The Border Collie is a very active and energetic breed. For this reason, properly selected diet will be the key to maintain proper body weight and health of our dog. At the very beginning we should pay attention how much a Border Collie eats and strictly control it. In case of this breed, we cannot count on a dog to eat as much as it needs – even if it doesn’t feel hungry, it certainly won’t refuse food. Behaviour problems and “begging” when the dog sees food is common. Feeding from the table can lead to bad habits, begging as well as overfeeding our Border Collie – which should of course be avoided!
Diet for the Border Collie – how much food does a dog of this breed need?
Due to its high activity level, the Border Collie has quite a high calorific requirement compared to other breeds. However, determining the exact amount is difficult and many factors must be taken into account. We need to consider the size and weight of the dog, its activity level, age, metabolism, and in some cases, medical conditions and diseases.
As you can see, this is very individual, but we can assume a rough calorific requirement of up to 1400 kcal for a young dog, 1000 kcal for an average adult, and 700 kcal for seniors. At the same time, it is necessary to control the weight and make possible corrections to the Border Collie’s diet. If we choose a ready-made food, it is worth referring to the instructions on the label. On the net, we can also find many calculators, which allow us to enter many parameters – which will allow us to determine the daily amount of calories even more precisely.
How many times a day to feed a Border Collie?
A small Border Collie puppy can be fed 4 to even 6 times a day. A small dog has a high energy requirement. Before the age of 6 months, the frequency of feeding should be reduced to 2-3 times a day.
For an adult dog, 2 meals a day is optimal. Due to the specifics of the breed, it is absolutely impossible to let the dog have constant access to food. Border Collies have a problem with self-regulation of food, so we have to take care of this aspect ourselves. Otherwise, with a high probability, our charge will have problems with obesity, which often also causes other diseases.
The Border Collie very much likes puzzles and challenges, so we can sometimes take a creative approach to feeding the dog. We can use mats, toys, or feeding in the grass, so that the meal is not only food but also good fun for our Border Collie.
Which food for border collie?
As with other breeds, we can choose between ready-made products, i.e. dry and wet food, and the possibility of preparing meals on our own (e.g. the BARF diet).
Dry food is the cheapest and easiest option for the owner, who doesn’t have to spend time preparing the meal. The advantage of dry food for Border Collie is also a positive influence on the pet’s teeth – chewing hard food is recommended. However, the problem may turn out to be the taste – Border Collies are sometimes picky eaters. At this point, wet food for Border Collies can come to the rescue. Some owners mix both types of food, which is often an effective trick. Of course, with such mixtures, the appropriate calorific value of the meals must be kept in mind at all times.
If the only option is to give the dog only wet food, the diet should be supplemented with hard chewy treats that will take care of the Border Collie’s teeth.
Of course, no matter what ready-made food you choose, you should read the labels carefully. The cheapest commercial food, having a lot of fillers, will not be beneficial for the health of our pet.
A bigger challenge will turn out to be preparing home-made food for the Border Collie. In such a case, when establishing the recipes, it is worth consulting the vet. You can find the general principles of such nutrition in our articles about home feeding of dogs and BARF diet for dog.
How to feed a Border Collie puppy?
It has already been described how much a Border Collie puppy should eat and how often. Food for a Border Collie puppy should contain a high amount of protein (25% or more) and fat (at least 15%). It is also a good idea to supplement the diet with supplements to ensure adequate vitamins and minerals. You can consider vegetables and fruit for your dog as natural supplementation. Of course, as with any other breed, you must first check which of these are allowed and which may be harmful to your pet’s health.
The best food for your Border Collie
The dietary rules for an adult Border Collie are similar to those for puppies. Proper supplementation, vitamins and minerals should be provided for the dog. Adult dogs also need a little less fat (from 12%) and protein (from 22%).
