Australian Shepherds are intelligent, affectionate, active, protective, and overall well-behaved. This breed originated in California, United States, and is a descendant of herding breeds. Additionally, these dogs are curious and have a keen, penetrating gaze.
How much should a Australian Shepherd eat?
The amount of food an Australian Shepherd eats depends on the dog’s size, age, metabolism, build, and activity level. The recommended amount for an Australian Shepherd is 1.5 to 4 cups of high-quality and dry dog food two times a day. It should be divided equally into two meals a day.
Table of Contents
Australian Shepherds are energetic and love indulging in physical activities. As a result, they require high calories to retain their energy spent in various activities. Unlike other breeds, these dogs do not like being couch potatoes and will get bored if they do not have anything to do with their energy.
The amount of food an Australian Shepherd requires depends on age, metabolism, activity level, and build. If your dog is active during the day, it will need loads of calories, hence, lots of food. Therefore, all dogs do not have similar food requirements, and it is normal if your dog consumes less food than another.
Additionally, the quality of dog food you purchase for your Australian Shepherd also plays a crucial role in its food intake. High-quality dog foods will nourish your dog, make it healthier and help it grow strong. Also, such dog foods are rich in calories, and you will have to feed fewer amounts of them in every meal.
It is necessary to ensure that your Australian Shepherd is fit. Instead of leaving food out in the open for the whole day, feed it twice. There are several ways to check if your dog is overweight, and you can limit the food intake if that is the case.
2 to 3 week old Australian Shepherd:
Australian Shepherd puppies just 2 or 3 weeks old rely on their mother’s milk for nutrition and sustenance. It provides them with everything they need. If the mother is not around, you can feed it puppy milk formula. 3-week old puppies can have the puppy milk formula instead of their mother’s milk without any issues.
4 to 5 week old Australian Shepherd:
4 or 5-week-old Australian Shepherd puppies are old enough for you to begin the weaning process. They will grow teeth and make the suckling uncomfortable for the mother, so she will spend less time feeding her puppies. Also, you can expect the mother dog to regurgitate food for her puppies; nothing is alarming. Moreover, you will have to provide milk for the puppies, and you can start adding small amounts of crumbled dog food to the milk to get them used to having solid foods. You can start with about ½ a cup of protein-rich, premium dog food.
6 to 7 week old Australian Shepherd:
When your Australian Shepherd puppies have become 6 or 7 weeks old, you will have to feed them four times a day. You must evenly distribute a full cup of premium, protein-rich dog food across 4-meals in one day. Give them 4-meals in one day until they are 4-months old.
8 to 9 week old Australian Shepherd:
After reaching the age of 8 or 9 weeks old, you will have to decrease the number of meals they consume per day. It will go from 4 meals to 3 meals a day, and you will have to divide 1 1/2 cups of dog food across the 3-meals. The dog food should be of good quality. Otherwise, they will feel hungry after their meals and will grow up to be malnourished.
10 to 11 week old Australian Shepherd:
If you have Australian Shepherd puppies which are between 10 to 11 weeks old, you will have to feed them about 1.5 cups of dog evenly distributed across 3-meals a day. Each meal will have to provide about half a cup of dog food. As the puppy grows, the amount of food has to increase.
3 month old Australian Shepherd:
3-month-old Australian Shepherd puppies need to maintain a healthy weight. Feeding too much can lead the puppy to be overweight. Depending on the activity and other factors, a 3-month-old puppy will require about 1.5 to 2 cups of protein-rich dog food. If you believe your puppy is too skinny or overweight, do not hesitate to contact the local veterinarian for a checkup.
4 month old Australian Shepherd:
A 4-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy will still need to feed 3 to 4 times daily. Since the puppy is growing, it will need proper nutrition and sustenance. Therefore, you must purchase premium and protein-rich dog food for your puppies. You can continue feeding it 2 cups of dog food a day.
5 month old Australian Shepherd:
Puppies of the Australian Shepherd breed that are 5 months old should be fed 2 cups of dog food in one day. You can divide the 2 cups of dog food into 3-meals. Evenly spacing out the food will help it digest better because its digestive systems are delicate. Therefore, avoid overfeeding the puppy.
6 month old Australian Shepherd:
At 6 months, an Australian Shepherd puppy will consume 2 cups of dog food. You can provide it 2 meals if you want. However, most dog owners suggest providing 3 meals per day till they are adults. Puppies are very active and will get hungry throughout the day. So, providing meals 3 times a day will keep their energy levels high.
7 month old Australian Shepherd:
When the Australian Shepherd puppy is 7 months old, you must feed it more. You will have to provide around 2.5 cups of dog food per day. Additionally, you can still stick to giving meals 3 times a day. You can gradually switch from 3 to 2 times a day. But, do it slowly and give the puppy some time to adjust.
