Goldendoodles are renowned for their loveable personalities, intelligence, heart-melting faces, and loyalty to their owners. Not only that, but Goldendoodles also have a wonderful coat that is a combination of the silky, flowing fur of the Golden Retriever and the curly boisterous coat of the Poodle, creating a playful, bouncy, soft, wavy coat that perfectly reflects the personality of the pup itself.
Caring for their coat is essential for anyone thinking of getting themselves a Goldendoodle, as it can quickly become dulled and matted without the right treatment. That's where a good diet comes into play. Goldendoodles grow exceptionally quickly and rely heavily on being fed the right balance of nutrients, vitamins, protein, and fiber to support that growth and allow them to develop to their full potential.
That's where we come in! We have listed some of the best dog foods on the market to suit the dietary requirements of Goldendoodles, along with putting together a quick guide to help you figure out what you need to be looking for.
Key Takeaways:
- Goldendoodles can have quite a few food allergies.
- The amount of food your Goldendoodle should be fed depends on size and weight.
- The food should be high in protein to encourage proper muscle development and recovery.
- Fiber is essential for easy digestion and better nutrient absorption.
- There are no foods specifically catering to Goldendoodles, but Golden Retriever or Poodle-specific foods often meet the needs of a Goldendoodle.
- Goldendoodles require omega fatty acids to care for their skin, coat, and joints.
10 Best Goldendoodle Foods
1 Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Chicken Recipe Dry Food
- Brand: Blue Buffalo
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca Starch.
- Primary Protein Source: Chicken
- Calories: 373 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Chicken and Potatoes
- Life Stage: Adult
The Goldendoodle in your life will love this feast prepared by Blue Buffalo as it comes with the proven nutrient and flavorful goodness of real chicken mixed with fresh wholesome grains, lentils, vegetables, and fruits. It’s the best dog food for Goldendoodles, especially those that have parents that have histories of sensitivities to cereal grains.
The grain-free formulation of this Goldendoodle dog food features the right blend of calories for energy, animal proteins for easier digestibility and amino acid completeness, and the right amounts of healthy essential fatty acids for improved immunity and skin and coat health. The addition of probiotic strains also helps ensure every bit of nutrient is absorbed by your Goldendoodle. Now that’s what you call a golden diet for a golden hound.
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca Starch, Pea Starch, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Tomato Pomace, Pea Protein, Flaxseed (Source Of Omega 3 And 6 Fatty Acids), Turkey Meal, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, DL-Methionine, Pea Fiber, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Garlic, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vegetable Juice For Color, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Copper Sulfate, Biotin (Vitamin B7), L-Carnitine, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Sulfate, Taurine, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Sodium Selenite, Oil Of Rosemary.
- High-quality dog food with fresh deboned chicken as the first ingredient.
- This recipe has naturally-sourced carbohydrates which are processed more easily.
- This is one of the more expensive ranges of dog food for Goldendoodles.
2 Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Dry Dog Food
- Brand: Taste of The Wild
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, and Potatoes.
- Primary Protein Source: Fish
- Calories: 408 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Smoked Salmon
- Life Stage: Adult
It’s the taste of the wild that your Goldendoodle will surely crave. It’s got the full flavors of savory salmon and delicate ocean fish to give your hybrid a rich supply of essential fatty acids for more robust skin and coat. The K9 Strain probiotic formulation of this Goldendoodle food is also perfect for ensuring that the nutrients present in your dog’s tummy are absorbed for its cells and tissues to utilize.
Pet parents say this is the best food for Goldendoodle because of the unique blend of antioxidants and other health-giving substances that promote general well-being in your pet and optimize every organ system in its body. It’s a Goldendoodle diet that’s focused on the goodness of the sea. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream is one of 7 dog food recipes mentioned in our overview of Taste of The Wild Dog Food.
Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Lentils, Salmon Meal, Smoked Salmon, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
- A grain-free recipe that is ideal for the delicate digestion of Goldendoodles.
