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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Sheepadoodle

The Sheepadoodle is an Old English Sheepdog crossed with a Poodle: a large, clever, deeply people-attached dog with the endurance of two working breeds and a fluffy coat that needs feeding from the inside out.

Here is exactly how to feed a Sheepadoodle on freeze-dried raw — by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, their skin and coat, and a deep-chested frame that does best on small, calm meals.

  • Adult weight65–85 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–15 years
  • CoatThick, wavy to curly double coat — variable shedder
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A healthy Sheepadoodle
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Sheepadoodle's body needs

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

  • Large, deep-chested build (bloat risk)

    Needs: Smaller, moisture-rich meals

    Freeze-dried raw rehydrates with water and is fed in measured amounts, making it easy to split into the small, calm meals a deep-chested Sheepadoodle does best on.

  • Hip dysplasia risk from both parents

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s help calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off developing hips.

  • Incredible endurance, working ancestry

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    A meat-, organ- and bone-rich diet fuels lean muscle and the steady, all-day energy this tireless breed runs on — without carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Thick, fluffy, sometimes-shedding coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting a soft coat and easing the dryness and shedding a Sheepadoodle's heavy coat can bring.

  • Smart, sensitive, food-motivated mind

    Needs: Clean, single-ingredient rewards

    Freeze-dried raw treats make training rewards that count toward real nutrition, not empty calories — useful for a breed that needs daily mental work.

How much to feed a Sheepadoodle

Quick answer: a healthy adult Sheepadoodle (65–85 lb) needs about 9.8–12.8 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)
65 lb 9.8 oz 4.9 oz
70 lb 10.5 oz 5.3 oz
75 lb typical Sheepadoodle 11.3 oz 5.6 oz
80 lb 12.0 oz 6.0 oz
85 lb 12.8 oz 6.4 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 Sheepadoodle

For a Sheepadoodle 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. It rehydrates with a little water, which adds moisture to every meal and helps slow down a fast eater.

Leaner single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit easy keepers and sensitive dogs; richer Beef suits hard-working or growing Sheepadoodles. Split the day's food across two or three small servings to keep this deep-chested breed comfortable.

Recipes for Sheepadoodles

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Daily support for Sheepadoodles

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Treats Sheepadoodles love

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Feeding a Sheepadoodle by life stage

  • Puppy: As a large-breed mix, Sheepadoodle puppies should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth raises hip dysplasia risk. Reserve running and hard impact until they are fully grown at 1–2 years.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two to three small meals to ease the breed's bloat risk. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Endurance fades before appetite does. Trim portions to match lower activity, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition.

Common Sheepadoodle concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaCommon in both parent breeds. Lean body weight plus joint nutrients — glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — supports comfortable movement and helps take strain off the joints.
  • Bloat / GDV riskBoth parents are large and deep-chested. Smaller, calmer, moisture-rich meals (easy to portion with rehydrated freeze-dried raw) and avoiding gulping support a lower-risk mealtime routine.
  • Skin & coat healthA thick, dense coat can mean dryness and shedding. A whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and a soft, healthy coat from the inside.
  • Weight managementLarge dogs still gain weight easily, and extra pounds stress the joints. Measured raw feeding and treats counted into the daily total keep a Sheepadoodle lean.
  • Energy & lean muscleThis high-endurance breed runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers.

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

Feeding a Sheepadoodle: what to know

Both parent breeds are large and deep-chested, which raises the risk of bloat (GDV). Feed a Sheepadoodle two to three smaller meals a day rather than one big bowl, keep mealtimes calm, skip elevated feeders, and avoid hard exercise right before and after eating.

Sheepadoodles are large but not bottomless — they gain weight quietly. Feed to body condition, not to the bowl: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above. Weigh portions instead of eyeballing them and re-check every few weeks.

Sheepadoodle feeding questions

How much should I feed my Sheepadoodle?
A healthy adult Sheepadoodle (65–85 lb) needs roughly 10–13 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two or three meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Sheepadoodle prone to bloat?
Smaller, calmer meals are the priority. A complete freeze-dried raw diet rehydrated with water adds moisture and is easy to split into two or three modest servings, which suits this deep-chested breed better than one large bowl.
How do I switch my Sheepadoodle to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It is rich, so start at the lower end of the range, keep meals small, and watch the waistline.
Does a Sheepadoodle need joint support?
Most benefit from it, since hip dysplasia runs in both parent breeds. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Sheepadoodle lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
How big does a Sheepadoodle get?
A standard Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog x Standard Poodle) usually reaches 16–22 inches tall and 65–85 pounds. Miniature Sheepadoodles, bred from a Miniature Poodle, are smaller. Feed to your individual dog's adult weight and body condition.

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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.