Aussiedoodles, otherwise known as Aussiepoos, are incredibly loveable and active dogs. They make fun and loyal pets for those energetic enough to keep up with them. As such, they deserve the very best kind of food that’s going to keep them both happy and healthy. With such a wide variety of dog chow out there, it can be difficult to know where to start when selecting the best dog food for Aussiedoodles. Here we have compiled a list of the top choices as recommended by Doodle owners to get you up and running.
Table of Contents
- Aussiedoodle Nutritional Needs: A Quick Overview
- Common Health Concerns with Aussiedoodles and How Food Can Help
- Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Buyer’s Guide
- Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Reviews
- Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Honorable Mentions
- The Homemade Food Option
- Ingredients to Avoid in Aussiedoodle Food
- Aussiedoodle Feeding Chart
- Aussiedoodle Nutrition: Frequently Asked Questions
Our Top 6 Owner-Approved Foods for Aussiedoodles
Luckily there are a number of excellent options for your Doodle Dood. Here are some that other owners swear by. Detailed reviews of each of the products mentioned here are included below.
-
Pick #1:
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. High-protein content, easily digestible, rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin A and fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber.
-
Pick #2:
Fromm Gold Nutritionals Adult Dog Formula. Contains select proteins and wholesome ingredients, enhanced with salmon oil and probiotics, and with absolutely no corn or wheat.
-
Pick #3:
Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food. Nutrient-dense with premium quality beef, chicken, pork, and fish meals with added vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, and amino acids.
-
Pick #4:
pawTree Real Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe. Perfect for Aussiedoodles that don’t tolerate chicken, fish, or grains.
-
Pick #5:
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food. Features real chicken as the first ingredient, generous amounts of vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, also contains prebiotic fiber.
-
Pick #6:
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog Food. Made with real, highly digestible beef and fish protein and with an array of excellent superfoods, including kale and blueberries.
-
Pick #7:
Fromm Puppy Gold Dry Dog Food. Naturally formulated with duck, chicken, lamb, whole eggs, and real cheese, a rich source of calcium, phosphorous, and other key vitamins and minerals.
-
Pick #8:
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP Dry Dog Food. Formulated from palatable hydrolyzed proteins and fortified with B vitamins, amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids, fibers, and prebiotics.
Aussiedoodle Nutritional Needs: A Quick Overview
Aussiedoodles, as a hybrid breed and a relatively new one at that, are a bit of an unknown entity compared to pedigree dogs and older Doodle varieties such as Labradoodles and Goldendoodles. So, when considering their specific needs, we should look to the two parent breeds – the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle.
Luckily, both are relatively close in their dietary requirements to most other small to medium, high-energy dogs. They need an optimal blend of animal-based proteins, vegetables, healthy fats and oils, some carbs such as starchy vegetables, fruits, and grains like rice or oatmeal.
Every dog is different, so keep an eye on your pup, especially when switching their food. Look out for weight gain/loss, skin issues, itching, energy changes, and bottom problems (you know the kinds I mean!).
Common Health Concerns with Aussiedoodles and How Food Can Help
While there is no doubt that Aussiedoodles inherit the very best traits of their parent breeds in terms of looks and personality, they are, unfortunately, also susceptible to some of the same health conditions. These include:
Allergies
Food intolerances and sensitivities are something many Poodles suffer with and may well have passed on to their Doodle offspring. These can cause issues with digestion and skin and coat health, among other things. High-quality foods tend to contain fewer allergens, but keep an eye out for corn, soy, dairy, beef, and chicken, too.
Eye problems
Australian Shepherds are ranked the most at-risk breed when it comes to cataracts, and both Aussies and Poodles have problems with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Protect your pup’s eyes and fight against this degenerative eye disorder, which can lead to blindness, by making sure their diet is rich in vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene and low in carbohydrates.
Endocrine issues
The endocrine system, responsible for controlling hormones within the body, is crucial for its effective operation. Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome, of which Poodles have an elevated risk, are both to do with hormone imbalances. So too is hypothyroidism, which can affect Aussiedoodles. These can all lead to serious health complications for your pet. Sadly, while these cannot be prevented, they can be managed with a healthy, fresh diet high in protein.
Common joint concerns
Common to larger dog breeds, hip and elbow dysplasia refers to problems with these two joints where the ball and socket do not fit or develop properly. They rub and grind instead of sliding smoothly. Symptoms are most often seen in older dogs as there is a deterioration of the bones over time.
