11 Best (Highest Quality) Dog Foods for Labradoodles in 2024

Known for their intelligence and good nature, Labradoodles are also popular because many of them are very low shedding.

A cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle – two of the most intelligent dog breeds – it’s no surprise that the Labradoodle is smart. They are usually easy to train and eager to please.

However, Labradoodles can come in a variety of sizes.

They can also have some of the health issues found in the original breeds such as hip dysplasia. So, what should you feed your Labradoodle to keep him healthy? We’ve got the answers for you about the best dog foods for Labradoodles.

Labrador Retrievers are large dogs, standing up to 24 ½ inches tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 80 pounds. Your Labradoodle’s size usually depends on his Poodle ancestry. That’s because Poodles can be Toy, Miniature, or Standard in size.

Standard Poodles (the largest Poodles) are often used as mates to produce Labradoodle puppies but not always.

Many Labradoodles are medium, weighing 30 to 45 pounds in size, but some are huge, weighing up to 100 pounds.

All of this means that you will need to choose a food that is appropriate for your Labradoodle’s size as a growing puppy and as an adult. Whether you choose a food that is grain-free or that includes grain, or that is kibble or canned is up to you, as long as your dog doesn’t have any special health needs. Your dog’s age, health, and your own ideas about dog food will determine what you feed your dog, along with your budget.

Labradoodles can make good family pets but they are active dogs. You will need to feed a good dog food that supplies the energy your dog needs and meets his nutritional requirements. So, let’s look at what your dog needs in his diet.

Key Nutritional Needs of a Labradoodle’s Diet

Your Labradoodle needs some essential things in his diet, regardless of his ultimate size:

1. All dogs and puppies need good protein in their diet for muscle development. Meat protein is the most natural kind of protein for your dog and is usually the easiest for him to digest. Adult dogs need a minimum of 18 percent protein in their diet; growing puppies need a minimum of 22 percent protein, by dry matter basis. (AAFCO Nutrient Requirements for Dogs, 2016)
2. Dogs and puppies also need animal fat in their diet. Animal fat provides energy and essential fatty acids that your dog needs. It also improves the taste of your dog’s food. Adult dogs need a minimum of 5 percent fat in their diet while growing puppies need a minimum of 8 percent fat, by dry matter basis.
3. Contrary to what what you may have heard, dogs also need carbohydrates in their diet. Carbs are more than “filler” ingredients. Carefully chosen, carbohydrates can provide dietary fiber and prebiotics to your dog’s diet.
4. Your dog needs fiber in his diet to support his gastrointestinal system and keep it functioning smoothly.
5. Dogs need vitamins and minerals in their diet in the correct amounts and ratios. Ingredients in your dog’s food can supply some of the nutrients your dog needs but most companies add vitamins and minerals to the food after cooking to make up for nutrients that can be lost during the cooking process.
6. All dogs have to have access to water. The only exceptions occur if your veterinarian advises you to withhold water from your dog due to illness; or if you are house training your puppy overnight.

