Best Dog Food for Labradoodles in 2022 – Top 10 Reviewed
Labradoodles are a mix between a labrador retriever and poodle first bred in 1989, making them one of the oldest designer dogs.
Although blending these two beloved breeds produces a highly intelligent, affectionate, and energetic dog, it also increases labradoodles’ risk for health issues like elbow and hip dysplasia, ear infections, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy, Addison’s disease, and allergies.
Choosing the right food for your doodle can help prevent these issues from becoming too severe. If your furry friend joins the family at an early age, it will need a specific type of food that gives them more vitamins and protein but limited calcium. These, in addition to other amino acids like DHA, will help doodle puppies grow steadily and completely.
Labradoodles need healthy whole foods, antioxidants, and a mixture of minerals and animal tissues to stay healthy and keep their high energy levels up. Although grain-free dog food is currently in vogue, they aren’t always the best choice for labradoodles.
Some of the best dog food brands opt for limited carbs from whole grains instead. The most important thing to look for is a fresh meat protein source as the first ingredient. These foods have the nutrients that every dog needs to stay healthy and all the flavors and aromatics needed to spark your dog’s appetite. Read on for the best 10 dog foods that will provide all this for your labradoodle!
Best Dog Food for Labradoodles 2021 – Top 10 Reviewed – Overview
Here are the top 4 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 5-10).
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | ZIWI Peak Provenance Otago Valley Air-Dried Dog Food
| 10 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies  | Blue Buffalo Carnivora Optimal Prey Nutrition Woodland Blend Puppy Dry Dog Food
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Best Grain-Free  | Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food With Roasted Fowl
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Best Value  | Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dog Food, Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula
| 9.5 | Check Price |
Best Overall
1. Ziwi Peak Provenance Otago Valley Blend
This kibble from New Zealand is a unicorn in the dog food market, boasting a whopping 96% protein content from a combination of meat, seafood, organs, and bone.
- Tasty, air-dried and high-protein 5-meat and fish blend
- Recipe is with no added carbohydrates
- Brand only uses 100% free-range, grass fed meats
There are no additives, grains, potatoes, or legumes in this recipe, which also contains superfoods for digestive, joint, and heart health without inundated your doodle with carbs that will drive up its energy level.
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, venison, lamb, whole Southern blue whiting, Hoki
- Grain-Free!
- Best for labradoodles at any life stage, although probably most convenient for owners of smaller doodles with smaller appetites
Sample Buyer Review:
“I have been feeding Ziwi Peak to my 3 miniature poodles (all rescues) for more than a year. I supplement with fresh meaty bones and a small amount of veggies daily. Allergies have completely resolved and bi-annual blood tests show very healthy animals.
It is expensive, but we have 3 happy, healthy dogs that do not require any medications nor non-routine vet visits.”
Best for Puppies
2. Blue Buffalo Carnivora Grain-Free Woodland Puppy Blend
With multiple sources of animal protein, flaxseed for omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and ARA and DHA for healthy development, this Blue Buffalo product is a great food option for any large-breed puppy on a grain-free diet.
- Made from 11 animal sources with including chicken, duck, turkey and fish
- Enhanced with vitamins and minerals for complete nutrition
- Grain-free puppy food
It’s rare to find a puppy formula with minimal carbs and starches, enhanced vitamins and minerals, and a high level of protein like this one has.
- First 5 Ingredients: deboned chicken, dried chicken, deboned turkey, chicken meal, tapioca starch
- Grain-Free!
- Best for labradoodle puppies with grain allergies
Why We Like This Brand:
- Tons of protein from a variety of animals
- Flaxseed with ARA & DHA for optimal development
- No peas or potatoes
- Contains L-carnitine, phosphorus, choline, & omega fatty acids
Best Grain-Free
3. Taste of the Wild with Roasted Fowl
The unique flavor from the duck, quail, and turkey in this pet food will have your dog rushing when it hears the kibble hitting the bowl.
- Delicious, real duck is the first ingredient
- Superfoods and fruits provide vitamins and minerals
- Rich in omega fatty acids for a shiny coat and healthy skin
Blueberries and raspberries provide antioxidants while probiotics promote digestive health and carotenoid ingredients like sweet potatoes help keep your doodle’s eyesight sharp.
- First 5 Ingredients: Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Grain-Free!
- Best for adult labradoodles who need lean animal protein
Sample Buyer Review:
“I’ve tried at least 5 different wet and dry foods that my dog will let sit for longer than a day before she gets hungry enough to eat it and I usually have to mix in a heavy amount of wet to get her to eat the dry… but she DEVOURS her dry TOTW and licks the bowl for about 10 minutes after its gone.”
Best Value
4. Purina Pro Plan With Probiotics
Omega-6 fatty acids, prebiotic fiber for the digestive system, glucosamine, and high-protein beef as the first ingredient make this Purina product a great labradoodle dog food.
- Shredded dog food blend for a different texture for your dog
- Live probiotics support the digestive system
- Real beef is the #1 ingredient
Immune system-boosting probiotics will help prevent ear infections and other health problems common with doodles while the omega fatty acids will keep your pup’s skin and fur looking sleek and shiny.
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, rice flour, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal
- Contains rice, wheat, corn gluten, and wheat bran
- Best for adult labradoodles without food allergies or health issues
Sample Buyer Review:
“One of our dogs is an extremely picky eater, whether it’s treats, kibble, or canned. We tried dry dog food from Taste of the Wild, Rachael Ray, Blue Buffalo, and a few other brands I can’t recall. He only ate those brands if we added some human food.
Even then he would sometimes pick out the human food and leave the kibble to his brother. Canned food was also unsuccessful. One day, I received a sample of Purina Dog Chow Complete and they actually finished their bowl quickly.