While these conditions are hereditary, they are exacerbated by poor diet and obesity. Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, vitamin C, glucosamine, and chondroitin are all crucial in reducing the likelihood of the onset of these issues and providing relief from any associated pain.
Obesity
Both Aussiedoodle’s parent dogs are prone to obesity without the right amount of exercise to keep them in shape. At the very least, they need 30-60 minutes a day. A healthy diet also plays a crucial role in helping to avoid this issue. While protein-rich, high-calorie foods are fine for active animals, if your Doodle is slowing down a bit, you might want to switch to a lower-calorie option.
Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Buyer’s Guide
When it comes to your dog’s ongoing health and wellbeing, diet is crucial. Having access to the right nutrients in optimum amounts can make a world of difference.
Selecting the perfect food for your pooch is often a case of trial and error, but with each one you try, be sure to look for the following:
High-Quality Protein
Whether dogs should be classified as carnivores or omnivores is much debated among experts. However, something that parties on both sides of the argument can agree on is that canines benefit from a protein-rich diet. For this reason, any food that you buy your Doodle should have real meat as the top ingredient.
Healthy Fats
While we have come to view fats in somewhat of a negative light in recent times, the right kinds are as essential to your dog’s diet as they are to your own. Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are linked to a whole host of key body functions. They play an essential role in heart health, cognition, and joint mobility, among other things. Oils from fish, flaxseed, and canola are particularly beneficial to your Aussie.
Canine-Friendly Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are another nutrient that’s gotten a bad rap recently. Again, this is likely because, like fats, there are both good kinds and bad kinds. However, complex carbohydrates, often found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are important. They provide dietary fiber, essential nutrients, and energy. Other kinds, though, can lead to your pup piling on the pounds.
Free from Allergens
Whole-food ingredients are the most digestible and nutritious. The best dog food for Aussiedoodles won’t contain fillers such as excessive amounts of corn, wheat, soy, and rice as well as artificial ingredients as these are common allergens. A good rule of thumb is the shorter the ingredients list, the better for your dog.
Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Reviews
Best for Older Dogs
Perfect for pups who have inherited that little Poodle legacy of a sensitive stomach, this Purina Pro Plan range is incredibly popular with Doodle owners. With salmon as the top ingredient, you can be sure that they are getting plenty of those health-boosting omega fatty acids that are perfect for joint health.
Find the Best Deal:
This excellent kibble contains additional protein sources in the form of beef fat and fish and salmon meal. The latter two are excellent sources of glucosamine, which, as covered above, helps with hip and elbow dysplasia as well as arthritis and other joint issues that aging Aussiedoodles may suffer from.
Pros
Purina’s recipe has a solid nutrition profile with high-quality protein, fatty acids, and crucial vitamins and fiber.
Cons
Calorie-wise, the food is on the high end of the spectrum, so you need to ensure that you are not giving your less-active pup too much.
Best for Every Dog
Specially designed for active breeds such as the Aussiedoodle, Fromm’s food features chicken as the primary protein alongside a whole bunch of other healthful ingredients. The formula is enhanced with probiotics to promote gut health and help with effective digestion and salmon oil for those magic little omegas.
The mineral content of this excellent recipe is particularly beneficial to dogs. Especially the calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for proper dog nutrition – both play a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Fromm also offers large breed, small breed, and senior options alongside their puppy food (reviewed below), helping you to get exactly the right one for your four-legged friend.
Pros
Fromm’s kibble has been created based on recommendations drawn up by experts at AAFCO, so it meets all your dog’s nutritional needs.
Cons
While chicken is a great lean protein source, it is also a common canine allergen. Keep an eye out for any signs that your pal might be sensitive to this ingredient.
Best for Sporty Dogs
Premium quality beef, chicken, fish, and pork meal is combined in this tasty all-life-stages offering from the dog food professionals over at Victor. While some owners shy away from meal-heavy foods, a quality-grade meal can actually be a more abundant source of protein than the meat from which it was made.
For this reason, this excellent dry dog formula is composed of 88% meat protein, which makes it especially perfect for puppies and extremely energetic dogs alike. Coupled with the added probiotics, prebiotics, mineral complexes, and selenium yeast, which all support digestion and boost immune response, this food will help keep your Aussie healthy for longer.
