If you are getting a Border Collie, you should already know what you are going to feed it to keep it healthy and happy. Feeding a natural, raw diet is the best diet as it gives you control over what you are feeding.

Many refer to this type of feeding as a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (or BARF) diet, and it is essentially based on feeding raw, meaty bones and food. There is a lot of debate between this type of feeding and another way of feeding known as a Prey diet. People who feed a prey diet feed their dog’s as closely as possible to the way they would eat in the wild....

Do some research on raw feeding your dog and you will see the debate about whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores. I am not going to get into this here, but it is really interesting and it will help you to understand the principles of feeding so you can provide the best you can for your Border Collie.

What is important is that you feed your Border Collie a balanced diet. A raw diet includes raw meat, raw vegetables, raw, meaty bones, fish, muscle meats, fish, and dairy products such as eggs. Grain is not recommended as dogs find it difficult to digest and many are allergic to them. You can add supplements such as fish oil and kelp if you need them.

Border Collies can be prone to allergies so feeding a raw food diet can help you meet your dogs nutritional needs without inflaming any allergies. If your dog’s allergies do flare up, then it is relatively simple to track it down if it is food-related as you have complete control of everything your dog eats.

People who raw feed also believe that it reduces their visits to vet because their Border Collies are not fed food full of chemicals, additives, and who knows what else that affect many dog’s health.

Many people do not know what vegetables are safe for their dogs. Do you know what vegetables you can safely feed to your dog?

Beneficial Vegetables

There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that are either poisonous to your dog or your dog just cannot digest very easily. Corn for instance will not harm your dog, but it has no nutritional benefit as can be seen in your dog’s faeces with whole pieces of corn in it. If your dog is going to get no nutritional value from the food, then there is no point feeding it.

When feeding your dog vegetables, put them through the food processor so they are in small chunks and easy for your dog to eat and digest.

Vegetables that benefit your dog include:

• carrots
• broccoli
• green beans
• yams
• squash
• zucchini
• spinach

Vegetables that should never be given to your dog:

• mushrooms
• onion
• tomato
• stone fruits are safe but the stone in the fruit is poisonous
• avocado

How are your Feeding your Border Collie?

Are you going to feed your Border Collie a raw or commercially processed diet? When you make this decision take into account your own needs and lifestyle. There is no point deciding to prepare your dog’s diet from scratch everyday if you do not have time. You can prepare it at the weekend and freeze it meal size portions for the coming week.

If the raw food diet does not suit your lifestyle, then there are a lot of commercial foods available. Do you know how to choose the best commercial dog food for your dog? One indication is price. The cheaper it is the less likely it is to be very nutritious. Read the packing labels to find out whether it is good for your dog or not.

Commercial Dog Food

With so many types of dog food available it is easy to get lost in the choices. Here are some things to look for when your buy your dog food:

• Nutrition. Commercial food labels will have nutritional information. Puppies, mature, and senior dogs all have different requirements at different stages in their lives. For example, a food for maintaining a senior dog is not suitable for a puppy as it will not contain all the nutrients a growing Border Collie puppy needs.
• Food Types. There is a lot of food to choose from so you need to select one that meets your Border Collie’s needs within your budget. A mix of a good dry food, meat and vegetables is good. While dog’s love canned food, it is not high in nutritional value but it is high in water content. Be careful that you do not feed your dog all soft foods as it will not give their jaws a work out or clean their teeth. Give your dog a raw, meaty bone a few times a week to keep its teeth clean.
• How Nutritious is it? Compare the nutrient levels from one food to the next. The best way to get this right is to use a food that is age appropriate for your Border Collie.
• Other Things to Consider? Other things you need to think about when selecting food for your Border Collie include:
  • Is it easy to get a good supply?
  • Does your dog like it?
  • Is it affordable?
  • Does the food have a good reputation among dog owners?
  • Does this food fit your dog’s special needs if it has any?

Using this list, the advice of your breeder and vet, you can keep your Border Collie healthy and happy throughout all stages of its life.

How to Interpret Pet Food labels

Do dog food labels leave you confused? Are you finding it hard to work out what they mean so you can evaluate whether the food is suitable or not? Here is a breakdown of the information on pet food labels and what it means.

Calorie Information

Pet food labels may have a statement of calories per kilogram of the product or it can be shown as calories per measure such as per can or cup.