6 Special Considerations for Labradoodles

1. Labradoodles can have hip dysplasia. Both Labrador Retrievers and some Poodles can have issues with hip dysplasia. Since hip dysplasia is believed to have some genetic components, your Labradoodle can inherit a propensity for this problem, even though he is a hybrid dog. This problem is more prevalent in larger dogs. It can be more likely to occur in dogs that are overweight since carrying extra weight puts added stress on a dog’s joints and muscles. If you have a large Labradoodle puppy, we recommend feeding him a puppy food designed for large breed puppies. Large and extra large Labradoodle adults should eat a large breed dog food that has supplements for joint mobility. Keeping your dog slim can help avoid problems with arthritis and hip dysplasia in some cases.
2. Large and extra large Labradoodles need a large breed dog food. If you have a Labradoodle that is large (over 50 pounds) or extra large (over 70 pounds), you should consider feeding him a food that’s formulated for large breed dogs. These foods have slightly fewer calories and usually contain joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin which are believed to provide joint and mobility support. Feeding slightly fewer calories per meal is supposed to help your big dog stay slim.
3. Feed large Labradoodle puppies a puppy food for large breed puppies. Puppies that are destined to be very large dogs as adults can have some special needs while they are growing. It’s important that they grow slowly. Rapid growth can lead to bone and joint problems later in life. Large breed puppy foods can have slightly fewer calories and less fat than some other puppy foods. They should also have very precise calcium and phosphorus amounts, in an exact ratio. Too much calcium or a bad calcium to phosphorus ratio can lead to hip and elbow problems later. Large Labradoodle puppies should be slim while they are growing so they don’t put an extra burden on their joints at a young age. Nutritional statements for these foods should state that they are made for “growth and reproduction” and for puppies that will weigh over 70 pounds as an adult.
4. Medium-sized Labradoodles can eat many good foods. If your adult Labradoodle is medium-sized, you should be able to feed him one of the many good dog foods available. Foods that are labeled for “adult maintenance” and “all life stages” are both appropriate for adult dogs.
5. Medium-sized Labradoodle puppies can eat many good puppy foods. If your Labradoodle puppy is medium-sized and you don’t expect him to grow to be a large adult, you can select one of the many good puppy foods made today. These foods are usually labeled for “growth and reproduction.” You can also feed an “all life stage” dog food. Nutritional statements for these foods should state that they are made for puppies that will weigh under 70 pounds as an adult.
6. Some Labradoodles are prone to obesity. Many Labrador Retrievers are somewhat prone to obesity and putting on extra weight, especially as they age. If your Labradoodle takes after this side of his family, he could have the same characteristic. For all Labradoodles, we suggest that you monitor how much food your dog eats and measure his portions, just to be on the safe side. Slim dogs live longer than fat dogs, according to studies. (Purina, 2002)

While many people expect Labradoodles to be free of health problems because they are hybrids, in reality they can inherit some of the same health issues found in their parent breeds. Hip dysplasia and some eye diseases, for example, are common to both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles, so they can crop up in Labradoodles. If you are thinking of getting a Labradoodle, be sure to talk to the breeder and ask about the health testing they do. Health testing can’t eliminate all health problems but it can help.

Best Dog Food for Labradoodles

Our 2024 Picks: Best Labradoodle Dog Foods
	Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food   Mixed tocopherols guard against eye disease Moderate fat content and optimal protein levels keep additional weight off Price: $2.00/lb	CHECK PRICE
	Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food   Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient for high animal protein to support strong, lean muscles. Features 70% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, plus 30% fruits, vegetables and other wholesome ingredients. Price:  $2.57/lb	CHECK PRICE
	NomNomNow   Human-grade, fresh pet food Delivered conveniently to your door on a schedule that works for you Price:  Varies	CHECK PRICE
	Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food   Real chicken is the very first ingredient, followed by other natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals to help adult dogs stay healthy and strong. Premium wet food contains no chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Price:  $0.18/oz	CHECK PRICE
	Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food   Real chicken is the very first ingredient, followed by other natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals to help adult dogs stay healthy and strong. Premium wet food contains no chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Price:  $1.54/lb	CHECK PRICE

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food – Special Offer!

Key Features:

• Dry kibble
• Adult maintenance formula
• Made especially for large dogs
• No corn, wheat, or soy

Overall Best Dog Food for Labradoodles – Made especially for large dogs, Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food features guaranteed levels of chondroitin and glucosamine for joint and hip support – something that larger Labradoodles may need. This formula contains just the right amount of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals to help keep your dog’s bones strong. With a little less fat and fewer calories, this formula can help your Labradoodle stay lean which puts less stress on his joints and bones. Less stress on bones and joints can help avoid problems like hip dysplasia and arthritis.

The first ingredients are deboned chicken and chicken meal so you know your dog is getting good meat protein. This food contains no meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives. This formula also has no corn, wheat, or soy. Plus, it has guaranteed levels of probiotics to support healthy digestion.

Available in 15-lb and 30-lb bags.

Pros:

• Save 30% on New Autoship Only valid on New Autoship orders for Wellness items. Must select Autoship at checkout for offer to automatically apply. Limit 5 per customer. Can be combined with First Autoship offer.

• Features good animal protein from chicken and chicken meal
• Contains guaranteed levels of probiotics
• Includes chondroitin and glucosamine for hip and joint support
• No corn, wheat, soy, meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives
• Made especially for large dogs

Cons:

• This is an adult maintenance formula so it should not be given to puppies

Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Grain-free
• Features real chicken
• All life stages
• No grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives

Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food features cage-free chicken as the first ingredient and chicken meal as the second ingredient. It also includes herring meal and menhaden fish meal. Your Labradoodle will be getting plenty of animal protein with this recipe.

