Last Updated: 10/06/2025
Vet Picks: Best Food for Poodles
Looking for the best food for your Poodle? See our vets selection of premium foods.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 55 minutes - long read
One of the most popular dog breeds both as pure and cross breeds, the gorgeous Poodle is known for it's companionship, loyalty and intelligence. Poodles thrive on premium nutrition to fuel their active minds and bodies, and to keep their unique, densely curled coat in optimal condition.
Given that Poodles come in miniature, toy and standard sizes, the choice of diet will be dependent on your dog's size. Toy and miniature poodles have an adult weight of less than 10kg, so a small breed specific diet fortified with omega fatty acids for coat and brain health is ideal. Standard poodles vary in their adult weight, and may fall into the medium breed category (adult weight between 10-25kg) or the large breed category (adult weight greater than 25kg). For poodles in the large breed category, a large breed diet is ideal to nourish their luxurious coat, maintain a healthy weight and support their bone and joint health.
To read more about the traits and qualities of the Poodle, check out our Poodle Breed Guide.
Four factors to consider when choosing a food for your Poodle:
- Health conditions: Your treating veterinarian should be your first port of call when it comes to dietary advice if your poodle has any underlying diagnosed health conditions. In many cases, there may be prescription diets which are the best option to help manage your dog's condition. For health support, there are a range of non-prescription, therapeutic options to help prevent certain conditions, or support your poodle's specific needs.
- Complete and balanced: In choosing a food, the most important consideration after any health factors is that the diet is complete and balanced for your poodle's stage of life, and size. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your dog receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
- Age: Dogs of different ages have very different nutritional requirements. Poodle puppies require energy-dense food which meets their intense growth rates, while senior poodles are often less active and have a slower metabolism which means that they require fewer calories and less fat, but an easily digestible diet, to help them maintain good body condition.
- Quality: The quality of the ingredients and the digestibility of the nutrients they provide should be a key factor in choosing a food. Premium foods are designed to be highly digestible (which means smaller, firmer stools) and do not change ingredients batch to batch like grocery type brands, which means less tummy upsets. They also tend to contain higher levels of added beneficial nutrients, such as omega fatty acids for joint and coat health, and some are backed by testing to ensure they deliver the results they promise. Learning how to read pet food labels and knowing the ingredients in your dog's food is a crucial part of knowing what is the best food for them.
In this article
- Best Range for Poodles: Advance Oodle Range
- Best Overall: Royal Canin Poodle
- Best Natural Diet: Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Venison
- Best Grain-Free Diet: Open Farm Salmon
- Best Puppy Food: Royal Canin Poodle Puppy
- Best for Health Support: Hills Science Diet Adult Oral Care Dry Dog Food
How we review our products
Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
Top Foods for Poodles in Australian [Vet Reviewed]
Best Range
Advance Oodle Range
Pros
- Uniquely tailored breed-type, age and size specific diet with added ingredients for healthy skin and coat, dental and cardiac support and joint health.
- Small and medium Oodle variety contains omega fatty acids and zinc for skin support along with heart health nutrients, while the large Oodle version also contains green lipped muscle for joint support.
- Highly digestible ingredients and pre-biotics to support a sensitive digestion.
- Made in Australia
- No added wheat, whole corn, soy or beef
- Suitable for pure-bred as well as Poodle crosses.
- Available in a range of bag sizes, as well as a wet food for adult Oodles.
Cons
- Whilst the adult dry varieties have salmon as the #1 ingredient, all varieties do contain poultry which may not be suitable for some dogs with food allergies.
- There is no specific food for senior Oodles at this stage.
- Suitable for all Oodle breeds, not just Poodles.
Why we love it
Responding to the popularity of such breeds, Advance have recently launched their range of foods for Oodles, to the joy of Oodle owners everywhere! Available in sizes for small/medium adult oodles (with a bodyweight up to 25kg), large adult oodles (with a bodyweight over 25kg) as well as for oodle puppies, and a wet food for adult oodles, this range offers an option for every Poodle owner.
