Are you thinking about adopting a fresh approach to your Irish Doodle’s diet?
Most dog owners will probably be accustomed to picking up dog food during their weekly shop at the supermarket.
However, some store-bought dog food options aren’t particularly healthy, containing additives and fillers.
They can often use confusing labels so it isn’t clear all the ingredients in your Irish Doodle’s food.
There’s been a big shift towards fresh dog food over the past five years or so, providing pet owners with a healthy alternative.
You may have heard about a number of different pet food options, such as dog food delivery companies, customised kibble and raw dog food.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best dog food options for Irish Doodles based upon our experience testing some of the leading dog food delivery companies, tailored dry dog food brands and raw dog food options.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
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Best Dog Food For Irish Doodles
Irish Doodle cuddles with owner (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Irish Doodles are a friendly dog breed that require a lot of exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
These beautiful dogs have grown in popularity due to their gentle temperament and hypoallergenic qualities.
Just like any other dog, Irish Doodles will benefit from a balanced and complete meals comprised of natural ingredients.
My Alaskan Klee Kai were originally fed dry food bought from my local pet store recommended by their breeder. However, they started to become extremely fussy and picky around the six-month mark.
The result was a spate of trips to the emergency vet as my Klee Kai started to struggle with digestive problems. It was a difficult time because I couldn’t even get my dogs to eat chicken and rice.
A chance meeting with a Samoyed owner at the dog park introduced me to the concept of dog food delivery companies and I haven’t looked back.
Dog food delivery companies use high quality ingredients to create their recipes that have been formulated by vets. Based upon your Irish Doodle’s details, these companies will tailor their meals to meet your pup’s needs before they ship their meals direct to your door.
Given the current Coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been more important to avoid unnecessary trips to the shops so you can enjoy the convenience of their deliveries and the peace of mind knowing your Irish Doodle is getting premium pet nutrition.
My Klee Kai’s problems cleared up within weeks of making the switch to a dog food delivery company and I haven’t had to return to the vet due to digestive problems since making the transition.
I’ve tried and tested some of the leading dog food delivery companies in the USA over the past few years. My top pick based upon my experience is Nom Nom but you can check out my updated guide via the link below.
RELATED: The eight best dog food delivery companies
Having made the move to the UK in 2019, I’ve been feeding Butternut Box’s fresh meals to my dogs and they absolutely love the meals. I appreciate the family feel to the company. Here is my review of the best dog food delivery companies in the UK.
RELATED: The five leading dog food delivery companies in the UK
Why I Love Dog Food Delivery Companies
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box recipes (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
As you’ve probably figured out already, I’m a big advocate of dog food delivery companies having seen the positive impact their meals have had on my Klee Kai.
I really appreciate that the dog food delivery companies that I reviewed all use high grade ingredients that tend to be sourced from local farmers and suppliers.
These human-grade meals are formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists, you can have confidence that your Irish Doodle’s nutritional needs are being met by these meals.
Irish Doodle owners will need to a fill out an initial sign-up questionnaire so to allow dog food delivery companies tailor their meals to your Irish Doodle’s specific needs.
Most dog food delivery companies will have a number of different recipes so you can keep your Irish Doodle guessing about what’s on the menu at every mealtime.
Like I said above, these meals are shipped direct to your door so you can permanently cross off “dog food” on your weekly shopping list.
Some dog food delivery companies will even use pre-portioned meal pouches so you won’t need to figure out how much of this fresh food to put in your Irish Doodle’s bowl.
I’m delighted to say that I haven’t looked back since making the switch to a dog food delivery company, saving myself trips to the vet and money on vet bills.
Reasons To Try Dog Food Delivery Companies
Alaskan Klee Kai Skye eyes some Nom Nom (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Here are some of the key factors to consider if you’re thinking about switching your Irish Doodle onto fresh meals from a dog food delivery company.
• Freshly Prepared – Dog food delivery companies use human-grade ingredients in their recipes that are fresh and free from additives. Whether it’s USDA-approved meat or vegetables sourced from local farmers, your Irish Doodle will be getting balanced and complete meals.
• Customised – By providing key information about your Irish Doodle, these dog food delivery companies can tailor their meals whether your pup needs to shed a few pounds or gain some weight.
• Recipe Variety – For pet parents with a fussy Irish Doodle, you’ll appreciate have a number of different protein sources to keep your hybrid dog fuelled. This can keep your picky eater guessing at mealtime.
• Formulated By Vets – These dog food delivery companies usually have a team of experts that have formulated the meals to ensure that your Irish Doodle gets all the minerals and vitamins required for their overall health.
• Portion Control – When you see your Irish Doodle devouring their meals, you may be tempted to overfeed. We really like when dog food delivery companies use pre-portioned packaging.
• Reliable Deliveries – It’s never been more important to have reliable deliveries. If you’re spending a little more on your Irish Doodle’s food, you want to have confidence that the meals will arrive on time and in good condition.
• Flexible – You won’t be tied into long, restrictive subscription models. You can pause or cancel at any time.
Best Tailored Dry Food For Dogs
Labrador ready for dry food dinner (Photo: Adobe)
If you’ve always fed your Irish Doodle dry food, you may want to stick with kibble. This is understandable.
However, there are fresher options that the dry food that is on sale at supermarkets and pet stores.
Some of the traditional dry food options can contain mystery ingredients, unwanted additives or pesky fillers.
The good news for Irish Doodle owners is that there are some customised kibble companies who are creating dry food that is made with fresh ingredients.
They source their ingredients from local suppliers before creating their dry food in a healthy way. These custom dry food companies use vets to formulate their meals.