What has been Added?

Commercial pet food has two types of additives: nutritional (minerals, fats, and vitamins) and others.

Because your dog’s system cannot tell the difference between natural or synthetic supplements, synthetic supplements are often added to the better quality foods. Here is a list of the other additives and what they mean:

• Preservatives. Preservatives such as sorbic acid and propylene glycerol are used to preserve foods that are moist. Any of these additives have to be approved for use by the governing body of the country of manufacture and must be identified on the label.
• Colouring. Colourings are often used in pet foods to maintain consistency of appearance and are the same ones used for human consumption.
• Antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as tocopherols, are used in the food’s fats in low levels to stop it from developing a rancid smell, and to preserve the taste and palatability of the product.
• Flavouring. Flavourings are added to enhance the taste and have long complicated, chemical names.

Directions for Feeding your Border Collie

Pet food labels will also include directions for feeding the product to your Border Collie. It will include how much to feed. Beware, directions for feeding on packaging is only a guide. Use some commonsense based on your Border Collie’s individual needs (weight, age, metabolism, etc) for the feeding amounts your dog needs. If your dog loses weight or puts it on, adjust the amount of food accordingly.

If you are not sure, get the advice of your vet.

Product Analysis

Pet food manufacturers are obligated to make guarantees there are a certain level of nutrients included within each product. The following are mandatory inclusions on the label:

• minimum crude protein percentage
• minimum crude fat percentage
• maximum crude fibre content
• maximum moisture percentage

The word crude means as per analysed by a laboratory not what your dog will absorb into its system. The product analysis is not a guide to the quality or nutritional value of the product.

List of Ingredients

All manufacturers must list the ingredients on the label and they are listed in descending order according to weight.

How to Feed your Border Collie Puppy

When your Border Collie is a puppy, what you feed it will dictate whether it grows into a happy, healthy dog. It is really important to feed your puppy correctly to help its growth and development.

Your puppy’s bones, muscles, and entire system are growing at a rapid rate and it needs good nutrition to replace what the body uses in a very short time. A Border Collie puppy goes through this stage for up to 18 months where its:

• muscles are developing
• internal organs grow
• immune system develops to protect your dog
• joints and bones develop at a rapid rate

What your Border Collie needs

For your Border Collie to develop in a healthy manner, it needs the right nutritional value in its diet including:

• Calcium and Phosphorous. Calcium and phosphorous are needed for growing healthy teeth and bones. Make sure your puppy gets a diet high in calcium and phosphorous such as raw, meaty bones, and organ and muscle meats.
• Protein. Protein is required in abundance to help grow your Border Collie’s skin, organs, coat, muscles and other organs. Make sure puppy has a diet high in good, quality protein such as fresh meat.
• Omega Fatty Acids. Omega fatty acids are essential for a balanced system and help to keep your puppy’s skin and coat in good condition, and its immune system healthy.

Tips for Feeding your Border Collie Puppy

Here are some tips to help you feed your Border Collie puppy:

• Feed three meals a day at the same time every day for young puppies. Decrease feeding to twice a day when your puppy is over 6 months, and once a day for an adult. You can break your adult dog’s meal into two portions, and feed twice a day if you want to but make sure you do not overfeed.
• Follow the feeding advice of your Border Collie puppy’s breeder, the vet, and the packaging. Be careful not to overfeed your puppy so it does not become overweight.
• When you add new foods to your puppy’s diet, add them gradually over a couple of weeks. Just reduce the amount of the old food and add that amount of the new food so it is still getting the same amount of food. By doing this gradually, your reduce the incidence of upset tummies and diarrhea.
• Do not feed your dog from the table. It is not good manners and makes your dog a beggar at meal times. And, no one wants a begging dog at meal times. Also, eating table scraps adds more fat and food to your dog’s diet and, unless you adjust your dog’s meals accordingly, you risk your dog becoming quickly overweight.

How to Feed your Adult Border Collie

Once your Border Collie puppy is fully grown you will maintain your dog’s healthy condition. You need to keep your Border Collie healthy and strong but you do not want a dog that is overweight as you can cause many health problems for your dog.

Dogs that are not pregnant, nursing, or working hard do not have very high nutritional requirements. If your dog is not competing in dog sports, training, or using high levels of energy you need to feed it a complete diet to keep its body in good proportions.