- Fresh salmon is listed as the first ingredient, showing commitment to quality.
- Some customers have commented that the packaging can be difficult to close properly.
3 ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Brand: ORIJEN
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, Lamb, and Lamb Liver.
- Primary Protein Source: Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, and Lamb
- Calories: 463 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Beef, Wild Boar, Boer Goat, Lamb & Mackerel
- Life Stage: Adult
Your Goldendoodle is a product of two of the planet’s well-loved breeds. As only the best biologically appropriate Goldendoodle dog food will suffice to make sure that it grows to be as healthy as its purebred parents. With the remarkable taste of beef, wild boar, lamb, goat, and pork as well as the health-giving goodness of essential fatty acid-rich mackerel and herring, this Taste of the Wild creation is clearly what Mother Nature intends for your pet.
Wholesome veggies and grains, as well as fruits and lentils, add their antioxidant minerals and vitamins to give your Goldendoodle all the chances it needs to grow into a respectable and truly well-rounded hound. ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free is one of 7 dog food recipes included in our review of Orijen Dog Food Review.
Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, Lamb, Lamb Liver, Beef Liver, Beef Tripe, Wild Boar Liver, Mutton, Whole Mackerel, Pork, Goat Meal, Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Mackerel Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Beef Kidney, Pork Liver, Herring Meal, Mutton Meal, Whole Green Peas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Navy Beans, Whole Chickpeas, Natural Pork Flavor, Beef Fat, Pollock Oil, Pork Kidney, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Whole Yellow Peas, Lamb Tripe, Wild Boar Heart, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
- This is a grain-free recipe designed to be gentle for Goldendoodle dogs.
- All of the first 5 ingredients are fresh animal protein (no meal to boost the protein levels).
- This is significantly more expensive than other brands due to the exceptional recipe.
4 Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal
- Brand: Wellness
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Peas, and Dried Ground Potatoes.
- Primary Protein Source: Turkey
- Calories: 417 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Turkey & Chicken
- Life Stage: Adult
You can always rely on Wellness to give you the best dog food for Goldendoodles with its original formula that features the time-tested recipe of turkey and chicken sans fillers and meat byproducts. Your Goldendoodle will only be treated to the rich antioxidants, probiotics, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and even glucosamine that will help ensure a healthier body and mind for your dog.
Its high-protein and the high-calorie formula is perfect for happy and fun-loving Goldendoodles, allowing them to breeze through training, socialization, exercise, and playtime with all that energy. With a good balance of animal proteins, wholesome carbs, and healthy fats, this Goldendoodle food is simply what core nutrition for dogs should be.
You may also like our review of Wellness Core Dog Food.
Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes, Lentils, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Chicory Root Extract, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Kale, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.
- The kibble is in small, easy-to-nibble chunks for easier consumption.
- The high caloric density means this food will last longer because less is needed per meal.
- Some customers have reported that the kibble can be a bit too dry for some dogs.
5 Merrick Grain-Free Real Bison, Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe
- Brand: Merrick
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Bison, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, and Deboned Beef.
- Primary Protein Source: Bison
- Calories: 391 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Real Bison, Beef, and Sweet Potato
- Life Stage: Adult
Merrick is known for creating recipes that meet the needs of almost every breed and age – and this option is one such example of that. Made with deboned bison as the main ingredient, this is a great choice of food for Goldendoodles. In fact, 65% of each bag is made with healthy proteins and fats, which allow ideal levels for active and loving dogs.
The remaining 35% is made up of natural ingredients, including sweet potatoes, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients. This makes this one of the best dog food options for Goldendoodles on the market, today.
Check out our Merrick Dog Food Review.
Deboned Bison, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Deboned Beef, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Chicken Fat, Whitefish Meal, Tapioca, Natural Flavor, Salmon Meal, Potato Protein, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Sunflower Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Apples, Blueberries, Organic Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Proteinate, Cobalt Carbonate), Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols for Freshness, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Niacin, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Citric Acid for Freshness, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product.
