Best Dog Food for Cockapoo: Top Picks for Your Fluffy Foodie!

Despite it’s strange-sounding name, the Cockapoo is one of the most popular mixed-breed dogs in the United States. This breed is known for its outgoing, friendly personality as well as its low-shedding coat.

This breed gets along very well with children, other dogs, and even cats – it is quick to make friends and never known to show aggression.

Cockapoo Breed Overview

• Pedigree: Cocker Spaniel and Poodle
• Size: 10 to 15 inches
• Weight: 10 to 40 pounds
• Energy Level: Moderate
• Lifespan: 14 to 18 years

The Cockapoo is a mixed breed that may appear in a variety of different sizes according to various breeding factors. For one thing, there are two different types of Cocker Spaniel – the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel.

The English Cocker Spaniel is the slightly larger of the two. Another factor to consider is that the Poodle comes in three different sizes – Toy, Miniature, and Standard. In most cases, Cockapoos are bred from Toy Poodles or Miniature Poodles.

Because there are a number of different breeds involved in the pedigree for the Cockapoo, this dog comes in a range of different sizes.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR DOG FOODS FOR COCKAPOOS

Best Dog Food for Cockapoo

Now that you have a better understanding of what makes the Cockapoo unique (and how those factors might affect the breed’s nutritional requirements), you may be wondering how to choose the best dog food for this breed.

Below you will find reviews for our recommended brands for Cockapoo adults as well as one recommendation for Cockapoo puppies:

1. Ollie Turkey Dish with Blueberries

Ollie's introduction to a raw food diet for your Cockapoo makes feeding raw really simple. This turkey delight uses turkey meat and turkey liver for complete proteins and calcium with oats as a slow release complex carbohydrate that helps stabilize energy levels.

Whole fruits and veggies provide excellent doses of vitamins and minerals, which helps with immune support, and fish oil contains essential fatty acids for maintaining skin and coat health. Everything is packaged in easy to use portion sizes, so there’s no confusion about how much to feed each mealtime.

Simply fill out a questionnaire for your dog and receive perfectly portioned meals. Put them in your refrigerator or freezer, and they’re ready to serve when you are.

This turkey dish is just one of the four different vet-crafted recipes on offer, and the one that we would personally recommend for your Cockapoo.

This is grain-free, with the meat sourced from farms that provide vegetable-fed and hormone-free turkey. You will not find a more organically sourced dog food on the market today.

At over 70% moisture, your dog will be adequately hydrated whilst eating the meal. It will also mean that the transition is easier if your dog is currently eating canned dog food as he's digestive system will need less adjustment than changing to dry dog food.

2. Jinx Salmon, Sweet Potato & Carrot

Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a dog food because there are so many options out there. When you just can’t make a choice, consider a new but trusted brand like Jinx.

This is a thoughtfully crafted recipe designed to meet the nutritional needs of dogs at all life stages (ALS).

It features real salmon as the primary ingredient, providing a high-quality protein source that supports lean muscle development and overall vitality.

The addition of sweet potatoes and carrots supplies essential vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, which promote healthy digestion, support immune function, and contribute to skin and coat health.

As a relatively new player in the pet food industry, Jinx is committed to setting high standards in pet nutrition with premium, carefully sourced ingredients.

With no artificial flavors, fillers, or unnecessary additives, this kibble prioritizes clean ingredients for a healthy, tasty meal. The brand aims to build trust among pet parents by delivering fresh, quality dog food that nourishes dogs with a well-rounded diet for long-term wellness.

3. New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Woof Duck Recipe 

This grain-free, freeze-dried food is a high-quality, nutrient-packed option that brings the best of New Zealand's natural ingredients to your dog’s bowl.

Made with premium duck as its primary ingredient, this formula offers a protein-rich meal that supports muscle health, energy, and overall vitality.

The recipe also includes New Zealand green-lipped mussels, a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which support joint health and mobility, making it ideal for active dogs or senior pets with aging joints.

Additional superfoods, such as kelp, Manuka honey, and pumpkin, provide a boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote a strong immune system, healthy digestion, and a shiny coat.

Each ingredient is ethically sourced and carefully freeze-dried to lock in flavor and nutrients, preserving the taste and health benefits of a raw diet in a convenient format.

Free from grains, fillers, and artificial additives, Woof Duck Recipe is suitable for dogs with grain sensitivities, ensuring a wholesome, natural meal.

The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. is committed to quality, crafting recipes that prioritize the health and happiness of pets, and Woof Duck recipe is a perfect example of this dedication.

4. Full Moon Freshly Crafted Free Range Chicken Recipe

This is a premium, all-natural option designed to provide dogs with a wholesome, freshly prepared meal at an affordable price.

Crafted with responsibly sourced, free-range chicken as the main ingredient, this recipe delivers a high-protein meal that supports muscle maintenance, energy, and overall health.

Full Moon prioritizes ingredient quality by including fresh, human-grade ingredients such as carrots, spinach, and apples, which are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to boost immune health and promote a vibrant coat.

