The 8 Best Cockapoo Puppy Foods with Our 2023 Most Affordable Pick
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In This Article...
- Cockapoo Puppy Diet Requirements
- Quick Look : Best Cockapoo Puppy Foods – 2023
- Overall Best Cockapoo Puppy Food
- Our Most Popular Pick
- Our Most Affordable Pick
- Our Pick for Cockapoo Puppy Allergies
- Our Pick for Cockapoo Puppy with Sensitive Stomach
- 3 More Top-Rated Cockapoo Puppy Foods
- Our Cockapoo Puppy Feeding Guide – Frequently Asked Questions
- Cockapoo Puppy Food – A Final Word
Though they are sometimes referred to as “designer dogs,” Cockapoos are technically a crossbreed. These dogs are created by crossing a Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle to create a small to medium-sized breed with wavy, scruffy-looking coats and friendly personalities.
Many people think of the Cockapoo as the best of both breeds when it comes to the cross between the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle, but the truth is that you can’t pick and choose when it comes to genetics. There are also vast size differences depending which type of Poodle is used in the crossing. Cockapoos can be as small as 6 to 12 pounds when bred from a Toy Poodle or over 20 pounds when bred from a Standard Poodle.
Though the different sizes of Cockapoo puppy will have different calorie requirements, the basic nutritional needs for all are the same. Keep reading to learn more about your Cockapoo puppy’s nutritional requirements and how to meet them with a high-quality puppy food.
Cockapoo Puppy Diet Requirements
When choosing a high-quality puppy food for your Cockapoo puppy, you need to know the basic nutritional needs of any puppy. All dogs require a balance of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals in their diet and the percentages of each differ for puppies and adult dogs. For adult dogs, the minimum requirements for protein and fat are 18% and 5%, respectively. For puppies, however, they are higher at 22% and 8% for protein and fat. There are no minimum requirements for carbohydrate, though most veterinarians recommend a maximum of 5% crude fiber. Anything too much higher than that may upset your puppy’s digestion.
Your Cockapoo puppy’s dog food should be focused around high-quality, animal-based sources of protein and fat. For protein, look for things like poultry, meat, and fish – plant-based proteins are less biologically valuable, and they are generally not complete sources of protein. For fats, animal-based sources like chicken fat and salmon oil are best. Plant-based fats are acceptable as well, particularly when used to provide a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid for healthy brain, skin, and coat.
In addition to protein and fat, most Cockapoo puppy foods contain carbohydrates. It is largely a matter of choice whether you opt to feed your puppy grains or not but, if you do, know that whole grains are best when it comes to nutrition and digestibility. For grain-free carbohydrates, look for nutritious options like sweet potato, chickpeas, and peas. Again, aim for a maximum of 5% crude fiber because too much more than that may be too much for your Cockapoo puppy’s digestive system.
Outside of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, the remaining ingredients in your Cockapoo puppy’s diet should be vitamins and minerals. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamins and minerals because they are all-natural. Natural sources are the most biologically valuable which simply means that your Cockapoo puppy’s body is able to digest and utilize them best. Chelated minerals are an exception to the rule when it comes to nutritional supplements – they have been chemically bound to protein molecules which makes them easier to absorb.
So, how do you choose the very best Cockapoo puppy for your individual puppy?
If you are able to gather some information about your Cockapoo puppy’s parents, you may be able to guess at his expected adult size. With this information, you can then choose a puppy food specific to that size. For Cockapoo puppies that are expected to remain smaller than 15 pounds, a toy breed puppy recipe is recommended. Cockapoo puppies expected to reach up to 20 pounds should do just fine on a small-breed puppy recipe while Cockapoo puppies over 20 or 25 pounds may do well on a regular puppy food.
