Australian shepherds are adorable canine companions thanks to their blue eyes, fun-sized bodies, and playful attitudes. That said, if you want to keep them happy and healthy, you need to feed them a balanced diet that includes the right amount of nutrients.
While this may seem complicated at first, it doesn't have to be, and this article will help you manage your Australian shepherd’s diet. Read on to learn more below.
Australian Shepherd Diet Key Nutrition
First and foremost, it's important to make sure your Australian shepherd is getting the nutrition that they need. You'll want to focus on the key ingredients like protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Protein
Protein is the building block of life, and your Australian shepherd needs it to grow big and strong. The best protein sources for your Australian shepherd include chicken, turkey, and lamb. While some Australian shepherds have sensitive stomachs, if they're not allergic to eggs or beef, these proteins work great as well.
Fats
Fat is another important part of an Australian shepherd’s diet. While fat is great, you don't want your Aussie to get too fat, so make sure you choose healthy options from sources like salmon that contain healthy oils that support your dog’s coat.
Carbohydrates
You can take it easy on the carbohydrates if your Australian shepherd isn't a working dog, but if they are, you'll want to make sure they have enough energy to fuel their herding. The best sources of carbs for your dog include berries and even some grains, or your Aussie can handle them.
Fiber
Your Australian shepherd’s diet also needs to have a great deal of fiber. It keeps digestion smooth and even helps with their appetite. The best sources of fiber for your Australian shepherd tend to be fruits and vegetables.
You'll also want to make sure your Australian shepherd is getting enough vitamins and minerals like omega-3, omega-6, and vitamin E to support their growth and coats.
Australian Shepherd Food Options
When putting your Australian shepherd on the right diet, food choice is also important. After all, you need to make sure they're getting the nutrients they need in the best way possible. These options tend to include wet food, dry food, and raw food. Learn more about each option below.
Wet Food
We’ll start with wet food, which is one of the best dog food options for your Australian shepherd. It's great for picky Australian shepherds because it tastes great, but it costs more than other options and can be hard to store. For these reasons, we recommend using it as a supplement for dry food.
Dry Food
Dry food is one of the most common options you'll come across, and for good reason. It's affordable, nutritious, and great for keeping your Aussie nice and full. That said, you should avoid dry foods with grains, eggs, and other ingredients that may bother their stomachs.
Raw Food
You can also feed your Australian shepherd raw food. It should mimic their natural diet of beef, lamb, fish, and some other meats. Try to avoid chicken and make sure you also throw in fruits and vegetables to balance the diet. While this food may have been what dogs ate thousands of years ago, you need to be careful with it and ensure that their diet is safe.
How Much Should You Feed an Australian Shepherd?
Now that you know what food an Australian shepherd needs to eat, you need to know how much they should eat. Fully-grown Australian shepherds need to eat around 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dry food per day, split into two meals. We also recommend adding some wet food to round out their diet.
As puppies, they need to eat more frequently but a similar amount, and as seniors, you can cut the food amount down. That said, if your Australian shepherd is a working dog or tends to be more active, they may need as much attention as 3.5 cups of dry food daily or more.
Get the Best Australian Shepherd Dog Food
The best dog food for an Australian shepherd is an option that's full of nutrition, tasty, and not too tough on the stomach. If you want to get the best dog food, take some time to try a few options and see what your dog responds well to; you can also take a look at Dog Academy’s curated breed-specific list to make your research simpler.
Notice that they don't have as much energy or tend to get coat or ear infections often? Switch to a more hypoallergenic option. Find that they are not able to go to the bathroom often? Opt for a dog food option that caters to sensitive stomachs.
At the end of the day, it's all about getting the food that works best for your dog – just make sure it has the healthy fats, vitamins, and protein that they need to grow big and strong.