With guaranteed live levels of natural probiotics, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, you can expect your dog to have a healthy immune system and good digestion. And, his skin and coat will look great! Dogs love the taste of this food, too, because every piece of kibble is coated with freeze-dried raw food.

This food is high in calories so be sure to measure your Labradoodle’s portions.

Available in 4-lb, 11-lb, and 22.5-lb bags.

Pros:

• Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient
• No grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives
• Includes live, natural probiotics and antioxidants for your dog’s digestive and immune systems, and his skin and coat
• High in animal protein
• Kibble is coated with freeze-dried raw food

Cons:

• Peas are the third ingredient

NomNomNow

Key Features:

• Fresh food
• Uses real, whole food ingredients
• Delivered to your door
• Exceed AAFCO standards for all life stages

Most dogs love fresh food and NomNomNow is one of the leaders in making these foods. Their food is made in small batches and delivered fresh to your door literally within hours of being made. The company offers four different recipes, along with a variety pack, so you can choose the dishes that your Labradoodle likes best.

The recipes are made with whole foods, with fish oil added to each formula. NomNomNow also adds the NomNomNutrient Mix, developed by their own veterinary nutritionist, to balance the foods for all life stages. Their recipes include Heartland Beef Mash, Tasty Turkey Fare, Chicken Chow-Wow, and Porkalicious Potluck.

You can get answers to your questions on the FAQ page. For samples, order the variety pack.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Easy to customize your dog’s meals
• Made with real, whole food ingredients
• Exceed AAFCO standards for all life stages
• Delivered fresh to your door

Cons:

• Be careful if your dog has any health issues. Make sure you ask the company for the nutrient analysis for their foods. This is true of any kind of food you feed to dogs with certain health issues that need to watch their vitamin and mineral intake. With NomNomNow you may be able to speak to the veterinary nutritionist directly.

Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Key Features:

• Canned/wet food
• Adult maintenance dog food
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• GMO-free, grain-free

The Best Canned Food – Nutro kibbles have been popular or many years but you may not know that they have some excellent canned foods such as Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food. This food is completely free of grains, GMOs, chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. It’s made with real chicken as the first ingredient and chicken liver. For broth it uses both chicken broth and pork broth – and dogs love both. With vegetables, vitamins, and minerals, your dog should enjoy this canned food.

This food is suitable for adult dogs.

Sold in 12.5 ounce cans in cases of 12.

Pros:

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• No grains or GMOs; no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• No chicken by-product meal

Cons:

• Not suitable for puppies

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food – Special! 

Key Features:

• Made for large breed puppies
• Contains DHA for good brain and eye development
• Precise calcium and phosphorus levels for proper bone development
• No corn, no wheat, no soy

The Best Food for Puppies – Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food is formulated especially for puppies that will be large dogs when they grow up. It has precise calcium and phosphorus levels for good bone and joint development. It also has the right amount of calories and the right nutrients for your big puppy.

This formula contains DHA from salmon meal so your puppy will have good brain and vision development. Meat protein comes from deboned chicken and chicken meal – the first ingredients. Ground brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and oats provide healthy carbohydrates.

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food is available in a 30-lb bag.

Pros:

• Special! Save 30% on New Autoship Only valid on New Autoship orders for Wellness items. Must select Autoship at checkout for offer to automatically apply. Limit 5 per customer. Can be combined with First Autoship offer.
• Good sources of meat protein
• Includes probiotics for good digestion
• Provides DHA from salmon for good brain and vision development
• Specially-formulated for large breed puppies
• No meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives

Cons:

• Peas are the third ingredient

6 More Top Rated Dog Food For Labradoodles

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry Kibble
• All life stage formula
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Grain-free, gluten-free

Made just for Chewy.com, American Journey has the same ingredients as some more expensive dog foods at an affordable cost.

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food has real deboned salmon as the first ingredient. It also features chicken meal and turkey meal to provide even more meat protein. As if that’s not enough, American Journey adds menhaden fish meal to the recipe for more animal protein.