How you tell if your dog is gaining weight is if it is losing its waist. A dog in good condition has a waist behind its ribs and, when you run your hand along the ribs, you can just feel them with a light layer of fat covering them.

Tips for Feeding your Adult Border Collie

Choose a nutritional way to feed your dog, whether you are using the raw feeding method or commercial food. It should be fairly straight forward, but you can always add a good quality, pure fish oil to your dog’s daily diet.

If you are adding table scraps, then these should be factored in as part of the diet and feed less when given.

If your Border Collie is not very active or puts weight on easily, keep an eye out for any weight gain and adjust the amount you feed accordingly.

How much you feed your adult Border Collie dog depends on the individual dog’s needs and your preference. Whether you feed your dog once or twice day is up to you, but try to feed your dog at the same time every day, after you eat. Make sure there is always fresh water available for your dog to access whenever it wants.

Your dog’s appetite can vary from time-to-time and is nothing to worry about, and is quite normal. If your dog loses its appetite for more than a few days and it starts to lose weight or show signs of being ill, seek the advice of your vet.

Remember, if you want to change your dog’s diet, do it gradually by reducing the amount of the old food and adding the new food. By doing this it reduces the likelihood of causing your Border Collie a tummy upset.

How to Feed a Couch Potato

If your Border Collie is a couch potato and is not very active, it is easy to overfeed it. They are at high risk of becoming obese, which can cause more serious illnesses in your Border Collie.

Your Border Collie my be inactive for many reasons, but essentially they all have one thing in common, and that is they do not exercise and often have no interest in exercise. You will know if you have a dog that is inactive. Here are some reasons why your Border Collie is not very active:

• Age will slow your dog as it gets older.
• If your dog is overweight, it will not have the energy to get moving. This is dangerous in that they are still eating, piling on the weight, but feel less and less energetic.
• A sick or injured dog will be less inactive as it recovers, so adjust its food intake accordingly and keep an eye out for any weight gain.

Tips for Feeding your Couch Potato

The obvious thing is to feed your inactive Border Collie the right amount of food to suit its activity level. If you find your dog gaining weight and you are still feeding the same amount you always have, take a look at its activity and energy levels. It may be your dog has slowed down and does not need the same amount of food as before. Here are some tips to try:

• Reduce the amount of treats and titbits between meals. These are usually high in fat. Switch to something like natural liver, beef, or pork treats. Limit the amount you give to your dog and factor the amount into the daily food intake.
• Reduce the amount you feed your dog at each meal and stick to it.
• Increase your dog’s level of exercise with more play sessions and walks daily.
• If all else fails, use a food that is low in calories.

If you are not sure what to do, consult your vet about your Border Collie’s diet to get you back onto the right track.

How to Feed your Older Border Collie

Once your Border Collie reaches seven or more, it will enter its senior years. When your dog reaches this part of its life, it may benefit a diet tailored to its specific needs.

Dogs become senior when they reach the last 25 percent of their expected lifespan. You can tell when your dog reaches this age when:

• the muzzle and coat shows sign of greying
• your dog spends more time asleep
• has less energy and has trouble getting up or sometimes it limps
• changes its habits such as what it likes to eat or the games it likes to play
• its weight goes up or down from the ideal condition and you have made not changes to the way you feed
• it has bad breath which is a symptoms of gum and teeth problems
• its hearing or vision deteriorates

While these are the sign to watch out for in your older dog, keep in mind these are also symptoms of other ailments that may need medical treatment. If you are not sure or worried about any of these symptoms in your dog, consult your vet for treatment and advice.

Tips for Feeding your Older Border Collie

If your dog has reached its senior years, there are special commercial preparations formulated to meet your dog’s needs. Your vet will advise you if your Border Collie will benefit from these senior dog foods.

Something you do need to watch out for is whether your Border Collie is gaining weight or not. As your dog gets older it naturally slows down so it does not burn up the same level of energy as when it was younger. Very much like us. When we get older and our activity levels drop, we are in danger of becoming obese if we do not reduce our calorie intake. It is the same for your dog.

Also, when they reach their senior years, your Border Collie may have trouble chewing on its raw meaty bones so change them to a chicken carcass with the fat removed. Or soften dry food with a little gravy to help make the food more palatable to your dog.

The most important thing to remember is to feed each dog according to its individual needs.