http://dogfoodadvisor.com/

Good source of info.

We use Taste of the Wild for my 8yr old Golden and Black Lab.

No issues of any kind....great skin and coat.

Aussies are the best.

Superb! Congrats to you both. He looks well cared for now!

This is the kind of stuff I come here for. Thank you for a great story, it warmed my heart.

Great find. He did well getting you to pull over.

We feed our lab Purina One. He likes it and the vet recommends it. Amazon delivers it automatically just in time to keep him well supplied.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
"God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform . . . ." You were destined to find that dog.

flashguy

I do agree with this. The Good Lord allows us to be in certain places at certain times. We may never fully understand a lot of things that happen in life. However, all things happen for a reason.

We have a male tri-colored Aussie that looks just like him. Our second.
They are great dogs. They are herding dogs so they tend to stay close.
We feed ours couple of food brands. Tractor Supply if they are in your area, has a brand called 4 Health and Costco Kirkland has a few that all seem pretty good.
Good food will make it less likely that you’ll have allergies and skin problems. Sometimes it’s not a quality problem, just the particular dog can’t do well with a particular food. Just experiment a little.
When switching foods just start mixing in the new food a week or 10 days before you run out of the former. We only fed him dry food and almost no table scraps. A dog that isn’t used to people food can get an upset stomach easily and that’s not good for anyone. We give him a handful of the regular kibbles as treats or a reward, no need for dog biscuits.
They are usually very smart and trainable. Just be a little careful if there are any small children because they can try to herd them and accidentally knock them down.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
My thanks for what you have done. I would have done the same.

Did rhe microchip check end up with no owner contact or no registration? Many times a negligent owner will have a pet microchipped and never register the chip with the maker. Or a rescue or shelter will plant a microchip, and the person adopting the pet fails to register it.

Having been in your shoes with stray pets, I can agree, finding a stray pets owner can be an impossible task, You do what you can do, and you have.

My suggestion on dog food is Purina ProPlan, a brand I have used for many years. I am wishing the best for you and your new friend.

Oh, and do go online and register your dog's microchip in your name with all the contact information. This is very important.

The chip was never registered. We know when it was sold to the vet supply, but the vet supply has not returned my call nor calls from the vet who scanned him inquiring about it's journey after that.

I love this thread! God bless!

Thanks for what you did. It made my day and keep us updated on his progress. Great looking dog.

Kudos to you and your family. I bet that dog thinks he is in heaven right now.

Good job!!!!!

Thanks for picking up and caring for one of God’s greatest. The unconditional love they provide is simply amazing.

Congratulations! I'm sure the dog loves it.

I'm over 70 years old & have had at least one dog around since I was a kid. As for dog food, don't over think it. Just pick a good brand & run with it. I've been feeding our labs Purina One for about 20 years & they've all had long, healthy lives.

We live in the country & mine will occasionally come out of the woods dragging an old rotted animal carcass, or supplement their diet with some grass or a horse turd from the pasture; so buying the super feel good organic dog food would be kind of wasted on them.

It's great to see a nice story like this occasionally. Well done!

My cat (feral) stopped in my yard a couple of times and one thing led to another. She's been a blessing for me as I'm sure your new addition will be to your family.

A little more advice.
Get a measuring cup for the food and keep an eye on his weight. A lean dog will outlive an overweight dog and have fewer joint problems. Without a way to measure each meal it's easy to overfeed. Those sad eyes will make you give him more.
Look at his coat after a few months. Good healthy food will give him a nice and shiny coat as long he's brushed regularly.
Don't bathe too often or with hot water. Dry skin will start all sorts of problems.
Keep plenty of good chew toys around for entertainment. They need to keep their mind occupied on the right things. Try to find made in USA toys and the others are made in China and no telling what's in them. Quality toys last a long time. Buy large size bones.
We've had good luck with these products.
https://www.westpaw.com/

We feed our aussie Nutri-Source. We measure it out according to his weight and he gets fed dry kibble once in the morning and at dinner time he gets another scoop along with a 1/3 can of wet food mixed in.
No weight, skin, or coat problems.

Congrats on the new pooch, he's very handsome. Not everyone has the capacity for empathy that you showed that day in the rain, good on you!

Heartworms may not be AS big a deal as they are down South, but they still kill dogs. Have him checked, rechecked in 6 months, and put him on a preventive. Lots of great options.

My advice for food is simple: there are several really good brands out there. Nobody will agree which is best, and that's fine. Do yourself a big favor and avoid the "grain free" trend, which is killing dogs (despite what Hollywood Feed tells people).

The piddling on the bed is a submission stance, and a boarded behaviorist once counseled me for my own dog that the way to avoid it is to keep a distance when initially correcting him, avoid direct eye contact, squat to near his level, and reach out for him slowly with soothing tones. Once you are touching him and talking with him, he will relax somewhat. He will make a few more mistakes over the next few weeks, but if you avoid corporal punishment (possible someone corrected via spanking and spurred this behavior) and remain steady and consistent, he will stop doing it. Took my dog about a month, then she never did it again.

Good luck with him, and again congrats!

Here is a recent article by Dr. Karen Becker on "Should You Feed Your Pet Table Scraps? You May Be Surprised".

Snip:
More Foods and Snacks Safe to Share With Your Dog or Cat

Most of the following foods will be more popular with dogs than cats, but they're safe for both; be sure to serve them plain (no sugar, salt or spices, butter or other additives), in moderation and in small portions. Organic food provides fewer contaminants and residues to you and your pets.