Pros
Victor’s kibble is nutrient-dense and highly digestible. There are good quantities of omega fatty acids and eye-health boosting vitamin E.
Cons
Again, this food is a little high in calories, which means it’s great for active, younger dogs but not so much for seniors.
Best for Recovering Dogs
Recommended by veterinarians, Hill’s Science Diet recipe is another great find for pet parents with ingredient-sensitive Doodles. The biology-based formula has been tailored to exceed canine nutritional needs. Moreover, it’s clinically proven to support a healthy immune system and contains absolutely no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
With generous amounts of omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and prebiotic fiber, this dry dog food can really help pups dealing with injuries. It is also relatively low in calories meaning that you don’t have to worry about your Doodle gaining weight if they are not as active as usual. The kibble also helps reduce issues with dry, itchy skin that can be triggered by allergens.
Pros
A lot of research has gone into compiling the perfect ingredients for food that doesn’t just meet nutritional needs but goes beyond them.
Cons
Again, the chicken could be a bit of a problem for some pets, but there are other flavor options available.
Best For Aussiedoodles On A Grain-Free Diet
Formulated by top veterinarians and pet nutritionists, pawTree has created this natural Real Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe that’s perfect for Aussiedoodles that don’t tolerate chicken, fish, or grains.
You’ll find turkey as the first ingredient listed in this formula, with turkey meal as a source of natural glucosamine – the perfect joint health booster – as the second ingredient. It’s high in protein, making it an excellent choice for active Aussiedoodles.
This carefully crafted formula provides a ton of antioxidants and plenty of vitamins and minerals for your Aussiedoodle. It also contains tummy soothing prebiotics and a balanced blend of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth. And with the goodness of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, this dog food formula is your Dood’s ticket to radiant skin and a lustrous coat.
Pros
This natural and nutritionally balanced grain-free formula doesn’t contain any artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, poultry by-products, soy, wheat, or corn.
Cons
As the calorie content of this formula is on the higher side, it’s more suitable for normal or underweight adult Aussiedoodles and puppies. So, if your Dood isn’t as active or tends to pack on the pounds easily, we’d advise against feeding them this formula.
Best for Home-Loving Dogs
Much lower in calories than other foods on this list, the Diamon blend features beef meal, fish, and chicken proteins alongside healthful seeds, whole grains, and vegetables. The vitamin, mineral, and probiotic levels of this food are particularly impressive, and I would say it’s another great find for owners of aging Aussies who are a little slower and less active than they used to be.
Find the Best Deal:
Diamond is committed to including 10-20% of superfoods that support canine health in their recipes. In this kibble, these include kale, blueberries, chia seeds, pumpkin, quinoa, coconut, and spinach. Among other things, these provide an incredible number of antioxidants that fight against common canine diseases, including some of those listed above.
Pros
This lower-calorie option is perfect for pups who are on the slippery slope to obesity, and the price is right, too.
Cons
This quality feed may not be quite enough for especially active or energetic Doodles or working ones. Also, some dogs have issues because of the egg product.
Best Dog Food for Aussiedoodles: Honorable Mentions
Best for Puppies
While some dry foods are suitable for every life stage, decent puppy food is explicitly tailored to your young dog’s dietary needs – which differ significantly from an adult’s. Growing dogs require higher levels of protein, fat, and beneficial vitamins and minerals, as outlined by the AAFCO.
Find the Best Deal:
This lamb-flavored kibble is not only the perfect size for puppies, but, like the adult variety included above, it has an excellent nutritional profile with tasty, wholesome ingredients. Reviewers comment that their puppies are healthy, happy, and have shiny, beautiful coats to boot.
Pros
It has everything younger dogs need to support their growth, and most of them seem to love it.
Cons
It is on the expensive side compared to other foods, likely because of its higher protein content.
Best for Sensitive Dogs
If your pup’s food intolerances have become a little extreme, it may be worth speaking with your vet about your options. They may recommend a formula such as Royal Canin’s dry dog food made from hydrolyzed protein. That means that the proteins have been chemically broken down into pieces so small as to not prompt an immune system response. Research supports the effectiveness of this method.
Beyond that, the formula contains B vitamins, amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and an exclusive blend of fibers that support healthy skin and coat and effective digestion. Also, it has a relatively low-calorie content making it suitable for Doodle of all ages.
