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Short answer: Our top picks for Old English Sheepdogs are Wellness CORE (A, 90/100), Open Farm (A, 90/100), and Hill’s Science Diet (B, 76/100). Old English Sheepdogs are a large English herding breed (60–100 lb) developed in 18th-century western England for cattle and sheep droving, recognizable by the dense double coat that covers the eyes and the docked-tail breed standard (now banned in much of Europe). The breed carries cerebellar ataxia (CA, autosomal-recessive heritable neurological condition with breed-specific DNA test available), hypothyroidism at 10–15% lifetime prevalence per Panciera JAVMA 1994, congenital deafness at roughly 10% prevalence (linked to the piebald coat gene), hip dysplasia at roughly 14% per OFA scoring data, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), and atopic dermatitis. These foods deliver moderate-protein moderate-fat density appropriate for the breed’s moderate activity profile, marine omega-3 EPA + DHA for joint and skin support, and adequate iodine + selenium for thyroid health.

How We Ranked These

Every food on this list was scored using KibbleIQ’s ingredient analysis rubric, which evaluates protein quality, filler content, preservative safety, and overall ingredient transparency on a 0–100 scale. For Old English Sheepdogs specifically we weighted three additional factors: marine omega-3 EPA + DHA density for joint support given the 14% hip dysplasia exposure and skin support given the breed’s atopic dermatitis vulnerability under the dense double coat, adequate iodine + selenium for thyroid support given the 10–15% hypothyroidism prevalence per Panciera 1994, and moderate caloric density to maintain lean body condition on a moderate-activity herder.

The 1994 Panciera JAVMA review on canine hypothyroidism placed Old English Sheepdogs among the breeds with elevated lifetime hypothyroidism prevalence at 10–15%. The 2010 Forman PLOS Genetics study identified the cerebellar ataxia gene mutation in the breed enabling genetic screening. The 2004 Strain JAVMA review on congenital deafness placed Old English Sheepdogs among the piebald-coat-gene-linked breeds with roughly 10% lifetime prevalence. We prioritize formulas with marine omega-3 positioning and adequate iodine + selenium for thyroid support, and downgrade calorie-dense premium kibbles that would drive unwanted weight gain on a moderate-activity herding breed.

Our Top 5 Picks

1. Wellness CORE — A (90/100)
Wellness CORE leads with deboned chicken + turkey + chicken meal lead with salmon oil, glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics built in. For a Old English Sheepdog, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Wellness CORE Original (or Large Breed for confirmed adults over 75 lb) delivers 34% protein from deboned chicken + turkey + chicken meal with built-in glucosamine, chondroitin, and salmon oil. For an OES with the breed’s 14% hip dysplasia exposure per OFA, the dual joint-support and marine omega-3 layer addresses both preventive maintenance and symptomatic support. The natural mixed-tocopherol preservative system avoids the synthetic preservatives that can aggravate atopic flares under the breed’s dense double coat. Read our full Wellness CORE review → · Shop on Amazon →

2. Open Farm — A (90/100)
Open Farm leads with humane-certified animal ingredients with full traceability (every bag traceable to source farms) and Ocean Wise + Certified Humane partnerships. For a Old English Sheepdog, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon and Pasture-Raised Beef deliver humane-certified animal sourcing with full bag-level traceability. The marine omega-3 EPA + DHA layer in the Wild-Caught Salmon recipe supports inflammation modulation for the breed’s combined joint dysplasia and atopic dermatitis profile. For OES owners committing to a 10–12 year feeding investment, premium sourcing transparency on the largest ongoing household expense is a defensible upgrade. Read our full Open Farm review → · Shop on Amazon →

3. Hill's Science Diet — B (76/100)
Hill's Science Diet leads with vet-recommended balanced formula with extensive feeding-trial substantiation and clinical-research backing. For a Old English Sheepdog, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed delivers feeding-trial-substantiated nutrition with the most-recommended veterinary positioning across general-practice clinics. For OES owners interfacing with veterinary care for the breed’s frequent endocrinology (thyroid, Cushing’s), orthopedic (hip dysplasia), and dermatology (atopic) consultations, aligning food choice with the vet’s default recommendation reduces friction at every appointment. The clinical-research backing supports adequate iodine + selenium for the breed’s elevated hypothyroidism profile. Read our full Hill's Science Diet review → · Shop on Amazon →