Quick Look : Best Cockapoo Puppy Foods – 2023
Keeping in mind the different calorie needs of different Cockapoo sizes, here are our picks for the 8 best Cockapoo puppy foods:
| Rank | Puppy Foods | Price | Rating |
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Best Overall | $2.17/lb |
A+
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Most Popular | $1.58/lb |
A+
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Most Affordable | $1.49/lb |
A+
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| Allergies | $2.38/lb |
A
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Sensitive Stomach | $3.60/lb |
A
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Overall Best Cockapoo Puppy Food
Solid Gold Love at First Bark Grain-Free Puppy Recipe
If you want to start your Cockapoo puppy off on the right foot, consider a high-quality product like this Solid Gold Love at First Bark Grain-Free Puppy Recipe. This formula is specifically designed for puppies of all sizes, so it doesn’t matter what size Cockapoo puppy you have. It features quality ingredients like fresh chicken and chicken meal as well as grain-free carbohydrates like peas and potatoes. It is rich in essential fatty acids and supplemented with fresh fruits and veggies as natural sources of key nutrients. Chelated minerals are included for nutritional balance and dried fermentation products offer probiotic support for healthy digestion.
- Pros: Formulated for puppies of all sizes, high-quality animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and veggies, essential fatty acids, chelated minerals, probiotics
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients, some plant protein (pea protein)
Our Most Popular Pick
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula
This Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula is a great option for your Cockapoo puppy because it is loaded with novel animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, and essential fatty acids. It features buffalo and lamb meal as the top two ingredients with sweet potatoes and peas as the primary carbohydrates. Canola oil and salmon oil provide a blend of omega fatty acids and fresh fruits and veggies act as natural sources for key nutrients. You’ll also be glad to see chelated minerals and probiotics on the list of ingredients. Plus, this recipe is a great choice for puppies that have sensitive stomachs or food allergies.
- Pros: High-quality novel animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, balance of omega fatty acids, fresh fruits and veggies, chelated minerals, probiotics, no chicken ingredients
- Cons: Contains some plant protein (pea protein), main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)
Our Most Affordable Pick
American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Recipe
Not only is this American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Recipe a nutritious choice, but it is also an affordable one. Featuring deboned chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients, this formula is protein rich (30% crude protein), perfect for a growing puppy. Grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and chickpeas provide fiber and essential nutrients while chicken fat and salmon oil provide a blend of essential fatty acids. This recipe is also supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables as well as chelated minerals and probiotics.
- Pros: Rich in quality animal protein, grain-free carbohydrates, blend of essential fatty acids, fresh fruit and veggies, chelated minerals, probiotics
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients
Our Pick for Cockapoo Puppy Allergies
Dogswell Grain-Free Puppy Chicken Recipe
If your Cockapoo puppy has food allergies, you want to limit the number of ingredients in his food to lower the risk for triggering that allergy. This Dogswell Grain-Free Puppy Chicken Recipe features a low number of main ingredients including high-quality animal proteins like chicken and menhaden fish meal, grain-free carbohydrates like peas and chickpeas, and dried fruits and veggies. This recipe also features chicken fat and salmon oil for a blend of essential fatty acids (including omega oils) as well as chelated minerals for nutritional balance.
- Pros: Low number of main ingredients and supplements, high-quality animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, dried fruits and veggies for nutritional support, chelated minerals
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients, no probiotics, some plant protein (pea protein)
Our Pick for Cockapoo Puppy with Sensitive Stomach
Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Puppy Recipe with Freeze-Dried Turkey
For Cockatoo puppies with sensitive stomachs, high-quality ingredients are extremely important. Low-quality proteins, inexpensive fillers, and artificial additives are hard to digest, and they will irritate your puppy’s sensitive stomach. This Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Puppy Recipe with Freeze-Dried Turkey offers a degree of healthy nutrition that is similar in quality to raw food. This recipe features deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal as the main ingredients with grain-free carbohydrates and healthy fats. It also contains bites of freeze-dried turkey as well as fresh fruits and veggies, chelated minerals, and vitamin supplements for nutritional integrity.
- Pros: High-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bites, high-quality animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, rich in essential fatty acids, fresh fruits and veggies, chelated minerals, probiotics
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients, contains some plant protein (potato protein)
3 More Top-Rated Cockapoo Puppy Foods
If the five Cockapoo puppy recipes above don’t seem right fit for your puppy, don’t fret! There are still a wide variety of options out there – here are three more to consider:
| Rank | Puppy Foods | Price | Rating |
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#6 | $2.63/lb |
A
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#7 | $2.24/lb |
A
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#8 | $1.51/lb |
A
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Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy Recipe
When it comes to small breed puppy recipes, this Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy Recipe is a great option. It features deboned turkey and salmon meal as quality sources of animal protein with digestible carbohydrates like oatmeal for nutrients and dietary fiber. The formula comes in smaller kibbles for smaller mouths and it is complete and balanced for your Cockapoo puppy. Plus, it is a rich source of DHA for healthy brain development and loaded with antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies.
