Best Food For Australian Shepherd Puppy

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef

Rating:

Real Beef is one of 13 dry recipes contained in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, pork meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult Australian shepherds

Merrick Healthy Grains Real Beef derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh beef and pork meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 17% fat and 46% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.

Not to be confused with Merricks grain-free product line. This classic, grain-inclusive design contains absolutely no meat by-products and no BHA or other cancer-causing synthetic preservatives. Affordably priced. Easily recommended and a top option for adult Aussies.

Sample buyer reviewI spent days researching food for my dog. He is allergic to chicken and turkey and his stomach is so so sensitive. Ive experienced with many food brands and they didnt work. This has worked wonders for him! He doesnt have rash or upset stomachs anymore. He loves the flavor! This lasts us way longer than other foods we have bought in the past. Its high quality and works for our little sensitive pup.

Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy Food

Image courtesy Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy Formula is a great choice for Australian Shepherds. The food is made with real chicken, and it is grain-free to help your pup digest food more easily.

This recipe is also rich in omega-fatty acids to keep your pup’s coat and skin healthy. Plus, the food is free from artificial ingredients, so you can be sure that your pup is getting a nutritious meal.

Things To Look For In The Best Dog Food For Australian Shepherd Puppies

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for an Australian Shepherd puppy:

• Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list

One of the first ingredients in any high-quality puppy food should be animal protein. Whole meats are the preferred option however, meat meals also provide excellent nutrition.

• Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements

Supplements can greatly enrich an Australian puppys diet and promote optimal health. The most important ones to look for in a food for this breed include docosahexaenoic acid , probiotics, and prebiotics.

• Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food

All foods appropriate for the Australian Shepherd puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.

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How To Feed Australian Shepherd Puppies

To help determine the correct amount to feed an Australian Shepherd puppy, the bag of food will provide a suggested serving size. This can be a starting point with amounts being adjusted to meet the pups activity level. The puppys hunger level and body condition are helpful guidelines.

The best dog food for the Australian Shepherd puppy should be spread out into four or five meals that are fed throughout the day to prevent hunger and low blood sugar levels.

Transition From Puppy Food To Adult Food

After being weaned from their mommys milk, Aussie Shepherd puppies will need only high-quality food designed for puppies.

Growing puppies will need plenty of nutrients to support their growth, boost their immune system, and give them plenty of energy to satisfy their high activity levels. Puppies are much more energetic than older dogs. They dont need carbohydrates to keep them going.

Puppies need healthy fats like omega 3.

Find the best dog food on the market by looking at the back of the package. Pick only recipes with real meat protein, grain-free, soy-free, and preservative-free dry kibble.

When the transition begins, somewhere between the 6th and the 12th month of age, you slowly replace one part of your puppys food with the new adult dog food. Youll know whats the right amount of replaced kibble if your puppy eats the meal without fussing about it.

Increase the amount of dry dog food gradually before you replace the whole bowl of puppy food with adult dog food.

Its as simple as that!

The transition should happen slowly, and with constant observation. If you notice that your puppy needs to slow down or change the brand, do it, and start the transition process over. If you do this cold turkey, you will definitely trigger issues with your dogs diet and digestive system.

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Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin And Sensitive Stomach

Image courtesy Purina

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Formula is a great choice for Australian Shepherds. The food is made with real chicken, and it is grain-free to help your pup digest food more easily.

This recipe is also rich in omega-fatty acids to keep your pup’s coat and skin healthy. Plus, the food is free from artificial ingredients, so you can be sure that your pup is getting a nutritious meal.

Which Dog Food Brands Should I Buy For My Aussie

Personally, I have never bought dog food at a supermarket. Call me crazy, but I havent.

Ever since I got my first puppy as a kid, my dad told me that dogs cant eat garbage. They cant eat human food like spicy food, or even . They need high-quality recipes with nice ingredients.

But, for real how else can a puppy grow unless he only eats great nutrients?

Thats why when I got my first pup as an adult, I immediately skipped local supermarkets and ordered from Amazon. I believe it was some recipe from Blue Buffalo.

What I did was I went online and Googled which dog food ingredients are recommended and which are not. Using a system of elimination, I found the top three brands that make extra-delicious, and extra-safe kibble for our Aussie Shepherds.

To make this story a bit shorter, here are my top three dog food brands.