This grain-free, gluten-free formula contains no corn, wheat, or soy. Salmon oil helps keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy. DHA supports brain and eye development in growing puppies.

Available in 4-lb, 12-lb, and 24-lb bags.

Pros:

• Very reasonably priced
• All life stage formula so it’s suitable for adults and puppies, including large breed puppies and dogs
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Includes DHA and omega fatty acids

Cons:

• High protein percentage but some of the protein comes from peas and chickpeas – peas are the fourth ingredient
•  

Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry kibble
• Single animal protein source

• Limited carbohydrate sources
• Adult maintenance formula

The Best Food with Limited Ingredients – Limited ingredient diets (LID) are often recommended for dogs with food sensitivities or food allergies. Natural Balance has been one of the leaders in making LID diets. These foods usually have one protein source and one carbohydrate source to limit the chances that there will be any ingredients in the food that might trigger a reaction from your dog. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Venison Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food uses venison (deer meat) as its single source of meat protein. This is a less common meat protein so most dogs won’t have a reaction to it. Sweet potatoes are the carbohydrate in the food.

This formula is grain-free with no corn, wheat, or soy. And, it has no artificial colors or flavors. This Natural Balance food can be a good choice if your Labradoodle has a food sensitivity or food allergy.

If this food doesn’t work for your Labradoodle you could consider some of Natural Balance’s other recipes.

Available in 4.5-lb, 13-lb, and 26-lb bags.

Pros:

• Single source of animal protein (venison)
• Single source of carbohydrates (sweet potatoes)
• Grain-free with no artificial colors or flavors
• No corn, wheat, or soy

Cons:

• This is an adult maintenance food – not suitable for puppies
• This food has low protein and fat percentages which is common with many limited ingredient diets

Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry kibble
• Puppy formula
• Formulated especially for large puppies

Eukanuba makes very good puppy foods. The ingredients in some of their foods made look very basic but they invest a lot of money in canine nutritional research and employ their own veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods. We like Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food for puppies that will become large or extra large as adults.

This formula has optimal levels of calcium and phosphorus which are so important for growing large breed puppies. It also contains DHA for good brain and eye development. Prebiotics and natural fiber provide digestive aid for your puppy.

If you have a Labradoodle puppy that is going to be medium-sized, Eukanuba makes a medium breed puppy formula for puppies that will weigh up to 55 pounds as adult dogs.

Available in 5-lb, 16-lb and 33-lb bags.

Pros:

• Specifically formulated for large puppies
• Contains DHA for brain and eye development
• Includes natural fiber and prebiotics for good digestion
• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Some people won’t like the ingredients but the food is formulated by veterinary nutritionists

VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry Kibble
• Adult Maintenance/Senior
• No Corn, Wheat, Soy
• Gluten-Free

If your senior Labradoodle has packed on a few pounds over the years, Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food can be a good food to feed your dog in his later years. This food is also a weight control food since it has less fat and calories than most dog foods. It still contains plenty of nutrients, including glucosamine and chondroitin to support your dog’s joints. L-Carnitine helps convert fat into muscle.

Beef meal is the first ingredient. Some 78  percent of the protein in this food comes from meat ingredients – beef, chicken, fish, and pork meals. The carbohydrates come from gluten-free grains.

Available in 5-lb, 15-lb, and 40-lb bags.

Pros:

• Good for older dogs that have gained weight
• Lots of meat protein
• Uses gluten-free grains
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Contains glucosamine, chondroitin, and L-Carnitine
• Moderate calories so your older dog won’t feel starved

Cons:

• Not for older dogs that are already thin

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry Kibble
• Adult Maintenance formula
• No corn or wheat
• Grain-free, gluten-free

Always popular, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food provides your dog with lots of protein. Real buffalo is the first ingredient but then it also adds lamb meal and chicken meal for even more meat protein. Fatty acids help keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy while antioxidants support your Labradoodle’s immune system. A proprietary strain of probiotics aids your dog’s digestion.

Like other Taste of the Wild formulas, this recipe is gluten-free and grain-free. It has no fillers, artificial collors, flavors, or preservatives. And it contains no corn or wheat.

Available in 5-lb, 14-lb, and 28-lb bags.

