How Much To Feed A Border Collie Puppy? Border Collie Feeding Chart
When you adopt a Border Collie puppy, it is incredibly important to know how much to feed a Border Collie puppy.
As a new pet owner, it can be hard to know off-hand whether you are overfeeding your puppy or underfeeding your puppy without some guidance from our Border Collie feeding chart.
You likely also have a lot of other questions about feeding your puppy, including the type of food that he should be eating, how often you should feed your puppy, and even know whether certain foods are bad for your puppy.
We have the answers to all of your questions about feeding your Border Collie puppy.
How Much Should A Border Collie Puppy Eat?
Puppies need food to grow and get strong and to keep them active throughout the day. So how much to feed a Border Collie puppy? Your puppy should be fed often during the day.
You can start by giving him 4-6 meals per day, and gradually reduce the meals to 2-3 small meals per day by the time he reaches 6 months.
If you take into consideration that a 20-pound puppy needs about 700 calories per day, you can consult the manufacturer’s recommendation to see what volume of food you need to feed your puppy.
Border Collie Feeding Chart
Border Collie puppies need puppy food. Since Border Collies are medium-sized dogs, they will thrive on dogfood formulas specifically developed for medium-sized dogs.
Since Border Collies are highly active and energetic, they need food high in nutrients that can give them lots of energy. Because they are active and constantly on the move, these dogs can develop bone problems, so they need special formulas that will protect their bones.
Small puppies should be fed 4 – 6 small meals a day.
2 Week Old Border Collie Puppy
A 2-week-old puppy should not be taken away from its mother. Let matters take their natural course as Mother Nature knows best.
After all, at this stage, the puppy’s eyes are only starting to open and he can’t see properly yet.
The puppy’s mother is very caring and only leaves her puppies to eat or to do her toilet. Otherwise, she will continuously lick her offspring, even his bottom, so at this stage, you don’t have to clean up after the puppy.
4 Week Old Border Collie Puppy
At four weeks, puppies begin to cut their back teeth. It is time to wean them off the mother and start giving puppy food. Let the puppy still drink from his mother a few times a day, but start supplementing the mother’s milk with puppy food.
At this stage, you might notice that the mother regurgitates her dinner for her puppies. Don’t be alarmed, this is quite normal.
6 Week Old Border Collie Puppy
By six weeks, your puppy has grown enough to enjoy running around and playing. He becomes noisy and starts to bark while playing with his siblings, even taking a bite here and there.
By this time, he is also completely weaned off his mother and should be eating 5-6 small meals of puppy food every day. At this stage, the puppy might still want to suckle, but you’ll notice that the mother has lost interest by this time.
8 Week Old Border Collie Puppy
At two months a Border Collie puppy will weigh anywhere between 1.6 and 3.6 kg. This is the ideal time to fetch your puppy from the vet as he is ready for the transition to a new home.
You can feed your puppy 1 ½ cups of dog food spread over three meals. Your puppy is now in the prime of his puppy life as a puppy.
12 Week Old Border Collie Puppy
Your puppy is now an adult dog and should get three small meals of dog food for adult collies. You can feed your dog 1 ½ cups of dog food spread over three meals.
This is also when a young adult dog learns about fear and needs to be socialized thoroughly. This is also the time to start house training in all seriousness.
A 12-week-old Border Collie is also ready for his first vaccinations. By this time your young dog has learned where he fits into his pack.
How Many Calories Does A Border Collie Puppy Need
To begin with, let’s go over how many calories your Border Collie puppy actually needs. To work this out, you will need to know how to calculate your puppy’s RER, or his Resting Energy Requirement.
Your dog’s RER is the amount of calories or energy that your dog’s body needs to operate all of the essential functions like his heart and brain.
To calculate your dog’s RER, you will need to take your puppy’s weight in kilograms and multiply it to the three-fourths power by 70.
Then, if your puppy is under 4 months old, you will multiply that number by 3 and if your puppy is between 4 and 12 months, you will calculate that by 2. The number you get is the amount of daily calories your puppy needs.
So, if your 3 month-old puppy is 10 kilograms (22 pounds), your puppy will need 1200 calories a day. If you have a 5 month-old puppy who is 10 kilograms, your puppy will need 800 calories a day.
Best Food For Border Collie Puppies
Editor’s Choice
#1. Purina ONE SmartBlend Puppy Dog Food
The main ingredient in Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Puppy Food is chicken, which is fortified with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. The recipe also includes high-quality ingredients like rice and oatmeal.
This special dog food, recommended by vets, combines meaty bits with crunchy kibble for a special taste and texture.
This dog food formula was created to exclude all fillers and includes quality nutrition so it won’t give your dog indigestion.
