Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Australian Shepherd Food Calculator
- Australian Shepherd Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Australian Shepherd. Australian Shepherd Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Australian Shepherd
- How Many Times to Feed the Australian Shepherd a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Australian Shepherd
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Australian Shepherd will make your Australian Shepherd overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Australian Shepherd.
Unfortunately, the Australian Shepherd is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Australian Shepherd and how much food you feed your Australian Shepherd.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Australian Shepherd, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Australian Shepherd.
The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is 9.0 years.
When you feed your Australian Shepherd the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Australian Shepherd will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Australian Shepherd is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Australian Shepherd.
When you underfeed your Australian Shepherd or feed your Australian Shepherd an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Australian Shepherd`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Australian Shepherd needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Australian Shepherd. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Australian Shepherd (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Australian Shepherd
- The body condition of your Australian Shepherd (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Australian Shepherd is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Australian Shepherd has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Australian Shepherd
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Australian Shepherd based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Australian Shepherd food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Australian Shepherd food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Australian Shepherd needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Australian Shepherd puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Australian Shepherd, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Australian Shepherd at different ages.
Australian Shepherd Food Calculator
The Australian Shepherd Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Australian Shepherd needs, check out our Australian Shepherd water calculator.
Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Australian Shepherd needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Australian Shepherd Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Australian Shepherd from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Australian Shepherd is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Australian Shepherd.
✔ Select your Australian Shepherd`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Australian Shepherd is overweight or underweight, and you want your Australian Shepherd to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Australian Shepherd for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Australian Shepherd is of normal weight.
To know how much Australian Shepherds typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on Australian Shepherd weight and growth.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Australian Shepherd Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Australian Shepherd.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Australian Shepherd needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Australian Shepherd to calculate your Australian Shepherd`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Australian Shepherd`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Australian Shepherd needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Australian Shepherd food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Australian Shepherd needs.
Monitoring Your Australian Shepherd`s Growth
The answer from the Australian Shepherd food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Australian Shepherd.
Start by feeding your Australian Shepherd the amount of food recommended by the Australian Shepherd food calculator every day.
While feeding your Australian Shepherd this daily amount of food, weigh your Australian Shepherd at least once a week to ensure that your Australian Shepherd is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Australian Shepherd is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Australian Shepherd`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Australian Shepherd grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Australian Shepherd body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Australian Shepherd body condition score here.
Australian Shepherd Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Australian Shepherd. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Australian Shepherd.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd, use this Australian Shepherd food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 12 weeks | 20.1 lbs (9.1 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
| 13 weeks | 22.0 lbs (10.0 kg) | 3.0 cups per day |
| 17 weeks | 28.9 lbs (13.1 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 18 weeks | 30.4 lbs (13.8 kg) | 2.6 cups per day |
| 5 months | 33.2 lbs (15.0 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 6 months | 38.0 lbs (17.2 kg) | 3.0 cups per day |
| 7 months | 41.8 lbs (19.0 kg) | 3.3 cups per day |
| 8 months | 44.8 lbs (20.3 kg) | 3.4 cups per day |
| 9 months | 47.2 lbs (21.4 kg) | 3.6 cups per day |
| 10 months | 49.0 lbs (22.2 kg) | 3.7 cups per day |
| 11 months | 50.4 lbs (22.8 kg) | 3.8 cups per day |
| 12 months | 51.3 lbs (23.3 kg) | 3.8 cups per day |
| 1 years | 52.0 lbs (23.6 kg) | 3.9 cups per day |
| 2 years | 53.3 lbs (24.2 kg) | 3.1 cups per day |
| 3 years | 53.3 lbs (24.2 kg) | 3.1 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Australian Shepherd
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Australian Shepherd. Australian Shepherd Feeding Guide
The Australian Shepherd has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Australian Shepherd at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Australian Shepherd needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Australian Shepherd should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Australian Shepherd the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Australian Shepherd dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Australian Shepherd grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Australian Shepherd Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Australian Shepherd puppy should be the type that will not make your Australian Shepherd fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Australian Shepherd puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Australian Shepherd puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Australian Shepherd Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Australian Shepherd Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Australian Shepherd: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Australian Shepherd should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Australian Shepherd should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Australian Shepherd getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Australian Shepherd should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Australian Shepherd
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Australian Shepherd: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Australian Shepherd: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Australian Shepherds: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Australian Shepherd food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Australian Shepherd below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Australian Shepherd: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Australian Shepherd: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Australian Shepherd`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Australian Shepherd
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Australian Shepherd, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed the Australian Shepherd
How Much Food to Feed a 15-Week-Old Australian Shepherd Puppy
You should feed your 15-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy 3.4 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Australian Shepherd puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 15-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 15-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 25.6 lbs (11.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Australian Shepherd, and other factors, use our Australian Shepherd food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 17-Week-Old Australian Shepherd Puppy
You should feed your 17-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy 2.5 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Australian Shepherd puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 17-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 17-week-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 28.9 lbs (13.1 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Australian Shepherd, and other factors, use our Australian Shepherd food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 9-Month-Old Australian Shepherd Puppy
You should feed your 9-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy 3.6 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Australian Shepherd puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 9-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 9-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 47.2 lbs (21.4 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed a 10-Month-Old Australian Shepherd Puppy
You should feed your 10-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy 3.7 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Australian Shepherd puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 10-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 10-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 49.0 lbs (22.2 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed a 6-Year-Old Australian Shepherd
You should feed your 6-year-old Australian Shepherd 3.1 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Australian Shepherd over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 6-year-old Australian Shepherd assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 6-year-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 53.3 lbs (24.2 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed a 10-Year-Old Australian Shepherd
You should feed your 10-year-old Australian Shepherd 3.1 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Australian Shepherd over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 10-year-old Australian Shepherd assumes that the weight of your Australian Shepherd is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 10-year-old Australian Shepherd puppy is 53.3 lbs (24.2 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed a 22-Pound Australian Shepherd
You should feed your 22-Pound Australian Shepherd 1.8 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Australian Shepherd over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Australian Shepherd is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Australian Shepherd is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Much Food to Feed a 51-Pound Australian Shepherd
You should feed your 51-Pound Australian Shepherd 3.4 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Australian Shepherd over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd also assumes that you feed your Australian Shepherd a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Australian Shepherd is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Australian Shepherd is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Australian Shepherd.
How Many Times to Feed the Australian Shepherd a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Australian Shepherd
One way is to make food available to the Australian Shepherd at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Australian Shepherd two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Australian Shepherds.
The third way is to make food available to your Australian Shepherd for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Australian Shepherd all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Australian Shepherd’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
|
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| Food-restricted feeding |
|
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| Time-restricted feeding |
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Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Australian Shepherd eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Australian Shepherd`s appetite for more food. Also, your Australian Shepherd`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Australian Shepherds because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Australian Shepherd should be reduced after you neuter your Australian Shepherd to prevent weight gain.
Use our Australian Shepherd food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Australian Shepherd.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Australian Shepherd Needs
Australian Shepherds that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Australian Shepherds that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Australian Shepherd needs. Hot weather only makes your Australian Shepherd need more water.
Since most Australian Shepherds live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Australian Shepherds based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Australian Shepherd needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Australian Shepherd needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Australian Shepherd.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Australian Shepherd table food, you fill your Australian Shepherd`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Australian Shepherd`s appetite and thereby make your Australian Shepherd unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Australian Shepherd`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Australian Shepherd table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Australian Shepherd.