- Plenty of omega-fatty acids in this recipe to encourage a healthy skin and coat.
- Novel protein is the first ingredient for a more interesting flavor pallet.
- Some customers have said that the kibble can be quite crumbly.
6 Nutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
- Brand: Nutro
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Whole Grain Barley, Split Peas, and Brewers Rice.
- Primary Protein Source: Chicken
- Calories: 319 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Chicken & Brown Rice
- Life Stage: Senior
Like all elderly dogs, your senior Goldendoodle will require a different diet that is tailored to its changing physiology. Nutro’s Wholesome Essentials makes its way as one of the best food for Goldendoodle seniors by giving them slightly lower calories per serving as well as slightly lower proteins. Nutro’s senior Goldendoodle dog food recipe also integrates nutrients needed for alleviating any beginning symptoms of aging joints such as arthritis.
The addition of easily digestible proteins and carbs will also not tax the aging digestive tract while making sure that each nutrient contained in the Goldendoodle food is adequately absorbed and utilized. The antioxidant-rich recipe is just perfect for keeping your elderly pet’s immune system fully functioning.
For more information on the brand, check out our Nutro Dog Food Review.
Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Whole Grain Barley, Split Peas, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Citric Acid (preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Chia Seed, Dried Coconut, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Kale, Dried Spinach, DL-Methionine, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
- A highly digestible food with extra fiber for senior dogs to enjoy.
- Fresh chicken is the first ingredient in this recipe, which shows quality.
- This is not grain-free and does contain some common allergens that could be a problem.
7 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill Grain-Free Senior Canned Dog Food
- Brand: Blue Buffalo
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, and Potatoes.
- Primary Protein Source: Turkey
- Calories: 437 kcal/can
- Flavor: Turkey & Chicken Grill
- Life Stage: Senior
Senior dogs typically lose some of their taste buds as they age and can no longer appreciate simple flavors delivered by kibbles. Some may no longer have a complete set of teeth to munch on kibbles. If this is what is plaguing your senior Goldendoodle, then Blue Buffalo’s wet food formulation for senior dogs should be a great choice.
Not only does it come in a delicious grilled turkey and chicken flavor that will greatly improve your elderly Goldendoodle’s appetite, but it also comes with excellent amounts of proteins to maintain the integrity and functionality of its muscles. It also comes with enough calories to make sure your senior Goldendoodle will still be able to maintain its highly active lifestyle.
Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Flaxseed, Choline Chloride , Salt, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).
- Wet dog food is extremely popular with picky pups as they prefer the texture and flavor.
- Chicken provides additional fiber as well as protein for better digestibility.
- There are only a few flavor options on the market for this particular range.
8 FROMM Adult Gold Dog Food
- Brand: Fromm
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Broth, Oat Groats, and Pearled Barley.
- Primary Protein Source: Chicken
- Calories: 418kcal/cup
- Flavor: Chicken
- Life Stage: Adult
Known for their gourmet canine recipes, Fromm Family is bringing to the dog food bowl its Gold Nutritionals adult recipe to make sure that your Goldendoodle will have all the necessary nutrients it needs to maintain and strengthen its immune system, digestive health, and integumentary functioning.
With real chicken forming the core of this Goldendoodle dog food made even more nutritious by the addition of duck, lamb, real cheese, and whole eggs your playful and loyal companion will have the highest possible quality of proteins to ensure the optimal functioning of its muscles, hormones, and immunoglobulins. This Goldendoodle food is more like a recipe that comes straight from your very own kitchen. And what dog can resist a little taste of home!
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Broth, Oat Groats, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Whole Oats, White Rice, Chicken Liver, Whole Barley, Potatoes, Cheese, Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Duck, Lamb, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Celery, Alfalfa Meal, Salt, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Chicory Root Extract, Vitamins, Minerals, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), L-Tryptophan, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Sodium Selenite, Probiotics
- A variety of proteins are included in the recipe including lamb and duck.
