(Part 2) Top products from r/WiggleButts

So, we avoid undercoat rakes and combs on the advice of our breeder (don't want to pull out or cut any of the active undercoat). It took us a while to really get that she was right (at least for our pup), but it is what we've had the best luck with. We use a metal comb to do the line-comb technique as /u/cpersall suggests, and then we finish with just a normal human pin-brush (which he likes quite a bit) for the topcoat. We also brush him at least every other day while we're watching TV of the evening.

You asked about shampoo and such: we've had enormous luck with The Stuff spray in conditioner while we're brushing him out. Makes him look purty (seriously got so many compliments at the herding-dog park parties that we now have half the town using it on Corgis, Aussies, and BCs). We've been using AvoDerm for shampoo (about once every two-three weeks depending on how much mud he's gotten into). Aussies tend to be great self-groomers. We only really give him baths when he's muddy and we don't want it in bed or on the couch. Also he loves bathtime, so sometimes I give him 'baths' sans shampoo on hot days. Drying off with the towel is the Best Game Ever!

I'm in Wisconsin, fromm is great but expensive ($60 for 33lbs), American Premium Natural is another good one that is not quite as expensive ($50 for a 40lb bag). Fish or lamb has worked best, fish if they get gassy.

Sauerkraut is fantastic if they ever get an upset stomach.

On mobile so not formatting the link. Bag of puppy food on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000WFKTZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1463707088&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=fromm+puppy+food&dpPl=1&dpID=41O0WwsSi6L&ref=plSrch

Thanks! He's wearing a PetSafe Easy Walk Harness (the green one)..these things are amazing and I highly recommend them. They attach at the chest so you can control their movments easier and it prevents your pup from pulling while you walk them. He's also wearing a RuffWear Track Jacket because we were going on a hike in the woods later that day.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017JDGZO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kr6-zb8PX80P6

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Av6-zbS52SFWB

These are Penny's favorite toys, and they are super cheap. Feel free to link your pup's favorite too! Christmas is coming!

For the money, I've found these to be the best discs : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012OBWAA/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've gone through 4-5 other brands and never got more than the 2-3 months I get from these. They get chewed up within a week or two, but stay together and we still get a good 40-50' throw up to the end.
Also, Rhett likes them because they relatively soft and flexible and won't tear up her mouth.

You can also find it on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Haulin-Australian-Shepherd-Vinyl-Window/dp/B004WLK314

There's other decals too, like "I love my Australian Shepherd" etc..

Koda is good on leash but sometimes if he's excited he'll start pulling and choking. I recently got him this Rogz harness and it's amazing. Hasn't choked once. It's about half the price of what you were looking at too.

It sounds like he could really benefit from additional mental enrichment. Aussies are working dogs that need a job to do, not just physical exercise. He's bored - he needs his mind worked every day. These behaviors are cries for help, not a means of trying to make you crazy.

Is he crate trained? That is also a good way to manage his destruction. Check out Susan Garrett's Crate Games. Also use the idea that "nothing is for free." Make him work for every piece of kibble he gets (this is how he can get his meals) by either doing training or give him puzzle toys to work at. You can do things like make him a Snuffle Mat, or make/buy some other puzzle toys. It might benefit to also work on some impulse control and "it's yer choice" games.

My dogs all love playing with Jolly Balls, they tend to last a very long time too.

Both our Aussies have gentle walk harnesses. Has helped greatly with our puller and makes walks super enjoyable. Plus no neck worries.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Harness-Large-Black-Silver/dp/B0009ZBKG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1405528084&sr=1-1&keywords=easy+walk+harness

My go to tool is just a plain ordinary comb, like this but mine has a handle. I've talked with other Aussie owners and breeders and it seems like a comb and a slicker brush are the tools to use.

The comb does the best job of any tool I've tried (I used to work at a pet store and have tried almost everything) without damaging their coat. It gets right down to the undercoat, pulls up the loose stuff, gets out tangles and mats or sticks or burs.

For technique, check out how to line comb.

We got this for our little wigglebutt when he needed a cone. It's fantastic.

I'm sorry, I don't have much good advice, just the fact that I commiserate with you.

Ours is two years old, and we've trained almost all other problems out of him except this one. If ANYONE shows our aussie any attention, he jumps up on them -- and he's 85 pounds. It's so frustrating.

Trainers always tell you to try and catch the jumping just before it happens. Ours gave us a pet corrector:

https://smile.amazon.com/Pet-Corrector-Behavior-Training-Harmless/dp/B000UCH02O/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1523971685&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=pet+corrector&psc=1

The idea is that as your dog jumps up, you spray this thing (away from the dog -- it's just compressed air) and the spray makes the same warning sound as a snake. The first time, it worked like a charm ... our dog backed off immediately and layed down. Magic. Trouble is, he got used to it (even though I only used it sporadically) and it stopped working after a month.

I've also heard that you should have the dog on some kind of soft leash ALWAYS in the house, so that if he does jump, you can grab the leash and pull him back immediately.

I've also watched other people ONLY GIVE ATTENTION when four paws are on the floor, and when there are four paws on the floor, you feed treats continuously. Want to make it a very big deal that the dog is NOT jumping, so you reward like crazy.

Our dog kind of taught himself that when we come through the front door, instead of jumping on us it's ok with us if he goes immediately and gets a toy ... then he gets positive attention. This sorta works.

For this kind of fluff, I would just trim behind the ears with some thinning shears. That way he'll still have the fur on his cheeks but will have less volume without the weird blunt-ness from scissors.

I watched a groomer video recently and found all of these from her video

• http://smile.amazon.com/Coastal-Pet-Safari-Undercoat-Designed/dp/B0083TSC64
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Steel-Large-Grooming-Style-Ideal/dp/B00Y1NN5TK
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Safari%C2%AE-Dual-Sided-Stainless-Steel-Shedding/dp/B0002ARR22
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Your-Dog-078279-102-Combo-Brush/dp/B00ICB3OWU
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Wahl-Large-Slicker-Brush-858407/dp/B002GKRAWI