The Border Collie is a medium-size dog (12 to 20 kg) with energy to spare and a herding-work history that feeds straight into the calorie calculation — he burns more energy than a moderately active dog of the same size. Part of the breed also carries the MDR1/ABCB1 mutation, which does not change the food, but is relevant to medication safety.
In the current My Pet Magazine analysis, the best food for the Border Collie is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials (Purina Pro Plan), with a technical score of 91.7/100 (🌟 Superior Quality), calculated with the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI methodology across 49 dog foods reviewed in July 2026. See the full ranking ↓
What to weigh in food for the Border Collie
Energy and fat. The Border Collie was selected over centuries for stamina and speed in herding, and that calls for more kilocalories per kilo of body weight than a dog of similar size with a quieter routine. A food with higher caloric density and fat sustains that expenditure without needing enormous portions.
Protein for physical effort. Good-quality, highly digestible protein helps keep muscle mass in shape in a dog that moves a great deal — whether training, actual herding or sports such as agility. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) comes in as extra support for muscle and joint recovery after effort.
MDR1 mutation — not a food matter. Part of the Border Collie population carries the MDR1/ABCB1 mutation, which makes the dog more sensitive to certain drugs. That changes nothing in the food's composition, but it is worth telling the veterinarian before administering dewormers or other medications.
Criteria scored against the My Pet Magazine nutritional targets (protein, fat, calcium and caloric density ranges by size — see our methodology).
Breed profile and predispositions
Historically bred to herd, the Border Collie has one of the highest energy requirements among medium-size breeds. The FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2024 define the maintenance energy requirement (MER) based on the dog's activity level, not only on weight — working dogs like the Border Collie, involved in herding, agility or intense training, can need considerably more energy than a sedentary dog of the same size.
The breed is also among those predisposed to the MDR1/ABCB1 mutation, which compromises the function of P-glycoprotein — the protein that normally keeps certain substances from crossing the barrier between blood and brain. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, about 5% of Border Collies carry the mutation, which makes them more sensitive to doses of ivermectin and to other drugs that would not affect a dog without the mutation. That does not change the food's nutritional composition, but it is important information for the dog's veterinary management — not least because a genetic test is commercially available to identify it.
Recommended foods for the Border Collie
Ranked by IDNM/IPFI technical score across 49 dog foods — no manual product curation.
- 1
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials · Purina Pro Plan
91.7/100 - 2
Wellness Complete Health Small Breed · Wellness
91.1/100 - 3
Merrick Grain-Free Adult · Merrick
90.6/100 - 4
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed · Blue Buffalo
89.3/100 - 5
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages · Diamond Naturals
88.4/100
Frequently asked questions about Border Collie food
- Does my Border Collie need to eat more than other dogs of the same size?
- He does. It is a breed created to work herding all day, with high energy expenditure. According to FEDIAF, working or very active dogs like the Border Collie need considerably more calories per day than a sedentary dog of the same weight.
- What is this MDR1 mutation the Border Collie may have?
- It is a genetic mutation that makes the dog more sensitive to some drugs, such as ivermectin at high doses, because it compromises a protective mechanism of the brain. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, about 5% of Border Collies carry that mutation. It does not change the type of food — it is information to take to the veterinarian before administering certain medications.
- Can I find out whether my Border Collie has the MDR1 mutation?
- You can. There is a genetic test available, done with a blood sample or a cheek swab, that confirms whether he carries the mutation. It is worth doing before deciding on high-dose dewormers, above all. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, about 5% of Border Collies carry the mutation — testing first avoids a severe reaction in those cases.
- My Border Collie does agility — does he need a different food?
- He needs more calories and more fat in the diet than a Border Collie with a quieter routine. FEDIAF calculates energy requirements from the dog's actual activity level, not just from weight or breed — the more he trains or competes, the more energy the food needs to deliver.
- Does every Border Collie have the MDR1 mutation?
- No. Only about 5% carry the mutation, according to VCA Animal Hospitals — a minority, but frequent enough to be worth asking the veterinarian about, especially before using high-dose dewormers.
Methodology
The block of recommended foods on this page is ordered by My Pet Magazine's IDNM/IPFI technical methodology, which evaluates the nutritional density and ingredient purity of each product in the active dataset for the Border Collie's high-energy medium-size profile — with no manual curation or brand influence.
The score takes into account each food's caloric adequacy and macronutrient profile relative to the breed's activity level, with the ranking recalculated whenever the product dataset is updated.
The ranking on this page is a projection of the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI scoring engine over the dog dataset, with no manual product curation. See the full methodology →
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