- The addition of ingredients providing amino acids ensures better overall development.
- There are multiple very common allergens in the first 5 ingredients.
9 Zignature Kangaroo LID Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
- Brand: Zignature
- Allergens: Alfalfa
- First 5 ingredients: Kangaroo, Broth, Peas, Sunflower Oil, Chickpeas
- Primary Proteins: Kangaroo
- Calories: 381 kcal per cup
- Flavor: Kangaroo
- Type: Wet Dog Food
- Life Stage: All Life Stages (including pregnant and lactating females)
Seniors and puppies aren’t the only ones in need of premium quality wet dog food. Even your adult Goldendoodle can greatly benefit from the nutrient-richness Zignature’s LID formula canned food, which is specifically designed to avoid problematic ingredients and free you from the worry of upsetting your Goldendoodle’s stomach. This Goldendoodle dog food features novel kangaroo meat as the primary source of protein, avoiding any common protein allergens such as beef, chicken, and turkey.
Wholesome veggies are also added to give your hound more energy to go about its merry way. The amino acids integrated into the essential minerals ensure optimum functioning of a variety of tissues including your Goldendoodle’s muscles, skin, hair, brain, nerves, and a whole lot more. Wet dog food brands often lack the dense nutrition per can, meaning the pup may need more food to match the nutritional value of dry food, but not Zignature.
You may also like our Zignature Dog Food Review.
Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Carrots, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan, Salt, Cassia Gum, Flaxseed, Blueberries, Cranberries, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).
- Only novel kangaroo protein is used; no chicken, turkey, pork, or beef.
- This food is a very rich and flavorful source of a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
- This is another diet with which you are paying extra for the specialist nature of the recipe.
10 VICTOR Select Yukon River Canine Dry Dog Food
- Brand: VICTOR
- Allergens: Chicken, Alfalfa, Yeast (irritant), Salt (irritant)
- First 5 ingredients: Menhaden Fish Meal (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Garbanzo Beans, Dehydrated Salmon
- Primary Proteins: Menhaden Fish, Chicken, Peas, Salmon
- Calories: 390 kcal per cup
- Flavor: Salmon and Sweet Potato
- Type: Dry Dog Food
- Life Stage: All Life Stages
From its pet food manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas, comes Victor, a gourmet canine food brand that is quite difficult to source. But if you can get your hands on a Victor make sure to get the Yukon River with Salmon & Sweet Potato recipe. It’s a super-premium Goldendoodle dog food for your super pet. Instead of putting the usual chicken or beef, Victor puts in salmon and menhaden fish in the recipe before adding a bevy of low-glycemic but highly nutritious fruits and vegetables.
The calories are just right for your fun-loving Goldendoodle while the proteins are never derived from plant ingredients. This is very much unlike other brands that lace their recipes with plant-based proteins. VICTOR Select Yukon River Canine is one of 5 recipes included in our review of Victor Dog Food.
Menhaden Fish Meal (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Garbanzo Beans, Dehydrated Salmon, Sweet Potato, Yeast Culture, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Blood Meal Conventionally Dried, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Carrot Powder, Tomato Pomace, Salt, Organic Dried Seaweed Meal, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Calcium Stearate, Zinc Methionine Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Silicon Dioxide, L-Carnitine, Selenium Yeast, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Copper Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Vegetable Oil, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract, Inulin, Lecithin, Folic Acid.
- This is a great source of antioxidants which help to bolder the immune system.
- A lot of natural sources for carbohydrates are used meaning more even energy levels.
- This particular range only has one flavor available at the moment.
Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles: Buying Guide & FAQs
So for someone new to the Goldendoodle game, who is worried about ensuring they are fed properly, it helps to know some general information about the breed’s dietary requirements. So here is a nifty guide that outlines the essential information to help you pick the right Goldendoodle adult and puppy food.
What’s in a Goldendoodle’s Ideal Diet?
