Also known as the Australian Cattle Dog, a Blue Heeler is a medium-sized dog that is easy to train and intelligent, whose health depends on proper feeding schedules and healthy foods during puppyhood.
Understanding how much to feed a Blue Heeler Puppy is your responsibility as an owner to ensure that your puppy gets what they need to be healthy and happy.
Keeping a Blue Heeler puppy feeding chart with you at all times and sticking to it ensures that your puppy maintains a healthy weight, gets proper nutrition, and establishes eating habits that they will carry to adulthood.
Continue reading to get more information about how to properly feed your Blue Heeler puppy, when to switch to adult food, nutritional requirements for Blue Heelers, and many more!
How Much Should A Blue Heeler Puppy Eat?
How much to feed an Australian Cattle Dog puppy depend on certain factors such as age, body condition, lifestyle, health, and the type of food.
Since they are active dogs, you should consider providing food that gives them energy and helps them build muscles. Also, puppies should eat more food than adult dogs.
If you are feeding your Blue Heeler kibbles or wet food, the cups of food they should eat is indicated on the packaging. For raw and homemade foods, consult with your vet to ensure that you get the right mix of nutrients for your puppy.
As a puppy, your Blue Heeler needs to be fed 3 to 4 times but when they are adults their meals per day should be reduced to one or two meals depending on their weight and physical activity.
Best Dog Food For Blue Heeler Puppies (2022)
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Dog Food (Editor’s Choice)
- Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dog Food (Runner-Up)
Blue Heeler Feeding Chart
An Australian Cattle Dog puppy feeding chart explains in detail the exact amounts your puppy needs daily as well as the number of times they should be fed per day.
Knowing the exact amount of food to give to your puppy helps them maintain a healthy weight and prevents overeating or undereating which can be detrimental to their health.
Distributing the food throughout the day keeps your dog’s energy and sugar level balanced.
You can calculate your Blue Heeler’s Resting Energy Requirement and multiply it by two to find out the right number of calories to feed them per day.
RER = (weight in kgs)3/4 * 70.
Below is a detailed explanation of a Blue Heeler or Australian Cattle Dog feeding chart that you can follow
4-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
During this stage, your Blue Heeler is still depending on their mother’s milk for nutrition, so they should not be separated but still, live together.
You can introduce small amounts of kibble mixed with water or puppy formula to see whether they are interested. However, you should not force the food on them if they do not want to eat it.
6-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
You should start weaning your Blue Heeler on the 6th week, but they are still drinking their mother’s milk.
The mother will help with the weaning process as you will notice that she will slowly stay away from the puppy to allow them to eat the food.
Also, the puppy should now be interested in the food. ¼ cup of food is enough and it should be divided into four equal mealtimes to allow time for digestion.
8-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
During the 8th week, the puppy is ready to be moved to their new home and should be fully weaned by this time. They should be off the mother’s milk and now eating puppy food which can be mixed with puppy formula or water to aid in digestion.
One cup of food is enough, and your puppy should eat four times per day.
10-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
At 10 weeks, your Blue Heeler puppy is experiencing increased appetite and by now they should have adjusted to their new home. They should eat around one to two cups of food per day divided four times.
You should monitor the food they are eating to prevent overeating, even though they need more calories.
12-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
At three months, your Blue Heeler is now eating more food as they are burning more calories because of their increased physical activity and growth. Hence, they should eat about 2 to 3 cups, divided three times per day.
14-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
Stick to the same amounts as the 12th week during this week, that is between two to three cups per day. They should also be eating three times a day.
Ensure that they stay active so that they can make use of the calories to prevent weight gain.
16-Week-Old Blue Heeler Puppy
At four months old, your Blue Heeler puppy needs more nutrients as they could be experiencing a growth spurt and need more nutrients and calories as they are more active now.
So, you should increase the amount to 3 cups, three times per day.
6 Months – 12 Months Old Blue Heeler Puppy
From the age of six months to one year, your puppy should be fed between 2 and 3 cups, eating twice per day.
Since your Blue Heeler will be exercising more, they may need more calories, therefore, you should monitor their hunger levels but also make sure you are watching their weight to avoid obesity.
12 Months & Above Blue Heeler
From the age of one year, your Blue Heeler reaches their adult size, and they need to be fed adult dog food because they now have different needs.
The process of transitioning should be done slowly to prevent upsetting your puppy’s stomach.
As an adult, your Border Collie needs to be fed one to two times per day. They need between 2 and 3 cups of food.
