PRODUCTS
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Food
We feed our puppies Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed puppy food. Australian Shepherds can be considered a medium breed and may argue that Large Breed puppy food is not necessary. Because at maturity our Australian Shepherds can reach at or over 50lb, large breed variety puppy food not only supports slower growth for stronger, healthier body frames, but it includes added nutrients to support bone and joint health as well.
We feed our dogs Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 dog food. This variety is for all age dogs that need extra nutrients in their diet to keep up with their athletic needs and quick metabolisms. This product has less fillers and more of what our dogs need. We keep our dogs active whether it be on the farm, camping, or tagging along at the park. This food helps keep their bodies and minds healthy.
Supplements
Pet Cod Liver Oil from Nordic Naturals we found is more effective and healthier than salmon oil for our dog’s skin, coat, heart, joint, brain, and kidney health. Although this is not a necessary supplement, we’ve found that it does have visually obvious positive effects. It can also help maintain healthy weight and improve wound healing.
Once our dogs are around one year old, we switch them to the Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20. At this time we start giving VETIQ Hip & Joint supplements to ensure our dogs get enough glucosamine in their diets to support health joints.
Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora we found is the best probiotic for dogs. Although this supplement is not a necessity, we definitely have seen an improvement in their skin and coat. Generally we don’t have to worry about loose stools but, if medications are necessary we always have this on hand to combat loose stools and stomach upset.
now PETS offers UC-II supplement that we are actively trying out. After doing much research, it has shown in many studies that UC-II is more effective than joint supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin. With that said in conjunction with the best cod liver oil for dogs, UC-II may prove to be the best joint supplement for dogs. It can be given as a preventative like we are using, maintenance, and treatment of active symptoms.
Treats!
We make our own homemade liver training treats. These are very palatable and even healthy for young puppies and dogs as a treat.
Recipe:
- 1 lb raw beef liver (can use pork or poultry also)
- 1 egg
- 2 cups oat flour (I grind up ‘Old Fashioned Oats’ in blender
- Enough water to make oatmeal consistency
Place everything in a blender and mix well. Place mixture in a silicone mold (size of kibble) in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Once cooked with then dehydrate ours so they last longer (even though they seem to be gone within 2 weeks:))
We’ll give our dogs raw or smoked bones from the local butcher shop and of course it’s one of their favorites. These bones provide:
- An extra source of calcium and phosphorus
- Mental stimulation while exercising their jaw and mouth
- Cleans off tartar and plaque from teeth
Jerky is another great treat for dogs. It is a great source of protein and is free of additives or fillers. An affordable and easily found brand is Golden Rewards Jerky. They have duck, chicken, beef and sweet potatoe varieties.
While these Puppy Teething Rings from N-BONE aren’t well suited for an adult dog, they are our favorite teething rings for puppies. Easily digestible, palatable, and keeps them preoccupied for a good amount of time to relieve teething discomfort.
Bowls & Food Storage
These bowls are life changing! Snap’y Fit Bowls from MidWest Homes for Pets allows you to keep food and water in your puppy’s crate knowing that there’ll be less mess when you get home. Being able to attach the bowl to the crate not only keeps the bowl up right, but also has aided in training. Their crate is where they get fed and they have to let the food come to them and not them come to the food. This helps reduce food aggression and bad jumping behaviors associated with food.
In addition to our feeding bowls in the crates, due to the nature of the farm we also like these stainless steel water bowls we can place under the water spigots outside or in our garage. Allows the dogs easy and free access to fresh water whenever they need it. Stainless steel is preferred as it is a sturdy material and cleans easily.
For a little while we struggled with how to keep our kibble fresh. Gamma2 Vittles Vault Feed Storage Container was our answer. We prefer the 60 pound capacity as it fits our fifty pound bags well. This is an air tight container, pest resistant, and keeps dry kibble moisture balanced. Doesn’t let it get too moist in humid seasons, or too dry during the dry seasons.