When determining the ‘ideal’ diet for your Goldendoodle, it is important to take note of its weight, age, activity level, and life stage. By comparing their measurements with the food ratio table provided by the food manufacturer, you can calculate the ideal portion size and the number of calories they should be consuming per day. This will ensure that they develop well and maintain a healthy weight.
If the food doesn’t have a feeding table on the packaging, you can usually find one on the brand’s website.
In addition to the right amount of calories that is commensurate to your Goldendoodle’s weight, age, and activity level, you need to look out for the following features:
- High-Protein Dog Foods – Especially from animal sources. Animal-based proteins have complete essential amino acids, while plant-based ingredients have some missing AAs. The digestive system of dogs is also more in-tune with digesting animal ingredients.
- Dog Foods Containing Healthy Fats – Animal proteins such as herring, mackerel, and salmon provide a rich source of omega fatty acids, which can help to condition your Goldendoodle’s coat and skin. However, a word of caution would be that you focus more on omega-6 than omega-3, as too much omega-3 can cause inflammatory responses.
- Dog Foods Containing Fruits and Veg – Fruits and vegetables make nutrient-rich dog food. Whether it’s dry kibble or wet dog food, it should contain some fruits and vegetables as they provide antioxidants, amino acids, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, calcium, carbohydrates, and a wide variety of vitamins.
- Food With Few Allergens – We will discuss this in further detail below, but certain allergens can be problematic for Goldendoodles, such as soy, corn, and wheat. It is also possible for Goldendoodles to develop protein allergies, which can be a little bit harder and more expensive to work around depending on the allergy.
- Focus on Certain Minerals – Glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus, are also needed by a Goldendoodle, especially those that weigh above 50 pounds. Their body weight can put a substantial strain on their joints, so it would be wise to give them the structural elements needed for healthier and stronger joints.
Ingredients to Avoid Feeding Your Goldendoodle
The fact that the Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed can impact the type of ingredients they can ingest. Golden Retrievers are fortunate dogs in that they don’t require an overly specialist diet so long as the selected food is designed with larger dogs in mind. Golden Retrievers have pretty strong stomachs and don’t generally have many food allergies meaning they can eat whichever food you swing their way.
On the flip side, poodles are known to have pretty delicate digestive systems, meaning they don’t only require a healthy diet that can support good development, but they often require grain-free food or foods that avoid specific ingredients such as allergen proteins.
If your Goldendoodle takes after its poodle parent, you will quickly discover that your new dog’s diet needs to be more specialized. If this is the case for your Goldendoodle, here’s a quick list of the main ingredients to avoid:
Typical Grain-Inclusive Allergies
Standard dog food is often grain-inclusive (unless it states grain-free in the packaging). These grain-inclusive foods contain some of the typical allergens that affect delicate dogs, including:
- Wheat
- Soy
- Corn
- Rye
- Barley
- Peas
- Oats
- Amaranth
- Buckwheat
- Millet
- Sorghum
- Quinoa
Typical Protein Allergens
It is possible for dogs to develop protein allergies over time as a result of constant exposure, especially if you’ve fed them food that uses just one animal protein for the majority of their life. The most common protein allergens (which are also usually the most common or cheapest proteins) include:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Pork
- Egg
- Fish (specifically “Fish” not named fish such as salmon or haddock)
Common Irritant Ingredients
So in some cases, it’s not so much an allergy as it is something that is causing irritation in the stomach. Where an allergy will trigger reactions such as itching, hives, vomiting, seizures, or worse, an irritant just causes digestive distress.
The danger of irritants is that if they are strong enough and your dog’s stomach doesn’t agree with them, it can lead to bloat. Bloat, if left untreated, can lead to a twisted stomach, quickly becoming fatal.
