Best dog food for an Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds were bred as working herding dogs and, even as family pets, most stay genuinely active well into adulthood, which makes their calorie and protein needs closer to an active or working-dog formula than a standard adult food designed around a more sedentary breed average.
Feeding a Australian Shepherd
A medium breed
An adult Australian Shepherd typically weighs 18–29 kg, so a healthy Australian Shepherd eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Australian Shepherds sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through a couple of hours of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
Mealtimes can do some of the work
A breed that struggles to settle on its own gets more out of a meal that takes effort — a lick mat, a snuffle mat or a puzzle feeder using part of the daily ration rather than extra food on top of it.
How much should a Australian Shepherd weigh?
Adult 18–29 kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 2.8–4.5 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 4.5–7.3 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 9–14.5 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 18–29 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Australian Shepherd
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Australian Shepherd's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Burns Adult/Senior Weight Control Chicken and Oats
A low-fat weight control dry food for adult and senior dogs, oat-based
£35.99
Simpsons Dog Sensitive Lamb Potato
A grain-free lamb and potato dry food for dogs with sensitive skin or digestion
From£17.05
Arden Grange Adult Dog Calming Turkey Sweet Potato
A grain-free complete turkey food with added L-tryptophan and chamomile
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
Why activity level matters more than breed size here
An Australian Shepherd getting real daily exercise — long walks, running, agility or working-style activity — burns noticeably more energy than a similarly sized dog living a quieter life, and a standard adult maintenance food can leave a genuinely active dog under-fuelled or losing condition over time. A working or performance-formulated food, with higher protein and fat content, is worth considering for a dog matching that activity level, rather than a generic medium-breed food chosen on size alone.
That said, not every Australian Shepherd living as a pet is exercised to a working standard, and a less active individual of the same breed does better on a standard adult formula matched to their actual output rather than their breed reputation — feeding for the dog in front of you, not the breed stereotype, is the more reliable approach either way.
What to check for beyond the protein number
A named meat as the first ingredient and a clear statement of suitability for adult, medium-sized, active dogs are the practical things to look for on the label. If your dog does genuinely demanding daily exercise, a higher-protein working or performance line is worth the switch; if their routine is closer to average, a standard good-quality adult food is entirely sufficient.
Coat and skin condition is also worth watching in this breed, since some Australian Shepherds carry a sensitivity that shows up as itching or a dull coat — if that's a recurring issue, a food formulated for skin and coat support, alongside a vet check to rule out other causes, is worth trying.
Common questions
- Do Australian Shepherds need a high-protein diet?
- Genuinely active or working individuals benefit from a higher-protein, working-dog-style formula to match their energy output. A less active dog of the same breed does fine on a standard good-quality adult food matched to their actual activity level.
- How much exercise does an Australian Shepherd need?
- As a working breed, they typically need substantially more exercise and mental stimulation than an average dog, though the specific amount varies with age, health and individual temperament. A vet or experienced trainer can help gauge what's right for your dog.
- Is grain-free food good for Australian Shepherds?
- There's no breed-specific reason to choose grain-free unless your individual dog has a diagnosed sensitivity. For most Australian Shepherds, a good quality food containing grain is perfectly suitable.
- What weight should an adult Australian Shepherd be?
- This varies with sex and individual build, so a vet check of body condition — feeling for ribs and checking for a visible waist — is a more reliable guide than a single target weight figure.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.