consider.

1. Always look for free-range bully sticks which equate to higher quality.
2. USDA certified and inspected, which helps to ensure the manufacturers are following proper food handling procedures.
3. Make sure they do not contain any additives, chemicals, preservatives, antibiotics, hormones or steroids.
4. Choose Odor Free, you will thank me later.
5. Shop around. Bully sticks can be expensive on some sites and cheaper on others.
6. Buying in larger quantities, this can save you some money.

Isn't it time to spoil your furry best friends with a treat they will love. Well then, get them bully sticks, they will be ever so grateful.