Are you interested in owning a Labradoodle or are you a proud owner of one already? They are known to greet people and jump on them whenever they can, which means there’s never a dull moment when you own a Labradoodle.
With that being said, you’ll want to keep your dog healthy by giving them the best dog food for Labradoodles.
With their boundless energy and adorably curly hair, Labradoodles are one of the best companions for pet lovers.
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Best Dog Food for Labradoodles Comparison
- Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food
- CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Core® Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Natural Balance Whole Body Health Dry Puppy Formula
How To Choose Labradoodle Food
When properly trained, you will see that the Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle, can be an intelligent family dog. This breed is generally loving and social.
Because of their low shedding coat, they’re ideal indoor pets as well. Although most Labradoodles share personality traits, they can appear quite different from one another due to their hybrid genetic makeup.
Labradoodles are sometimes described as separate Australian or American types. Australian Labradoodles are the ones that are bred between two Labradoodles. The American Labradoodle, meanwhile, is commonly referred to as the first generation crosses.
A Labradoodle can get its coat from its long, wavy, curly Poodle parent, or the Labrador parent’s double coated short coat. They come in all sorts of sizes, which means they can be moderately huge or tiny.
Its build is square, refined, and athletic. Labradoodle muzzles can be long or short, and they have eyes surrounded by soft curls and ears that are full of curly hair as well. As for the Labradoodle’s colors, they mostly come in solid hues of apricots, black, or chocolate, though some come in part colors.
The average lifespan for Labradoodles is somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Like most dogs, they are vulnerable to several health issues that are often inherited from its parents. However, some Labradoodles are genetically strong and healthy, due to the perfect combination of genes inherited from its parents.
If your Labradoodle happens to inherit health conditions, they can be prone to developing ligament problems, eye disorders (retinal atrophy and cataracts), obesity, and hip dysplasia. A Labradoodle’s floppy ears can also cause ear infections.
Best Dog Food for Labradoodle with Allergies
As an owner of a Labradoodle, you should always be careful in monitoring its food habits because they tend to eat almost everything in sight. Because of this, your dog can develop certain food allergies, which can lead to serious health conditions, and sometimes, death.
It is important, therefore, to choose which dog food for Labradoodles is right for your beloved companion. To help you choose, here is a list of considerations for food for Labradoodles.
Calorie Intake
Labradoodles can grow to be fairly huge – not as big as English Mastiffs – but fairly reasonable in size. An average Labradoodle will weigh about 50 to 65 pounds, whether male or female. Due to this fact, you should make sure to match your dog’s calorie intake by its activity and age.
For example, a 60-pound Labradoodle needs to have an intake of 1313 kcal daily. If your pet is more active than the usual Labradoodle, you may need to take it up a notch to 2088 kcal per day. As your dog becomes older and becomes less active, you should bring it down to 1074 kcal daily.
Raw Feeding
A lot of pet owners practice raw feeding, especially those who want their pet to have an all natural diet consisting of vegetables and raw meats. Raw feeding can be a good thing for your Labradoodle, but take note that it should be done with care and with the guidance of a vet or an expert.
You can go for the BARF Diet, which means that you feed your dog raw meat (fish, lamb, beef, poultry), dairy products, and raw vegetables. When done properly, your Labradoodle is assured a healthy diet – sans controversial ingredients and cheap fillers. They will be less prone to allergies as well
However, raw diets can be a bit inconvenient, since you have to spend a lot of time preparing your pet’s food. It can also be expensive and risky especially if you do not have the knowledge of preparing it right. Fortunately, the BARF Diet can now be purchased or delivered if you can’t prepare your dog’s meals on your own.
To ensure your Labradoodle only gets a balanced and nutritious meal, make sure only to buy good quality meat. Some raw diets also consist of at least one organ: heart, tripe, pancreas, spleen, kidney, or liver. Make sure to include vegetables such as green beans, peas, or carrots as well. Low GI carbs like oats, brown rice, or sweet potato should also be included. To make the meal more scrumptious, you may add fish oil, herbs, or garlic.
Commercial Diet
Buying commercial dog food for Labradoodles can be a scary and daunting task for a lot of Labradoodle owners. These days, a lot of brands have been scrutinized for selling dog food with controversial ingredients, offering them for a lower price than other brands.
A tip for pet owners out there like you is this: Try to avoid bargain brands. Your commercial kibbles should only have the best ingredients.
Remember that premium dog food brands list real meat as their first ingredient. These brands do not have meat by-products, soy, and cornmeal – all of which are useless fillers.