Petmate 2 cup Pet Food Scoop works great to get the appropriate portion of food to your pet. Both our dogs, even though the same breed get different portions due to their maturity size. This scoop helps us to not under or over feed.
Vet Records
This binder from Ospelelf works really well to hold your pet’s records. The dividers can separate registration and pedigrees, from health testing and parent dog info, from puppy’s personal vaccination records. The clipboard front is great for vet visits should you have questions or need to take notes. These are also great to provide to groomers or boarding facilities as many require up-to-date vet records on hand.
With the binders, we tend to place everything in sheet protectors to help protect our records from stains and damage that can occur over time with use. Amazon Basics Sheet Protector do just fine.
Heartworm, Flea, & Tick
We use Interceptor Plus for our dogs to prevent heartworms, as well as intestinal parasites. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian prior to using this product. It does require a prescription like many heartworm preventatives.
To prevent fleas and ticks, we use Credelio. In our area, fleas and ticks can be year round depending on good ole’ mother nature. Be sure to consult with your veterinarian prior to using this product. It does require a prescription like many flea and tick preventatives.
Click the link above to visit our page where we share information about the veterinarian/veterinarians we use, as well as tips on what to look for in a veterinarian.
ID, Collars & Leashes
We’ve found that the best collars for Australian Shepherds are rolled leather collars. We recommend these rolled collars as their ID collar that they’d wear the majority of the time. Our favorite is this Terrain D.O.G. Harness Leather Rolled Dog Collar. This is to prevent matting, and tangling of the fur around the neck. Some flat collars tend to cause irritation on long hair dogs.
As for a training collar, we recommend a martingale collar. When used appropriately, these can help redirect your pup to understand and learn how to walk on a leash. The best martingale collars we found and use are Max and Neo. This manufacturer also donates a collar to a rescue center for every collar sold.
My favorite leashes for our Australian Shepherds are our gold ole’ Leather Rolled Dog Leash also from Terrain D.O.G. Not only is it stylish and sofisticated, but it holds up well, is sturdy and comfortable to hold.
Due to our busy lifestyles, and our Australian Shepherds desire to be active, we sometime will take evening walks. This Reflective Leash from Mile High is perfect for dusk and evening walks. This allows us to feel safer knowing that drivers and bike riders are more likely to to see us while we’re out.
For our flat collars (martingale collars), we use LuckyPet Rivet-On Pet ID Tags. These are the best ID tags for Australian Shepherds as you don’t have to worry about the tag being in the way of the adjustable portion or D ring of the collar. These rivets hold firm, and the tag doesn’t wear out. Our oldest tag currently is nine years old and still looks brand new.
For our rolled leather collars we use what we feel is the best dog ID tag since rivets aren’t an option. LuckyPet Pet ID Tag. These can come in many different varieties but we feel the metal tags will hold up the best.
Crate & Bedding
Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Beds are indeed “Real beds for big dogs”, more like all dogs! We’ve purchased a Big Barker bed originally for our basset hound, a breed predisposed for joint issues. This bed was his favorite spot in the whole house. Though he has passed, our aussies, Dock & Tess, have used this bed. We’ve not had to replaced the foam or the cover and the bed is over 4 years old with three dogs going on an off. Great quality, and great comfort!
Use the code below to get 10% OFF Big Barker products!
MUDPATHAUSTRALIANSHEPHERDS 
Although we use the Big Barker beds for inside our house and on road trips, we do have some outdoor beds for our pups as well. These GOHOO PET bed have worked really well for us for our pups especially when they were younger. These fit right into their crates and were perfect for crate training. Unlike the Big Barker, we have gone through a few of these as young pups and can chew through them. We use these for crate training mostly. Their orthopedic and help growing joints and bones to be replenished after resting.
