Raw food for Border Collies: how much to feed

9 February 20262 min read

Short answer

Most adult Border Collies weigh about 14 to 25 kg and eat 2.5 to 3% of that in raw food a day, so around 450 to 540 g for an active 18 kg Collie. Working and sport dogs often sit at the top of that range or above, so watch their shape and adjust by about 10% at a time.

Black and white Border Collie lying on the grass

Border Collies were bred to work sheep all day, and in New Zealand plenty still do. Whether yours is a heading dog on a farm or a city dog with a ball habit, raw food for Border Collies is mostly about matching the food to the energy.

How much to feed a Border Collie

Collies vary a lot in size, from light, rangy working dogs to heavier show types, so weigh your own dog rather than going by the breed.

Weight	Moderate (2.5%)	Very active (3%)
14 kg	350 g	420 g
16 kg	400 g	480 g
18 kg	450 g	540 g
20 kg	500 g	600 g
22 kg	550 g	660 g
25 kg	625 g	750 g

A quieter older Collie may need less, around 2% or below. Our guide to raw feeding older dogs has those amounts, and the feed calculator works it out for your dog.

Working, sport and city Collies

A Collie working stock every day, or training for agility or herding trials, will usually need the very active amount, and some need more in their busiest weeks. A Collie that gets a good walk and a game of fetch fits the moderate column. Either way, check their shape every couple of weeks: you should feel the ribs easily without seeing them. If they’re dropping weight, add about 10%. If they’re getting round, take 10% off.

Our guide to feeding working dogs covers amounts, timing around work and feeding a team.

Timing meals around work

Most handlers feed the main meal after the day’s work, once the dog has settled, rather than before. Two meals a day suit most Collies, with a smaller one in the morning on working days.

Foods that suit a Collie

Active Dog Mix: beef, horse, offal and green tripe, made with busy, active dogs in mind.
Breeders Mix: beef, horse, goat and offal, a good everyday base and handy if you feed several dogs.
Beef Neck Bones: a raw bone that matches both beef-based blends.

Collies are usually good eaters, but a few are choosy. If yours is, our guide to getting a fussy dog to eat raw has six things to try.

Something to chew

Collies like a job, and a raw meaty bone gives them one. Match the bone to the diet, choose a piece they have to chew, and supervise. A frozen block of food on a lick mat or in a rubber feeding toy also slows down a dog that inhales their dinner.

Common questions

How long does a carton last a Border Collie?

An 18 kg Collie eating 450 g a day gets through about 405 g of mince or blend a day, so one 10 kg carton lasts about three and a half weeks. A very active Collie gets through one in about three weeks.