Sometimes You Need a Break

With colder weather arriving and the beginning of gun-deer season this weekend, Charlie and I are taking a short break from hiking. Charlie's noise-reactivity has grown over the years, and even the echo of a distant gun-shot sends her into a stressed-out frenzy and she just wants to seek cover and hide.

So we'll be sticking to long neighborhood walks after work on weeknights and fetch in the backyard on weekends for a bit.

Our hiking excursions always slow down during this time of year. Once the snow sets in, many of the parking areas for our favorite trails are snowed-in and not accessible. Some of the trails are taken over by cross-country skiers and therefore off-limits to dogs. And because of the temperatures, we often can't hike as long or far as we used to.

In essence, winter kind of sucks for hikers.

And for a highly active dog, like Charlie, the lack of exerting activities can cause some behavioral problems and a certain level of stress when cabin fever sets in.

So what is there to do?

Well, we've always been able to find indoor "games" to play and work on training exercises. But sometimes I want a break too... just to watch t.v. or read a book. And at those times, having a long-lasting treat like a bully stick, helps tremendously.

Earlier this year, I was contacted by BullyBundles.com asking if I'd be willing to try their bully sticks and write a blog post reviewing Charlie's experience with them. We received a free 5-pack of 12" bully sticks and Charlie happily enjoyed them over the summer.

I like giving Charlie bully sticks because they're all natural and they take her a little longer to consume than a raw hide (which I don't give her).

I was really impressed with the quality and size of the sticks and when I checked out the pricing for their monthly bully stick delivery, the value is impressive. I've always seen bully sticks as a VERY occasional treat for Charlie due to their expense, but after calculating the cost of the price per stick on BullyBundles.com, I signed up!

Winter season is a good time to find something constructive for your dog to do when they're bored. Along with finding fun indoor games, you might want to consider signing up for monthly delivery of bully sticks from BullyBundles.com as well.

And if you're looking for a thoughtful gift for a dog-lover on your holiday list, this would be high on my list of favorites!

Because sometimes you just need a break.

*Disclaimer: I received a free 5-pack of 12" bully sticks from BullyBundles.com for this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own and I would never recommend something I didn't believe in. I promise!