Pros:

• Real buffalo is the first ingredient
• Grain-free and gluten-free with no corn or wheat
• Contains no fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• Contains fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics to keep your dog healthy
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• This is an adult maintenance formula so it’s not suitable for puppies

VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

• Dry kibble
• Pea-Free
• No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy
• High in protein
• All Life Stages

Looking for a good dog food that has a lot of protein without a lot of peas? Take a look at Victor Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food. This formula is pea-free with no corn, wheat or soy but it’s high in protein. In fact, it’s a 30/20 formula that is often popular with performance dog owners because it has lots of protein and fat for energy. It’s also an all life stage formula that’s suitable for pregnant mother dogs and growing puppies – or any dog that needs extra calories.

The first ingredient is beef but the food also includes pork meal, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal – all animal sources. In fact, 88 percent of the protein in this food comes from meat. The carbohydrates include grain sorghum and whole grain millet.

If you don’t want peas or if your Labradoodle needs lots of meat protein and energy, Victor Hi-Pro Plus might be for you.

Available in 5-lb, 15-lb, 40-lb, and 50-lb bags.

Pros:

• Pea-free
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• High in meat protein
• All life stages
• Very reasonably priced

Cons:

• This food does have a lot of calories so dogs can gain weight quickly

Our 2024 Labradoodle Feeding Guide

Labradoodle Puppies – Smart, affectionate, and easy to train, you can also expect your Labradoodle puppy to be lots of fun. Your puppy will need plenty of play time. It’s always a bit of a guess if your puppy will be more like his Labrador side or his Poodle side, but all puppies are active. Since this puppy is very intelligent, some basic training and house manners are a good idea. Otherwise he will probably find some amazing ways to entertain himself.

If your puppy is going to be a large or extra large adult, we suggest that you feed a large breed puppy food. These foods encourage slower growth to prevent problems such as hip dysplasia later in life.

Between 8 and 12 weeks you can expect to feed your puppy about four meals per day. Between three months (12 weeks) and six months, feed about three meals per day. Between six months and one year, you can transition your puppy to two meals per day. Adult dogs usually eat two meals per day.

For most Labradoodle puppies you can begin to change from puppy food to adult dog food around 12 months. However, if you have an exceptionally large puppy (over 70 pounds), you may want to slow this change to around 14 months. With very large puppies their bones are still growing and take a little longer to fully develop. A very large puppy will take a little longer to be fully mature.

You can choose from various foods for your puppy. Some people like foods that are formulated for Labrador Retrievers or Poodles. Or you can choose a food based on special ingredients, kibble/canned, or other factors. Value is an important factor for nearly everyone.

To be honest, Labradoodles are all over the place when it comes to how much puppies weigh. It depends on the parents, if they are F1, F1b, F2, multi-generations, and so on, in terms of the breeding program. Sizes can be all over the place. Plus, Poodle parents can be Toy Poodles, Miniature Poodles, or Standard Poodles, which affects the size of the offspring. You can expect male puppies to be as much as 10-15 pounds heavier than female puppies in some cases. (Cutts, 2024)

Let’s suppose, however, that your have a male Labradoodle puppy that is going to grow up to be a medium-sized adult. His weights might look something like this:

• At 3 Months: 11 pounds
• At 6 Months: 28 pounds
• At 12 Months: 38 pounds

The calories he needs on a daily basis would look like this:

• 3 Months: 4 Meals Daily Totaling 702 Calories
• 6 Months: 3-4 Meals Daily Totaling 943 Calories
• 12 Months: 2 meals Daily Totaling 1068 Calories

Like all puppies, Labradoodles do most of their growing in the first 3-4 months of life. Their brain is growing and they are learning fast. Their organs are growing and so are their muscles. But soon this growth begins to slow. Your puppy still needs plenty of calories and nutrients for his bones and muscles but the growth gradually slows until he has become and adult.

Labradoodle Adults – Your adult Labradoodle won’t need as many calories, per pound, as he did when he was a growing puppy. Most Labradoodles should be finished with their growth by the time they are about twelve months old unless they are very large. Very large Labradoodles may continue to grow for a few more months. At this time you can start to change your dog’s food from a puppy food to an adult food. Adult dog food has fewer calories and slightly different nutrients. (Purina, 2024).