The small/medium focuses it's ingredients on heart and dental health, as well as including omega 3, 6 and zinc for healthy skin and coat, to keep those locks looking luscious, reduce scale in the coat and reduce allergy symptoms. Along with these benefits, the large breed version includes green lipped mussel for joint health.
Being Australian made, you can rest assured that you're supporting the local industry with the food you feed your dog. Available in a range of bag sizes, and handy single serve trays for the wet food, there's sure to be an option for you and your Poodle! Advance packs the quality of the big name brands and often at a reduced price.
It can be more diversely used in all Poodles and their crosses, such as Cavoodles, Spoodles, Groodles and Labradoodles.
What our customers say
"My little dog loves this, the bite size is just right for his little mouth. I have added wet food occasionally but most of the time he is happy with just the dry."
What our vets say
"Advance dog food is Australian made and has an Oodle range specifically developed for Oodle dogs to support their health issues. The range contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support a healthy skin and shiny coat. The kibble is customised to suit the size of the dog with the adult large Oodle having a bigger kibble and particular shape to help reduce plaque and tartar build up. The range also contains fermentable probiotic fibre to help support a balanced gut microbiome and has a highly digestible formula for ideal stool formation. With real salmon as the first ingredient, you can rest assured knowing your Oodle is receiving a high quality source of protein that is also highly palatable." - Dr. Angie
Best Overall
Royal Canin Poodle
Pros
- Designed specifically for adult toy and miniature Poodles from 10 months of age.
- Unique texture and kibble to make it easy for Poodles to pick up their food and chew.
- Contains omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
- Contains adapted protein content and L-carnitine to help maintain healthy muscle mass.
- Available in a range of size bags, as well as a wet food for Poodles.
Cons
- Not intended for Poodles with a bodyweight over 12kg - a specific medium or large breed dog food would be more suitable for these dogs.
- Contains poultry protein, which some dogs with food allergies may still be sensitive to
- Not made in Australia.
- More expensive than other premium choices.
Why we love it
This is another highly digestible breed specific diet backed by science and designed to manage the health conditions typically seen in Poodles. Alongside skin nourishment, it also has a shape designed specifically for Poodles, to help them pick up their kibble, and chew it effectively to help with dental care. In addition, it also has Pentasodium triphosphate to help reduce plaque build up on the teeth.
The Royal Canin Adult Poodle food is intended for poodles with an adult weight between 2-12kg, usually toy and miniature Poodles. For larger Poodles, a medium (12-25kg bodyweight) or large (over 25kg bodyweight) breed specific diet would be more suitable.
Available in both 1.5kg and 7.5kg bags, as well as a wet food, so there's plenty of options to choose from.
What our customers say
"My two toy poodles love this food. I have been buying it for years, after the vet recommended it. My poodles are very fussy so if they love this food, it must be good."
Best Natural Food
Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Venison
Pros
- Delicious novel protein diet containing venison, lamb, egg duck and ocean fish protein
- Added prebiotic fibre and probiotic gut bacteria for digestive supportÂ
- Rich in anti-oxidants to boost overall health and vitality
- Small breed specific sized kibble
- Available in a range of flavours - check them out here
Cons
- Not made in Australia
- Expensive compared to other grain free dry foods
- Very calorie dense, so may contribute more to weight gain if overfed
- Other flavours available are not small breed specific
Why we love it
Taste of the Wild bases it formulations on the concept of creating high quality, grain free diets that mimic ancestral diets of our pets. Their range is quite extensive and other protein profiles include quail, turkey, wild boar and even bison. This is perfect for dogs with allergies to common proteins and who need to be on a novel protein diet.
Their use of a proprietary blend of K9 strain probiotics specifically developed for dogs provides maximum support for a healthy digestive system and immune function. In addition their formulas are made with non GMO ingredients with no rendered meats or by products.
On the down side, the Taste of the Wild foods are expensive options, though you do 'get what you pay for' - a premium quality, natural diet.
