hi everybody,i just wondered if anyone can tell me what protein content my 7months border collies complete dry food should contain please?ive heard it shouldnt be too high,but thats no help since i dont know what"high"is!she has 2 meals a day now,but never seems very hungry.she must be getting enough though as she looks fine.thanks,pam

I don't think there is any problems with feeding a collie a 'high' protein food. With large/giant breeds it is believed by many that a protein content higher than 23-25% can put too much stress on allready rapidly growing body, but with smaller breeds (breeds smaller than the very large & giant breeds) they aren't under the stress of rapid growth to start with.

If your pup has come from a good breeder, one that you trust, I think it is wise to stick to the food they have recomended (provided your pup is happy & healthy on that food), as they should be feeding that food due to the success they have with it :)

I think a lot would depend on your girls growth rate and the type of 'strain' she is. I always drop my puppies to around 20% to 23% at about 6 or 7 months old but that is because a higher protein level would affect their coat. In Border Collies I have seen many at training classes who have been advised to do the same because they are so 'over-the-top' If she is more of a show type, they tend to be heavier boned than the working or farm type so may need a little extra for a bit longer. There are a number of Border Collie owners on this forum so some expert help should be on its way to you soon.

thankyou bothshe probably not a show pup,but i dont know as she was a 60th birthday present from my son(id lost one of my old collies,so he thought i might be vaguely happy to have her.i was!)

My three BCs are all on a raw diet so are fed a high percentage of protein with no ill effects in fact completely the opposits prior to this I fed Orijen which is high in protein and again with good results.

My oldest BC was on puppy food (probably about 26%) until around 5 months, I then had to reduce her to an adult food (probably about 20% protein) as she was really quite hyper.  The rest of the gang have remained on puppy food until around 9-10 months then changed to adult food.  I assume you're still feeding a puppy food with you asking about protein levels, if your collie is fit and healthy and has a good coat, then it's probably the right level for now, but I would look towards swopping to adult food in the next few months. Hope this helps.

yes thankyou,she certainly looks healthy enough with a nice glossy coat.Ineed to buy another sack of food for her this weekend,so probly one more sack of puppy,and  then adult the next time,then.My old lady,flyss(shes 14 on the 20th!)needs a new sack too,and im debating whether to swap her to senior,or leave well alone and continue with the lite.Does anyone else mix a bit of tinned food in with the dry?ive found a shop that sells those frozen packs of minced raw meats,and was considering trying that instead of the tinned.Going by your name,may i ask,are you into working trials?im not myself,but i know some people,including my trainer ,who are,it looks fascinating!thanks for replying!

Hi colliepam, I do add tinned meat, and fresh meat to our dried food.  Not all the time but occasionally.  I also cook up fresh meat and rice and replace their complete with that some times.  Variety is the spice of life!
I don't do working trials, though have been looking into it.  The Trialist comes from, I guess, sheepdog trials.  I have 2 4-legged uns that work sheep very nicely, hampered by their inadequate handler :-) and one who is about to be thrown to the sheep.  I had hoped to start nursery trials last winter, but other things got the better of me.  Maybe this winter?  Having watched the fabuluous handlers and dogs at the international sheepdog trials I feel truly inspired, though even more inadequate!

oh well done,it must be such a fantastic feeling,working your dogs to sheep!i wish you the best!and thanks for your reply!