![An Australian shepherd puppy eating from a bowl because their owner doesn’t know how much to feed Australian shepherd puppy.]](https://www.bishopwcmartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot_20250926-180432.jpg)
[image:https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/aussie-australian-shepherd-puppy-blue-marble-2569538089 alt text: An Australian shepherd puppy eating from a bowl because their owner doesn’t know how much to feed Australian shepherd puppy.]
[meta description: Knowing how much feed is appropriate for your puppy is critical for healthy growth. Our article details how much to feed Australian shepherd puppy.]
Australian shepherds are one of the cutest and most adorable dogs, especially as puppies. Given their energetic nature and rapid growth, they require a good amount of feed. You can’t just feed an Australian shepherd all they can eat, though. According to the pros at Dog Academy, the portions for every meal must be controlled in order to ensure your Australian shepherd grows in a healthy way.
Naturally, after they buy an Australian shepherd puppy, owners of this breed can be at a loss and ask how much to feed their puppy. While the feeding guidelines can be a good place to start, they can be misleading as factors like adult weight (which is nearly impossible to tell when your dog is a puppy), lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors all have an impact on how much exactly an Aussie puppy needs to eat.
All these can be difficult to wrap your head around, especially if you’re having a medium-sized but energetic dog like the Australian shepherd for the first time. Fortunately for those wondering about the same, this article is here to help. Read on to get an answer to how much to feed Australian shepherd puppy.
How Much to Feed an Australian Shepherd Puppy (2 to 4 Months)
Australian shepherd puppies are in their rapid growth phase from two to four months and require three to four meals a day. Depending on the dog food, they should eat about three-quarters to one cup of dog food per day, which equals a little less than one-quarter to half a cup of dog food per meal.
During this period, monitor your puppy’s body condition and check in with your veterinarian during visits for vaccines to ensure your puppy’s weight is healthy and you’re feeding the right amount. To also help your dog with a consistent routine, avoid free-feeding and set a schedule for mealtime, which is also proven to help with training.
Summary: Feed three quarters to one cup of dog food per day in three or four meals.
How Much to Feed an Australian Shepherd Puppy (Four to Six Months)
At four to six months, your Australian shepherd puppy is still experiencing rapid growth but also likely becoming more active. They should be more curious and adventurous at this life stage, and consequently, require more food to sustain their growth and energy levels.
Around this time, you can reduce the number of meals to three (or even two if their digestion is stable) and increase their food intake to one to one and a half cups of dog food per day. This equals half a cup to three-quarters of a cup of dog food per meal if feeding twice, or ⅓ to half a cup of dog food per meal for three meals a day.
Summary: Feed 1 to 1 ½ cups of dog food per day in two or three meals.
How Much to Feed an Australian Shepherd Puppy (Six to 12 Months)
When your Australian puppy reaches six months, they should be eating two meals. Most Aussie puppies pack on a good amount of muscle by six months and appear bigger at six months, though they are still puppies.
From six to twelve months, your Australian shepherd puppy should eat one and a half to two and a half cups of dog food per day. This means that in each meal, your pup will eat three-quarters to one and one-quarter cups of dog food.
One mistake many Aussie owners make is switching to adult food after six or nine months – you should continue feeding puppy food until your vet or an animal nutritionist tells you to make the switch, as Aussies tend to continue their growth until they are 16 months.
Summary: One and a half to two and a half cups of dog food per day in two meals.
Other Things to Note About How Much to Feed Your Australian Shepherd Puppy
The above amounts for feeding an Australian shepherd puppy are recommendations, just like the feeding tables you see on the back of dog food packages. The weight of your Aussie puppy, your and your dog’s lifestyle, the dog food you’re using, and the dog’s temperament all have a say in how much to feed an Australian shepherd puppy.
When determining the exact amount to feed your Aussie puppy, get guidance from your veterinarian or an animal nutritionist. In the meantime, refer to our article to have a starting point for how much to feed your pup.
