[Kayla]

I am a college student so I understand about money haha

I am using Pure Balance, and I got a 30 pound bag for 30 to 32 dollars at Walmart! It is good quality and you can look at the reviews on here! They also have wet food and also treats. My Aussie Dog loves them! They also have different flavors so you can rotate. They also have grain free I believe too. The prices vary but I think the most is 40 dollars for a 30 pound bag. So far, I am on my second 30 pound bag and no issues with my Dog. He is happy, healthy and very active. His coat actually looks better too 🙂

[Kayla]

I was just curious because I heard green beans and carrots are safe and healthy for dogs but I just wanted to know before I give Dexter any. Sardines? Yuck, lol…but maybe Dexter will love them, might make his breath smell bad lol! I thought about getting plain yogurt and putting a little with his kibble. 🙂 I will go to the store sometime this weekend! Thanks 🙂

[Kayla]

Thanks, 🙂 I increased his cup by 1/2! He is also still getting some wet food mixed with his dry kibble as well as few treats here and there. Yeah, Dexter loves pumpkin and plain boiled chicken too! So far, he is still doing very well! Happy and very Active. I will weigh him this weekend! Anything else that I can feed him in very small amounts and occasionally for future reference… so far, what I am doing. He is doing very well.

[Kayla]

Also, no more *gas* either… But, I will take him to the vet if he loses more weight and starts to get sick! Thanks for the advice! 🙂

[Kayla]

No more unwanted accidents on the floor also … So, he seems to be doing pretty well!

[Kayla]

He just lost a few pounds and so far just stayed there~ No sign of sickness, he is still happy and active… His stool is fine and no vomiting. I did give him a little bit more food for dinner since…He is getting bigger and very active. I will weigh him this weekend, and keep watching him. Perhaps, since he is a big dog…he needs more food and 3 cups isn’t enough. Idk. I will try 3 1/2 including dry and some wet food and some treats here and there.

Lately, since he has gotten cooler…He is more active. Every time I take him out, he wants to run… no joke! lol

• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by Kayla.

[Kayla]

It isn’t noticeable, but I can tell that he lost a few pounds. :/

[Kayla]

He is also very active, loves to jump, play and run around… Do I need to feed him more? Like more treats and bump it up to 3 1/2 cups of food?

[Kayla]

Where do you find that? Can it be found at Walmart? Is it liquid or pill?

[Kayla]

Where did you buy it from?

[Kayla]

Okay, thank you 🙂 I will go look at crates this week.

[Kayla]

When I first got him, I feed him 4 cups because he was under weight from the Shelter. Once he got to the 40’s, I dropped it down to 3 1/2 cups.. mainly 3 cups. 1.5 in the morning and 1.5 at dinner time… I mix a little bit of wet food and a little bit of water in his kibble. Plus, few treats through out the day when he is behaved. On the back of the bag of kibble, it says to feed him 3 to 3 1/2 cups for his size. He is just now shy of the 50 pound mark but not actually 50 pounds but I’m sure within a month or so he will be 50 pounds.
I don’t think he will get any bigger than 65 pounds, but I don’t know.

Um, his paw size? Not sure. I’d say there big not huge…

http://tinypic.com/r/puj9x/8
http://tinypic.com/r/1hceic/8

[Kayla]

The Vet said, he looks like he is an aussie mix with something bigger in him as well…and he will get bigger and grow a little bit more. But, sometimes Vets can be wrong.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Kayla.

[Kayla]

I am not sure what he is mixed with, I thought corgi? but they are small/medium. I thought border collie mix or even husky mix or maybe even pit mix but who knows? I have no clue. I looked at the pictures of a 24 inch crate and it looks a little small. Someone also said, he might be mixed with Pyrenees. All I know is I can see Aussie in him and maybe border collie. I thought, maybe a large or extra large crate? I might go to pet-smart and have a look in person at the crates to see what size I might need.

[Kayla]

He is an Aussie breed, possibly mixed with something else.

[Kayla]

Thank you so much! And, yes I know… No crate here. :/ I have been looking at crates for a while but they all seem to look too small? I want Dexter to be comfortable in it but don’t really know what size I need since he is a big dog!

He just started this nonsense on eating and chewing things he isn’t suppose too! But, I also want to stop it before it gets worse. I live in an apartment so whatever damage he does, I have to pay for it!

What crate size will I need and how do I go about crate training? Never had to crate train a pup before.

[Kayla]

I feed him soon after he accidentally ate it.

