When locating the best food for your Bernedoodle best friend, you have to take into account the needs of both Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Poodles. With a large body size, and the intelligence and energy of two loyal and independent dog breeds combined, your Bernedoodle needs just the right balance of calories and proteins to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the means provided to us, we’ve gathered up the best options for you and your canine companion.
Here are the top 5 dog foods for Bernedoodles:
Best Dog Foods for Bernedoodles
Here are our Bernedoodle dog food reviews.
1. Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Adult Dog Food
Large breeds like Bernedoodles don’t just need large amounts of dog food, they also need large amounts of nutrients, so brands like Blue Buffalo Freedom, which do not contain grain, are a great source for those nutrients. Low-quality dog foods supplement proteins with cheap grains and filler carbs which do not contain enough fiber, vitamins, or minerals to sustain a healthy lifestyle. With Blue Buffalo, which contains chicken as its first ingredient, you can rest easy knowing your canine best friend has a diet rich in sustaining nutrients.
- Real chicken is the first ingredient, no unhealthy grains
- Avoids the use of low-quality poultry by-products, artificial flavors, and preservatives
- Costs approximately $2.17 per pound for a 24lb bag of kibble
2. Taste of the Wild Premium Dog Food with Roasted Bison and Venison
Most large breed dog food derives its proteins from the same sources we get our own daily servings, but a select few choose to get theirs from the kind of sources our dogs’ wild ancestors got theirs. Taste of the Wild Premium Dog Food strives for a balanced blend of probiotic, grain-free kibble for the health of your Bernedoodle’s GI tract, and nutrients and amino acids from sources wolves eat in the wild. With a blend of bison and venison, Taste of the Wild is an authentic source of natural meat for strong muscle development.
- Ingredients come from trusted sources, and the dog food itself is made in the US
- Great for your dog’s skin and coat due to its mix of antioxidants and fatty acids
- Excellent source of probiotics for GI tract health and ease of digestion
- Costs approximately $1.75 per pound for a 28lb bag of kibble
3. Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Shredded Blend With Probiotics
Big dog breeds tend to grow much faster than smaller breeds, rapidly gaining body mass over their first year of life – such an active growing schedule demands a dog food that can keep up. Among dog foods, Purina Pro Plan is one of the most often recommended by vets, for its benefits to prolonged canine wellness. Like other brands, Purina Pro Plan contains all the necessary high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, but unlike the others, it also encourages healthy nutrient absorption so that your Bernedoodle is more likely to actually take in and benefit from the ingredients.
- Highly-rated and recommended by most veterinarians
- A perfect balance of fat, proteins, carbs, and vitamins to encourage healthy growth and long-term vitality
- It comes in a variety of flavors and ingredients
- Costs approximately $1.40 per pound in a 35lb bag of kibble
4. Iams Proactive Health Minichunks Chicken Dog Food
With so many brands to pick from, Iams Proactive Health reminds us that sometimes, when it comes to dog food, simple is better. Much like previously mentioned dog foods, Iams uses chicken as its main ingredient, healthy grains for filler, and beet pulp as a source of digestive health, and boasts an antioxidant booster to your pup’s immune system. Vet-recommended and full of L Carnitine for probiotic benefits, this dog food brand maintains a balance of quality and affordability.
- It contains natural, farm-raised chicken, beet pulp, and wholesome grains for a pro-digestive blend
- A benefit to your Bernedoodle’s natural immune system, with antioxidants and prebiotics
- Costs approximately $1.17 per pound in a 30lb bag of kibble
5. Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Dog Food
With any amount of Poodle in your dog’s DNA, there comes the natural predisposition for intelligence and mischief, which means that many Poodle mixes, Bernedoodles included, have an affinity for finding extra snacks. With large breeds, especially, extra pounds can be a strain on bone health, and so vet-recommended dietary blends, like Hill’s Science Diet, can be a great addition to your dog’s daily regimen. Containing healthy lamb meal and brown rice, this dog food is nourishing to your dog’s digestive health, skin, and fur development while helping them maintain a healthy weight.
- It contains a vet-recommended blend of ingredients to promote a healthy weight.
- Rich with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to promote long-term bone and joint health
- In addition to the main benefits, Hill’s also supports animal shelters nationwide
- Costs approximately $1.70 per pound for a 33lb bag of kibble
Bernedoodle Dog Food Buyer’s Guide
When purchasing dog food for large, intelligent breeds like the Bernedoodle, one needs to have a good understanding of what makes an appropriate dog food brand. Large dogs grow more in their first year of life than small or medium-sized dogs, and so, especially in their youth, demand a rigorous dog food that is affordable, nutrient-rich, and has the means of keeping up with their high requirements. With the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, your Bernedoodle has a much higher chance of enjoying a long life with stronger, healthier bones, luxurious fur, and a balanced weight and energy levels. With this in mind, we can consider some of the standards by which large canine food should be judged by.
Ingredients
All dogs are, at their heart, somewhere between omnivores and carnivores, and it’s important to consider their wolf heritage when considering dog food. Proteins should be some of the first ingredients in kibble, not exceeded by the filler needed to bind the pellets together, and that protein should come from a reliable source – farm chicken, responsibly-sourced bison, or low-fat lamb. As for the fillers, the specific grain is not as important as the quality of the grain in question, though some brands may mark up a price because they do not contain potatoes, another will do the exact same because they contain potatoes and not wheat. Avoid soy and corn if possible, but look for high-quality grains which do not exceed the amount of protein in the kibble.
Rating
When looking into dog food, consider the reviews on the site you’re browsing, and view the experiences of other dog owners. Even more importantly, feel free to search the brand in question on the web and see how veterinarian publications have it rated and reviewed. Vet-recommended brands can be relied on for quality ingredients and may include information that the brands themselves don’t feel comfortable advertising themselves. In addition, looking at vet recommendations may help you find dog food for specific needs, like dietary blends, or immune-boosting brands.
Cost
Since large dogs need large amounts of food, affordability is a major consideration when it comes to finding the right brand for your Bernedoodle – even the most perfect dog food isn’t perfect if it costs too much to buy in bulk! Generally, most brands cost between $1.10 – $2.20 per pound for a bag of kibble weighing between 24 to 35lb, with the most affordable being somewhere around $1.50 for a bag weighing more than 30lb. If you don’t want to compromise on quality, avoid bags that charge less than $1.20 for a bag weighing more than 30lb, and if you want to avoid overspending for premium food, anything more than $2.20 for a bag weighing less than 24lb. Generally, all prices only vary by a thin margin, and prices should be taken in addition to nutritional and medical needs.
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