Sheepadoodles are a popular member of the Doodle family who usually have quite big appetites.
They’re a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle, resulting in a medium-to-large dog.
Sheepadoodles can grow between 18 and 23 inches in height and weigh between 60 and 85 pounds. Mini Sheepadoodles will be smaller in size.
The Old English Sheepdog Poodle cross are usually affectionate, friendly, intelligent and sociable dogs.
If you’re thinking about getting a Sheepadoodle or you’re already an owner of this member of the Doodle family, you may be trying to work out what to feed your canine companion.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best dog food for Sheepadoodles, as well as hearing from some Sheepadoodle owners to learn more about what their dogs act like at mealtime.
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.
With the introduction over, let’s take a look at some of the food options available to Sheepadoodle owners right now.
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Are Sheepadoodle Picky Eaters?
Walter the Sheepadoodle (Photo: walterthegentlegiant / Instagram)
Although these medium-to-large dogs are usually energetic with a vociferous appetites, some members of the cross breed can be fussy eaters just like my Alaskan Klee Kai.
In our indepth feature on the Sheepadoodle, we spoke to some owners of this wonderful cross breed to learn whether they’ve experienced pickiness with their Sheepadoodles.
Cristina explained that Walter (@walterthegentlegiant) is starting to become fussy with his food.
Walter was not a fussy eater as a very young pup but is growing a bit pickier as he grows older. We are trying out different foods to hopefully find the one that matches his palette.
Claudia of Surrey Sheepadoodles (@surreysheepadoodles) described her two canines as picky dogs.
They are fussy eaters – and not food driven. Mine are on a raw diet which works well for them.
Sheepadoodle Exercise And Health
Walter the Sheepadoodle (Photo: walterthegentlegiant / Instagram)
Sheepadoodles are usually active dogs that require mental and physical stimulation to keep these furry pooches content and happy. They’ll usually require at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. Of course, there’s a greater chance that your Sheepadoodle will have more of an appetite if they’re getting more exercise. Dog food delivery companies will usually ask about your Sheepadoodle’s exercise so they can tailor their meals accordingly.
Although Sheepadoodles are a cross breed, they can still be prone to some health issues. They can be susceptible to some health problems like most dog breeds, such as joint problems. Sheepadoodles can suffer from Addison’s or Cushing’s disease, which affects hormone levels.
Some Sheepadoodles can have intolerances to certain types of food. If you suspect your Sheepadoodle may be allergic to a particular food source, you may want to consider a dog allergy kit.
Best Fresh Dog Food USA
Website: Ollie.com
Ollie provide fresh and healthy dog meals (Photo: Ollie)
Ollie are a dog food company who are hoping to give pet parents the chance to feed their canine companions in a balanced and fresh way. They only use human-grade meat and fresh vegetables to ensure your dog is eating a diet comprised of high quality ingredients. By filling out their questionnaire, Ollie will tailor your dog’s food to meet their specific needs before shipping their complete meals direct to your door.
The Pros
• High quality ingredients
• No artificial additives
• Tailored
• Custom scooper
• Vet approved
• Flexible meal plans
• Reliable deliveries
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Are Saying
Ollie get an average of 4 stars out of 5 based upon over 150 reviews on Trustpilot.
Lisa revealed that her Golden Retriever loves his custom meals.
Our Golden Retriever Beau was such a picky eater. He never ate and we were concerned. We switched to Ollie, and since then he just loves his food. He gets excited to eat and can hardly wait until I put his food down. He eats every single thing and licks his bowl clean. He’s so happy with Ollie and so are we! Definitely a smart choice to switch. Thank you Ollie!!
Emily said her Goldendoodles are obsessed with Ollie.
I have 2 -8 month old Goldendoodles and they are growing boys. One of them stopped eating completely. I took him to the vet thinking something was wrong with him, vet said he was healthy just lost interest in his food. We ordered Ollie immediately, and now he lets us know it’s feeding time. They both love their meals and they are so easy to serve. I don’t have to worry about going to the store or running out. They automatically ship to us when it’s time.
Our Verdict
We tested Ollie on our fussy Alaskan Klee Kai taste tester called Mercer.