4. Wellness Complete Health — B (78/100)
Wellness Complete Health leads with deboned chicken + chicken meal + oatmeal + ground barley + peas with a moderate-protein grain-inclusive backbone. For a Old English Sheepdog, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Wellness Complete Health Adult Large Breed delivers a grain-inclusive moderate-protein backbone (deboned chicken + chicken meal + oatmeal + ground barley) with controlled calcium for large-breed adults. At a meaningfully lower price point than Wellness CORE and with consistent national retail distribution, WCH Large Breed is the consistent middle-ground default for budget-conscious OES owners. Read our full Wellness Complete Health review → · Shop on Amazon →

5. Fromm — A (90/100)
Fromm leads with duck + chicken meal + menhaden fish meal with probiotics, salmon oil, and moderate grain (oatmeal + barley). For a Old English Sheepdog, that structural foundation matches the breed’s specific nutritional needs at a defensible ingredient-quality tier. Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult delivers duck + chicken meal + menhaden fish meal at moderate-protein density with zero major recalls since the 1949 founding. The family-mill production model and transparent batch-level quality control give OES owners managing a long-feeding-investment breed meaningful provenance assurance. The marine fish-meal layer supplies meaningful EPA + DHA for the breed’s joint and skin profile. Read our full Fromm review → · Shop on Amazon →

What to Look for in Food for Old English Sheepdogs

Marine omega-3 EPA + DHA for joint and dermatologic support. Old English Sheepdogs carry 14% hip dysplasia prevalence per OFA scoring data and elevated atopic dermatitis risk under the dense double coat. Marine omega-3 supplementation supports both joint structure and skin barrier function. Look for salmon, salmon oil, menhaden fish meal, or anchovy oil in the top half of the ingredient list, or supplement with a separate liquid fish-oil product at 1–2 teaspoons daily for the 60–100 lb breed weight range. The intervention is cheap and additive.

Adequate iodine + selenium for thyroid support. Old English Sheepdog hypothyroidism prevalence sits at 10–15% lifetime per Panciera JAVMA 1994. AAFCO 2024 nutrient profiles specify iodine at 1.0–11.0 mg/kg DM and selenium at 0.11–2.0 mg/kg DM for adult maintenance — most reputable commercial diets meet or exceed minimums. Diet does not cause or prevent autoimmune thyroiditis (the primary mechanism) but does support thyroid hormone synthesis in clinically healthy dogs. Annual T4 + TSH screening from age 4 forward is appropriate for the breed.

Coat maintenance support through omega-6 + omega-3 balance. The OES dense double coat requires significant maintenance — both grooming-time investment from owners and structural support from diet. Look for linoleic acid (omega-6) at AAFCO minimum 1.3% DM combined with marine omega-3 supplementation for an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in the 5:1 to 10:1 range. This supports coat shine, skin barrier integrity, and reduces the dermatologic burden of the heavy coat under-layer. Synthetic preservative avoidance (no BHA / BHT / ethoxyquin) further supports atopic-vulnerable skin.

Cerebellar ataxia genetic screening before breeding consideration. The 2010 Forman PLOS Genetics study identified the OES cerebellar ataxia gene mutation enabling DNA testing through OFA, PennGen, and UC Davis VGL at $40–60 per dog. Affected (homozygous) dogs typically present neurological symptoms (intention tremor, ataxic gait, head bob) between 6 weeks and 4 months. Diet does not cause or prevent CA, but breeding-program selection against the affected allele is the only meaningful long-term mitigation. Reputable breeders disclose CA status before placement.

Bottom Line

The best Old English Sheepdog food solves three problems at once: marine omega-3 EPA + DHA density for joint and dermatologic support, adequate iodine + selenium for the 10–15% hypothyroidism exposure, and moderate caloric density to maintain lean body condition on a moderate-activity herding breed. Wellness CORE is our top pick — built-in joint support + marine omega-3 + natural preservatives. Open Farm delivers humane-certified sourcing with strong marine omega-3 density. Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed aligns with the vet-channel default recommendation for the breed’s frequent specialty consultations. Pair any of these with annual T4 + TSH thyroid screening from age 4 forward, BAER hearing testing at puppyhood (10% congenital deafness prevalence), and cerebellar-ataxia DNA testing before breeding consideration. The breed’s 10–12 year lifespan rewards consistent ingredient-quality feeding decisions across the full investment window.

Related condition deep-dive: Best Dog Food for Hypothyroidism