It was a strange but pleasant surprise. I decided to look into Purina and noticed Pro Plan Savor has shredded meat in tender texture. Our dogs finally started showing more interest.”
5. Stella & Chewy’s Grass-Fed Beef Recipe
Boasting raw food ingredients, super-low carbohydrates, omega fatty acids from flaxseed, and chondroitin sulfate to promote good joint health, this is one of the nutrient-rich quality dog foods on the market.
It’s the perfect adult food for doodles with a relatively high activity level and it even has enough minerals and protein to be suitable for puppies as well.
- First 5 Ingredients: beef, lamb meal, chickpeas, peas, salmon meal
- Grain-Free!
- Best for labradoodles with a grain allergy at any life stage
Sample Customer Review:
“If you want the healthiest food, this is it!!! GRASS FED RAW FREEZE DRIED. My dog actually will eat it and she hates basically everything.”
6. Merrick Limited Ingredient Salmon & Brown Rice
You can still give doodles with more specific nutritional requirements a ton of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals with the salmon oil in this fish-based dog food.
9 key natural ingredients including deboned salmon, salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, sweet potatoes, sunflower oil, natural flavors, and flaxseed create a taste your pup will love and there’s also a grain-free, gluten-free version for labradoodles with those allergies.
- First 5 Ingredients: deboned salmon, salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Contains rice, oatmeal, and barley
- Best for adult labradoodles with no grain or gluten allergies
Sample Customer Review:
“Now I must say, all our Doodles love this Merrick product […] There is no mercy if a bowl is left with kibble remaining. I highly rate the Salmon & Brown Rice mix which ticks all the boxes for nutrition while providing the natural protein needs and outstanding flavor that demanding Doodles require!”
7. “I and Love and You” Naked Essentials Ancient Grains Kibble
Fish oil and flax seeds add tons of omega fatty acids to this natural ingredient mix and nutrients from the protein and ancient grains ensure your doodle will be healthy inside and out once this kibble is added to their diet.
There are no fillers or artificial preservatives to be found here, plus the bag is recyclable and resealable so it’s both convenient and environmentally friendly.
- First 5 Ingredients: beef, beef meal, menhaden fish meal, ground sorghum, oatmeal
- Contains gluten, sorghum, oatmeal, millet, and quinoa
- Best for adult and senior labradoodles with no grain allergies
Sample Customer Review:
“This is a world-class dry dog food by any definition. Our veterinarians instruct us to source foods with a protein as the first ingredient, but this manufacturer goes far beyond by including beef, beef meal, and menhaden fish meal as its first three, contributing to an elite 30% protein profile.”
8. Canidae All Life Stages with Whole Grains
A fair option for quality ingredients, probiotics, and omega fatty acids for dog owners on a budget, this whole-grain inclusive dog food is great for a labradoodle at any life stage.
It has multiple protein sources, which suits the diet dogs would likely have if they still lived out in the wild.
- First 5 Ingredients: chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, brown rice, white rice
- Includes rice, oatmeal, and barley
- Best for adult and senior labradoodles without grain or other food allergies
Sample Buyer Review:
“Did some research and compared notes with a few folks before trying this one, then I asked the dogs! Reviews are in and they’ve decided they’ll keep me AND the food. 🙂 […] For quality food that doesn’t have all the junk your pups can’t really digest, this is a good choice.
My little doodle (a.k.a. Darby) was a super skinny little rescue when he came to me. No more counting ribs and back bones on him now!”
9. Wellness Core SIX Salmon
Limited high-quality ingredients from non-GMO sources allow owners to add tons of great nutrition to a grain- and chicken-sensitive dog’s diet.
It’s the perfect way to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs with sensitive stomachs and all the fish-based protein sources will help your doodle look fresh and stay active for years to come.
- First 5 Ingredients: salmon, salmon meal, peas, chickpeas, pea protein
- Grain-Free!
- Best for adult dogs with grain allergies
Why we like this Brand:
- Limited non-GMO ingredients of a good quality
- Omega fatty acids from fish
- High-protein
10. Ziwi Peak Canned Wet Canned Food
If you’re looking for the right wet food to pair with kibble in your labradoodle’s diet, this option from Ziwi Peak is a great choice that doesn’t rely on starchy ingredients or fillers.
Instead, it’s made with 91% animal proteins and the rest is natural ingredients, vitamins, and amino acids that will help your pup grow or give your adult dog everything it needs to stay active and happy.
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, water (for processing), beef lung, beef kidney, beef tripe
- Grain-Free!
- Best for labradoodle puppies and adults that have grain allergies or are on a rice-free, soy-free, starch-free diet
Sample Buyer Review:
“I have spent literally hundreds of dollars trying to find both dry & wet dog and cat foods that are good for them and that all of them would like and continue to eat after a few days. Like others, I started making their food but it became too time-consuming, expensive, and downright messy.
So while extensively researching pet food companies that #1- have a great reputation and #2- only use wholesome ingredients that the animals need and none that they don’t, I came across Ziwi Peak. Cross my heart, every single one of our kids absolutely LOVES this food.
They even behave as if they are getting a treat when I give them the air-dried food instead of a meal they have to eat. It’s now been several cases & bags and they are all still excited to eat. Yes, it’s more expensive than most other foods but when you compare the ingredients, this is a no-brainer !
Thanks Ziwi Peak for making such amazing wholesome foods that will keep our kids healthy.”
Final Thoughts:
Choosing the right food for your labradoodle ensures that it will get the nutrients it needs and want to keep eating each time you fill its bowl. Use one of the dog food products in this guide to feed your doodle and you should see improvements in their fur and energy levels in no time.