What our customers say
"I've tried 4 different adult brands of biscuits to get 3 very fussy chihuahuas off another puppy brand . With very sensitive tummies I have to be careful what I feed them.. After days on petfood reviews I decided the small breed was worth a try. My 3 chihuahuas took to it straight away. Very happy with tiny tummies you need a Great product... Very happy great ingredient list . Low carbs and low allergy."
Best Grain-Free
Open Farm Grain Free Wild Caught Salmon Dry Food
Pros
- Contains only humanely and sustainably sourced ingredients, with a focus on animal welfare in the production process
- Every ingredient is traceable using the lot code on the packaging
- No grain, corn, wheat or soy in any recipe
- Suitable for all life stages from puppies to seniors
- Packaging can be recycled through the Open Farm Pet Food Bag Recycling Program.
- Contains wild caught salmon, whitefish and herring for exceptional levels of omega fatty acids, which are beneficial for skin and coat health.
- Available in a range of bag sizes.
Cons
- Not Poodle specific.
- Not made in Australia.
- On the more expensive side for dry dog foods.
Why we love it
Every Open Farm product is proudly produced with a focus on transparent sourcing and traceability, humane production animal welfare standards, ethically sourced ingredients, and sustainable fishing practices in line with Ocean Wise Standards. For an environmentally friendly, grain-free food, you can't go past this one.
Alongside their environmentally friendly values, Open Farm foods are made with the most premium proteins and superfoods, providing the highest quality ingredients for your Poodle. Their recipes are free from grain, corn, wheat and soy.On the down side, the Open Farm foods are expensive options, though you do 'get what you pay for'.
What our customers say
"I have the fussiest dog on the planet. She refused any store bought food, and lived mostly on chicken, peas, sweet potato and chick peas. Because they were the ONLY foods we found she liked. She also won't eat off a plate... so when I jumped on petcircle to purchase an eating mat, I saw this dry food. Being the eternal optimist, I thought I'd try feeding it to her. SUCCESS. We put this out every day, and she prefers it to chicken breast. No digestive issues and it's been a couple of weeks now. I am now a forever customer. Thank you open farm."
Best Puppy Food
Royal Canin Poodle Puppy
Pros
- Rich in antioxidants for a healthy immune system and digestion.
- Added ingredients to make your puppies coat shine.
- Designed specifically for Poodle puppies up to 10 months of age, who will have an adult bodyweight between 2-12kg.
Cons
- Only available in 3kg bags.
- Designed for Pure-bred dogs and may not be the best option for crosses.
- More expensive than other non-breed specific puppy options.
- Not intended for Poodles who will have an adult bodyweight over 12kg.
Why we love it
Dominating the market with their breed-specific diets, Royal Canin is a trusted product by many reputable breeders and vets alike. This breed specific diet is formulated to meet the unique nutritional requirements of the Poodle breed, with omega fatty acids and borage oil to support your Poodles coat, and an adapted protein content to support continuous hair growth. It also allows for easy transition on to the corresponding adult food. The kibble has a unique shape to suit the jaws of Poodle puppies to help them pick up and chew their kibble, and antioxidants to help boost their immunity.
What our customers say
"We have 3 poodles and they all came with a different food they can eat from breeder. None of those dry foods agreed with all of them. This is the onlyone. No runny number twos and they enjoy it. Been using it for over 12 months now and have re tried other premium brands but keep going back to this one."
What our vets say
"Royal Canin's Breed Specific diet range, including the Poodle Puppy, is such as great option! I find it very reassuring that I can recommend a diet that is tailored to the nutritional and health needs of a puppy's specific breed to give them the best chance at growth and healthy development. The Poodle Puppy tailors to the skin issues and dental disease so commonly seen in Poodles to get them on the right track from the very start and setting them up for an easy transition onto the Royal Canin Adult Poodle." - Dr. Brittany
Best for Health Support
Hills Science Diet Oral Care Dry Food
Pros
- Clincally proven to reduce plaque and tartar build up, via a unique kibble size and texture.
- Contains omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to support skin and coat health.
- Super-premium brand which conducts laboratory analyses of their foods to ensure that they are meeting optimum levels of nutrient, and ensure consistency across batches.