Midwest iCrates are our FAVORITE dog crates! Above is the regular double door. We currently have two of these for each our our dogs. The double door works out great as we’ve used both depending if we’re traveling and need both crates side by side or if their in place at home. Options are always great and makes this product well used and versatile. We recommend the 42 x 28 x 30 size crate to give your aussie plenty of space to turn around and lie down in whatever position they choose.
Another Midwest iCrate dog crate! Here’s why this one is awesome. Do you have a small space? Don’t want to be bothered by the crate doors hanging open? This Midwest iCrate Ovation Double Door Crate is for you. Even if you have a large space and just like to keep the doors out of the way, these doors push up (like a garage door) and ly on the top of the crate when not in use! Still secure, still comfortable. We still recommend the 42 x 28 x 30 size crate so your aussie can turn around yet feel like they’re in their “den” at the same time.
Although dogs are not den animals, they innately find safety in a den like space. For instance, dogs prefer den like spaces when birthing, raising puppies, and bad weather. These are some of mother nature’s most vulnerable times for any animal. Your dog feeling safe is priority to keeping your dog safe. These are the BEST Dog Crate Covers. They are waterproof (accidents) and windproof. We don’t recommend these for a “dog house”, solely just to act as a safe space. They don’t hold a dirty dog smell due to their material. And we have machine washed and dried ours several times and they’re still intact after 5 years. We’ve used these during family parties to give our dogs some space, during holidays such as the 4th of July to ensure their comfortable and contained during the loud fireworks, as well as during crate training to help promote good habits in the crate. It also provides a dark space for puppy naps (yes puppies need naps just like babies).
Grooming
The best self cleaning slicker brush is from Coastal Pet. It’s affordable, easy to use, and gental on your aussie’s coat. Because the Australian Shepherd is a double coated breed, a slicker brush is a must to reduce shedding and your house clean.
The best overall slicker brush for double coated breed is the Chris Christensen Big Dog Slicker Brush. This is the Cadillac of slicker brushes with 30% more bristles than a regular brush and withstands the test of time. The increased bristles help easy the pulling but increase the amount it can detangle at the same time.
Curry bath brush is a MUST for our australian shepherds. It helps to loosen up shedding hair, tangles, and dirt from the undercoat during their bath to better let them water, shampoo, and most importantly air get down to the skin to keep their coat and skin healthy and shining.
Four long haired breeds this 10″ Stainless Steel Comb by Andis works well to safely and comfortably remove mats, knots, and loose fur.
Jason Thinning Shears helps to shape your aussie’s coat without taking away too much ‘fluff’. These thinning shears are sharp so your scissors doesn’t damage the double coat while helping relieve your pet of some straggling fur.
Although australian shepherds don’t have long ears that would hold moisture in their ears, routine ear cleanings are still necessary to ensure your pets ears remain clean, dry and healthy. Virbac Epi-Otic Solution works great as the pH is neutral so there is not “burn” and it dries quickly so your pets ear remain dry after cleaning.
These pet wipes work well in a hurry. Like children, every now and then your dog will find something to make a mess of themselves. Whether it’s they doggie birthday cake or something smelly and suspicious in the back yard, these Earth Rated Dog Wipes save time, and keep your pet clean and fresh between baths.
There might be a day when your wonderful, bed hogging, velcro wiggle butt gets curious around a skunk. Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Control helps to remove the nasty smell and get back to every day play.
Tropiclean Thick Double Coat is one of our favorite shampoos. It gets down through the double coat to clean it of dirt and debri. While at the same time not drying out the fur or the skin
Following the Tropiclean Shampoo routine, we’ll finish with the Tropilcean Moisturizing Conditioner. This isn’t a necessary step but it makes our australisan shepherds extra soft and helps to allow our pet blower to easily remove the remaining loose fur.
Most nail clippers work just fine. Be sure they are correct size for your dog’s nails and made with stainless steel nail blade. These are Epic Heavy Duty Toe Nail Clippers and have lasted us quite a while.
*Links from these products above may be affiliate links. However, all opinions of the products are our own and actively used by Mud Path Australian Shepherds.*