Grain-free and free from fillers, artificial preservatives, or by-products, this formula is ideal for dogs with grain sensitivities or pet owners looking to provide a clean, balanced diet.

Because the recipe is frozen, it retains its natural flavors and nutrients without the need for additives, providing a fresh, tasty, and nutritious option for adult dogs.

The brand's Freshly Crafted line is carefully cooked in small batches in the USA, reflecting the brand’s commitment to transparency and quality.

This chicken recipe offers a nutrient-dense, balanced meal that prioritizes health and flavor, giving pet owners confidence that their dog is receiving a meal close to home-cooked in quality and care—all at a budget-friendly price.

5. Boss Dog Beef Flavor Freeze-Dried Dog Food

This is is a top-tier, protein-rich meal designed to support your dog’s overall health and well-being. Made with real beef as the main ingredient, this formula delivers high-quality protein that promotes strong muscles and sustained energy levels.

Carefully freeze-dried to lock in essential nutrients and natural flavor, it offers the benefits of raw nutrition in a convenient, shelf-stable format.

This recipe is enhanced with wholesome superfoods such as sweet potatoes and kale, providing vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support immune health, digestion, and a shiny coat.

In addition, it includes probiotics in their formula to promote a healthy gut and improve digestion, making it an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Free from grains, artificial additives, and unnecessary fillers, this dog food is crafted to meet the needs of pets with dietary sensitivities while delivering a delicious taste that dogs love.

Whether served as a complete meal or as a topper to enhance kibble, this product provides balanced nutrition with the added convenience of freeze-drying, ensuring every bite is both wholesome and satisfying.

6. PetPlate FreshBaked Grain-Free Chicken

This tasty food is a revolutionary option for pet parents who want the quality of a human-grade diet with the convenience of shelf-stable kibble.

Made from all-natural chicken as the first ingredient, this gently baked and air-dried recipe is packed with high-quality protein to support lean muscles and sustained energy.

Each batch is crafted with nutrient-dense ingredients like carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples, providing a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote immune health, digestion, and a shiny coat.

The unique cooking process locks in essential nutrients and enhances natural flavors without the need for artificial preservatives or fillers.

Completely grain-free, this formula caters to dogs with dietary sensitivities while delivering a taste that even picky eaters will love.

PetPlate’s commitment to human-grade standards means every ingredient is safe enough for you but perfectly tailored for your furry friend.

Perfect as a complete meal or a nutritious topper, this dog food offers a delicious, wholesome feeding experience that combines freshness, quality, and convenience.

7. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Recipe

The Wellness brand of dog food is committed to a holistic approach to pet nutrition, ensuring that each of their recipes is made with the highest-quality ingredients available.

Wellness understands that proper nutrition is the foundation for the wellbeing of all pets, including your Cockapoo. If you are looking for a grain-free dog food formulated specifically for small-breed dogs, this is a great option to consider.

Packed with protein and naturally grain-free, this recipe provides for your Cockapoo’s high energy needs as well as his needs for premium-quality protein. It is completely free from corn, wheat, and soy ingredients as well as byproducts and fillers.

This recipe contains a whopping 36% crude protein with 16% fat and just 5% dietary fiber, making it a great option for your dog. Simply put, it will give your dog the quality nutrition he deserves and the natural flavor he loves.

8. Natural Balance LID Lamb & Rice

Natural Balance is a premium pet food company that is dedicated to providing pets and their owners with “Food for a Lifetime”.

This company designs each of their recipes according to sound scientific principles and nutritional truths, so you can rest assured that this Natural Balance LID Lamb & Rice Small-Breed Dog Food won’t just meet your Cockapoo’s nutritional needs – it will exceed them.

This particular recipe is made for small breed dogs using protein-rich lamb meal, a highly-concentrated source of animal protein. It is supplemented with easily digestible brown rice and white rice plus supplementary fiber to support your dog’s healthy and regular digestion.

This formula is also a Limited Ingredient Diet which means it is made with a limited number of primary ingredients, reducing the risk for triggering your Cockapoo’s food allergies or sensitivities.

It is also packed with healthy fats to keep your dog’s coat shiny and his skin healthy. If you are concerned that your dog might have a grain allergy or sensitivity, the brand also offers other Limited Ingredient Diets made without grains.

For example, there is another small-breed formula that features duck as the main protein and potato for grain-free carbohydrate.

9. Health Extension Chicken Recipe

If you want the best for your Cockapoo, Health Extension is a brand you should definitely consider. This brand is the leader in organic and holistic pet food, so you can feel good about feeding your dog any of their delicious recipes.

Their line of pet foods is made with a wide range of organic ingredients and produced in certified human-grade kitchens to ensure maximum quality and uncompromised safety.

This non-GMO kibble is an example of the brand’s gently air-dried options made with both chicken and chicken hearts for a high-protein, energy-packed formula.

This recipe is supplemented with quinoa, oats and organic sweet potatoes – three top-tier, highly digestible carbohydrates plus 30 superfoods for overall functional nutrition.