A blend of zinc, selenium, and vitamins A and E ensure a strong immune system, while minerals like calcium and phosphorus ensure strong bones, and omega-6 fatty acids ensure healthy skin and a glossy coat.
#2. VICTOR Select Nutra Pro Puppy Dog Food
VICTOR Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food is made according to a nutrient-dense formula high in proteins and low in carbs to provide sustained energy for this active breed. This formula is also suitable for growing puppies.
The formula is composed of 92% meat protein derived from the chicken as well as gluten-free carbs. In addition, this nutrient-dense formula contains, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids.
All the ingredients used in this recipe are formulated to promote a healthy immune and digestive system, which includes prebiotics and probiotics.
The manufacturer sources all ingredients, including vitamins and minerals, within the United States.
The kibble is a dark-brown color and results in stools that are dark but not runny.
#3. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food is made with healthy ingredients like chicken meal and barley, and without any artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives
This nourishing dog food is formulated to support healthy brain, eye, and skeletal development, and to provide support for a healthy immune system.
It is specially formulated for puppies up to 1 year of age as well as pregnant or nursing dogs. It is easy to digest and consists of small kibble, ideal for growing puppies.
This is a very nutrient-rich formula that contains everything a growing dog needs.
#4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is packed with quality protein derived from real chicken needed for strong and healthy muscles.
This formula contains essential ingredients like taurine that boosts a puppy’s cognitive and eye health.
This nutritious formula also has fatty acids for a healthy coat as well as vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to ensure excellent growth and development. The formula contains no grains, corn, wheat, soy, or meat by-products.
The manufacturer makes use of LifeSource Bits, which is a targeted blend of antioxidants, vitamins and, minerals to ensure a healthy immune system.
#5. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dog Food
American Journey contains real, deboned salmon providing the protein and amino acids a dog needs to develop lean muscles. Other ingredients include sweet potatoes and chickpeas to provide energetic collies with enough calories to keep on the move.
And that’s not all. Fruits and vegetables like blueberries and carrots, as well as dried kelp, provide puppies with the necessary fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.
The formula also contains omega fatty acids, including DHA, derived from the salmon as well as flaxseed. All of this supports the development of the brain and eyes and the maintenance of healthy skin and coat.
This recipe is grain-free and soy-free, which makes the food more digestible for dogs.
Feeding Your Border Collie Puppy Raw Food
The raw food diet has come up more and more frequently in recent years. It has pros and cons for your Border Collie puppy:
Pros:
- Better for cut health
- Much fewer health conditions will be developed
- Helps manage existing health issues
- Keeps your dog at a healthy weight
Cons:
- Bacteria can develop in raw foods
- Costs a lot more money
- Raw bones are a choking hazard
- Humans can become sick from it
You will need to pay attention to the frequency that you are feeding certain foods. Dogs do need to eat the bones that come with the raw meat, but you need to have a good balance between bones and fat, so rotate the types of meat you are feeding your dog.
Should You Feed Your Border Collie Puppy Dry Or Wet Food?
The dry versus wet food debate is common among all pet owners. The truth is that there are some pros and cons to both types of foods.
Dry Food is:
- More cost-effective
- Better for their teeth
- Contains fewer calories
Wet Food is:
- Better tasting and more appetizing
- More expensive
- Can rot dog’s teeth if not brushed
You should be feeding your puppy dry kibble unless he has underlying health issues or you need him to gain weight. Some Border Collies are fussy with their food, so you might need to mix the wet and dry food to make it more appetizing.
Can You Free Feed A Border Collie Puppy?
Free feeding is the idea that you can put out your dog’s daily allotment of food at the beginning of the day and the dog can come and graze his food as he wishes.
While the idea seems simple, you should not do that for your Border Collie puppy.
In all likelihood, your Border Collie will go ahead and eat all of his meals of food in one meal, leaving him starving at the end of the day.
It is better to control how much your puppy is getting at each meal and be able to know whether he is eating all of the food at each meal.
What Human Foods Can A Border Collie Puppy Eat
Of course, dog food is our go-to when it comes to feeding your Border Collie puppy, but it is not the only type of food that he can eat. There are plenty of human foods that your Border Collie can safely eat that will add variety and balance to his diet.
- Chicken: real chicken is a great source of protein
- Eggs: eggs are also full of healthy protein for your puppy
- Peanut Butter: this is a tried and true food to convince your dog to take medicine or use as a filler in toys. Also full of protein
- Green Beans: these supply added vitamins and minerals
What Human Foods Are Dangerous For A Border Collie Puppy
It is also important to know which foods are dangerous to your Border Collie puppy. There are many human foods to avoid.
