We tried and tested many different dog foods when trying to find the best cockapoo dog food our cockapoo Ziggy. Below, we have reviewed the best dog dry dog foods based on our impressions, ingredients and if our dog actually liked it!
Before we begin, it’s probably worth diving in a little to why ingredients are so important when trying to find the best dry dog food for your pooch. This is because cheaper brands of dog food will tend to bulk their food out with slightly questionable ingredients. In our opinion, bad things to look for with dog ingredients include:
- Wheat as this release far too much energy all at once, which will result in a dog who is constantly “up and down” and may prove difficult to control at times.
- Meat derivatives and animal by-products, which is a catch-all title for any “meat” that isn’t fit for human consumption. Think beaks, feet and hair – not likely to harm your pooch, but not very beneficial!
- Generic animal fats, which could be any fat from a variety of sources, including waste from restaurants!
Needless to say, double checking your cockapoo’s dog food ingredients is a must if you want to find the best food for your dog!
Luckily, we’ve had quite a bit of experience in picking different dog foods, and below we’ve listed 4 of the best that our cockapoo Ziggy has personally tried and liked!
Our best cockapoo dog food: Barking Heads and Meowing Heads Bowl Lickin’ Chicken Dry Dog Food
Essential information:
Essential information:- Premium ingredients
- Main ingredients: Chicken (34%), Dried Chicken (21%), Brown Rice (19%)
Price range:
- In our opinion, this food strikes the best balance between price and ingredients. On average, it only costs us around £5.00 a week to feed our cockapoo with this food, and he loves it!
- You can get some really good deals if you buy directly from their website.
Good to know
- Made with free-run chicken
- Supports healthy digestion
- Approved by vets
Our Impressions – Tried and Tested
This is our go-to food for our cockapoo Ziggy. We love it because:
- The lack of “rubbish” ingredients does wonders for his sensitive stomach
- Since switching to this brand, Ziggy’s coat has never looked better!
- It keeps really well in the pantry
- Our vet recommended it!
Read more about Barking Heads and Meowing Heads on their fantastic website.
Cheap but good dog food: Skinners Field and Trail Complete
Essential information:
- Developed by a vet
- Main ingredients: Brown rice, lamb meat meal, barley, chicken fat, linseed
Price range:
- Cheap, but not too cheap!
- Check out the latest price on amazon here: Skinner’s Field & Trial Complete
Good to know
- Hypo-allergenic
- Wheat and gluten free
- Free from egg and soya.
- Added herbs.
Our Impressions – Tried and Tested
We tried this food out with Ziggy as an alternative to our standard dog food when he was a “teenager”. We were attracted to its price, but also to the fact that it is formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We loved it because:
- Our dog took to it like a duck to water.
- It’s nutritionally complete
- Its a REALLY good price
- Its made in the UK
Our old favorite cockapoo food: Burns Dog Sensitive with Pork and Potato 
Essential information:
Essential information:- Great for food intolerant dogs
- Main ingredients: Potato, Maize, Pork Meal,
Price range:
- Reasonable, but a little pricey compared to the ingredients in other good dog foods.
- Check out the latest price on amazon here: Burns Pork and Potato
Good to know
- Maintains healthy skin
- Contains all of the essential nutrients a dog needs
- Completely wheat free
- Hypoallergenic
Our Impressions – Tried and Tested
This used to be our go-to best dog food for our cockapoo because:
- It helped with his sensitive stomach
- It’s formulated so that you don’t need big portions (helping to keep costs down)
- It kept really well in the pantry
Best calming dog food: Pooch and Mutt Calm and Relaxed
Essential information:
- Specially made for anxious and excitable dogs
- Main ingredients: Turkey, Sweet Potato, Peas, Beet Pulp
Price range:
- Reasonably pricey
- Check out the latest price on Amazon here: Pooch & Mutt Calm & Relaxed
Good to know:
- Vet recommended
- Added chamomile to aid relaxation
Our Impressions – Tried and Tested:
We trailed out this dog food because, as you might have gathered from this article, Ziggy can be a little excitable at times. We liked it because:
- The ingredients are of a good quality
- The price is similar to that of other good, reasonably priced dog foods
- It did appear to calm Ziggy down.
How do I introduce or switch new dog food?
Once you’ve found the best dog foods for your pooch, changing over is simple, and can be done in the following steps:
- First, mix in the new food so that it makes up about a quarter of your dog’s food for around three days.
- Second, gradually increase the proportion to around 50/50 over a few days.
- Third, make the new food the main thing in their bowl (around 80-90%). Do this for one or two days.
- Finally, make the switch!
Changing your dog’s food really is quite simple and isn’t rocket science! The key thing to remember is to monitor your dog closely when transitioning.
It is likely that there poop will get a little weird while their stomach is adjusting, but if you notice anything that worries you it might be better to keep them on the food you know works or talk to your vet.
New to owning a dog? Check our our essential puppy checklist!
