How Much To Feed A Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

There is a lot of anxiety associated with adopting a mini Australian Shepherd. We all want the very best for our puppies, which includes knowing how much to feed a mini Australian Shepherd.

Working out the right amount of food is tricky. Part of it is knowing how much food his age group needs to be healthy, another part is knowing how many calories the puppy food has.

There is also the huge variable that a puppy’s needs change vastly depending on where he is at in his growth.

We have broken down the food needs of a mini Australian Shepherd to help you know what to do.

How Much Should A Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy Eat?

The ultimate question is how much should a mini Australian puppy eat? The answer is that it depends. It depends on your puppy’s individual needs, including his age, his size, his activity level, and the type of food that you are giving him.

At 3 months old, mini Australian Shepherds often eat somewhere between 2/3 cups and 2 cups of food a day, divided 3 meals.

Around 5 months, a puppy should get somewhere between 1 ¾ cups and 3 1/3 cups of food a day, decreasing slightly between 6 and 8 months old. The range depends on the size of your dog.

Mini Australian Shepherd Feeding Chart

When you are reviewing a mini Australian Shepherd feeding chart, you may be wondering whether your puppy fits within the average.

It can be helpful to know what your puppy’s caloric needs are. To know this, you need to calculate your puppy’s RER, or resting energy requirements.

To find your puppy’s RER, you need to multiply your puppy’s weight in kilograms to the three-fourths power by 70. Under the age of 4 months, puppies need 3 times the calculated RER.

Between 5 months and 12 months, puppies need double. If a puppy is 22 pounds at 4 months old, he will need 1200 calories per day.

2 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

When a mini Aussie is 2 weeks old, he will be solely reliant upon his mother. Puppies will start to open their eyes when they are 2 weeks old, and will move about some, but in general, they will not leave their mother’s side.

They will get to drink as much mother’s milk as the mother will permit them to, feeding on demand.

If a puppy has been separated from his mother at this young age, you will need puppy formula to make up for the lack of mother’s milk that he is receiving.

4 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

At 4 weeks old, a mini Aussie puppy will be beginning to roam more from his mother, but he should still be with his mother. They should not separate the puppy yet.

Therefore, he will still be solely reliant on his mother’s milk. You can introduce him to puppy kibble at this age, but it may be too early and he may not be interested.

If you do offer him some, just place a small amount on the ground and see if the puppy shows any interest. He will not be weaned yet, so it is just to see what he thinks at this point.

6 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

When a mini Aussie has reached 6 weeks old, he should have some puppy kibble in his diet, but may still also be reliant on his mother’s milk.

If he has not weaned at 6 weeks old, you may notice that the mother begins to inch away from the puppies more and more, giving herself space and encouraging the puppies to wean at the same time.

Set out about a quarter of a cup of kibble 4 times a day to see whether the puppy has an interest in it. He should begin to be more interested in the kibble at this point.

8 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

Since 8 weeks is generally the age when puppies are rehomed, a puppy at this age should be totally weaned from his mother’s milk and be reliant on kibble for his calories and nutrition.

He may not eat much, only a cup a day, but it should be divided into 4 equal meals for him to work from. Don’t be surprised if the puppy is not as hungry as you would expect if he moved in with you this week.

He will need some time to adapt to his new environment before getting really comfortable.

10 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

At the age of 10 weeks old, your puppy should have an increase in appetite. You should be feeding him 1 to 2 cups in a total of food per day, divided into 4 equal amounts.

Puppies burn a lot of calories quickly, so feeding them more frequently will help with growth and digestion and prevent them from seeking out alternative foods if they find that they are not satiated with the food that they had.

If you have a bigger mini Aussie, he may need more food, so watch his weight and size for any concerning changes.

12 Week Old Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy

At 12 weeks old, your mini Aussie should still be on the puppy kibble and should remain on it until he is about a year old. He will be growing faster at 12 weeks and will be hungry.

Depending on his size, you should be feeding your mini Aussie anywhere from 2 to 3 ½ cups of food, depending on his size.

You can reduce his meals down to just 2 to 3 times a day at this point, but still more than once a day is important for his growth and continued development. Make sure that you can feel, not see his ribs.

Best Puppy Dog Food For Mini Australian Shepherds

Editor’s Choice

#1. Nutro Ultra Puppy Dry Dog Food

Our choice for the best puppy food for a Mini Australian Shepherd is the Nutro Ultra Puppy Dry Dog Food. This is a superfood combination recipe that includes chicken, lamb, and salmon.

The food does not have any corn, wheat, or soy, but does come with targeted levels of protein and fat to encourage proper growth. This is really made with the puppy in mind, helping with overall development.

Pros

Farm-raised chicken
No corn, wheat, or soy
Easily digested
Natural ingredients
Packed with antioxidants

Cons

Mostly allergen-free, but it does contain chicken, which can be an allergen.

Runner-Up

#2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula

Our second-place winner for the best food for a mini Aussie puppy is the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula.

Made with only quality ingredients this food has everything that your puppy needs to become a healthy grown up.

The food is full of important nutrition, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and both DHA and ARA which help with brain and eye development, setting your pup up for a long and healthy life.

Pros

No corn, wheat, or soy
Rich in fatty acids
No by-product meals
Both DHA and ARA for healthy brain development
Full of calcium and phosphorus for bone growth

Cons

We didn’t find any

#3. Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy

Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy is another great option for mini Australian Shepherds. This food is made with farm-raised chicken with peas and carrots mixed in.

The taste and texture of this food is also popular with puppies, making them more excited to eat something that is good for them.

It is full of good protein, with 29 grams in each cup. Finally, it does have DHA to support your puppy’s brain development.