[Kayla]

Okay, Dexter is really testing my buttons! I woke up this morning and I saw him eating a pair of jeans…I immediately took it away from him and said No, bad boy! He has learned how to grab clothes from the hamper. :/ I feed him 3 cups of kibble…little bit of wet like 1 to 2 spoonfuls and treats through out the day when he is good. I buy him chew toys but instead he wants to chew on things he isn’t allowed too. He is becoming the troubled pup here!

http://tinypic.com/r/o935lg/8

Do I need to take him to the vet? Or call the vet place? :/

[Kayla]

Thank you so much!!!!

[Kayla]

Honestly, I am not sure! 🙁 By the time, I looked…the button was already missing and he was chewing on the second button! I can not find the missing button, nor find any pieces of it so I am pretty sure that he accidentally ate it.

Okay, thank you!!! I just wanted to double check to make sure! And yea, I try to put everything away from him… like in the cabinets or on top of the fridge. For how smart he is, he hasn’t figured out…how to open the cabinets just yet. But, he has gotten to the point he will jump up to get anything that is on the counter so I make it to were he can’t reach it and nothing on the counter. I have never in my life needed to doggy proof the home! He is such a trouble maker sometimes. lol

I will watch him closely and make sure he isn’t puking or anything! I will also watch his stools. I won’t call the Vet just yet. Just gonna keep an eye on him. :/

[Kayla]

I know, dog eat crazy things but I never had a dog ever eat a button. Never had a dog that will go through the hamper to pull out a shirt to eat. :/

[Kayla]

http://tinypic.com/r/11823ab/8

http://tinypic.com/r/307p3t0/8

[Kayla]

It was a small plastic white button. He is an Aussie mix and, he is around 45 pounds, maybe almost 50. Not sure..haven’t weighed him recently. He is around 1 years old. Not sure what he is mixed with, I am thinking he is mixed with border collie! but, maybe either corgi or pit! He just doesn’t seem to look like a corgi or pit like to me. He is a medium/large size dog!

[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/11823ab.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/307p3t0.jpg[/IMG]

[Kayla]

It is also plastic*

[Kayla]

Okay, thank you 🙂

[Kayla]

Thank you BC!! That helped me understand a lot and great advice and tips!!! I decided to not leave food on the counter or anywhere he can reach it! As for the incident…he hasn’t done it again and hopeful will be the last! I have gotten to the point where I can hear him if he is in the kitchen and I say ” No, Dexter” and he comes to me and sits down so maybe he is learning. Today, I actually caught him in the kitchen but this time he jumped up and his two front paws was on counter in-front of the sink and it looked like he wanted to do the dishes… He just smiled soo big and I said Dexter, what are you doing? And, he came to me and sat down lol Smart pup!

I also think that he was abused in the past! Because every time, I say NO in a stern voice he freaks out and ducks like he is in trouble. Sometimes he goes a hides under the bed or table. I did raise my hand to test it, and he actually ducked down and curled up a little and tried to hide and his face looked so sad. I felt terrible, I was omg.. you poor thing! So, I am thinking he was abused. 🙁 It is sad how people mistreat animals, makes me so mad!

I started to basic train him with treats and when he sits, lays down or stays..he gets a treat! Now, he sits patiently in the kitchen while I am making his food! I think that is understandable, he is young and every-time I take him out he gets overly excited and wants to say hello to everyone including other pets. Sometimes he tends to drag me around because he gets so excited… I am trying to train him not to do that. Ha Thank you for your thoughts and advice!!

Dexter is around 45 close to 50 pounds and around 1 years old! Still young and tons of growing to do. I think, once he feels comfortable and everything he will grow out of it and not try to push my buttons at times but lately, he has gotten better.

[Kayla]

I still have the old food, do you think I need to start the transition over?

[Kayla]

I am thinking about giving him some probiotics just in case, would that be necessary? If so, where can I get some walmart, petsmart? Or can I just use plain yogurt for him? Do you have any recommendations?

[Kayla]

I really appropriate your thoughts and advice and I am sorry for the late reply! So far, I am thinking it was the old food that was making him have the gas because once I completely switched him over and quit giving him some of the old food it completely stopped and he is doing better with much harder stools and no gas.

[Kayla]

I was wondering the same thing why it was reported…. I said nothing wrong! And thank you for all the ideas and recipes. I will be sure to look at them and give one or some a try very soon and update when I do 🙂 And, BC your comment about the nonexistant like made me laugh lol! ha

What link Naturella, I don’t see a link.. :/

[Kayla]

I also, give him water all day but take it away at bedtime! I do not let food or water out for free drinking and eating. Strict Schedule. I take him out all the time as well.