Understanding Blue Heeler Puppy Nutritional Needs
Meeting your puppy’s nutritional needs ensures that they develop and grow well.
A Blue Heeler puppy needs 22.5% protein in their daily meals which help in making their muscles strong and keeps them physically fit for indoor and outdoor activities.
Look for food specifically made for puppies so that your Blue Heeler can get the right amount of nutrients and digest it properly.
Since Blue Heelers are prone to hip dysplasia, they need to be fed foods rich in chondroitin and glucosamine to help with their joints.
Most commercial foods contain preservatives and fillers which is not healthy for puppies. therefore, consider organic alternatives even though they are pricier.
How Many Times A Day To Feed A Blue Heeler Puppy?
Scheduling your puppy’s meals will keep their weight in check and maintain their overall health. Blue Heelers have different feeding schedules in their puppyhood stage.
You can adjust the feeding schedules as needed depending on your puppy’s health, exercise level, and availability.
Whichever schedule you follow, ensure that your puppy does not eat very late as they may need to use the bathroom at night which can be annoying.
Between 8 and 12 weeks, your puppy eats four times. From three months to 6 months your puppy eats three times per day and from 6 months onwards, your puppy eats twice per day.
Kibble vs Wet Food for Blue Heeler Puppies
Kibble is a good choice for dog food if you are on a budget. Kibbles also store well as they don’t spoil fast and will help keep your dog’s teeth healthy because of the crunchy texture.
When choosing kibble, ensure that it does not contain fillers and is made up of organic ingredients and good-quality protein.
Wet food is great for puppies who are weaning and teething, as it is easy to chew than kibble. Wet food also has a higher moisture content which keeps your puppy hydrated. However, they spoil quickly.
Most dog owners mix both kibble and wet to get the best of the two foods.
Switching From Puppy Food to Adult Food
If your Blue Heeler is losing interest in their food, it may be time to change their food to adult food.
The process of transitioning should be done slowly over 7 and 10 days to avoid causing issues such as loose stool, diarrhea, digestive issues, and upset stomach.
Start by adding small amounts of their new food to the old food until it is fully adult food in the bowl. Ensure that your puppy is getting enough water during this period to aid in the transitioning.
What If My Blue Heeler Puppy Won’t Eat?
There are situations where your Blue Heeler puppy does not eat much food, and this may make you panic.
However, you need to first rule out other reasons including being nervous after being adopted because of their new surroundings, food taste preference, digestive upsets, and teeth problems.
If your puppy has not eaten for almost a day and you suspect that your puppy could be ill, take them to the vet for assessment.
The vet will examine whether your puppy has any underlying issues that are making them not eat.
Can You Freefeed A Blue Heeler Puppy?
Free feeding is the method where you leave food in a bowl for the whole day and your puppy will have access to it at any time they wish to eat. This method encourages unnecessary eating which may lead to weight gain.
Free feeding can be done to sick or younger puppies during the weaning process but not to older puppies.
Even though it is an easy and convenient method of feeding, it can make house training your puppy challenging.
Also, if you are feeding your puppy wet food, it will go bad quickly if it is left out in the open for a longer period causing stomach issues.
How Long To Feed A Blue Heeler Puppy?
When your Blue Heeler puppy reaches adulthood, which is normally between the ages of 18 and 24 months, they should be transitioned from puppy food to adult food because their nutritional needs have now changed.
In the puppyhood stage, your Blue Heeler puppy needs to eat food that is specifically designed for younger dogs to help them accomplish the different growth milestones.
They eat more calories than adult dogs as they go through a lot of development and are more active.
When your Blue Heeler becomes an adult dog, they eat foods that help them maintain lean muscles and give them energy.
Best Puppy Dog Food For Blue Heeler
1. Taste wild Protein Prairie Premium Dog Food
Editor’s Choice
The Prairie premium dog food is a grain-free recipe that provides ideal amounts of digestible energy for the growing puppy.
It has unique flavors from vegetables, roasted meats, fruits, and legumes.
This combination makes it easy for a puppy to love their meal. They also need the meal for overall vitality. The guaranteed levels of DHA with perfectly balanced nutrition are good for pregnant or nursing Blue Heeler mothers.
The meal has an attractive taste. The fruits and vegetables have anti-oxidants for a healthy lifestyle.
Pros
- Highly digestible
- Excellent nutrition
- Good taste
- Antioxidants provide support for a healthy lifestyle.
Cons
- Suspected to cause heart disease in the USA.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Protein Natural Dog Food
Runner-Up
This Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry food has the meat that the Blue Heeler will love. It satisfies the natural love of meat for dogs.