Here are some of the common irritants you can find in dog food- keeping in mind that in low quantities, these ingredients may not be a problem, but if your dog becomes gassy or uncomfortable after eating, then these ingredients could be the culprit:
- Salt
- Yeast (brewers and standard)
- Brewers Rice
- High Rice Levels
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
Human Foods Your Goldendoodle Can & Can’t Eat
Dogs have natural intolerance for a lot of human foods owing to their processed nature of it. Additionally, certain completely natural foods humans can consume could have potentially fatal consequences for a Goldendoodle. Some good examples of the types of food you shouldn’t feel to your Goldendoodle include:
- Grapes/Raisins – extremely toxic and potentially lethal
- Onions/Garlic – can cause bloat
- Macadamia Nuts – extremely toxic and potentially lethal
- Nutmeg – toxic
- High-Salt Foods – elevated salt levels can become dangerous
- High-Fat Foods – weight gain and digestive distress
- Dairy – can cause digestive distress
- Processed Sugar / High-Sugar Foods – can cause weight gain and dental problems
- Bread / Wheat / Gluten – can cause digestive distress
- Alcohol / Caffeine
- Chewing Gum – choking hazard
How Much and How Often Should a Goldendoodle Eat?
Goldendoodle puppies do need to be fed more frequently than adult Goldendoodles. This is because they burn a lot more energy as they grow and develop and need to top up the tank more often.
A Goldendoodle puppy should be fed around three times a day – once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening. Evenly spaced meals are the way to go so they don’t become irritable waiting for their next bit of food.
Once they have reached around 6-8 months of age, you can transition them to twice-daily feeds – once in the morning and once in the early evening. When they have reached their full size, minimal development is left to do besides maturity and digestive adjustments; therefore, their energy levels don’t deplete nearly as quickly.
In terms of how much you should be feeding them, it entirely depends on their size, age, and weight. All dog food manufacturers should provide a portion guide to help you plan your dog’s diet. If you can’t find a table on the packaging to guide you, you can usually find something similar on the brand’s website.
When to switch from puppy to adult food?
Like switching to twice-daily feeding, your Goldendoodle should change to adult food once they’ve reached their adult size. They may not have fully bulked out yet, but once they have stopped growing upwards, they can be changed to adult dog food. Generally speaking, this is around 8-12 months of age.
It depends on which of the parents your Goldendoodle takes after and when they will stop growing completely. Therefore, we can’t give an accurate age for when the changeover should take place, it is a matter of you monitoring their development and using your judgment. You can contact your vet for some professional advice if you are still uncertain.
Should You Go Dry, Wet, Raw, or Homemade?
This entirely depends on your dog’s personal preference, budget, and dietary requirements. A big part of the decision-making process typically pivots on budgeting as each type of food and brand can vary dramatically in price. Therefore we recommend deciding on a budget based on your dog’s known caloric and dietary requirements before looking at food options.
There are pros and cons to each type of food, which we have listed below for you:
Dry Dog Food
Dry food is often rich in nutritional benefits, protein, fiber, and vitamins. However, it can be easy to fall into the pitfall of finding foods with filler ingredients that don’t offer much nutritional value. So long as you find good-quality dry food, this is generally the most affordable and manageable option.
Dogs can be fussy with dry food, so you might have to top their meals with a bit of brother of meat to entice them to eat properly if they’re particularly picky. You also need to ensure that your Goldendoodle has plenty to drink with a dry food diet as it often triggers a thirst at mealtimes.
Wet Dog Food
Wet dog food is delicious, nutritious, and hydrating. It’s no secret that dogs love a wet food diet. However, it is an expensive option. Especially seeing as wet dog food is often not as nutritionally dense as dry kibble, meaning more is needed per meal to match the nutrient intake of dry food. Of course, your dog will love it! But your bank account might not.
Raw Dog Food
The raw feed diet is the closest your dog can get to eating a completely natural meal, meaning closely resembling the type of food they would eat in the wild. However, you may need to supplement the meat with some vegetables to boost their vitamin intake.
The major downside of feeding your dog a raw diet is that it is easily one of the most expensive options, especially since Goldendoodles are quite large dogs and require a good amount of feeding daily.