Also Check: What Is Raw Infused Dog Food

Is My Puppy The Right Weight

Despite being active, the Australian Shepherd has a hearty appetite and can put on weight quite easily.Australian Shepherds are also prone to hip dysplasia.

This orthopedic disorder leads to lameness and painful arthritis and carrying around extra pounds can exacerbate it.

In addition to increasing the risk for hip dysplasia, being overweight also puts your puppy at a higher risk for heart-related problems, diabetes, and cancer.

This article will give you more information about how much a puppy should weigh throughout his first year.

But sometimes checking by eye and touch is a better way to gauge if your puppy is the proper weight.

You should be able to feel his ribs easily by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage.

And his abdomen should tuck in slightly when looking at him from the side.

However, your puppys ribs shouldnt be visible. If they are, hes probably underweight.

This could be a sign of a number of different underlying problems, especially if his appetite seems good.Parasites and hypoglycemia are two possibilities.

If you suspect that your puppy is overweight or underweight, its time to take a trip to the vet.

How Much Should I Feed My Australian Shepherd Puppy

When it comes to how much you should feed your Australian Shepherd puppy there are a number of factors to consider. Every dogs metabolism is different. Use the quantities on the packet as a rough guideline, but bear in mind that many puppies do not need as much as the recommended guidelines. The puppys age, size, and activity level, as well as the type of food and brand, can make a difference in the amount of food they should get.

Purina recommends that a dog in this weight range should get 2/3 to 2 cups of food per day when theyre between one and three months old.

• From four to five months of age, they should get 1 ¾ to 3 cups.
• At six to eight months it should be 1 to 3 ¼ cups.
• Between the ages of one and two years old, they will get 2 to 5 ¼ cups each day.

Speaking with your veterinarian is the best way to ensure your puppy is eating the right amount. As you can imagine, theres a big variance in the amount of calories burned between a dog whos out herding all day and one who lounges around the house. These medium-sized herders are an agile, rugged working breed. Descended from a line of Europes finest sheep herders, Australian Shepherds tend to have a high-energy level and require one to two hours of daily exercise. If your Australian Shepherd doesnt run and play a lot, this should be taken into consideration. Dogs who arent as active require fewer calories. Its important to be aware of your dogs physical condition and keep track of their weight.

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Common Health Problems With Australian Shepherds

While Australian Shepherds are generally a healthy breed, there are some health problems that are more common in Aussies than in other breeds. Some of the most common health problems in Australian Shepherds include hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, autoimmune disease, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.

What Type Of Food Do Australian Shepherds Need To Eat

Australian shepherds are a medium to large breed of dog, and as such, they need a diet that is high in protein and fat. The best type of food for Australian shepherds is a dry kibble that is specifically designed for large breeds.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best food for your Australian shepherd. The first is to make sure that the food you select is high in protein and fat. Australian shepherds are working dogs, and as such, they need a diet that will give them plenty of energy.

The second thing to keep in mind is to choose a food that is specifically designed for large breeds. Large breed dogs have different nutritional needs than small breed dogs, and it is important to select a food that meets those needs.

Finally, you will want to make sure that the food you select is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. These ingredients can be harmful to your dog and should be avoided.

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Best Dry Dog Food For Australian Shepherds With Sensitive Stomachs

Spot & Tango Chicken & Brown Rice

A bland diet thats anything but bland

Why we love it:

• Delicious, yet gentle on the stomach
• Contains high-quality protein from chicken
• Includes ginger to ease digestion and reduce nausea
• Healthy brown rice in each piece of kibble

If you start to find that your Australian Shepherd is having stomach problems and youve taken them to the vet to rule out any health concerns, it may be time to start looking at their food.

While a typical Australian Shepherd may thrive on a diet high in protein and fat to support their muscular body, it may be that your dog just doesnt need or desire such an intense lifestyle, and a diet that is extra high in protein may not be the best option for them.

Chicken & Brown Rice

While regular dog food available at the grocery store is undoubtedly filled with grain and potato, our Chicken & Brown Rice Unkibble is not!

We understand that a high-quality dog food designed by vet nutritionists specifically for sensitive stomachs is the only way to ensure that your Australian Shepherd can enjoy dinner time without vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea.

Thats why we developed our Chicken & Brown Rice Unkibble in the first place.