The eight-year old had a history of being fussy at mealtime but the Klee Kai loved his Ollie meals. His owner Alexis explained that Mercer “absolutely loved” these balanced, custom and fresh meals showing unprecedented levels of enthusiasm.
Alexis was so impressed that she went ahead and place a permanent order of Ollie, having successfully transitioned from his old dry dog food to his new tailored fresh dog meals. We think that speaks volumes!
Our readers can get 50% off their first order from Ollie when using the coupon code “HELLOBARK” at checkout. To avail of this offer, click this link and use the “HELLOBARK” discount code.
Best Custom Dry Dog Food USA
Website: spotandtango.com/unkibble
UnKibble by Spot & Tango (Photo: Spot & Tango)
UnKibble is a fresh kibble diet created by well-known dog food company Spot & Tango, who have a lot of experience creating healthy pet food. While Spot & Tango have fresh meals for dogs, they launched their UnKibble line to accommodate pet owners who prefer to feed dry dog food but are looking for a healthier option than some big-name brands that your find on your supermarket shelf. UnKibble use limited fresh ingredients (just 14!) that have been shown to provide a number of functional benefits to dogs while they’re still able to customise their fresh kibble to meet your particular pup’s needs. It’s important to highlight that Spot & Tango have an environmentally-friendly approach to their business model for dog owners who want to feed their canines healthy meals but not at the expense of the planet’s health.
The Pros
• Human grade
• 14 simple ingredients
• No additives or nasties
• Custom meal-plan
• Delivered to your door
• Personalized scooper
• Sustainable
The Cons
• Costs more than store-bought kibble
What Customers Have To Say
The only UnKibble reviews that I could find were on their official website rather than independent website like Trustpilot.
Sherry was thrilled with George’s weight loss thanks to UnKibble.
George has struggled with his weight for years. We started feeding him Spot & Tango, and he lost 10lbs in a month. We’re customers for life!
Nathalie explained that her dog Wiley has a happy and healthy tummy since switching to UnKibble:
The food smells amazing, and I love seeing fresh fruits and veggies in Wiley’s bowl. She’s got a shiny coat and a happy tummy, and that makes us happy!
Our Verdict
If you’re currently feeding your dog kibble and you’d prefer to stick with dry dog food, UnKibble could be the solution for you.
They only use simple ingredients that you’ll recognise so you can be confident that there are no nasties in these vet-approved recipes.
By filling out their questionnaire, UnKibble will provide you with a personalized scooper so you can feed the right amount to your pet at mealtime.
New Spot & Tango customers you can avail of our exclusive 50% discount off your first UnKibble order when you click here.
Best Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food USA
Website: openfarmpet.com
Open Farm Bone Broth (Photo: Open Farm)
Open Farm have a few key philosophies that underpin their company – they believe in transparency, premium nutrition and ethical sourcing of ingredients. While Open Farm are a versatile dog food company with fresh dog food, wet dog food and kibble available on their website, we’re interested in their freeze-dried raw offering for the purposes of this article. They offer Grass-Fed Beef, Surf and Turf, Homestead Turkey, Harvest Chicken, Farmer’s Table Pork and Pasture-Raised Lamb in the freeze-dried raw range so pet owners have a lot of variety to choose from. Open Farm use traceable ingredients in their recipes so you can track the food from farm to bowl, providing ultimate peace of mind!
The Pros
• Traceable ingredients
• Locally sourced meat and vegetables
• High meat content
• Six recipes
• Delivered to your door
• Sustainable mantra
• Extras like bone broth
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Are Saying
We were unable to find Open Farm on independent user-based review websites such as Trustpilot. However, Open Farm have a review section under each of their recipes so you can get a sense for the experiences of other pet parents with their food.
Linda wrote on Open Farm’s website in the review section that her Jack Russell is thriving on the beef recipe.
My JRT is a very fussy eater. She gets tired of eating the same thing day after day. Being able to switch from one freeze dried formula to another without gastric upset and knowing I’m feeding her a balanced healthy diet where I can look up the source of every ingredient has given me piece of mine. She is thriving.
Michelle said Open Farm was perfect for picky dogs like her pup!