You’ll also be glad to know that this recipe is free from corn, wheat, and soy ingredients as well as artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Only the best for your beloved Cockapoo!

10. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken and Oatmeal Puppy Food

Best Puppy Food For Cockapoos – Starting your Cockapoo puppy off with a high-quality diet is essential for his long-term health and wellness – that is why Blue Buffalo is such a great choice.

Widely known as a leader in the natural pet food industry, Blue Buffalo offers a wide variety of dog food products, including many size-specific options like this Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small-Breed Chicken and Oatmeal Puppy Food.

This recipe features protein-rich, deboned chicken as the primary protein with plenty of wholesome whole grains, veggies, and fresh fruits for nutritional balance.

As is true for all of their products, this formula is also supplemented with Blue’s LifeSource Bits – these are made with a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your puppy’s whole-body health from the very start.

Plus, because this is a small-breed formula, you can rest assured that it will provide your Cockapoo puppy with the protein and energy he needs to grow up strong. That’s all you can really ask for in a puppy food.

The key to maximizing your Cockapoo’s longevity is to feed him a high-quality, healthy diet. Taking what you’ve learned about the nutritional requirements of dogs and the unique dietary considerations for this breed, you are ready to set out on your own in shopping for the best Cockapoo dog food. If you need a little help getting started, keep the brands reviewed above in mind.

 

Dietary Considerations for Cockapoos

Dietary considerations for Cockapoos are crucial for their health and well-being. A balanced diet with appropriate proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and fats is essential. High-quality protein sources from meat, fish, or eggs, complex carbohydrates from whole grains and vegetables, and healthy fats from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for their muscle development, energy levels, skin, and coat health.

Portion control is necessary to prevent obesity, as Cockapoos can be prone to weight gain. Adequate hydration with fresh water, monitoring for food allergies, maintaining good dental health, and establishing a regular feeding schedule are also important considerations.

One of the most important dietary considerations to take into account for any dog breed is size. Unfortunately, this gets a bit tricky with the Cockapoo since this breed comes in a wide range of sizes. The Cocker Spaniel ranges from 14 to 17 inches in size and weighs between 25 and 34 pounds.

Toy Poodles, the smallest of the Poodle varieties, stand 10 inches tall or less and weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. Miniature Poodles stand 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh 15 to 17 pounds. Standard Poodles are the largest, standing 15 inches tall or more and weighing 40 to 55 pounds. That puts the Cockapoo somewhere between 10 and 15 inches, on average, with a weight range between 10 and 40 pounds.

Because the Cockapoo is a mixed breed, it is difficult to make predictions about things like size, build, and activity level. For the most part, however, the Cockapoo is a moderately energetic breed of small to medium size.

While you might assume that small dogs need less food than larger dogs, it isn’t quite that simple. Small-breed dogs have very fast metabolisms which means that they burn through energy at a higher rate than large-breed dogs.

This being the case, a small dog like a Cockapoo might need less food (and calories) per day than a large dog, but the Cockapoo will need more calories per pound of bodyweight to sustain his metabolism at a healthy rate. Most small-breed dog food formulas have higher levels of protein and fat to meet this need.

Read Also: 10 Best (Healthiest) and Worst Dog Foods in 2024

Another dietary consideration you may want to factor in with your Cockapoo is the potential for food allergies – this is largely due to their Poodle genetics.

Any dog can develop a food allergy or sensitivity, but it seems to be more common in some breeds than others – this goes for the Poodle.

It is also unfortunate that a dog can develop a food allergy at any time, particularly with frequent exposure to a specific ingredient.

Some of the ingredients that are most likely to trigger food allergies in your Cockapoo include grains like corn and wheat as well as common proteins like chicken, beef, and fish.

If you want to protect your Cockapoo from food allergies, you might want to choose a grain-free dog food. If he has already developed allergies, consider a Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) made with a novel source of protein and carbohydrate.

Feeding your dog an LID for 12 weeks should be enough to resolve any lingering symptoms related to his allergy. At that point you can switch to a diet free from the offending allergen or simply keep feeding him the LID.

Consulting with a veterinarian for tailored dietary recommendations based on the Cockapoo's age, weight, activity level, and health conditions is highly recommended. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in keeping Cockapoos healthy, happy, and thriving.

Parting Words

When choosing the best dog food for Cockapoos, it's important to consider their unique dietary needs and preferences. Cockapoos are known for their energetic and playful nature, which requires a balanced diet rich in high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and essential nutrients to support their overall health and vitality.

Opt for dog foods that offer a well-rounded formula with high-quality ingredients, such as real meat, vegetables, and fruits. Look for products that are free from unnecessary fillers, artificial additives, and allergens that might cause sensitivities.

Brands that prioritize transparency in ingredient sourcing and maintain rigorous quality standards are often recommended. Additionally, considering factors such as your Cockapoo’s age, activity level, and any specific health concerns will help tailor the diet to their individual needs.

Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your Cockapoo’s specific dietary requirements and preferences. Consulting with a veterinarian can also provide personalized guidance to ensure your furry friend receives the best nutrition for their well-being.