[Kayla]

I will try that 🙂 Thank you!!!

So far, no issues with his tummy! He is very happy and energetic… so energetic when I took him out for a walk, it was a run instead. He wanted to run, jump around and chase a rabbit LOL At least…we both got a workout. ha

Looks like the new food will suit him well, I hope so!! Thanks again for the tips and advice.

[Kayla]

I don’t want to over feed him but I also want to incorporate wet food.

[Kayla]

I have to admit, He was a little spoiled tonight. However tomorrow, I will try to measure it better? Any tips? He did well with half and half… but that was when I was feeding him 4 cups a day because he was underweight from the shelter. 2 in the morning and 2 at night, half old/half new for 2 weeks. How, since he is in the healthy weight range around 40 close to 50 pounds… I dropped it down to 3 cups! Should I still do 1 cup of old, 1/2 cup of new and a tiny spoonful of wet or what? I feed him twice daily…and would like to stick at 3 cups. I think 3 1/2 might be too much… although the back of the bag says 3 to 3 1/2 is fine.

[Kayla]

Thank you for so much tips and advice!!! 🙂

Tonight, I went and bought some pure balance wet food to see if he likes it or not. I mixed one cup of his old food, and half of a cup of new food… and a very small spoonful of wet food and oh my goodness he ate it all up in a second. Even after he ate he was still licking the bowl to find more LOL!!! Now, I hope his tummy handles it well!!

I have done the half and half before with Dexter and he was fine! Last time, I did half old(shelter food) and half new food for 2 weeks and he did fine! So, I am doing it again… half old/half new for 2 weeks and add in a little bit of wet food! After two weeks, I will do half new and half wet or something. Not sure… haven’t thought that far a long yet!

[Kayla]

I live in an apartment with carpet! And I know, if you don’t have a transitional period…some dogs will have episodes.. trying to not get Dexter sick because he couldn’t handle it cold turkey. He’s already had few incidents in the apartment because of the old food. I just don’t want to risk quitting him cold turkey.

[Kayla]

Is there a better way to wean him off old to new food?

[Kayla]

Thanks for the great tips! I will sure to use them. However, how will I transition these great tips and not upset his tummy? I have no idea how he will handle it. Right now, I am doing half old and half new for 2 weeks and then after that new food completely.

[Kayla]

I am thinking about, if Dexter does really well with the Pure Balance kibble that I will buy some Pure Balance can food and mixed some in it. How will I know how much to mix in? He eats 3 cups of kibble.

[Kayla]

I will try some treats out with him, thank you again 🙂 Great deals and great websites so far!

[Kayla]

I tried to play tug of war with the Walmart rope I got him but he doesn’t like it. He loves to jump and run! I also got him a little stuffed animal that squeaks… nope! He would rather chew it. ha He also likes to chew the rope.

[Kayla]

Thank you so much!!! 🙂

[Kayla]

Dexter 🙂

[Kayla]

I’m weird but I also don’t want him to choke on treats.. I always feel like if I get something to small or two big he will choke. I did get him some toys but he doesn’t care about them. Any suggestions on toys he might like also?

[Kayla]

And, I do want some dental treats that are good for his teeth and gums and keeps his breath fresh. His breath doesn’t smell though but I don’t want to feed him bad stuff you know?

[Kayla]

Thank you so much!!!! and, I am slowly transitioning him to Pure Balance. It had 4 star rating and good reviews. I am a college student on a low budget so it was in my price range. Just need better treats. So glad I found this website. Learned so much already.

[Kayla]

I am in training process because he can be a handful sometimes. Right now, I have the beneful healthy smile treat.. But I am not sure if its healthy for him or not. I am wanting something different and better because 7 large treats for like 4 dollars can add up to be pricey! And thanks for the input. I will look them up 🙂

[Kayla]

This is my first dog that is his kind! So I have tons of questions I am doing research on. I have had other pets, such as different breeds and cats etc. I have also trained and dogsitted different breeds but never this breed… so I am not too familiar with this breed.

[Kayla]

I thought about that too Naturella and thank you 🙂

And thank you Dori 🙂 He is so sweet, funny and loving! Very energetic and smart! He makes the funniest expressions sometimes ha. And thank you for your input 🙂

[Kayla]

This is true. Thank you for your input 🙂

[Author]

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