Words of wisdom from Muriel Hayes, owner and breeder of Twin Oaks II Kennel, about overweight Aussie’s – Some of the best  advise Muriel gave me years ago was “don’t let your dog’s get too fat”.  She said “it’s hard on their bones, ligaments, joints, and organs. “ I completely agree with Muriel – we think we are being kind to our dogs by giving treats or over-feeding… but it is probably one of the worst things we do.   To insure healthy dogs, feed quality food at the appropriate amount.

Fat Aussies are a major problem. Nearly every where you go, their little swollen bodies dominate over healthy, fit ones. Dogs are part of the obesity epidemic, and it stresses everything in their system.

The best way to treat obesity is to stop it where it starts – when you acquire a dog, you may try free-choice feeding it high quality dry kibble. If the dog self regulates (many Aussies will if not put in a food-competitive environment), you’re golden.

But if this doesn’t work for you, 1/2 cup of a high quality kibble ie: Life’s Abundance for every 25 lbs of dog is a good rule of thumb. It seems like so very little,but remember that they really are only 35-55 pounds when fit (on average), and that doesn’t take too many calories to maintain, even very active. Simply ignoring pleas for extra food will eventually teach them to “knock it off.”

Don’t express guilt or love with food. Your dog will be just as happy with a few minutes of Frisbee or walk as a couple treats. Treats should be reserved for extra special days to make YOU feel good, and for training, and that’s it. Giving dogs calorie-free chew toys is one way to occupy them without fattening them.

Here are the ideal heights and weights for the Australian Shepherd breed:

Height: Males 20 – 23 inches (52 – 58 cm) Females 18 – 21 inches (46 – 53 cm)
Weight: Males 50 – 65 pounds (25 – 29 kg) Females 40 – 55 pounds (18 – 25 kg)

Exercise/Socializing:  If you don’t give an Aussie something to do they’ll find something to do! Aussie’s are active dogs.  There are all types of activities you can offer them, but if you ignore their need for exercise you will experience an unhappy puppy/dog.  My suggestion is to exercise at least an hour per day… more is better.  Throwing a ball repeatedly can add to stress levels by getting the dog overly excited. The owner will end up witnessing unwanted behavior when what their dog really needs is more challenging mental stimulation. Using the ball for a game of hide and seek is more beneficial than having the dog just chasing around at random. Well-chosen products, can help settle your dog, provide that vital mental stimulation, and relieve boredom.  In addition to exercise, socializing to new people, places and things is an important element of puppy development plus helps to ensure happiness and balance

Training/Socializing:  One of the most common reason dogs end up in shelters/rescues is lack of training.  New owners must commit to training and socializing their puppy with classes, clinics, or regular private training sessions.  We want you to have a companion for life and this is a huge part of your new responsibility.  In my experience, it is better to train Aussie’s right the first time than rehabilitate a bad habit or training mishap.

Because we strongly believe that all four of these components (nutrition, exercise, training, socializing) play a big role in the health and happiness of your Aussie we’d like you to consider our Lifetime Health Guarantee.  Should you choose this, the Lifetime Guarantee stipulates that your puppy must be fed Life Abundance All Life Stages which includes food and supplements for their entire lifetime. We believe that these products provide the optimum nutritional benefits ensuring good health and longevity into your dogs adulthood.

I think we forget that one year of a puppy’s life is equivalent to 15 years of humans and 2 years similarly is 24/25 years.  Wow! How important then that we feed the absolutely the best food available to us for at least the first 2 years of life.  With Life’s Abundance you feed less dog food, but receive more nutrition!  Pups are able to digest, absorb, and utilize the dog food with fewer poops to clean up (big bonus!).  And you are providing a long and hearty life for your pet when you provide them with quality nutrition!  Isn’t your precious “Old-Time” puppy worth it?