How much to feed an Australian shepherd
An Australian shepherd is a medium-to-large herding breed built for a genuinely active working life, and how much one needs to eat depends far more on their actual activity level than a simple weight-based chart can capture — a working or highly active Aussie can need noticeably more food than a similarly sized dog living a quieter life. Start from the feeding guide on your chosen food and adjust from there based on body condition, rather than a single fixed number.
Why activity level matters more than usual for this breed
Australian shepherds were bred to work all day herding livestock, and that heritage shows up in how much energy many of them still carry even as pets — a genuinely active Aussie getting long daily exercise and mental stimulation can burn noticeably more calories than a moderately active dog of the same size. This is exactly why a one-size weight-based feeding chart falls short for the breed.
The practical answer is to treat the feeding guide on the packet as a starting range tied to the dog's weight, then move up or down within reason based on how active your particular dog actually is and how their body condition looks and feels, rather than trying to find one correct number.
Reading body condition rather than a scale
You should be able to feel your Australian shepherd's ribs with light pressure without them being visibly sticking out, and see a waist tucking in behind the ribs when viewed from above. A dog who is gaining weight steadily on their current amount needs less; one who feels ribby and is losing condition without illness needs more.
This matters particularly for a working or very active Aussie, since energy needs can shift noticeably with the seasons or with changes in exercise routine, and checking body condition regularly catches that shift faster than waiting for a scale to confirm it.
Life stage changes the picture too
A growing Australian shepherd puppy needs a food formulated for growth, typically fed in three to four smaller meals a day while young, dropping to two as they approach adult size, usually somewhere around 12 to 18 months for a medium-large breed. Working and sporting-line Aussies with genuinely high activity levels sometimes suit foods formulated for active or working dogs, with a higher calorie density per meal.
As a dog ages and activity naturally drops off, the same amount of food that suited them as a younger adult can start to add weight, so reassessing body condition every few months, rather than only when a problem becomes obvious, keeps feeding matched to what the dog is actually doing day to day.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
Burgess Supadog Adult Complete Dog Active
Complete dry food for active adult dogs, built around poultry meal and calcium for bone health
£29.15
Breederpack Working Dog
Complete dry food for adult working dogs, 22% protein, mixed-shape crunchy kibble.
£18.99
Alpha Working Dog Grain Free Lamb & Potato
A grain-free lamb and sweet potato dry food for adult working dogs, with no added soya or dairy.
£45.00
Taylors Adult & Senior Working Dog Grain Free Chicken
Grain-free complete food for working dogs, chicken-based, in a 12kg sack
£39.99
Webbox Complete Beef
Webbox Working Dog Beef complete dry food, 2kg, with 21.5% protein and 10% fat
£4.25
Webbox Complete Chicken
A complete dry dog food with chicken in the pale discs and peas in the green
£3.29
Arkwrights Complete Beef
A complete dry dog food with beef among its meat content, for working dogs
From£8.85
Autarky Complete Grain Free Adult Turkey
Grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, with turkey and a marine-algae joint care package
£12.79
Dr John Hypoallergenic Duck and Salmon
Hypoallergenic dry dog food for sporting and working dogs, duck and salmon based
From£7.49
Wagg Active Goodness Beef
Active Goodness Beef in 2kg and 12kg packs, with 20% protein and 8% fat
From£2.99
Common questions
- How much should I feed my Australian shepherd puppy?
- Start with the feeding guide on a growth-formulated puppy food, based on their current weight, split into three to four meals a day while young. Adjust gradually as they grow, checking body condition rather than sticking rigidly to one printed figure.
- Do working Australian shepherds need more food?
- Yes, a genuinely active or working Aussie can need noticeably more calories than a moderately active pet of the same size, sometimes suiting a food formulated for active or working dogs rather than a standard adult recipe.
- How do I know if I'm feeding my Australian shepherd the right amount?
- Check their body condition regularly — you should be able to feel the ribs with light pressure and see a waist from above. Steady weight gain means reducing slightly; a dog losing condition without illness usually needs a bit more.
- When should I switch my Australian shepherd from puppy to adult food?
- Usually somewhere around 12 to 18 months, as they approach their adult size, which is typical for a medium-to-large breed. Your specific food's guidance or a vet can help confirm the right timing for an individual dog.
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.