The best dog food for Border Collies to fuel your active and intelligent pooch

Containing 30 per cent protein and 20 per cent healthy fats, the recipe of the Purina Pro Plan Adult Performance Dry Dog Food will help your Border Collie maintain lean muscle and sustain energy throughout the day. It includes real chicken as the first ingredient, with amino acids for muscle recovery after long play or agility sessions, plus EPA and glucosamine to keep joints healthy, which is exactly what you need for a breed that never stops moving.

Customers online say this food keeps their Border Collie in peak condition. Many noticed increased stamina and improved coat shine, and it’s clearly very tasty because reviewers have also commented that even picky eaters are happily finishing their meals when they’ve got this in their bowl. Some reviewers found that their dog’s stool was a bit looser during the transition period of switching from their old food to this new food, but after their dog was used to it, this was no longer an issue.

Border Collies are high-energy, intelligent dogs that need a diet packed with quality protein, fresh vegetables, and the right balance of nutrients, which is exactly what Butternut Box delivers. This fresh dog food subscription service is packed with human-quality ingredients, with no fillers or other nasties, just wholesome, gently cooked meals designed to fuel your active pooch.

Signing up for Butternut Box is easy. You just need to fill in details of your dog’s breed, age, weight and lifestyle, alongside any allergies or health concerns you may have, and Butternut Box will recommend a tailored food plan based on your dog’s information. Owners, including our tester Hannah, love how easy it is to tweak portions or mix meals with kibble if your pooch likes a bit of variety in their bowl. For Hannah’s dog Waffle, a fussy Dachshund who had snubbed plenty of wet foods before, Butternut Box has changed the experience of mealtimes. From the very first bowl, which was warmed up slightly to unleash some extra aroma, Waffle wolfed it down and hasn’t looked back since. Waffle may not be a Border Collie, but if your Collie can be a bit of a picky eater, they’re bound to enjoy Butternut Box.

The quality of this food shines through with real meat, fish and veg that actually smell good enough to eat. As well as smelling good, it’s doing good for your pooch, too, with pet owners reporting a difference in coat condition and energy levels since switching to Butternut Box. As the cost of Butternut Box is tailored to the specific needs of your dog, the price will differ from dog to dog. The cost can soon add up, too, for a medium-to-large breed like a Border Collie. You’ll also need to make sure you’ve got plenty of freezer space to store the meals as they arrive frozen, ready for you to thaw out before your pup’s next meal. That being said, customers appreciate that the food is delivered straight to their door on a regular schedule, so their pup never runs out of food.

Read our full Butternut Box review to find out more.

Packed with 100 per cent natural ingredients, Lily's Kitchen Lamb Dry Dog Food delivers high-quality protein from freshly prepared lamb, ensuring strong muscles and stamina in abundance. The natural ingredients make this food super tasty, so even the pickiest of eaters will be drawn to what's in their bowl. The addition of fruits, veggies, and botanicals, like marigold and dandelion root, adds to the nutritional value and goodness of this food, and it also supports joint health, which is needed for Collies that never stop moving.

Dog owners online love that this food is grain-free, making it a fantastic choice for Collies with sensitive stomachs or allergies. However, remember that while the recipe is grain-free, it's made in a factory that handles grains, so traces could be present, which could be an issue if your Collie has a severe allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to grains. According to reviewers, dogs who have switched to this food have had a shinier coat and healthier digestion since switching.

With Border Collies being as energetic and active as they are, it’s important that you take care of their joints so they can have a spring in their step for years to come. That’s where Pooch & Mutt Joint Care Dry Dog Food comes in. It contains glucosamine and chondroitin, so this grain-free kibble is designed to keep joints strong and supple to help your Collie stay on the move well into their golden years.

This Pooch & Mutt food is also rich in Omega-3 as it contains a total of 45 per cent salmon. This will make such a difference to the condition of your Collie’s coat, leaving it looking and feeling soft and silky. As it’s a fishy food, you can expect it to have a strong smell as it hits your pup’s bowl. You may not like it, but your pooch will love it. Dog owners have noticed an improvement in their pup’s mobility after switching to this food, so if you’re looking for a nutritious food that will support your Collie’s joints as they grow, this one is a top choice.

Designed for active dogs who need stamina and muscle support, Skinner's Field & Trial Complete Dry Working 23 Adult Dog Food will provide all the fuel your hardworking Border Collie needs to stay full of energy. It’s packed with high-quality protein (23 per cent to be precise) plus a balanced mix of good fats and carbohydrates to ensure your Border Collie is getting all the goodness they need to be fighting fit. Vitamins and minerals that are essential for joint health are also included, which is a must for Collies who are always on the go.

A shiny coat, strong muscles, and bundles of energy to run around all day long are just some of what this food will provide your Collie, based on reviews from other dog owners online. A few pet owners have noted that while this food is fantastic for active dogs, it might be slightly too rich for Collies with a more relaxed lifestyle and could cause them to gain weight in the long run if their portions aren’t carefully managed due to its high wheat and maize content. However, if your Collie is constantly on the move, this Skinner’s food will deliver the energy and nutrition they need to thrive.

Packed with 80 per cent high-quality protein in the form of lamb, ostrich, chicken and salmon, this Pooch & Mutt High Protein Food will help keep muscles strong for agility, herding or just endless games of fetch. Lamb and ostrich are lean, highly digestible sources of protein that will keep your Collie full and satisfied without using unnecessary fillers.

Pet owners love how the formula of this high-protein food is also grain-free and supports digestion. Plenty of comments report shinier coats, healthier stool and reduced itching thanks to this food. A handful of reviewers mention that the kibble size is a bit large, so smaller Border Collies might take a bit more time chomping it down, but for the breed average, this shouldn’t be an issue.

If your Border Collie's tummy needs a little TLC, the Royal Canin Digestive Care Medium Breed Adult Dry Dog Food will ensure they're getting highly digestible, gut-friendly nutrition while still providing them with all the energy they need. This food is designed for dogs weighing between 11-25kg, which is in the average weight range for both male and female Collies. It contains a balance of insoluble and soluble fibres that support a healthy intestinal environment while encouraging solid, healthy stool production. This food also includes a blend of prebiotics that help beneficial bacteria in their intestines.

Thanks to the Omega 6 fatty acids included in the food, this Digestive Care kibble will ensure your Border Collie's coat is healthy and shiny, which is something that is echoed in the reviews by other pet owners. In addition to an improvement in coat condition, reviewers have noticed an improvement in gas and loose stools their dog has in just a few weeks, so it works wonders to promote a happy gut. The main ingredient of this food is rice, and it also contains wheat, maize and barley, so it might not suit your Collie if they have a grain allergy. A few reviewers have mentioned the kibble size might be a bit small for Border Collies, but this may all depend on how big your Collie is.