How Feeding Changes As An Australian Shepherd Puppy Gets Older

When you bring your puppy home they will be growing very fast indeed, so at this point the puppy needs a substantial quantity of food per pound body weight. As your puppy grows rate of growth slows so that the quantity of food they need as they get bigger, does not increase as much as you might think it would! But, because many puppies have sensitive digestions, their daily food allowance needs to be divided into several small portions.

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The Farmers Dog Fresh

Rating:

Pork Recipe is one of 4 fresh human-grade formulas covered in our review of The Farmers Dog product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Pork, sweet potatoes, potatoes, green beans, cauliflower
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All Life Stages
• Best for:Aussie adults and puppies

The formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh pork. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 28% fat and 28% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 78%.

The company custom designs each feeding plan based on your dogs age, weight, breed type, and activity level and then packages an exact portion size, according to the number of calories needed to keep your dog at ideal weight.

The food is delivered to your door on a flexible schedule. Once inside your home, the product should be stored in your freezer. Then, thawed in your refrigerator as its needed.

The Farmers Dog is ideal for those who want to feed a scientifically balanced diet thats as close to homemade as you can get yet without all the hard work. A bit pricey, but well worth it. Enthusiastically recommended.

Sample buyer reviewMy dog was beginning a downward slope. We decided to make a change to her foodand we chose Farmers DogThe difference is ASTOUNDING. She eats with gusto, her energy levels are back up, her teeth and coat are even better qualityshes like a whole different dog. I honestly feel that Farmers Dog saved her.

There’s More To Healthy Feeding Than Just Choosing The Best Dog Food Brands

As important as the type of food you choose are your dog’s feeding habits. Don’t overfeed as obesity can be just as much of an issue for dogs as it is for humans. If you have concerns about your dog’s weight, a veterinary exam can help to ease your mind. Some dogs may require more food than others so if you have more than one dog you should feed them separately to ensure that each dog is getting enough. Finally, puppies should be transitioned to adult food when they reach the majority of their adult size.

As a concerned owner, you want what’s best for your dog and that includes making sure that he is getting all of the nutrients he needs on a regular basis. The best dog food brands will make that job easier by providing a complete and balanced diet for your dog. Finding the right food for your dog is easy just pay attention to the ingredients and if you have any questions, talk to your vet. That way you’ll be sure you’re giving your best friend everything he needs to grow healthy and strong.

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Benefits And Disadvantages Of Raw Dog Food

Benefits

The reason why dog owners opt for raw dog food is that it brings many benefits. Once you hear why it is good for your Australian Shepherd, you will definitely consider following the BARF movement.

First off, raw food helps a lot with a dogs immune system. Nutrients in their raw form truly bring on their A game. Just think about it: is it better to eat something fresh rather than to have it processed? Isnt a fresh apple better than store-bought apple puree?

Since theyre rich in fibers, raw meals will benefit a dogs digestion. We all know how painful doing number 2 can be.

Also, home-prepared raw dog meals will make your dogs coat shinier, and its teeth cleaner.

But, definitely, the biggest benefit or advantage of raw doggy meals is that you always know what youre giving your dog to eat. No hidden fillers, no poor nutrients! Only the best for your buddy from Down Under!

Disadvantages

Australian Shepherds are very energetic dogs. Theyre constantly jumping around you and being active like theyre battery-powered puppies!

So, imagine preparing a raw meal with your impatient Aussie next to you. Raw meals take time, and they arent a good choice when youre in a hurry. Youll have to find a good storage space and prep your raw doggy meals according to health regulations.

Otherwise, your pup would be risking salmonella and other food-borne infections.

Besides being time-consuming, a raw diet is somewhat expensive.

What Are The Amounts Of Food An Australian Shepherd Should Eat Per Day

Lets say were talking about an adult Australian Shepherd. Puppies have different routines and different nutritional needs.

Adult Australian Shepherds will drop down from having three to four meals a day, to only two or even one meal a day. The number of meals is individual.

When an Aussie turns 12 months old, adult pet food should already be in use for a while. This is the time when puppies usually either stop growing, or grow only a little bit more throughout the next 12 months.

Your Aussie wont need too much food at this life stage. Adult dogs need food for energy, not for growing up.

Monitor your dog and make sure you understand its needs. Some pups find one meal not to be according to their nutritional requirements. Two meals would be just fine!

We cant come up with a strict rule of how much Aussie Shepherds must eat daily. They can devour up to five cups, divided carefully into two meals. If you notice food being left behind your pup, pick it up and reduce the amount of kibble gradually until you figure out the ideal meal.

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