All good quality dog foods should be complete and balanced to meet your adult dog’s nutritional needs. Medium-sized dogs can choose from a range of foods. Dog foods aren’t usually labeled for medium-sized dogs. If a food doesn’t specify a size, you can usually assume that it’s suitable for a medium-sized dog. If you have a large or extra large Labradoodle, look for an adult dog food that’s made for large dogs. These foods have fewer calories to help dogs stay lean. Staying slim is better for the bones and joints of big dogs.

Labradoodle Seniors – AAFCO doesn’t currently provide guidelines for senior dog foods. Some companies make senior foods that are also weight control dog foods. These foods are often lower in fat and have fewer calories than regular dog food. Some of them are lower in protein than regular dog food. If your Labradoodle is overweight (which does happen), one of these foods could be appropriate. However, if your senior dog is thin, this kind of senior food would not be a good choice.

As long as your older Labradoodle is healthy and active there is no real reason to change his diet just because he is getting older. We recommend having your dog get an annual senior dog check-up so your veterinarian can catch any small problems at an early stage. Your vet can also make suggestions about if or when you need to start feeding a senior dog food.

In general, a good senior dog food should have protein and other ingredients that are easy to digest. Many older dogs can begin to have problems metabolizing nutrients as they age. Foods that are easier to digest can help. More protein and not less is also recommended for many senior dogs unless they have a definite kidney or urinary tract problem.

FAQs

Should a Labradoodle eat dry or canned food?

Labradoodles can eat both dry and canned dog food. If you have a smaller Labradoodle, it probably wouldn’t be cost prohibitive to feed your dog a diet of canned food. With medium and large Labradoodles, cost can become an issue since canned dog food costs more per ounce than kibble. Some owners of big dogs like to use canned food as a topper or mix some into their dog’s kibble so these dogs can still enjoy canned food.

Should my Labradoodle eat a grain-free diet?

It’s really up to you whether you feed your dog a grain-free diet. There are no scientific studies to support the idea that grain-free dog foods are healthier for your dog than foods that include grain. Unlike wolves, dogs have evolved to have several enzymes that allow them to digest starches. (LA Times, 2013, Nature, 2013) On the other hand, if your dog has food allergies or food sensitivities to a particular grain, it’s certainly fine to feed a grain-free diet in order to avoid that grain or cereal. The only thing you might want to be aware of currently is that the FDA is investigating a possible link between foods that use lots of peas, legumes, and lentils and heart problems in dogs. Some – but not all – grain-free dog foods use a lot of these ingredients. You can find some good grain-free dog foods that do not use lots of these ingredients. (FDA, 2024)

Do Labradoodles have a sensitive stomach?

We didn’t find any specific evidence to suggest that Labradoodles have more sensitive stomachs than other dogs. Any dog can have a bad reaction to something he eats once in a while. Or, a dog might get something out of the trash or pick up something in the yard he’s not supposed to eat. Sometimes a dog simply feels yucky – the same as a human might. If your dog has vomiting or diarrhea for more than a day or so, you should see your veterinarian. It’s always possible that your dog could have a food sensitivity. If so, try to work with your veterinarian to identify the ingredient(s) that bother your dog.

Why does my Labradoodle fart so much?

All dogs fart. If your Labradoodle farts a lot it might be food-related. If you have recently changed dog food, your dog might be having trouble adjusting to the new food. In some cases, foods that contain a lot of peas, lentils, or legumes (fiber) can result in gas. Afterall, humans tend to pass gas when they eat these ingredients. If the gas smells very bad, it could be something serious so talk to your veterinarian.

Is a Labradoodle considered a small breed?

Most Labradoodles are not small though there are some mini Labradoodles. Miniature Labradoodles can be between 10 and 24 inches tall and weigh between 12 and 80 pounds. Standard Labradoodles are between 24 and 26 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 90 pounds. There are also medium Labradoodles that are somewhere between the other two sizes. (Cutts, 2024) It’s just hard to say what size a Labradoodle will be sometimes.

Conclusion

Labradoodles can make very good pets. If you’re seeking a dog that is non-shedding and allergies are an issue, be sure to talk to the breeder. These dogs have different coat types and not all of them are good for someone with allergies. They are smart, affectionate dogs that often combine some of the best traits of their parent breeds but, as with choosing any pet, it’s important to do your research before getting one.