Best Dog Food For Border Collie Puppies
Choosing the best food for Border Collie puppy dogs becomes easier once you know exactly what to look for. The official breed club health statement says, like many medium-large breed dogs, Border Collies are prone to develop joint problems. Vision issues can also be present in this dog breed. For this reason, feed your Border Collie puppy a food that has added nutrients to support eye and joint health. Medium to large breed puppies can develop structural issues in adulthood if their growth in puppyhood isn’t carefully controlled.What does this mean for your pup?
Simply put, you want to choose a large breed puppy food formula that won’t let your puppy grow too fast. That might put extra pressure on bones, muscles, or joints. In some circles, the cut-off to define “large breed puppy” is 70+ pounds at maturity, but in other circles the cut-off is set at 50 pounds, which is what we will abide by for the purposes of this article. With these specific health concerns, also be to ask your veterinarian for specific dietary and supplement recommendations. Also, these nutrients can be useful if you find them in a high quality large breed puppy food recipe:- Glucosamine-Chondroitin
- Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, including DHA and EPA)
- Avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASUs)
- Antioxidants
- Lutein (a component in egg protein)
- Properly balanced calcium:phosphorus and protein:fat ratios (large breed puppy recipe)
Border Collie Food Requirements For Puppies
Unless your veterinarian specifically advises otherwise, the smartest approach when you first bring your Border Collie puppy home is to continue with the same feeding schedule and food brand the breeder was using. This will help your pup acclimate to his new home and family with the least stress and disruption. If you do want to switch your puppy’s food, wait at least four weeks. Then schedule the transition to occur over a week’s time. You can mix the old food in with the new food. Gradually shift the percentages until, by the end of the week, your puppy is eating only the new food. Most young puppies are fed at least three times per day during the weaning process. Starting around six months, a puppy may begin to eat twice per day. You may need to adjust portion sizes based on the number of feedings. Be sure your Border Collie is taking in sufficient calories.Border Collie Puppy Food Amount
When switching to a new food brand, always pay close attention to the manufacturer’s feeding instructions. They are typically based on your puppy’s age and/or weight. Border Collies as a breed have a long history of working alongside “their” people in farming, herding, hunting, and guarding. These dogs really thrive when they have a daily job to do and/or lots of daily activities and enrichment. As this article outlines, there is always a risk your Border Collie puppy may pack on the pounds if the food is too plentiful and the exercise outlets are too few. On average, an adult Border Collie will weigh between 30 and 55 pounds. Weight can vary from pup to pup based on parents, gender, birth order, diet, genetics, and other factors. For this reason, it can be smart to talk with your vet to establish your puppy’s ideal maintenance weight. Then work together to match the portion sizes per feeding to maintaining that weight as your pup grows up.Best Dry Border Collie Puppy Food
These three highly rated, popular, and trusted large breed dry puppy food brands each offer a balanced recipe for healthy, managed puppy growth.Science Diet
Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Puppy Food.*(paid link) This is a highly rated, vet-recommended large breed dry puppy food.Nutro Wholesome Essentials
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Puppy.*(paid link) This specially formulated, highly rated large breed puppy food contains naturally sourced glucosamine/chondroitin.Wellness Complete
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Large Breed Puppy Food.*(paid link) This large breed puppy food is highly rated by dog owners and their pups. This food offers a larger kibble that is easier for bigger puppies to chew. It has a base of salmon, chicken, and rice.Best Wet Border Collie Puppy Food
Wet Border Collie puppy food can add a valuable component to your growing puppy’s diet. The moisture content of wet food offers you a great way to ensure your puppy always stays hydrated. Also, since wet food is super tasty, it makes for a great training treat as well! Wet food ensures your puppy will get used to eating different textures. This can be helpful if you have to change dog food later in life. Since wet puppy food is typically served as a meal topper or treat, rather than as a stand-alone meal, just make sure the wet food you choose is high quality and that your vet approves.Merrick Classic
Merrick Classic Grain Free Canned Dog Food Puppy Plate.*(paid link) This grain free wet dog food features lots of yummy whole protein, superfoods, and added vitamins/minerals.Whole Earth Farms
Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Canned Dog Food Puppy Recipe.*(paid link) This grain free wet puppy food is served in a highly palatable loaf.Canidae
CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dog Wet Food for Puppies.*(paid link) This grain free limited ingredient diet wet puppy food is a perfect choice if your pup has suspected allergies or sensitive stomach issues.Best Food For Border Collie Puppies With Allergies
Opting to feed your Border Collie puppy a grain free puppy food can make sense in certain circumstances. For example, if your puppy begins to show signs of skin or food allergies, your veterinarian may want to try a grain free diet. This will eliminate known allergens like wheat, soy, and corn to see if the allergies abate. If you decide to adopt a grain free puppy diet, then each of these three trusted brands offers a great recipe to talk with your veterinarian about!Blue Wilderness
BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Puppy Dry Dog Food.*(paid link) This grain free puppy food is a special mix of kibble and LifeSource Bits.Instinct Raw Boost
Instinct Raw Boost Grain Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food Large Breed Puppy.*(paid link) This large breed puppy food recipe includes real freeze-dried raw chicken protein.Holistic Select
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food Large & Giant Breed Puppy.*(paid link) This natural puppy food is free from wheat, wheat gluten, fillers, meat by-products, and artificial ingredients.Best Food For Border Collie Puppies
We hope you have found this article on choosing the best food for Border Collie puppies helpful and informative as you select your new puppy’s food! Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.Related Articles
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Forrest Davis says
Border Collies are a Medium breed. All of these are for large breeds. SMH