My girl was a picky eater for years, but not anymore with freeze dried food! She even licks her bowl clean now. Pork is her favorite flavour! Worth the price.
Our Verdict
We asked another Alaskan Klee Kai friend to try out Open Farm on our behalf.
Her owner Carmel was impressed with how quickly Sesame finished her Open Farm food given her mini husky has a history of being fussy with food. Sesame went as far as to lick the bowl absolutely clean to make sure no Open Farm was left!
Like Spot & Tango, Open Farm go to great lengths to emphasize their sustainable approach to creating fresh dog food for American pet owners.
If you’re looking to try Open Farm for the first time, you can get 10% off using OFFIRST10 or if you’re ready to sign up to a subscription plan you can get 15% off using OFSUB15.
Best Dog Food For Picky Eaters
Website: www.justfoodfordogs.com
Just Food For Dogs (Photo: Just Food For Dogs)
JustFoodForDogs are one of the most experienced operators within the fresh dog food marketplace. They’ve been providing pooches in the USA with an alternative to store-bought kibble thanks to their human-grade kitchens since 2010. According to their website, their food is the only food on the market proven healthy by two independent universities, who conducted year-long trials proving their recipes boost the immune system of dogs in a healthy way. JustFoodForDogs have an unrivalled offering for dog food owners in the USA with lots of variety within their menu if you’ve got picky eaters like my dogs.
The Pros
• Three open-to-the-public kitchens
• 70 million meals served annuals
• Team of 14 in-house vets to create meals
• 15 different recipes
• Delivered to your door
• No additives or nasties
• Great for picky eaters
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Have To Say
JustFoodForDogs have lots of reviews on their website.
In fact, each recipe has its own review section which can help dog owners to learn what meal could be most beneficial to their dog.
One customer revealed how JustFoodForDogs helped their dog to overcome pancreatitis:
The vets recommended JustFoodForDogs to us and informed us Loki seemed to like the food while there. Loki has been on the Balanced Remedy diet since October of last year and hasn’t had any allergy flare ups and has only visited the vet for his annual check up.
Stephanie revealed her vet’s delight with JustFoodForDogs.
My husband and I eat very well and when our puppy came into our family, we weren’t going to have him eating kibble. Enter JFFD. The customer service has always been really kind and our pup loves the food–and we love that we can actually tell what he’s eating. Our vet has also been very happy with his health, weight gain, etc. We will definitely continue to use these guys!
Our Verdict
We included JustFoodForDogs given their array of recipes on offer for dogs owners in the USA.
If you’ve got a dog who is particularly fussy with their food, you may find JustFoodForDogs can keep your canine companion motivated at mealtime.
Their meals are balanced, complete and human-grade having been formulated by 14 vets so you can have confidence your dog is eating only good stuff.
Anything Else To Consider?
Surrey Sheepadoodles (Photo: @surreysheepadoodles / Instagram)
If you’ve got any questions about your Sheepadoodle’s diet, we recommend speaking to your vet to learn more. It’s a good idea to seek a professional’s advice before you make a switch to their diet.
It’s advisable to make a slow transition to a new diet incorporating your dog’s old food and new food before slightly adjusting the ratios over the course of two weeks or so.
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
Bertie the Sheepadoodle (Photo: @sheepadoodlebertie / Instagram)
So we’ve reached the end of our article on the best dog food for Sheepadoodles.
We’re big advocates of dog food delivery companies having seen firsthand the positive impact that their meals have made on my Alaskan Klee Kai’s lives. In particular, we’re big fans of Ollie who provide balanced and complete meals using human-grade ingredients formulated by vets. Ollie will ship their meals direct to your door.
Alternatively, some Sheepadoodle owners may prefer to stick with dry food but go for a dog food company who provide custom kibble using whole ingredients to promote a better quality of life. Sheepadoodle owners could consider dry food companies such as UnKibble.
Some pet parents are big advocates of a raw dog food diet despite some of the risks associated with his particular type of nutrition. We’ve offered some raw food dog companies such as a Stella and Chewy’s who can cater to anyone looking to make the switch to raw.
Living with picky eaters can be testing as I know all too well with my Alaskan Klee Kai but there are a variety of options that can help you reignite your Sheepadoodle’s interest in their meals.