It’s not much different to dog food delivery companies in the sense that these custom dry food companies will still require your Irish Doodle’s information in order to tailor their kibble to your pup’s needs.
They’ll also ship your dry food to your home so you don’t have to go to pick up dog food at the store. Some of these custom dry food companies will even use pre-portioned meal pouches so it’s as simple as rip-and-serve at mealtime.
Most importantly, you won’t find any mystery ingredients or nasties in their custom kibble meal plans. It’s balanced and complete to protect your Irish Doodle’s health.
Having reviewed some of these dry food companies in the USA, I believe that UnKibble by Spot & Tango and Hungry Bark are leading the way.
RELATED: The six best tailored dry food options for dogs
Best Raw Dog Food
Poppy’s Picnic samples (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
You may have seen a big shift towards raw fed diets for dogs.
There are pros and cons to raw dog food so we recommend that Irish Doodle owners do thorough research before they make the switch to this controversial type of pet nutrition.
It’s really important to do your research given the potential risks associated with introducing raw dog food to your home.
We really do recommend that you speak to your vet to learn more about all the factors to be considered with a raw fed diet.
You’ll find that raw dog food companies will use raw meat such as organ meat, muscle meat, whole ground bone coupled with raw eggs, dog-safe fruit and vegetables, supplemented by minerals and vitamins.
Given you’ll be feeding your Irish Doodle raw food that may contain bacteria, it’s generally not recommended to use raw pet food in a home with young children or immunocompromised family members.
If you’re giving serious consideration to making a switch to raw dog food for your Irish Doodles, we recommend that you read the FDA’s tips and information about raw pet food to ensure you’re fully informed about the potential risks. For UK readers, you can check out the government’s advice on its website about handling raw pet food before you decide to make the switch to raw.
Based upon our careful research, here are some of the leading raw dog food companies in the USA.
RELATED: The five best raw dog food companies
Poppy’s Picnic appear to be leading the way in terms of raw dog food in the UK.
RELATED: The three best raw dog food companies in the UK
Irish Doodles
Irish Doodle (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Irish Doodles are a cross between an Irish Setter and a Poodle.
They tend to be medium-sized dogs that will enjoy playtime with the pet parents, especially a game of fetch given their hunting past.
This hybrid dog can prove popular given they can be hypoallergenic thanks to the influence of the Poodle genes.
Not to be confused for a Goldendoodle, the Irish Doodle can also be called Irish Doodle Setter, Irish Poo Setter, Irish Setterdoodle and Irish Setterpoo.
Are Irish Doodles Picky Eaters?
Irish Doodle Bubba (Photo: bubba.thedood / Instagram)
Irish Doodles can be picky eaters just like any other type of dog. If you’re struggling with a fussy eater, you may find it useful to speak to your vet or an animal behaviorist.
You may find a dog allergy test useful to see if your Irish Doodle has a potential food intolerance.
Irish Doodles Exercise Requirements
Hunter the Irish Doodle (Photo: @hunterdoodle530 / Instagram)
Irish Doodles tend to be a relatively active breed that will benefit from regular exercise to give them mental and physical stimulation. Irish Doodles will need between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise a day.
Irish Doodles Health
Irish Doodles, just like any other dog, can struggle with health problems despite being a cross breed. Some of the issues to be aware of include hip dysplasia, which is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that could potentially lead to lameness and arthritis of the joints. Other general health issues could include bloat, blindness and deafness.
Anything Else To Consider?
If you’re thinking about getting a Irish Doodle, you may want to talk to current Irish Doodle owners to learn more about this particular cross breed. In our experience, speaking to owners can provide valuable insight into a type of dog that you may not find online.
You should speak to your vet to discuss the merits of different types of pet nutrition before you make a decision. It’s a good idea to make a gradual transition to a new type of pet food.
This article does not constitute expert advice and we recommend contacting your vet if you have any concerns or issues. You can also reach out to the company you’re thinking about subscribing to as they’ll usually have experts on hand to offer advice.
In Conclusion
Irish Doodle Bubba (Photo: bubba.thedood / Instagram)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best dog food for Irish Doodles.
Having seen firsthand the benefits that fresh meals from a dog food delivery company can bring to my dogs, I’d recommend this type of nutrition to Irish Doodle owners.
I was really impressed with the human-grade meals that looked and smelt great, comprised of natural ingredients that I can clearly see in their meals.
It’s great to have peace of mind that these dog food delivery companies only use natural ingredients in their recipes that have been formulated by experts and vets.
Not only that, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having your Irish Doodle’s tailored meals shipped direct to your door. Some of these dog food delivery companies even use pre-portioned packaging so feeding your dog is as simple as rip-and-serve.
I’ve reviewed up to 10 of the dog food delivery companies in the USA available at the moment and my top pick is Nom Nom. You can read my extensive guide below.
RELATED: The eight best dog food delivery companies
In the UK, my dogs loved Butternut Box’s meals but there are some other brands you may want to consider listed in my ultimate guide for Irish Doodles in the UK.
RELATED: The five leading dog food delivery companies in the UK
For Irish Doodle owners who want to stick with dry food, you can still get custom kibble that is made using natural ingredients rather than store-bought dry food. Two of the leading tailored kibble companies are UnKibble and Hungry Bark.
RELATED: The six best tailored dry food options for dogs
Raw pet food is a controversial topic so make sure to do plenty of research before you decide to take the plunge. If you’re looking for some raw dog food companies, you can view some of the leading providers in the USA via the link below.
RELATED: The three best raw dog food companies in the UK
While all these types of dog nutrition will help you to introduce a fresher way of eating to your Irish Doodle, I really believe in the merits of balanced and complete meals from dog food delivery companies having seen the positive impact on my Alaskan Klee Kai.