Pros
This special food eliminates bothersome allergy symptoms such as excessive itching, bald spots, tummy issues, and sickness.
Cons
As can probably be expected with a medical recipe, this food is slightly on the pricey side.
The Homemade Food Option
An alternative to buying pre-prepared food, for those who have the time, is to put together food for your Doodle at home. However, the problem with doing this is you need to ensure it contains everything your dog needs to remain healthy.
While proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are easily managed, essential nutrients such as calcium, zinc, and iron are often overlooked. The best thing to do is find recipes that have been developed by dog nutrition experts or consult with your vet.
Experts over at the American Kennel Club have compiled a list of does and don’ts when it comes to making your own dog food.
Ingredients to Avoid in Aussiedoodle Food
Whatever you choose to do, some ingredients must go absolutely nowhere near your dog’s mouth as they can cause some pretty nasty effects. A few of these are:
- Garlic and onions – Both these members of the allium family contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs. It causes oxidative damage to red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
- Xylitol – This harmful artificial sweetener, commonly found in foods labeled ‘sugar-free,’ can trigger a sudden release of insulin and a subsequent drop in blood sugar, leading to liver damage.
- Caffeine – While caffeine works in much the same way on dogs as on humans, canines are much more sensitive to it. A few licks of your coffee could be seriously damaging for your pet.
- Chocolate – Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which has similar effects to caffeine and likewise cannot be metabolized by most animals. Mild symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, while more severe ones are heart attacks and seizures.
- Alcohol – Likewise, dogs are seriously sensitive to the effects of alcohol, which, while in humans can be mild to moderate, in canines can lead to lung failure, coma, and even death.
If your dog does ingest any of these – because accidents happen, right? Get them to a vet immediately, if not sooner.
See Also:
(Click the image)
Aussiedoodle Feeding Chart
Aussiedoodle Nutrition: Frequently Asked Questions
The amount of food you should be giving your Doodle depends on their age, health, and how much exercise they get. Puppies, pregnant dogs, seniors, and working dogs are not going to have the same nutritional needs as regular ones. Always pay attention to manufacturer guidelines.
For more detailed information, check out our article on how much you should feed your dog, along with our super helpful dog food calculator.
This depends on their specific situation, but each of the foods included here in this article meets a canine’s nutrition needs for optimum health as laid out by the animal nutrition experts over at AAFCO.
Abruptly switching food can have some really messy side effects (if you know what I mean). It could also cause your pup to turn up their nose at the new food if they liked what they already had. For these reasons, you should always start slow, mixing the new food in with their existing food in increasing increments.
The AKC offers some really great advice for transitioning your dog from one food to another.
Aussiedoodles are not generally picky eaters, but if they are, there may well be some underlying reason behind it.
Believe it or not, dogs usually know what’s best for them (furniture, shoes, and poop aside). If your pup is walking away from an untouched bowl, it could be that the food lacks vital nutrients or contains something that is causing them discomfort, so make sure to check the label.
Otherwise, it might simply be the case that you are lovingly giving them too many treats throughout the day or that they are still full from chowing down on your nice new slippers earlier.
When it comes to finding the best food for Aussiedoodles that hits the sweet spot of being tasty, nutritious, and easy on the wallet, you could run across more challenges than a cat owner attempting to stop their sweetie from bringing them lovely little rodent presents.
We’re here to make your life that much easier by scouring expert sites, social media, and pet forums to bring you recommendations from people in the know. You can be 100% sure that all foods included here have the optimum nutritional benefit for your Aussie. For this reason, they will likely love them.
Aussiedoodle parents: chime in! What do you think is the best dog food for Aussiedoodles? Let us know in the comments below.
Learn How to Care for Your Doodle Puppy!
Perfect for first-time Doodle parents, get ALL your questions answered, including questions new Doodle parents don’t even think to ask.
Plus, get $700 worth of Bonus Materials for FREE, including:- Doodle Parenthood Community and Support Group ($190 value)
- Doodle Puppy Growth Tracker ($20 value)
- EMERGENCY Cheatsheet: When To Call The Vet Immediately ($50 value)
- HELP! Button ($145 value)
- And SO MUCH MORE!
Is there a soft food that can be recommended for my aussiedoodle, she seems to have a dislike to the dry food.
April 5, 2022 at 12:17 pm