Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding Border Collies.
In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Border Collie, how often to feed your Border Collie, when to feed your Border Collie, what foods to feed your Border Collie, what foods to avoid feeding your Border Collie, and other questions you may have about your Border Collie’s nutrition.
You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.
- Border Collie Nutritional Requirements
- Factors Affecting The Feeding of A Border Collie
- Border Collie Feeding Quantity
- Border Collie Feeding Frequency
- Border Collie Feeding Schedule
- The Kind of Food To Feed a Border Collie
- The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Border Collie
- When To Transition Your Border Collie From Puppy Food To Adult Food
- Why Your Border Collie Is Not Eating
- Why Your Border Collie Is Always Hungry
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Border Collies are dog breeds that were originally bred in Europe to herd sheep and round up stray agricultural animals. They can work 24/7, 365 days a year without losing their enthusiasm
Border Collies should be fed a premium, nutrient-rich dog food to help them maintain their vigor and boundless energy.
I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Border Collie for curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian.
Let’s jump into the article.
Border Collie Nutritional Requirements
Border Collies are medium sized dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.
Your Border Collie’s meal should primarily consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins to meet their nutritional requirements for a healthy lifestyle.
The large size of a Border Collie will require adequate and quality nutrients to maintain its body weight and strong bones to support its massive frame. Anything short of this can result in many health problems and prevent your dog from reaching its peak size.
Your Doberman Border Collie’s protein source must be animal protein like chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Their fat source can be fish oil or vegetables. Their source of fiber can come from wholesome, healthy vegetables like cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli.
Nutritional Requirement for a Border Collie Puppy
The diet of a Border Collie puppy should consist of 20–30% protein, 8–20% fat, and 4% fiber. Border Collie puppies are incredibly energetic and have a high metabolism. They grow very fast and will require quality nutrients to keep up. They require protein for building healthy muscles and minerals for strong bones; carbohydrates for energy; and fats for maintaining a healthy fur.
Nutritional Requirement for an Adult Border Collie
The meal plan for an adult Border Collie should consist of 18-30% protein, 15% carbohydrates, 5-20% fat, and 4% fiber. At this stage, Border Collie are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage, as Border Collie are prone to obesity and will develop health complications.
Nutritional Requirement For a Senior Border Collie
Your Border Collie is less active at this stage than at previous stages. Your pet’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 20% protein, 10% fat, and 2% fiber. Senior Border Collies will need more minerals and vitamins in their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.
Factors Affecting The Feeding of A Border Collie
Some factors will affect the diet of your Border Collie, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.
Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.
Size consideration
The average length of a Border Collie for males is 48–56 cm, and for females, it is 46–53 cm from the soles of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male Border Collie is 14–20 kg, and that of a female is 12–19 kg.
Male Border Collies are generally bigger than female Border Collies, which means that the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong.
Age consideration
Border Collie puppies will require more calories during their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs.
Adult Border Collies should not be fed more often than Border Collie puppies. The adults have a slow metabolism that can lead to stomach bloating and indigestion if they’re fed excessively.
Your senior Border Collie will be less active and require fewer calories than when they were younger. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems.
Activity Level
Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Border Collie away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.
You wouldn’t want to feed your Border Collie a meal high in fat and sodium, like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.
These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.
Health Consideration
Border Collies are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.
Some health issues that affect Border Collies include
- Joint problems.
- Eye problems.
- Genetic problems.
- Behavioural problems.
These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise.
It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Border Collie sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.
Border Collie Feeding Quantity
Your Border Collie, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need to meet their nutritional requirements.
On average, feed your Border Collie puppy 0.3 to 1.71 cups of food, feed your adult Border Collie 1.37 to 2.34Â cups per day, and feed your senior Border Collie 1.14 to 2 cups per day; based on their age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity..
I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.
How Much To Feed a Border Collie Puppy
For your puppy and adolescent Border Collie to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.
A Border Collie puppy should be given 0.3 to 1.71 cups of food per day that contains 124 to 684 kcal of nutrients, based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The feeding requirement of your Border Collie puppy is given in detail in the charts below:
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 2 months | 0.31 – 0.5 | 124 – 206 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 3 months | 0.45 – 0.68 | 179 – 274 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 4 months | 0.55 – 0.79 | 220 – 315 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 5 months | 0.68 – 0.92 | 274 – 370 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 6 months | 0.79 – 1.03 | 315 – 411 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 7 – 8 months | 0.86 – 1.3 | 343 – 520 | 20 – 22% | 8 – 20% |
| 9 – 12 months | 1.03 – 1.71 | 411 – 684 | 18 – 30% | 8 – 20% |
Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.
 How Much To Feed an Adult Border Collie
The nutritional requirements of an adult Border Collie differ from those of a puppy. The food of an adult Border Collie should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.
An adult Border Collie puppy should be given 1.37 to 2.34 cups of food per day that contain 479 to 820 kcal of nutrients, based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Border Collie and help you with their meal plan.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 1 – 6 years | 1.37 – 2.34 | 479 – 820 | 18 – 30% | 5 – 20% |
How Much To Feed a Senior Border Collie
Senior Border Collies are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.
Geriatric Border Collies are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.