The dog food had high protein and the grain-free formula with chicken and the anti-oxidants rich source. It is also enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
The protein-rich chicken helps in supporting healthy muscle growth.
This dog food has ingredients that boost health development including DHA and ARA along with important fatty acids that support retinal health and also boost cognitive development. This dog food has no chicken by-products.
Pros
- Real meat
- Availability of grain-free formula
- High protein dog food
- For dogs with unique needs
Cons
- Different kibble sizes
- Causes runny stool
3. Nutro Ultra Proteins Chicken/Salmon Dog Food
The Nutro Ultra protein dry dog food is a high-quality animal protein with whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
The recipe for this meal is made with proteins of high quality that your Blue Heeler will like. It has real chicken s its first ingredient. Dog food is made with non-GMO ingredients.
The Nutro Ultra Protein has recipes the Blue Heeler will like because they are specifically formulated for this type of breed and each stage.
This dog food is endorsed by the Nutro brand and is following the Nutro Feed Clean philosophy which is simple, trustworthy, and purposeful.
Pros
- Has non-GMO ingredients
- Real and high-quality protein
- Contains whole grains
Cons
- Could not find one
4. Purina Smartblend Natural healthy Formula
This dog food has real chicken as its number one ingredient to offer protein the puppy needs for strong muscles and heart.
It has DHA which is an important nutrient found in the mother’s milk.
It is easily digestible with other high-quality ingredients such as minerals, vitamins, and Omega-6 fatty acids. This dry food is crunchy and tender with a good taste for the dog.
Pros
- Vision and brain development
- Boosts immune system
- Promotes healthy skin and shiny coat
Cons
- Not for picky eaters
5. Eukanuba Puppy Large Breed Dog Food
This meal is balanced and complete and made to give the dog more energy. It is high-quality dog food with optimal levels of phosphorus and calcium to maintain muscle growth and bone health.
Its proven DHA levels promote the healthy development of the brain. Formulated with optimized carbohydrates and fat levels that allow the puppy to play as well as grow.
There are anti-oxidants plus vitamin E that offer support o the developing immune system. Chicken is the number one ingredient that will power your Blue Heeler.
Pros
- Phosphorus and calcium offer support to the development of muscles and bones
- High-quality carbohydrates and fats for maximum energy for all activities.
- DHA ensures smart and well-trainable puppies.
Cons
- Packaging challenges.
Is A Raw Diet Healthy For A Blue Heeler Puppy?
A raw diet is gaining popularity and is a good option as long as you learn the risks and benefits of giving this diet to your Blue Heeler puppy.
Provide your puppy with a BARF diet which consists of 60% raw meaty bones and 40% other raw food including vegetables, grains, and legumes.
The digestive system of dogs is designed to process bones and meat. They are also designed like humans. That is why they can digest other foods like processed commercial food.
A raw diet gives the dog the carnivorous diet made for them. Before feeding your dog raw food, ensure they are you feed them fresh meat and that the food is stored safely. In addition to that, protect your puppy’s teeth from hard bones.
How Much Do Blue Heeler Puppies Grow Each Week?
Keeping the Blue Heeler weight in check ensures that they have a healthy weight throughout their life and reduces the risk of getting ill.
A weekly weight check is not necessary but they add some weight every week.
In the first three months, the Blue Heeler gains about 1.5 pounds per week.
From three months to six months, they gain about 1 pound per week. Between 7 months and 12 months, he gains about 0.5 pounds per week.
Should You Feed Blue Heeler Puppy Supplements?
It is not necessary to give your Blue Heeler supplements if they are eating a balanced diet unless advised by the vet.
Puppies with a severe deficiency of a certain nutrient need supplements to enable them to get the necessary nutrients for healthy development and growth.
Puppies fed with raw or homemade food may be tricky to get the right amount of nutrients in the food, therefore, the vet may recommend supplements while commercial foods already have pre-mixed nutrients in the correct amounts.
How Much Water Should A Blue Heeler Puppy Drink?
Water is good in the diet of every dog. An ideal intake of water for every dog depends on the size and the level of activity.
The Blue Heeler needs about 1 ounce of fluid per pound of body weight. Hence, a dog who weighs 45 pounds should take around 5.5 cups.
Puppies transitioning to solid food need about 0.5 cups of water every two hours. After the full transition, the Blue Heeler puppies take between 0.5 and 1 fluid ounce per pound of the body weight daily.
It is recommended to set a schedule for the puppy’s water intake and always ration his water intake.