Cons
- Contains chicken as the main protein, so may not be suitable for Poodles with food allergies.
- Suitable only for adult dogs over 1 year of age.
- Not made in Australia.
- Some Poodles may struggle with the larger kibble size.
Why we love it
The Hills preventative health range is targeted towards preventing, or managing certain health conditions where a prescription diet is not required. Poodles and their crosses, particularly those on the smaller side, are particularly prone to gum and dental disease, so the Hills Science Diet Oral Care can be a great option to help prevent the build up of plaque and tartar which leads to these problems.
Hills Science Diet Oral Care uses a larger kibble size and unique texture, to allow the tooth to penetrate into the kibble deeply before the kibble breaks. This mechanical 'scrubbing' of the tooth as it penetrates helps to scrape away plaque before it hardens into tartar. Not only does this keep your dog's teeth cleaner, but also freshens their breath, as it removes the bacteria which build up on the tooth's surface.
The Hills Oral Care food is a good choice for preventing plaque build up, however if your Poodle has existing dental disease, or has had in the past, then it's best to speak to your vet about the ideal treatment and best diet for your dog.
For more information and tips about keeping your Poodle's teeth clean, take a look at our guide to Dental Care for Dogs.
What our customers say
"My 9kg dog loves the oral care Hills diet. I've been using this since he was 1 years old. At most recent vet visit, the vet was surprised to see no signs of peridontal disease (my dog is now aged 4 years)."
What to look for in a Poodle Food
When looking for a diet for your Poodle, you want to make sure you are meeting their nutritional requirements and energy needs while also providing prevention from their common health problems.
High quality protein source
With their continuous hair growth, active natures and high intelligence, Poodle require high-quality, highly digestible nutrients to suit their needs. Premium diets use protein that is easily digested and assimilated into the body, meaning the maximum amount of protein is absorbed and transported to where it's needed as fast as possible.
Ingredients For Common Health Conditions
Poodles have some specific needs and are prone to a number of health conditions, as such, the ideal diet should reflect this and include ingredients to prevent these health problems. Some examples are:
Skin Sensitivities and Coat Maintenance
With their continuous hair growth, luscious locks, and tendency for skin sensitivity (incluing food and environmental allergies), Poodles need ingredients to support their skin health and boost their immune systems. Some ingredients to look out for include: Omega fatty acids, zinc, vitamin E, linoleic acid.
Dental Disease
As mentioned above, Poodle breeds are prone to dental troubles, so looking for a food with a larger kibble size, or ingredients that will bind the calcium in the saliva that contributes to tartar build up is wise. Other products and strategies also help with dental care such as toothbrushing, dental chews, toys and food and water additives. Check out our range of dental care products.
Sensitive Digestion
Some poodles can be prone to sensitive tummies, so look for foods which have digestive support included, such as extra fibre (pumpkin, beet pulp, psyllium husk, elm bark, etc), probiotics, pre-biotics, and inulin.
Joint issues
Standard poodles in particular, being larger sized dogs, can be affected by joint issues, particularly as they age. Foods which include joint support ingredients such as green lipped mussel, glucosamine, chondroitin, cartilage, green tea extract or omega fatty acids are ideal to provide a basis of support.
How Much Do Poodles Need To Eat?
It is recommended to feed Adult Poodles twice daily. The actual amount of food required depends on your Poodle's specific size (standard Poodles will eat more than toy or miniature Poodles), and the type of food you are feeding. The feeding guidelines on the food packaging provide a great place to start, and our Vet Squad are available 7 days a week if you have any questions about your Poodle's needs.
Further Reading
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
2 Aug 2022
Written by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Gillian loves being able to provide depth and detail to pet parents questions, and give up to date, evidence based advice. She loves the variety of pets and inquiries she receives - she especially loves the 'curly' questions that require some research! Seeing the gorgeous photos that pet parents send through of their babies is a highlight of the day! Gillian enjoys to further her veterinary knowledge, and has completed further training in ultrasonography, behaviour and backyard poultry!