- Garlic
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Grapes/Raisins
- Avocado
- Fruit Pits
- Onions/Chives
- Raw Potatoes
All of these foods are poisonous to your dog. Some may not be fatal upon digesting, but since you have a puppy, it can cause them serious harm to their health.
Keep these foods locked away where your puppy cannot snoop. If you have children, also make sure the children do not accidentally give your puppy any of those foods.
How Much Do Border Collies Grow Each Week?
A small puppy quickly doubles his birth weight and by 6 weeks he has usually quadrupled his birth weight.
This breed is highly active, so that plays a role in how fast Border Collies gain weight. The weight gain also depends on the food that the puppy gets to eat.
If the food is highly nutritious and high in calories, weight gain might be quite fast. If the food is not very nutritious, the puppy might struggle to gain weight.
On average puppies gain about 2 to 4 pounds a week until roughly 14 weeks of age. At that stage, a puppy doesn’t grow so fast anymore. He will gain about a pound a week until he’s 6 months old.
Keep in mind that these are average figures.
Switching From Border Collie Puppy Food To Adult Food
You might wonder when it is time to switch from puppy food to adult food for your Border Collie.
Border Collies become adult dogs by the time they turn one year old. This is the time when owners usually start their 12-month-old puppies on dog food for adult dogs.
But don’t do this in one go. Transition your dog to his new food over time. Initially, give him roughly ¾ portion of his old food and ¼ portion of new food.
Do that for a day or two and watch your dog’s reaction. If he eats it all up, you can give him half/half for a day or two. If he’s doing well at this point you can start giving him his new food exclusively.
Keep in mind that if your puppy is underweight, you might want to continue him on his puppy food until he’s in a better condition. Remember, some dogs grow slower.
What If My Border Collie Puppy Won’t Eat
Sometimes a dog will refuse food. This can be due to stress or an underlying health issue. Collies are sensitive dogs and they can get stressed for a number of reasons.
Collies need a lot of exercise and if they don’t get it for days on end, they will become stressed. They thrive on interaction with their human family and if that is missing, they might refuse food.
If that’s not the reason, and you are sure your dog is not stressed for some reason, take him to be seen by your vet. You probably don’t need to schedule an appointment if your dog refuses food once, but if he refuses food for two days straight, you want to have him examined.
It might also be that he simply doesn’t enjoy the brand of food you’re feeding him. If he looks healthy and lively, try another brand of dog food, before you call the vet.
What Nutrients Does A Border Collie Puppy Need?
A Border Collie needs protein to develop strong muscles. This is generally derived from chicken and fish.
They also need healthy carbs derived from foods like sweet potatoes and chickpeas to provide them with enough calories so they can run around as much as they like.
To build a strong immune system, they require vitamins, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.
The formula should also contain omega fatty acids for the development of the brain and eyes and maintaining healthy skin and a glossy coat. These nutrients are derived from salmon and flaxseed.
For a healthy digestion system, they need prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber.
Should You Feed A Border Collie Puppy Supplements?
Border Collie puppies need just the right amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, fats carbohydrates, and omega fatty acids to reach and maintain top condition.
They can do with extra calcium since they are so active and use their legs continuously. Also, they need about twice as many calories as adults.
That might convince you that your puppy needs supplements. However, that is highly unlikely with today’s vast range of quality dog food brands available.
The dog food brands discussed earlier in this post are specifically developed for growing puppies. If you choose a quality brand for your puppy he shouldn’t need any supplements.
How Much Water Should A Border Collie Puppy Drink?
You don’t have to worry about the water intake of a puppy that is still nursing. They get enough hydration from their mother’s milk.
However, when a puppy starts eating solid food you must make sure he drinks enough water. You can give your young puppy about one-half cup of water every two hours.
As soon as your puppy grows older, he will need more water. The general rule is roughly ½– 1 ounce of water for every pound of body weight.
So if your puppy weighs 10 pounds, you must give him 5 to 10 ounces of water a day.
How Much Exercise Does A Border Collie Puppy Need A Day?
Border Collies need plenty of exercise every day. These dogs are for families who enjoy being outdoors and have a large garden for them to play and run in when they are not out for walks.
A full-grown collie will need at least two hours exercise every day. But note, that is really the minimum. In reality, they more exercise.
A puppy will naturally get enough exercise as they are naturally active. If you don’t restrict them they will just keep running around.
You need to play with your puppy. Make sure you have plenty of toys for him and invest in a puzzle feeder – they love those.
You can throw balls or other items for your puppy to fetch and generally give him a reason to run. Once a day won’t be enough, though. When you notice your dog getting restless, it’s time to play with him for a while.