8 month old Australian Shepherd:
At 8 months old, an Australian Shepherd puppy will require about 3 cups of dog food to retain the energy spent on various physical activities. Moreover, as the puppy is close to becoming an adult, it will need more nourishment than before. So, food quantity needs to increase too.
9 month old Australian Shepherd:
For a 9-month-old Australian Shepherd you will have to feed it around 3.5 cups of protein-rich dog food. Purchase dog food from a reputable brand as it will benefit the puppy because it will receive the necessary proteins and nutrition it needs to become a healthy dog.
10 month old Australian Shepherd:
At 10 months old, an Australian Shepherd puppy will need about 4 cups of dog food. Dog food must be protein-rich for their developing muscles. From 10 months old, you can serve the puppy 2 meals a day, 2 cups each time. It will help increase energy and do different types of activities with you.
Here is a detailed list of how much you should expect an Australian Shepherd to eat as it gradually grows from a puppy to an adult. Additionally, buy dog foods from reputable brands as it will benefit the dog. Also, good quality dog foods have all the necessary ingredients and nutrition that a growing puppy requires.
Australian Shepherd feeding chart
For your convenience, we have prepared an Australian Shepherd feeding chart.
| Age | Expected dog weight (pounds) | Recommended amount of food per day (cups) | Daily calorie intake | Feeding frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 week | 2-5 | Milk | 75-125 | – |
| 3 week | 2-5 | Milk | 75-125 | – |
| 4 week | 2-5 | 0.5 | 75-125 | 1 |
| 5 week | 5-15 | 0.5 | 145-335 | 1 |
| 6 week | 5-15 | 1 | 145-335 | 4 |
| 7 week | 5-15 | 1 | 145-335 | 4 |
| 8 week or 2 months | 5-15 | 1.5 | 145-335 | 3 |
| 9 week | 15-25 | 1.5 | 335-490 | 3 |
| 10 week | 15-25 | 1.5 | 335-490 | 3 |
| 11 week | 15-25 | 1.5 | 335-490 | 3 |
| 12 week or 3 months | 15-25 | 1.5-2 | 335-490 | 3 |
| 4 months | 20-32 | 2 | 415-595 | 3 |
| 5 months | 25-39 | 2 | 490-690 | 3 |
| 6 months | 30-46 | 2 | 565-780 | 3 |
| 7 months | 35-52 | 2.5 | 635-855 | 3 |
| 8 months | 37-55 | 3 | 660-890 | 3 |
| 9 months | 38-58 | 3.5 | 675-930 | 2 |
| 10 months | 40-60 | 4 | 705-955 | 2 |
Follow the food chart above, and you will have a healthy dog growing up in your home.
Are you overfeeding your Australian Shepherd or not feeding enough?
Overfeeding an Australian Shepherd can make it overweight and lazy. As a result, you will see that the dog or puppy does not frequently participate in physical activities. So, you should not provide the puppy or dog with too much food and take it for 1 or 2 walks a day.
On the other hand, not feeding an Australian Shepherd enough food will cause it to feed burnt out and exhausted. The puppy or dog will not have enough strength to run around or do any physical activities and will mostly stay indoors. Insufficient dog food can result in the malnourishment of the puppy, and you will observe it looks skinnier than usual.
To check if your dog is overweight, look down at your puppy, and you will notice its waist. Then, place your hands on its back, keep your thumb on its spine, and the fingers spread downward. Slowly move your downs down, and you will be able to feel the ribs of the puppy, but if you cannot, it means it needs to participate more in activities, and you should provide less food.
How frequently to feed your Australian Shepherd?
The frequency of meals depends on the age of the dog. If you have an Australian Shepherd puppy, it will require meals 3 to 4 times a day. So, you must provide dog food for the puppy 3 or 4 times a day.
On the other hand, if you have an adult Australian Shepherd, you must provide it with 2 meals per day. However, the food quantity has to be more than that of a puppy since it requires more calories.
Recommended feeding time:
There is no recommended feeding time for an Australian Shepherd. You can provide meals once a day and another time during the night before it goes to sleep. However, the frequency of food depends on the age of the dog.
Most dog owners advise providing food at fixed times. This action helps the dog get used to meal times and will be able to maintain a routine. Additionally, it will allow the puppy or dog to get to know its owner better.
Final Thoughts
An Australian Shepherd’s recommended amount of food depends on age and several other factors, such as build and activity. Moreover, the dog food you purchase plays a crucial role in the frequency of meals per day. Buy from reputable brands to provide your dog with all the required nourishments.