Homemade Dog Food
This can be the best of both worlds as you can give your dog a fresh, wet meal while sticking to a limited budget as you’re purchasing all the ingredients yourself. However, it is time-consuming, so you need to consider the preparation time for each meal. A good way to combat this would be to make the food in bulk and freeze what doesn’t get used immediately.
Homemade food is a great way to monitor exactly what your dog is eating, as there would be nothing but personally selected ingredients. Just be sure to give them everything they need in terms of nutrition.
Simple DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipe for Your Goldendoodle
If you’re thinking of trying out a simple, easy recipe at home for your pooch, here’s an extremely simple, cost-effective recipe that we think would be ideal for a first try.
You want to ensure your Goldendoodle gets protein, fiber, nutrients, and vitamins. This means you need to include a range of natural ingredients with an emphasis on plenty of vegetables to round out the nutritional value of the food you’re making.
Ingredients:
This recipe can be adjusted depending on the size of the dog in question.
- 1lb ground protein (turkey, pork, beef, bison, venison, chicken, etc)
- 6 cups of water
- 2 cups of brown rice
- 16-ounces pre-packaged frozen veg – cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, peas
- 1/2tps turmeric
- 1tsp dried rosemary
Method:
- Place the ground protein with the rice, rosemary, and turmeric in a large saucepan or dutch oven combined with the 6 cups of water.
- Bring everything to a boil and thoroughly stir the mixture until the protein has broken up and everything is evenly distributed.
- Once everything is stirred together, bring the temperature down to a simmer and allow to cook for 20 minutes.
- Add the frozen vegetables, thoroughly incorporate the veg into the mixture, and cook the combined mixture for 5 minutes.
- Remove the cooked food from the heat, allow it to cool, drain any excess liquid, and store in an airtight container.
- Keep the food refrigerated – it can be kept for up to 5 days.
Common Goldendoodle Health Problems
There are a few hereditary conditions that Goldendoodle can be predisposed to developing from their parent breeds, some of which can be more severe than others if left untreated:
- Hip Dysplasia – Goldendoodles are prone to developing hip dysplasia, which can be made worse by their weight, increasing the pressure in the already-damaged hip joints.
- Allergy-Triggered Skin Diseases – They are also susceptible to an allergic skin disease which can be brought about by various causes and will often require a thorough workup.
- Patella Luxation – Some Goldendoodles are also known for developing patellar luxation in which the kneecap slips out of its normal anatomical position.
- Epilepsy – Epilepsy varies in severity, but it can be treated with medication in most cases.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease – This is an inherited bleeding disorder that results from low levels of specific clotting protein in the blood. It can result in abnormal bleeding during heat or after surgeries or injuries.
- Retinal Atrophy – An incurable condition that causes significant sight loss and blindness. Corneal Dystrophy also has these same symptoms.
- Bloat – A dangerous condition that, if left untreated, can become fatal.
It is always wise to ask the Goldendoodle breeder for information regarding the dog’s parentage and whether its parents have had any of these diseases in their lifetime. Otherwise, you can always seek comprehensive DNA testing to identify genetic markers for canine diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Not always, but sometimes. Like all dogs, some Goldendoodles can have a tendency to be fussy with their food. However, this is usually due to their personality as opposed to their overall breed. Though there is a chance they’re fussy because there’s something in the food that gives them an upset stomach, so watch for signs of digestive upset after each meal before deciding they’re just being picky.
Yes, for the most part. Poodles are a delicate breed that is commonly known for having frequent digestive problems and delicate digestive systems. As a result, the Goldendoodle can inherit this digestive sensitivity and may require a grain-free or limited ingredient diet to compensate.
Goldendoodles can grow old up to 15 years, but only if they are able to maintain their excellent level of health. Lack of exercise and a poor diet can significantly reduce their lifespan by making them more prone to the development or occurrence of health problems.