1. Apples — Apples contain powerful antioxidants and vitamin C. Serve apple slices to your pet, but never the core or seeds.

2. Asparagus — Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, A, B1, B2, C and E, along with the folate, iron, copper, fiber, manganese and potassium.

3. Blueberries — Fresh or frozen, blueberries are loaded with phytochemicals, and their deep blue hue is the result of anthocyanidins, which are powerful antioxidants. Blueberries are also a good source of healthy fiber, manganese and vitamins C and E. Introduce blueberries slowly to your pet — too much too soon can cause digestive upset.

Blueberries are available all year and make great training treats for dogs. A good rule of thumb is 2-4 blueberries as treats for every 10 pounds of dog a day. Replacing one of the processed treats you feed each day with fresh or frozen blueberries is a great way to increase antioxidants in your pet's diet.

4. Broccoli — Broccoli supports detoxification processes in your pet's body; contains healthy fiber to aid digestion; is rich in beneficial nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein and vitamin C; has anti-inflammatory properties; supports eye health; helps repair skin damage; and supports heart health.

I always prefer local organic produce, however, conventionally grown broccoli is one of the cleanest (most pesticide-free) foods you can buy, so eat up! Your pet may prefer broccoli steamed, although many dogs eat florets fresh without a problem. Chopped broccoli stems make great detox treats, too.

5. Carrots — Carrots are low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins. Many dogs enjoy snacking on a fresh crunchy carrot, and some will even eat the green tops.

6. Chia — Chia is a seed derived from the desert plant Salvia hispanica that grows abundantly in southern Mexico. It is a source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and also antioxidants. And unlike flax seeds, chia seeds don't need to be ground. Chia seeds also provide fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. Try sprinkling some chia seeds on your dog's meals or mix some with a little coconut oil for a super nutrient dense bedtime snack.

7. Cottage cheese — Plain organic cottage cheese is high in calcium and protein.

8. Fermented vegetables — Fermented foods are potent detoxifiers and contain very high levels of probiotics and vitamin. Beneficial gut bacteria provided by probiotics break down and eliminate heavy metals and other toxins from the body and perform a number of other important functions.

Adding 1-3 teaspoons of fermented veggies to your pet's food each day (depending on body weight) is a great way to offer food-based probiotics and natural nutrients. Find out more about this powerhouse addition to your pet's diet.

9. Green beans — Fresh, locally grown green beans are a source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also provide calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, as well as beta carotene.

10. Kale — This dark green cruciferous vegetable is loaded with vitamins (especially vitamins K, A and C), iron, and antioxidants. It helps with liver detoxification and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Add 1-3 tablespoons of minced or chopped kale to your pet's food daily, depending on body weight, as a great source of fiber, nutrients and whole food antioxidants.

11. Kefir — Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that contains beneficial probiotics that support the immune system. Although regular, pasteurized cow's milk can be irritating to your dog's GI tract, fermented milk is different. One of the best and least expensive ways to add healthy bacteria to your pet's diet is to convert raw milk to kefir yourself.

All you need is one-half packet of kefir starter granules in a quart of raw milk (preferably organic), which you leave at room temperature overnight. Add 1-3 teaspoons of this super probiotic to your dog's food 1-2 times daily for overall improved GI defenses.

12. Mushrooms — Mushrooms range from life-saving to poisonous, so obviously you'll want to choose medicinal mushrooms only. Non-toxic, beneficial varieties include shiitake, reishi, maitake, lion's mane, king trumpet, turkey tail, and himematsutake mushrooms. All mushrooms that are safe for people are safe for pets.

Mushrooms can help regulate bowel function, but even better, they also contain potent anti-cancer properties and immune system enhancers. You can either lightly cook the mushrooms in a very small amount of olive or coconut oil before adding them to your dog's meal, or try out my mushroom broth recipe.

13. Pumpkin — Fresh pumpkin, either steamed or boiled (or canned 100 percent pumpkin), is relatively low in calories and high in soluble fiber. Pumpkin helps regulate bowel function, which relieves both diarrhea and constipation. It's also an excellent source of potassium, vitamin A and antioxidants.

14. Pumpkin seeds (raw) — Pepitas or raw pumpkin seeds, are a rich source of minerals, vitamin K, and phytosterols. They also contain L-tryptophan and are a good source of zinc, vitamin E, and B vitamins. Research suggests pumpkin seeds can prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones, reduce inflammation caused by arthritis, and support prostate health.

15. Raw nuts (almonds and Brazil nuts) — These nuts, served in moderation and very small portions, are safe for dogs. Many nuts are not – especially tree nuts – so stick with these 2 to be on the safe side.

16. Sardines — Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to your dog's well-being. If you supplement your pet's diet with fish, I suggest you use sardines packed in water. Sardines don't live long enough to store toxins in their bodies, and they're a terrific source of omega-3s.

17. Spinach — This green leafy vegetable helps has anti-inflammatory properties and can help support heart health.

18. Sweet potatoes — Steamed sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants and are also high in vitamins A and C. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may lower the risk from heavy metals and oxygen radicals.

19. Yogurt — Plain organic yogurt is high in protein and calcium, and most pets love it.

https://healthypets.mercola.co...26/table-scraps.aspx

So the next time you see your dog striping the blueberries off your plant, just say "Good Doggy".

You are a good soul ubelongoutside!

Looks like a fine dog. Similar marking to one of ours, a Bernese Mountain Dog. IMO rescue dogs make for some of the most loving and loyal dogs!