Best Dog Food For Australian Shepherds -Have you recently added an Australian Shepherd to your family?
Or maybe your Aussie is transitioning from litter to adulthood?
In this article, we break down the best dog food file for Australian Shepherds at each stage of their life.
The Australian Shepherd is a super-intelligent and equally energetic puppy. As such, he will need high-quality kibble that will provide his active body and mind with all the nutrients he needs.
The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog that will typically weigh anywhere from 40 to 65 pounds upon maturity.
The Aussie Shep is a relatively healthy dog, and while feeding cannot cure his health problems, they can certainly help him be as healthy as possible, so doing it right is key to a happy and healthy puppy!
It is important to meet your Aussie’s nutritional needs at every stage of life, so we’ll go over all of them, including the life stages of puppies, adults, and seniors, and what nutrients they need for each.
While an overweight Australian Shepherd is rare, weird things happen, so we’ve added a weight management section too!
For every stage of life, we have found some of the best kibbles around to suit all Aussie Shepherds and their owners’ budgets. Let’s take a leap!
9 Best Food For Australian Shepherds
All dog foods included on this list meet the standard AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for dogs. Always consult with your veterinarian before making changes to your dog’s diet.
1. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Salmon |
Top 5 ingredients | Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- This recipe is filled with salmon that most dogs go crazy for, so if you have a fussy puppy, you can be sure to entice them with this formula.
- It also means it’s great for nourishing that beautiful coat of hers thanks to the fish oils, as well as the nutrients DHA and ARA needed for overall healthy development.
- He has the lowest protein content on this list but surpasses guidelines and some dogs do much better with lower protein content, and if you find your Aussie particularly gassy this may be a better option for him.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Red Meat, Chicken-Free |
Top 5 ingredients | Deboned Beef, Beef Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- This recipe uses red meat as the main source of protein, such as beef, lamb, and venison, in addition to fishmeal.
- With the second-highest protein content on this list, it’s great for those puppies who are super energetic or are preparing to become working ranch dogs when they are older.
- This recipe includes Blue Buffalo’s unique LifeSource Bits, which are nutrient-packed cold-formed kibble pieces optimized for puppies.
- It’s a grain-free formula that instead relies on healthy veggies for your pup’s energy and fiber, such as peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
3. Instinct Grain Free Dry Dog Food, Original Raw Coated Natural High Protein Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Salmon |
Top 5 ingredients | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat, Tapioca |
Item Form | Pellet, Raw, Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Instinct Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is also a great options for your Australian Shepherd friend
- Salmon, white fish meal, menhaden fish meal, and herring meal are the main sources of protein, and along with freeze-dried cod, beef, beef liver, beef heart, beef kidney, and beef spleen you can rest assured that this recipe is super tasty and nutritious.
- Great for fussy Australians, this recipe also has freeze-dried raw toppers in addition to kibble chunks.
- The ingredients of the fish provide a lot of omega fatty acids, which means that its coat will be shiny and luxuriously fed, and its heart and cognitive function will be taken care of.
- Apples, cranberries, and a list of vitamins and minerals take care of her immune health, while pumpkin seeds and chickpeas provide energy.
4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Chicken, Grain-Free |
Top 5 ingredients | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Peas, Tapioca Starch, |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Blue Buffalo is the best-known dog food brand as adult dogs need a high protein diet than Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Dry Dog Food is the best option for your best friend.
- Following the Wilderness puppy formula, this recipe uses boneless beef and fishmeal as the first two ingredients, with boneless lamb and venison listed below. Blueberries, cranberries, and added vitamin supplements keep it fit.
- This is a grain-free recipe and peas and sweet potatoes provide healthy complex carbohydrates that are gentle on your digestive system, and probiotic ingredients like Lactobacillus acidophilus help support healthy gut flora.
5. Nulo Adult Dog Food: Grain Free
Main features –
Flavor | Salmon |
Top 5 ingredients | Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole Peas, Sweet Potato, |
Item Form | Pellet, Raw, Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- This recipe has high protein and low GI ingredients, which is great for active Aussies who need energy but want an easy-to-digest recipe. Probiotic solutions are added to this recipe to soothe her aging gut.
- This recipe uses alternative protein sources like boneless trout, turkey and salmon, making it a great option for fussy or intolerant Australians.
- Sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and lentils replace grains for energy and fiber, which also help him feel fuller for longer.
- Trout, turkey meal, and salmon meal provide plenty of omega-fatty acids. This food is stacked with glucosamine for its aging joints.
6. Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Chicken |
Top 5 ingredients | Chicken, Brewers Rice, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Corn, |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Hill’s Science Plan ™ Senior Vitality has been scientifically developed to work with the biology of your adult dog over 7 years of age.
- This innovative recipe with fatty acids and antioxidants, including vitamin C + E, helps fight the effects of aging at the cellular level.
- This recipe has a lower protein content, which many senior dogs do much better, so this may be a better option for an inactive Aussie, but chicken is still the first ingredient. The egg product and fish oils promote cognitive function.
- Specific nutrition supports animals and their cells in aging. Hill’s Science Plan Senior Vitality has been scientifically formulated with ingredients that help support it.
7. Wellness Core Formula With Reduced Fat Content
Main features –
Flavor | Turkey & Chicken |
Top 5 ingredients | Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Lentils, Peas |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
Weight management is integral to keeping your dog fit, and healthy and keeps infections at bay, and it can be a difficult balance to manage.
Between tasty snacks and delicious food, making sure your dog has adequate weight must be a priority, and this low-fat formula option is a big help.
This formula has the best part: your dog won’t even know he is missing 25 percent fat. This food is great for weight loss and maintenance.
8. Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Chicken, Brown Rice, Barley |
Top 5 ingredients | Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Wheat |
Item Form | Dry |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Hills Science provides this line of products specifically to encourage and improve joint health and freedom in 30 days.
- This diet is best for the smaller breeds and another for the larger breeds.
- Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Dog Food is designed to improve joint cartilage and health along with glucosamine, chondroitin and omega-3 (EPA)
- The company has a whole group of veterinarians, food technicians, scientists, and nutritionists on their staff to develop their own foods.
- Top 8 Ingredients: Chicken Flour, Whole Wheat, Brewed Rice, Wholegrain Sorghum, Cracked Pearl Barley, Brown Rice, Soybean Meal, Dried Beet Pulp
- As mentioned in all of my recommended foods, bowel problems are always a potential dog-based concern.
9. Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food
Main features –
Flavor | Salmon and Potato |
Top 5 ingredients | Salmon, Fish Meal, Potatoes, Lentils, Peas, Pea Flour, |
Item Form | Pellet |
Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Reasons to suggest–
- Diamond Naturals Dog Food Gives your beloved dog the holistic and complete diet he needs with Diamond Naturals dry dog food.
- They are great poultry-free dog foods, especially those that may have food-related skin sensitivities. It is because of its waterproof kibble which includes a lot of wild salmon protein as the main ingredient.
- This dog food also offers whole fruits and vegetables such as legumes, peas, squash, blueberries, and papaya.
- It provides guaranteed probiotics for optimal nutrition and aids digestion for all dog breeds and ages. Give it to a dog if you want to follow a healthy and holistic diet. With the rich salmon flavor, your dog will love one bowl after another.
Guide To Buying Dog Food For Australian Shepherds
To Purchase You can purchase any random Australian Shepherd Kibble, however, my advice is to avoid doing this. You should first make sure of all your needs and make sure that the option you are getting has it all. After all, there’s no point in buying something if it doesn’t solve the purchase intent.
Here are some things to consider when shopping for Australian Shepherd kibble.
1. Your needs and product offerings
If you are buying an Australian Shepherd kibble for the first time, I recommend that you make a list of things you want it to do or use it for and check if the option you have chosen has the required characteristics to do so.
Note: Without knowing your exact needs, there is a chance that you may end up getting an option with more or less functionality. So please make sure of your needs before ordering it.
2. Price
Although the best Australian Shepherd kibble is priced around € 81.60 and the cheapest option costs around. However, shopping on a budget should be done after you’ve ascertained your needs. For example, there may be an option that may be within your budget but is unable to perform the business you are buying it for.
So what we learn here is that you should first find out your usage needs and then try looking at the Australian Shepherd Kibble option which can, once done set a budget and choose the option according to your preferences of budget.
It is better to wait and save a little more money for the Australian Shepherd Kibble that can perform all the tasks you are buying it for rather than getting the one that cannot do the basic job you are buying it for.
3. Brands
Buying a branded Australian Shepherd kibble not only improves the user experience but also ensures that you won’t face any problems in the future. Based on my research, some of the reputable brands you should consider are Lily’s Kitchen, Forza10, EUKANUBA, The Hunger of the Wolf, and Relaxdays.
4. Current and good offers
While your buying decision shouldn’t hinge much on offers, it’s always a good idea to check out current offers. Not only is there a chance to save money, but sometimes you might even get a better product for a much lower price. Isn’t that something everyone wants?
5. Warranty
Most branded Australian Shepherd kibbles have a decent warranty period where any manufacturing defects are covered or non-accidental issues are fixed for free. While most of us don’t think about it much, getting the option that comes with longer warranties can save you a lot of money and also ensure that the product is of the highest quality.
6. Lists
Tips, One of the most popular ways to find a reliable Australian Shepherd kibble is by looking at the lists of suggestions. Not just ours, but do a Google search and you may find endless listings that are highly researched and contain in-depth information. For example, this list of ours only includes high-quality options suitable for different use cases.
Frequent questions
What’s the best Australian Shepherd dry food in 2023?
According to my research, Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Complete dry food for adults & puppies. However, you can also consider Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein which comes with similar functionality and costs a little less & good for the Adult breed. If you are looking for an affordable option, consider purchasing Relaxdays Dog Food then you should consider Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula because it keeps your Australian Shepherd coat & skin healthy.
What is the cheapest Australian Shepherd dry food in 2023?
In my experience, it is the cheapest option. However, it may be missing some options, which is why you need to ascertain your needs before finalizing them.
What are some reliable Australian Shepherd kibble brands?
When it comes to Australian Shepherd kibble, the following are the highly reputable brands that offer high-quality products and services: Lily’s Kitchen, Forza10, Relaxdays, and so on.
What is the average amount spent on the purchase of Australian Shepherd kibble?
Although the average can vary a lot due to the huge price differences between the best and the cheapest, based on my calculations, the average price paid for purchasing an Australian Shepherd kibble is $ 38 to 40.
What is the most expensive Australian Shepherd dry food?
Lily’s Kitchen Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb – Complete Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs, 12kg is the most expensive option on our list. It has most of the features and comes with a premium build quality, therefore, making it a bit expensive.
Should I consider buying from Amazon?
No matter what you order, Amazon is known for its high-quality service and ensures that the product meets your needs. In fact, it is much more reliable than the sellers in the local market and many other e-commerce stores.
Verdict
As stated above, finding the right Australian Shepherd dry food can be a daunting task for many of us. The best way to not overspend or underestimate is to look into the features and make sure the option you have chosen is capable of doing all the tasks you need to do.
No matter what your usage needs are, I have put tremendous effort into making sure the options on this list are highly suitable for all purposes. However, as mentioned in our buying guide, you should always make sure that the Australian Shepherd Kibble you have chosen is capable of all the tasks you are buying it for.