Senior and geriatric Border Collie should be given 1.14 to 2 cups of food per day that contains 400 to 700 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.
The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for older Border Collie.
However, you must still ensure they get the essential nutrients.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 7 years and above | 1.14 – 2 | 400 – 700 | 20% | 10% |
You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you give your adult Border Collie, only in a smaller quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.
Border Collie Feeding Frequency
Your Border Collie’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Border Collie:
How Often Should You Feed a Border Collie Puppy?
•     During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
•     8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
•     4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals.
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
| 6 – 12 weeks | Three to four times a day |
| 12 weeks – 1 year | Three times a day |
| 1–7 years | Twice a day |
| 7 years and above | Once or twice a day |
How Often Should You Feed an Adult Border Collie?
You should feed your adult Border Collie twice a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.
How Often Should You Feed a Senior Border Collie?
You should feed your senior Border Collie two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.
Border Collie Feeding Schedule
•       Border Collie puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues
•     Adolescent Border Collies should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.
•     Adult and Senior Border Collies should also be fed in the morning and the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.
As a general rule, you should feed your Border Collie a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.
In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be heavily used as a reward when training your Border Collie.
| Age | Optimal Feeding Times |
| 6 – 12 weeks | 7:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 7:00 pm |
| 12 weeks – 1 year | 7:00 am, 1:00 pm, 7:00 pm |
| 1 – 7 years | 7:00 am, 7:00 pm |
| 7 years and above | 7:00 am or 7:00 pm if fed once a day; 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. if fed twice a day. |
The Kind of Food To Feed a Border Collie
The food you feed your Border Collie should specifically cater to medium sized breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.
The food to feed your Border Collie includes dry dog food, wet dog food, home-cooked food, and Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.
Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:
Dry Dog Food: Dry dog food, or kibble, is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein. Dry dog food is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
Wet Dog Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
Home-Cooked Diet: Â Â Â Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.
The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Border Collie
We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our Border Collie. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.
There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Border Collie because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.
Human food to avoid feeding your Border Collie includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.
The fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Border Collie include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.
You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.
When To Transition Your Border Collie From Puppy Food To Adult Food
You should transition your Border Collie puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.
Transitioning your adolescent Border Collie from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.
Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.
However, feeding your adult Border Collie puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.Â
| Day | Puppy Food | Adult Food |
| Day 1–2 | 75% | 25% |
| Day 3 – 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Day 5 – 6 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 7 – 8 | 0% | 100% |
Why Your Border Collie Is Not Eating
Your Border Collie will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:
Illness, dental problems, stomach sensitivity, changes in hormone levels, medication, constipation, time of day, spoiled food, anxiety, dehydration, stress
Border Collie can be picky eaters; one way to combat this is to make their food a mixture, like kibble mixed with some quantity of B.A.R.F. However, you should see the vet as soon as possible if your Border Collie consistently refuses to eat and drink.
Why Your Border Collie Is Always Hungry
Border Collie, like other large dog breeds, are big eaters. Other reasons may be a deficiency in some nutrients, learned behaviors, too much stress, or a lack of food training.
Excessive exercise will make your dog’s body burn faster, thus making them hungry after such exercises. Worms could be another reason your dog is always hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Border Collies eat a lot?
Border Collies eat a lot, but this should not be encouraged as they are prone to obesity, which can cause a host of health issues in your dogs. This is why proper feeding and a schedule need to be in place to train your dog.
Can Border Collies become vegetarians?
As a whole, Border Collies can live on a vegetarian diet as long as their diet consists of enough nutrients, proteins, fats, and calories to meet their nutritional requirements.
However, you should consult a pet nutritionist or veterinarian to plan a vegan diet for your dog breed to prevent health complications that can arise from an uncertain practice.
Can Border Collies eat bones?
Border Collies can eat bones as they contain a great deal of minerals that meet their nutritional requirements. Also, eating bones will strengthen your teeth and gums as well as improve dental hygiene.
However, you should follow some guidelines laid down by the American Kennel Club before giving bones to your Border Collie. One of the guidelines is to throw away the raw meat bones given to your furry friend after three to four days.
What human food can I feed my Border Collie?
You can feed your Border Collie different types of human foods, such as beef, chicken, pork, turkey, salmon, tuna, and eggs. They can also eat noodles, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, unsalted peanuts, parsnips, and other foods such as rice and pasta, yogurt, cheese, and peanut butter.
What fruits and vegetables can I feed my Border Collie?
Border Collies can eat many types of fruits, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, raspberries, peaches, mangoes, pears, blueberries, plums, melon, pineapple, oranges, and kiwi fruit. They can also eat vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, peas, corn, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, and more.Â
Should You Give Your Border Collie Supplements?
Your Border Collie doesn’t need to be given supplements if you feed them a commercial diet that meets its nutritional requirements. However, you may need to feed them supplements if you feed them home-cooked meals as recommended by your vet or dog nutritionist.
Final Thoughts
Making sure your Border Collie is properly fed and receiving all the nutrients they require to grow strong and healthy is an essential aspect of taking excellent care of them.
The nutritional requirement of a puppy is different from those of a Border Collie, and if your Border Collie is like most of them, they seem to enjoy anything they are fed.
Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Border Collie as puppies, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they go on. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.
However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Border Collie, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.Â
