Best puppy food for an Australian Shepherd
An Australian Shepherd puppy is growing towards a medium-to-large, athletic adult built for sustained activity, and that combination — real size plus genuinely high future energy demands — makes the puppy stage worth getting right with a properly formulated medium-to-large breed puppy food, rather than a generic one chosen without checking the label.
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 controlled growth matters for this breed
As with any breed heading towards a reasonable adult size, an Australian Shepherd puppy benefits from a growth rate that isn't pushed too fast, since rapid early growth puts more strain on developing joints than a slower, steadier pace does. A medium-to-large breed puppy formula is generally formulated with a calcium and phosphorus balance intended to support that steadier growth, rather than maximise early weight gain.
This matters even more for a breed that's likely to be genuinely active as an adult — sound joint development during the growth phase sets up how well those joints hold up under real exercise later on, which for a working-bred breed like this one is likely to be considerably more than an average dog's routine.
What to check on the label
A puppy food labelled for medium or large breeds, with a named meat as the first ingredient and feeding guidance matched to your puppy's actual current weight rather than their expected adult size, is the sensible standard to look for. Overfeeding a puppy in anticipation of the size they'll eventually reach is one of the more common ways owners inadvertently push growth faster than is ideal.
Several small meals a day, tapering in frequency as your puppy matures, generally suits growing puppies better than one or two large feeds — check the specific food's guidance or ask your vet for timing suited to your individual puppy.
Common questions
- How long should an Australian Shepherd stay on puppy food?
- Medium-to-large breeds generally need a growth formula for longer than small breeds, often into much of their first year or beyond, since their frame keeps developing for longer. Check your specific food's guidance and your vet's advice rather than switching on a fixed date.
- Do Australian Shepherd puppies need extra joint supplements?
- Not automatically. A properly formulated medium-to-large breed puppy food is designed to support healthy joint development on its own, and adding supplements on top without a specific reason should be discussed with a vet first.
- How much should I feed an Australian Shepherd puppy?
- This depends on their current weight, age and the specific food's calorie density, so the feeding guide on the bag — checked against your puppy's actual weight, not their expected adult size — is the right starting point.
- When can an Australian Shepherd puppy start more strenuous exercise?
- Growing joints need protecting from high-impact or prolonged strenuous exercise until they're fully developed, and the right timing varies by individual dog, so it's worth checking with your vet before starting anything demanding like running alongside a bike or extended off-lead activity.
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.