How much should I feed my Kelpie?

The feeding guide on the bag is a starting point, not a prescription. It's built on an average dog doing an average amount, and very few Kelpies are average at anything.

Use it for the first week or two, then let the dog tell you the rest. Run your hands over the ribs. You want to feel them under a thin layer of cover, not see them poking out and not have to press to find them. Look down at your dog from above and you should see a waist behind the ribcage. From the side, the belly should tuck up rather than run flat.

Workload changes things a lot. A Kelpie doing long days on a hill block through a cold Southland winter can need a good deal more food than the same dog through a quiet, hot February. A town Kelpie getting an hour of running and a bit of yard work usually needs less than the bag suggests, not more. Adjust in small steps, around 10% at a time, and give it a fortnight before you judge.

If your dog is losing condition on plenty of food, or gaining on very little, that's a conversation to have with your vet rather than a maths problem to solve at the bin.