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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Old English Sheepdog

Behind that shaggy panda-bear coat is a 60-to-100-pound working dog with a herder's drive and a giant breed's joints — which makes how you feed an Old English Sheepdog matter as much as how you brush one.

Here is exactly how to feed an OES on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their hips, heart, thyroid, and that famous double coat.

  • Adult weight60–100 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan10–12 years
  • CoatDouble, thick & shaggy — long shedder
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A healthy Old English Sheepdog
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Old English Sheepdog's body needs

Every Old English Sheepdog trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Large, slow-maturing working build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein, controlled growth

    83% meat, organs and ground bone fuels lean muscle and steady working energy — without the carb fillers that drive the fast, uneven growth a big breed's joints can't afford.

  • Hip dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean body weight

    Real meat, cartilage and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin; omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and keeping an OES lean takes load off developing and aging hips.

  • Thick double coat, long shedder

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, easing dryness and supporting a healthy coat under all that fur — where skin problems hide unseen.

  • Coat traps moisture & debris against the skin

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic skin and ear irritation a heavy-coated breed is prone to.

  • Thyroid & heart watch-outs

    Needs: Clean, nutrient-dense whole food

    Real meat, organ and fish deliver bioavailable protein, iodine and taurine-supporting nutrients to support metabolism and heart-muscle health, with no synthetic filler.

How much to feed a Old English Sheepdog

Quick answer: a healthy adult Old English Sheepdog (60–100 lb) needs about 9.0–15.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
60 lb 9.0 oz 4.5 oz
70 lb 10.5 oz 5.3 oz
80 lb typical Old English Sheepdog 12.0 oz 6.0 oz
90 lb 13.5 oz 6.8 oz
100 lb 15.0 oz 7.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Old English Sheepdog

For an Old English Sheepdog we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight-watchers and sensitive coats; richer Beef suits hard-working or underweight dogs. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Old English Sheepdogs

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Daily support for Old English Sheepdogs

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Treats Old English Sheepdogs love

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Feeding a Old English Sheepdog by life stage

  • Puppy: OES are a slow-maturing large breed, so puppies should grow steadily — not fast — to protect developing hips. Feed roughly 5-8% of current body weight across 3-4 meals and resist overfeeding, since rapid growth raises joint-development risk.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean body you can feel through the coat, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not to the scoop or the begging.
  • Senior: Activity and metabolism slow with age while the coat still hides the waistline. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and heart-supporting nutrition.

Common Old English Sheepdog concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) help support comfort and ease the day-to-day load on a big dog's hips.
  • Skin & coat healthA dense double coat traps moisture and debris against the skin; an omega-rich, whole-food, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier from the inside and helps keep the coat healthy.
  • Thyroid & metabolismThe breed can be prone to thyroid issues that affect weight and coat; a clean, nutrient-dense whole-food diet supports steady metabolism and makes quiet weight changes easier to catch.
  • Heart healthAs a large breed with cardiac watch-outs, an OES benefits from real meat, organ and fish that naturally support taurine status and heart-muscle health — rather than carbohydrate fillers.
  • Weight managementA heavy coat hides extra pounds; measured raw feeding and a lean body condition lower the strain on joints and heart and support a longer, more comfortable life.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Old English Sheepdog: what to know

All that coat hides the body underneath, so you can't judge an Old English Sheepdog's condition by eye the way you can a smooth-coated breed. Feed by hand and by weight: run your fingers down the ribs and feel for an easy-to-find ribcage and a tuck at the waist.

Because a heavy coat masks weight gain, weigh portions instead of guessing, and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially after a coat trim, an injury, or any drop in activity. A lean OES is a more comfortable, longer-lived one.

Old English Sheepdog feeding questions

How much should I feed my Old English Sheepdog?
A healthy adult OES (60-100 lb) needs roughly 9-15 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a body condition you can feel through the coat and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for an Old English Sheepdog's coat?
A whole-food, omega-rich diet supports skin and coat from the inside. Freeze-dried raw with real meat and fish delivers natural omega-3s that help with dryness under that dense double coat — pairing it with a skin & coat omega supplement gives extra support for heavy-coated dogs.
Does an Old English Sheepdog need joint support?
Most large breeds benefit from it, and OES are prone to hip dysplasia. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your dog lean is the single most effective joint protection there is.
How do I switch my Old English Sheepdog to raw?
Transition over 7-10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Start at the lower end of the range — it is rich and calorie-dense — and feed to body condition rather than to appetite.
How do I tell if my OES is overweight under all that coat?
You can't go by eye. Run your hands down the sides: you should feel the ribs easily without pressing hard, and feel a waist behind the ribcage. If you can't, trim the portion and re-check in a couple of weeks.

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  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.