The Proper Feeding of a Border Collie

There is a wealth of conflicting information about what and how to feed your border collie. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on every aspect of your feeding routine, from the proper feeding times to which dog-food brand is superior. At the end of the day, however, the best measure of what is right for your dog comes from the dog itself. If your border collie is happy and healthy, you must be doing something right.

  1. Fresh vs. Packaged Dog Food

    • Some dog owners are adamant that you must cook and serve your dog's food yourself to ensure the proper balance of nutrients. Others, perhaps because of time or budget constraints, eschew this practice, preferring to buy dry dog food from the grocery or pet-supply store. There is certainly nothing wrong with preparing food for your dog, but you must take care to include the proper ratio of nutrients instead of simply serving leftovers from your own meal. Dogs and people have differing dietary requirements, and the same foods that cause health problems in people, such as obesity, will have that effect on your dog. Packaged dog food, on the other hand, is formulated to include all the necessary vitamins, protein and fat for your dog, which saves you the trouble of monitoring these amounts yourself. Just be sure to check with your veterinarian to ensure you are not overfeeding, and feel free to try different brands until you find one that suits your dog and your budget.

    Free-Feeding vs. Scheduled Feeding

    • Free-feeding means having food available to your dog at all times, allowing your dog to choose when it eats, effectively monitoring its own food requirements. Scheduled feeding allows you to feed portioned meals at regular times of day, normally once in the morning and once at night. Free-feeding requires you to monitor your dog at first to be sure it will not overindulge and, if you have multiple dogs, to ensure there is no competition over the food bowl. Most dogs, however, adapt well to free-feeding. On the other hand, if your dog has special dietary restrictions (such as a weight-loss plan), scheduled feedings might be necessary.

    Nutrient Requirements

    • Border collies are extremely energetic dogs. As a result, they require a greater amount of carbohydrates, the body's energy source, than do more sedentary animals. Good-quality protein is also essential, as are fats, vitamins and minerals. Your veterinarian is best able to determine the proper amounts for your particular dog, as factors such as age and physical activity level can affect the requirements.

      Vegetarianism is usually not a good choice for dogs, whose digestive systems have evolved to more easily process animal proteins than vegetable ones. There is also concern that vegetarian diets do not contain sufficient amounts of amino acids or vitamin B12, although these are often supplemented in commercially produced vegetarian dog food.

    Treats

    • Some appropriate treats for border collies include cooked eggs and cottage cheese, which are both good sources of easily digestible protein. Bones are also OK, as long as they are the large, marrow type. If your dog breaks the bone into small fragments, take those away, as they can pose a choking hazard.

      It is important to remember that no more than 10 percent of your dog's diet should come from "people food." Avoid giving chocolate to dogs, because it contains the stimulant theobromine, which can be toxic in significant amounts.