How much to feed a Border Collie at home and at work
An adult, neutered Border Collie weighing 19 kg needs about 1,020 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 285 g of dry food or 1,020 g of wet food. With dog sports and daily training it is more like 1,275 kcal (355 g), and a herding dog in full work can need around 1,910 kcal (530 g). What matters is how much your Border Collie actually runs – not how much it could.
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Adult weight
- Range:
- approx. 14–25 kg
- Size:
- Male ideally 53 cm, female slightly smaller
Weight according to the American Kennel Club (30–55 lb), height at the withers according to FCI Standard No. 297. Neither standard gives separate figures for males and females.
Activity type
Herding dog which, according to the FCI standard, is capable of hard, sustained work – its needs depend heavily on whether it really works.
Breed watch points
Work vs. family life, vitamin B12
Calculate how much to feed your Border Collie
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
285 g
Dry food per day
≈ 1,020 kcal · 2 meals of 145 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 255–310 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 145 g
- Energy
- 1,020 kcal (915–1,120)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 19 kg^0.75 ≈ 637 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 1,020 kcal per day.
1,020 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 285 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Border Collie feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 kg | |||
| Calm | 745 | 205 | 745 |
| Normal | 855 | 240 | 855 |
| Active | 1,065 | 295 | 1,065 |
| Very active | 1,600 | 445 | 1,600 |
| 19 kg | |||
| Calm | 890 | 245 | 890 |
| Normal | 1,020 | 285 | 1,020 |
| Active | 1,275 | 355 | 1,275 |
| Very active | 1,910 | 530 | 1,910 |
| 23 kg | |||
| Calm | 1,030 | 285 | 1,030 |
| Normal | 1,175 | 325 | 1,175 |
| Active | 1,470 | 410 | 1,470 |
| Very active | 2,205 | 615 | 2,205 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0, Very active = 3.0 (working and service dogs). Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 19 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 19 kg^0.75 ≈ 637 kcal × factor 1.6 = 1,020 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 285 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Working dog or family dog: almost twice as much food
Border Collie rations can vary widely: some dogs herd sheep for hours every day, others are family dogs with two walks a day. A meta-analysis of 29 studies (PLOS ONE, 2014) found the highest maintenance requirements in racing dogs, followed by working and hunting dogs; family and kennel dogs needed the least. Neutered dogs were below intact ones, and body weight alone was a poor predictor of requirements.
In the calculation, this is reflected in the factors: 1.6 for a neutered dog with normal exercise, 2.0 for active sporting dogs, 3.0 for dogs doing hard work. At 19 kg that makes the difference between 1,020 kcal and 1,910 kcal a day. A Border Collie that only does agility at weekends usually belongs in the “Normal” or “Active” row, not “Very active”.
- Feed more on long working or training days and less on rest days – the weekly balance is what counts.
- If requirements are very high, a more energy-dense food keeps the portions from getting huge.
- Feel the ribs and muscles regularly: a working dog should be lean, but not bony.
Rare but typical of the breed: vitamin B12 malabsorption
In Border Collies, an inherited disorder is known in which the gut cannot properly absorb vitamin B12 (cobalamin) – Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner; the causative mutation in the CUBN gene was described in 2013 and has since been detectable with a genetic test.
Affected young dogs fail to thrive even though they get enough food. More food does not help then. Your vet can measure the B12 level in the blood; the disorder can be treated with regular doses of B12.
Border Collie puppies: don't use the working-dog factor
Border Collies are medium-sized and usually fully grown at around one year. Do not calculate puppies with the factor for working dogs: the puppy factor (3.0 until about four months, then 2.0) already includes growth.
Until about three months the puppy gets four meals, after that three. Weigh regularly – a puppy that does not gain weight despite an appropriate amount should be examined.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Border Collie
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Border Collie – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Border Collie
How much should a Border Collie eat per day?
A neutered Border Collie weighing 19 kg with normal exercise needs about 1,020 kcal a day – roughly 285 g of dry food or 1,020 g of wet food. With dog sports or herding work, requirements rise considerably.
How much more does a working Border Collie need?
At 19 kg, an active sporting dog needs about 1,275 kcal (355 g of dry food), a dog doing hard daily work about 1,910 kcal (530 g). That is almost twice as much as a family dog with normal exercise.
How much does a Border Collie weigh?
The American Kennel Club gives 14 to 25 kg (30 to 55 lb). The FCI standard only specifies size: males ideally 53 cm, females slightly smaller.
Does a Border Collie need special sports food?
Not necessarily. What matters is that the amount of energy is right and the food is a complete food. If requirements are very high, a more energy-dense food can help keep the portions from getting too large.
My Border Collie puppy isn't gaining weight – what should I do?
First check the amount with the puppy calculator, then have the puppy examined by a vet. Border Collies can have an inherited disorder of vitamin B12 absorption in which puppies fail to thrive despite getting enough food; it can be identified through the B12 level and a genetic test.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 297: Border Collie – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Border Collie – Breed Information – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Energy requirements of adult dogs: a meta-analysis (Bermingham et al., 2014) – PLOS ONE
- A frameshift mutation in the cubilin gene (CUBN) in Border Collies with Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome (Owczarek-Lipska et al., 2013) – PLOS ONE
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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