Collie Feeding Schedule Planner

Building the Right Feeding Schedule for Your Collie

Enter your Collie's weight and age above to get a personalized feeding schedule with portion sizes and meal timing. Consistency in feeding time and quantity is one of the most important things you can do for your dog's digestive health and behaviour.

The Collie is best known as Lassie, the fictional TV hero — and the real breed lives up to the legend. Originally bred in Scotland and Northern England as a sheepherding dog, Collies are highly intelligent, graceful, and deeply devoted to their families. They excel at obedience, agility, and herding trials. Their thick double coats require significant grooming maintenance. An important health note: many Collies carry the MDR1 gene mutation, making them sensitive to certain common drugs.

Recommended Feeding Frequency by Age

2–3 months: 4 meals per day
3–6 months: 3 meals per day
6–12 months: 2–3 meals per day
Adult Collie (1–7 years): 2 meals per day (morning and evening)
Senior Collie (7+ years): 2 smaller meals per day

A typical adult Collie weighing 67 lbs needs approximately 1268 calories daily, which works out to roughly 3.4 cups of standard kibble split across two meals — about 1.7 cups per meal.

Feeding Schedule Tips for Collies

Feed at consistent times each day — ideally morning and evening, 8–12 hours apart. Consistent timing regulates digestion, reduces begging behaviour, and makes house training significantly easier. Avoid exercising your Collie immediately after eating, especially if they are a larger breed, to reduce the risk of bloat (GDV).

Measure portions precisely using a kitchen scale or dedicated measuring cup — "eyeballing" portions is one of the most common causes of obesity in dogs. Account for all treats, chews, and toppers in the daily calorie count.

Choosing the Right Food for Your Collie

Look for dog food where the first ingredient is a named protein (chicken, beef, salmon — not "meat meal"). Collies benefit from food with at least 25% protein content and moderate fat levels. Avoid fillers like corn syrup, artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT), and vague ingredient labels like "animal by-products."

Breed-specific formulas exist for many of these characteristics and can be a good starting point, but they are not mandatory — a high-quality standard adult formula works just as well for most Collies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I feed my Collie once or twice a day?
A: Twice daily is recommended for most Collies. Splitting daily calories into two meals reduces hunger, improves digestion, and is associated with lower bloat risk in larger breeds.

Q: Can I leave food out all day for my Collie?
A: Free-feeding is not recommended for Collies, as it makes calorie control impossible and is a major contributor to obesity. Scheduled mealtimes also strengthen your role as a provider, which supports training.

Disclaimer: These are general guidelines. Your veterinarian can give breed- and dog-specific recommendations based on a physical examination.