Spot the packaging’s AAFCO statement as well – an indicator that this particular dog food for Labradoodles is specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your Labradoodle. An AAFCO seal also means that a certain brand follows the appropriate nutritional requirements no matter what the age of your dog is.
Macronutrients
As with most dogs, Labradoodles need a steady amount animal proteins to ensure they grow well. When buying dog food for Labradoodles, check the packaging to see if the ingredients include high-quality animal protein and that they are the primary source of your pet’s nutrition.
Vegetable and plant-derived proteins are also essential, but see to it that there are more animal protein components. In the ingredients list, check the first five ingredients before purchasing the product. If two or more grains are present, it means that particular dog food brands have more vegetable protein than animal protein in it.
Labradoodle Dog Food Reviews
Wellness Core® Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- No bad smell
- Aids your Labradoodle with digestion
- Pellets are chewable and appetizing for dogs
First on the list is Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food. As the name implies, these snacks are grain-free, making it the perfect treat for your allergy-prone Labradoodle. With this dog food, the risk of allergic reactions is minimized.
Wellness CORE only uses the best tasting and healthiest proteins such chicken and turkey, and also included on the list are essential vitamins and minerals, and real vegetables. This healthy balance of animal-based proteins and healthy fats make this dog food ideal for Labradoodles.
The product also boasts its all-natural ingredients derived from high quality products free of preservatives, artificial flavoring and colors, meat by-products, wheat, soy, and corn.
Natural Balance Whole Body Health Dry Puppy Formula
- Great taste
- Rich in antioxidants
- Maintains healthy coat and skin
Natural Balance Puppy Formula made it on the least for the reason that it promotes a balanced, holistic diet for baby Labradoodles. In fact, this product could be the best dog food for Labradoodle puppies.
This dry puppy formula is made of chicken, brown rice, flaxseed, duck meal, and various fruits and vegetables including blueberries, spinach, carrots, and many more. This means that each kibble is a rich source of healthy goodness.
If you take a good look at the recipe, you’ll notice that Natural Balance has ingredients rich in antioxidants, which help in strengthening the immune system. It’s also a rich source of protein to ensure optimal growth among pups. Also, this dog good is also rich in phosphorous and calcium to support the growth of your pet’s bones.
Each kibble in the packaging is designed so that your pup doesn’t have a hard time eating it. With its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, a diet of Natural Balance Puppy Formula will ensure that your pup’s coat and skin will be healthy. This food is also rich in protein, which is great for promoting healthy growth and lean muscle mass.
CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dry Dog Food
- Excellent ingredients
- Great tasting food for picky Labradoodles
- Best for dogs with sensitive stomachs
There are a lot of good things to say about Canidae, an independent and family-owned brand established in the mid-1990s. CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dry Dog Food is one of the brand’s best products, made from whole foods and locally-sourced ingredients. This particular dog food brand is known to aid in digestion.
For Labradoodles prone to food allergies, Canidae’s grain-free formula ensures that your pet is free of allergic reactions. Its main ingredients consist of fresh lamb, chicken meal, turkey meal, healthy fats, and complex carbs. The rest of the ingredients are also equally healthy: peas, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes are rich sources of protein, vitamins, and fiber — a mix you won’t find in most premium dog food.
CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dry Dog Food is available in Fresh Wild Boar, Fresh Salmon, Fresh Lamb, Fresh Duck, Fresh Chicken for Weight Management, Fresh Chicken for Seniors, Fresh Chicken for Puppies, and Fresh Bison. It’s a little on the pricier side, but it’s worth it.
Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food
- Grain-free
- Aids in digestion
- Moderately priced
Taste of the Wild dog foods are always a best-seller. It’s a common choice among pet owners looking for grain free foods at a fairly moderate price. The brand’s special formula is perfect for Labradoodles, which includes buffalo, chicken meal, and lamb meal as the first three ingredients.
Novel proteins are also included in the ingredients such as venison and bison. It has no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, fillers, wheat, corn, and grain. Taste of the Wild also has a propriety K9 stain probiotic that will help your dog digest food properly.
It is ideal for Labradoodles with allergies; however, some may not like the Salmon flavored dog food. Either way, it’s packed full of nutrients for your pet.
There is quite a lot of great dog food for Labradoodles out there, but I prefer Taste of the Wild because of the ratio to quality and price. As for the rest, these are merely the ones we thought would fit best for your pet’s specific needs.
Regardless of your choice — and your Labradoodle’s preference, of course — make sure to keep the portion requirements in check. If you’re not sure, consult your dog’s vet.
Labradoodles are naturally affectionate dogs, but if you feed them with a healthy diet, it could mean a longer companionship with a whole lot of love. Just make sure they have the best dog food for Labradoodles on hand.
