6 Best Dog Foods for Labradoodles — 2023 Reviews & Top Picks
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Labradoodles are a popular designer dog breed that requires a nutrient-rich diet to keep up with their energy. Buying dog food to fit your new Doodle’s lifestyle can be difficult, especially with premium companies popping up left and right.
Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work, so you don’t have to. We looked for and reviewed the top products on the market.
Here is our list of the best dog food brands for Labradoodles:
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated 2023):
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall |
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Ollie Fresh Dog Food Chicken Recipe |
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Click to Save 50% |
Budget Buy |
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Tuffy’s Nutrisource Chicken & Pea Dog Food |
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Check Price |
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Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food |
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Check Price | |
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Taste of The Wild Dry Dog Food |
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Check Price | |
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Purina Pro Dry Puppy Food |
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Check Price |
The 6 Best Dog Foods for Labradoodles
1. Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
Ollie is a delivery service that brings fresh, pre-portioned, freshly cooked dog food directly to your door. The food is packed in dry ice and should be stored in your freezer before being thawed and served to your dog.
Ollie’s recipes are all made using real meat as the first ingredient, followed by organ meat. This packs the recipes full of protein and real meat flavor, perfect for active Labradoodles that need to maintain their high energy levels. The recipes are designed by veterinarians and loaded with veggies.
The Ollie Fresh Chicken With Carrots recipe is one example of the many nutritious recipes from this company. Chicken, chicken gizzard, carrots, chicken liver, peas, and spinach are combined with vitamins and minerals to give your dog a tasty, balanced meal without anything artificial included.
Ollie will even include a container that you can store the frozen food in while it thaws in your fridge. If you have any leftover food in the package, it can be stored in this airtight container until your dog’s next meal.
The chicken recipe is Ollie’s only grain-inclusive recipe. If you want to try any of the other recipes, check with your vet before making the switch, to make sure a grain-free diet is right for your Labradoodle. The FDA is currently investigating the link between dilated cardiomyopathy and grain-free diets.
All in all, we think Ollie’s Chicken Recipe is the best dog food for Labradoodles available this year.
- Real meat is the first ingredient
- Packed with veggies, vitamins, and minerals
- Delivered to your door for convenience
- Airtight container included
- Takes up space in the freezer
- Pricier option for long-term feeding
2. Tuffy’s Nutrisource Chicken & Pea Dog Food – Budget Buy
Tuffy’s Nutrisource Chicken & Pea Dog Food is nutrient-packed dry dog food made with high-quality chicken and peas. Tuffy’s Nutrisource Dog Food doesn’t contain any questionable ingredients like chicken by-products or fillers. With no grains or potatoes, this is an ideal brand for dogs with allergies. While this brand may be highly nutritious, some dogs don’t like the taste and will refuse to eat it. Also, the recipe may be too rich for dogs with sensitive stomachs, so it may not be the right choice for your pet. Otherwise, Tuffy’s Nutrisource Dog Food is a good budget dog food for Labradoodles.
- Chicken is 1st ingredient
- No by-products or filler ingredients
- Great for dogs with allergies
- Better value compared to other brands
- Picky eaters may not like this brand
- May be too rich for sensitive stomachs
- Related Read: NutriSource Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
3. Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet is a popular dry dog food with all-natural ingredients and health benefits for your dog. It’s made with a high-protein salmon and chicken blend, with no fillers like corn, soy or wheat. Blue Buffalo is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals in tiny “bites” for immune and digestive system support. Blue Buffalo recipe doesn’t contain any by-products or preservatives, eliminating the unnecessary ingredients from your dog’s diet. The only problem is that some dogs may not like the taste or may spit out the supplement bites.
- High-protein blend
- Contains salmon rich in Omegas 3&6
- Supplement “bites” rich in vitamins
- No by-products or preservatives
- Some dogs do not like the taste
4. Taste of The Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
Taste of The Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food is a great high-quality dog food made with real bison and venison meat. This top of the line recipe includes salmon oil for multiple health benefits for your dog, including immune and skin health. Taste of the Wild doesn’t have fillers like corn and soy, and there aren’t any questionable preservatives, either. The kibble is also on the smaller side, so it’s easier for small dogs and puppies to chew. Taste of the Wild is a great brand, but it’s expensive compared to other premium-quality dog food. It’s also got a slightly lower protein content. If you can afford the investment and are looking for high-quality dog food, Taste of the Wild is a good option for your Labradoodle.