Pros

The first ingredient is farm-raised chicken
Bite-sized kibble
Appealing taste
DHA for brain health
29 grams of protein in each cup

Cons

Contains the most common allergens

#4. American Journey Lamb and Sweet Potato Recipe Puppy

If you are looking for puppy food that is easier on the wallet, we suggest the American Journey Puppy food that is made with lamb and sweet potato. This food is nutritious and contains fruits and vegetables like blueberries, kelp, and carrots.

The first ingredient in this food is deboned lamb, followed by chicken, and turkey and the food has 30% minimum crude protein.

Pros

Contains no corn, soy, or wheat
High protein
Fruits and vegetables
Has DHA which are good for brain and eye development
Uses nutrient-dense ingredients

Cons

Does contain chicken meal

#5. Wellness Complete Health Puppy

The final puppy food that we will suggest for a Mini Aussie puppy is the Wellness Complete Health. This puppy food is free from corn, wheat, and soy, and has no by-products or fillers.

The food really is a high fiber diet and rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. The Omega-3s really encourage brain health and development as well as helping boost the immune system. The ingredients are all of high quality as well.

Pros

No animal by-products
No corn, wheat, or soy
Includes quality ingredients
High fiber diet
Omega-3 fatty acids

Cons

Puppies seem less excited by the taste of this food than others

2 Month Old Mini Aussie Puppy Weight

At 2 months old, the average mini Australian Shepherd will weigh about 7 pounds. The thing with this breed is that they are smaller Australian Shepherds, but they can also be just as large as standard Aussies, or they can be smaller.

Average weight at this point is only the middle of where the majority is at, which means they are across the board with different sizes. Since puppies are rehomed at this age, there may be a pause in growth before a growth spurt.

3 Month Old Mini Aussie Puppy Weight

If your mini Aussie is 3 months old, you can estimate that your mini Aussie should weigh about 12 pounds, with a lot of give and take surrounding the “normal” weight.

They will begin growing very quickly at this age, with some dogs reaching adulthood at 6 months, while others will continue growing a little while longer. It is still a time of growth for them, so watch out for voracious appetites.

4 Month Old Mini Aussie Puppy Weight

When a mini Australian Shepherd has reached 4 months old, he is about half of his adult weight. Gender is not a big factor in their final weight with this breed.

On average, a 4-month old mini Aussie will weigh between 15 and 20 pounds, so you can estimate that a final weight for your dog will be between 30 and 40 pounds.

Remember that weights vary with this breed, so you could have a puppy who still weighs 10 pounds at 4 months.

Understanding Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs

It is obvious, but puppies are not the same as adult dogs. They have different nutritional requirements in order to be healthy.

They do have similar nutritional needs to most other dogs, including at least 18% protein and 5% fats.

Remember that it is a busy breed, so they will need to be able to eat food that gives them enough energy to act the way that they need to.

They do not need grains and fillers. Instead, stick with real ingredients like deboned chicken, and fruits and vegetables and avoid foods with grains as a first ingredient.

Kibble vs Wet Food For Mini Aussie Puppies

Dogs, in general, are going to want wet food over kibble any day. Wet food smells more like meat and is simply more appetizing, but it is not always the right choice. Ideally, feeding your mini Aussie kibble is a better way to go.

Wet food is higher in calories, higher in price, and more likely to cause dental issues as the dog ages. Kibble can help keep the pup’s teeth cleaner and is far more cost-effective.

It is best to stick with kibble unless your pup is having other troubles and it has been recommended by the vet.

How Much Do Mini Aussie Puppies Grow Each Week?

If you are looking at your puppy and wondering how much he could possibly grow each week, we have an answer for you.

While it is not perfect, on average, a puppy can gain about a pound a week while he is in the major growth spurt, but that will fluctuate a lot as the puppy jumps developmental stages.

There will be some instances where the pup may not grow much week to week as it is still a small dog breed.

Switching From Puppy Food To Adult Food

When your puppy reaches maturity, it is time to switch your puppy from puppy food to adult food. This usually happens around 12 months of age and it should not be done too quickly.

When it is time to change your puppy’s food, you will want to do it slowly over several days. The first day, you will add 25% of adult food to the mix, reducing the puppy food by 25%.

Continue to switch the puppy food for adult food gradually until the puppy is just eating adult food.

What If My Mini Australian Shepherd Won’t Eat?

Puppies generally have voracious appetites so it can be disconcerting when it seems like they are suddenly not eating. But, it might not be a cause for concern.

If you have recently adopted a puppy, it might take him some time to be comfortable enough to eat regularly. If you have changed foods as well, it may take time to build up your puppy’s appetite with the new food.

You can always consult with your vet about any food worries that you have.

Can You Free feed A Mini Aussie Puppy?

Free feeding is the process where you place a dog’s allotment of food out at the beginning of the day, allowing your dog to eat the food gradually throughout the day.

This is a good option for toy dogs that have a tendency to have low blood sugar, but this is not the right option for mini Australian Shepherds.

Puppies need to be fed frequently and when you give your dog’s food all at once, he will eat the whole amount of food immediately, overeating and then being hungry for the rest of the day. Instead, opt for three equal meals a day.

Should You Feed A Mini Aussie Puppy Supplements?

Since we only want the best for our dogs, it makes sense that we would try anything to keep them healthy. This may mean that we have the urge to try some supplements on the puppies.

The issue is that the word supplement means it is helping to supply a nutrient that is missing. A healthy puppy with a balanced diet should not need supplements.

If you feel like your dog’s diet is missing something, always ask your vet before giving your puppy supplements. You could wind up overdosing him in a nutrient and make him sick.