- Pros: Complete and balanced for small-breed puppies, quality animal proteins, digestible carbohydrates, antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, smaller kibble size, chelated minerals and probiotics
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients, not grain-free
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Grain-Free Puppy Food
If you’re looking for a protein-rich recipe for your Cockapoo puppy to ensure healthy growth and development, this Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Grain-Free Puppy Food is a good choice. Made with multiple high-quality animal proteins, this formula contains 32% crude protein and 16% crude fat. It is loaded with omega fatty acids for healthy brain, skin, and coat as well as antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies plus chelated minerals for nutritional balance.
- Pros: Rich in quality animal proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, plenty of essential fatty acids, antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, chelated minerals, probiotic supplements
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken and/or beef ingredients, some plant protein (pea protein)
Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe
Brought to you by the Merrick brand as an affordable option for your Cockapoo puppy, this Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe features protein-rich chicken meal as the main ingredient with digestible carbohydrates like brown rice and oatmeal. It also contains nutrient-rich chicken fat and salmon oil for a blend of essential fatty acids (including omega oils) as well as chelated minerals to ensure nutritional balance. There is also plenty of supplementary fiber as well as probiotics for healthy digestion.
- Pros: Affordable recipe, quality animal protein, digestible carbohydrates, blend of essential fatty acids, chelated minerals, fiber and probiotics for digestion
- Cons: Some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients, not grain-free, some plant protein (potato protein)
Our Cockapoo Puppy Feeding Guide – Frequently Asked Questions
Feeding your Cockapoo puppy shouldn’t be complicated. As long as you pick a high-quality diet and follow the feeding recommendations, your puppy will get the nutrients he needs. You may need to make adjustments in terms of his daily portion, but that is easy as well.
If you’re still wondering how and how much to feed your puppy, here are the answers to three common Cockapoo puppy feeding questions:
How Much Should I Feed a Cockapoo Puppy?
The amount you feed your Cockapoo puppy varies depending on two things – his size and the recipe you choose. When it comes to feeding recommendations, most dog food packages offer them based on the dog’s size. So, in order to know how much to feed your puppy you’ll need to keep track of his weight and adjust it as needed over time. Remember that each puppy food recipe has a different number of calories per cup, so follow the feeding recommendations on the package instead of determining your dog’s diet by a set volume of food.
How Many Times Should a Cockapoo Puppy Eat a Day?
The number of daily meals you give your Cockapoo puppy will be determined by several different factors. First and foremost, his age. Cockapoo puppies grow the most quickly during their first 3 to 6 months, so you may want to consider letting your puppy feed freely. This just means that you keep his bowl full and allow him to eat as much as he needs to. After six months, you can switch to a daily meal schedule. For toy and miniature Cockapoo puppies, three daily meals is the recommendation. For standard Cockapoo puppies, three meals will still work, or you can do two per day. It’s largely a matter of preference and what works with your schedule but try to keep the feeding times regular.
How Long Should I Feed a Cockapoo Puppy Food?
Veterinarians disagree on the length of time puppies should be fed puppy-specific food. Some suggest that you keep a Cockapoo puppy on a puppy recipe until he reaches a year old. Others say that puppies should be switched over to adult diets once they reach 75% or more of their expected adult weight. You can consult your own veterinarian for help but plan to feed your Cockapoo puppy a puppy-specific recipe for at least 6 months. If he has already reached his adult weight by that point, you can consider switching to an adult recipe with your vet’s approval but you can also just wait until he’s a year old.
Cockapoo Puppy Food – A Final Word
So, now that you understand your Cockapoo puppy’s nutritional needs and have learned how to shop for a quality puppy food, what do you do? Put that knowledge to use! Take what you’ve learned here and head to the pet store to pick out your puppy’s diet. If you’re still not sure, all you have to do is choose one of the best Cockapoo puppy foods reviewed above.