- Real bison & venison meat
- Contains salmon oil for fatty acids
- No preservatives or fillers
- Smaller kibble easier to chew
- Protein is lower than other brands
- On the expensive side
5. Purina Pro Dry Puppy Food
Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food is a chicken and rice recipe for puppies under a year old. This brand has chicken as the first ingredient, but it’s also made with chicken byproducts and average-quality ingredients. Still, dogs tend to like Purina foods, which can be good if your dog is extra picky. The problem is that Purina Pro Plan also contains fillers like corn, wheat and soy, which can be problematic if your puppy has allergies and skin conditions. This dog food brand may also be too heavy for dogs with digestive issues, so it’s best to pass it if your puppy can’t stomach things easily. If you’re looking for high-quality puppy food and dog food, we recommend trying other brands like Blue Buffalo and Tuffy’s instead.
- Chicken is 1st ingredient
- Dogs tend to like this brand
- Made with chicken byproducts
- Contains corn, wheat and soy
- Too rich for some dogs
- For puppies only
6. Instinct Raw Boost Dry Dog Food
Instinct Raw Boost Dry Dog Food is a kibble dog food with freeze-dried bits as a raw protein boost. This dog food also features probiotics to support your dog’s digestive system. However, there are a few issues with Instinct Dog Food that outweigh the benefits. The first thing we noticed is a significant lack of raw freeze-dried chicken bits, which is disappointing considering how expensive this brand is compared to others. Another problem is the inconsistent quality that this recipe has faced with multiple recipe changes in the past few years. It’s also higher in calories than most dog food, so weight management can become a problem in the future. For higher quality and a better value, we recommend trying Blue Buffalo Wilderness first.
- Made with cage-free chicken
- Probiotics for digestive system support
- Very small portion of raw chicken bits
- Inconsistent quality
- Expensive compared to other brands
- Higher in calories than other brands
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Foods for Your Labradoodle
About Labradoodles
Labradoodles are a designer dog breed resulting in a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. Although the first Labradoodles were large-sized dogs, generations of Labradoodles have made different sizes available.
Labradoodles are highly intelligent and require lots of daily exercise. They excel in areas like agility, service, and obedience competitions. Labradoodles are not a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club, but they’re one of the most popular designer breeds available today.
Labradoodles also require grooming and clipping to keep their coats from matting and snarling. They will need diets with skin and coat support to keep them in tip-top shape. It’s also important to bring your Labradoodle for a professional trimming to promote healthy hair growth.
Important Things to Consider
There are important factors to consider when buying dog food for your Labradoodle that will influence your decision. Here are some things to consider:
Protein Sources
Protein allergies can cause skin irritation and itching, as well as other serious side effects. When looking for dog food, make sure it contains a protein source your dog can have. If you’re not sure if your dog is allergic, ask your vet to run an allergy test.
Labradoodle’s Activity Level
To put it simply, a Labradoodle agility champion will have different diet requirements than a family Labradoodle. Your dog’s exercise level will determine what kind and how much to feed, which can change drastically between each dog.
Dietary Restrictions
Dietary restrictions are imperative to maintain if your dog can’t have certain ingredients or supplements, whether it causes an allergic reaction or a flareup of a medical condition. Check each dog food carefully to know exactly what you’re feeding your dog.
Cost
Cost is always something to keep in mind. While premium dog food brands may have all-natural ingredients, there are value-priced brands that still maintain high levels of quality. Before going out and buying the expensive stuff, think about the long-term cost of the food.
Other Tips
When you’re buying your Doodle’s dog food, look for high-quality ingredients with no fillers and preservatives. Check the labels to make sure all essential daily nutrients are there for a complete and balanced diet. Lastly, double-check with your veterinarian before starting a new dog food.
Conclusion
After carefully reviewing each product, we found Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription to be the best overall Labradoodle dog food. It’s high in protein and rich in vitamins that support a healthy coat. Plus, they only use all-natural, whole ingredients, with real meat as the first ingredient, and the food is conveniently shipped to your door on your schedule. Tuffy’s Nutrisource Dog Food is our choice for the budget pick, with a high-quality, affordable blend of natural ingredients. It also has a flavor that most dogs enjoy.
Hopefully, we have made it easier to navigate through the market of dog foods that would be best for your Labradoodle. We looked for the best quality and brands available with your dog’s best interests in mind. If you’re still unsure what to buy, ask your vet or dog groomer for a recommendation.
See also:
- 10 Dog Breeds That Look Like Poodles: Info & Pictures
- 11 Best Dog Foods Without Chicken – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured image credit: joshborup, Pixabay