Choose the Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles | iPetCompanion

Choose the Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles

If you talk about the most popular breed choices today, you can't keep Goldendoodles out of the list. They're a mix between Poodles and Golden Retrievers. You can find a mix of Golden Retrievers and Miniature Poodle or a Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle. The best thing about Goldendoodles is that they're affectionate, fun loving, outgoing, and extremely intelligent.  But, you need to understand that you can continue to enjoy the company of your beloved dog if you feed him well, and that's when you have to look for the best dog food for Goldendoodles.

Here are a few options to help you select the best affordable dog food for Goldendoodles:

The Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles: Our Top Picks

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Dog Food

BEST for allergy

  • Farm-raised chicken
  • Non-GMO ingredients

Rated by: Amber

Blue Buffalo Backcountry

BEST OVERALL

  • Grain-Free
  • Good for puppies
  • Antioxidants for health

Rated by: Amber

Healthy Breeds Grain Free Freeze Dried Dog Treats

Best Treats

  • Easy to feed
  • Safe for dogs
  • Various nutrients

Rated by: Amber

1. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Dog Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

While you can find a number of dog food options from the Nutro brand, it seems that their standard line is probably the best.  This dog food is suitable for Goldendoodles of all ages and sizes.  The best part is that it contains loads of protein, which is extremely important for the overall growth of your Goldendoodle puppy. It's equally suitable for senior Goldendoodles because it provides them with a good dose of chondroitin and glucosamine.

In terms of ingredients, you won't have to worry about anything because the very first ingredient on the list is farm-raised chicken. It means your dog is going to get a good dose of protein from this dog food. Other than that, it contains sweet potatoes and brown rice, along with many other ingredients, to ensure that your Goldendoodle gets enough vitamins and minerals as well.  It doesn't contain any GMO ingredients, which is another good thing.


Overall, the dog food is quite impressive and works well for Goldendoodles, but keep in mind that some dog owners have complained about their dogs developing digestive issues after first starting it.  It's not for every dog owner though.

PROS

  • It contains farm-raised chicken
  • It provides minerals and vitamins
  • It contains non-GMO ingredients

CONS

  • It may cause some stomach issues

2. Blue Buffalo Backcountry

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Blue Buffalo is known for offering the best dog food for Goldendoodles. The interesting thing is that they have grain free varieties as well as products that contain grains for dogs with no allergies. If you're specifically looking for grain free dog food for your sensitive Goldendoodle, you may want to try the Backcountry line.

Blue Buffalo Backcountry line works great for Goldendoodles because it comes with a higher protein content as compared to other lines. Moreover, it's grain free so you don't need to worry about your dog developing any gastrointestinal problems. You'll appreciate the fact that this dog food gets most of its protein content from chicken.

It's also a suitable choice for Goldendoodle puppies because it contains DHA and RHA and protects the cognitive function in your dog.  Moreover, the dog food contains Blue's LifeSource Bits and provides your dog with an adequate amount of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.

Overall, it's a great dog food for Goldendoodles and is available at an affordable price, but keep in mind that all dog foods from Blue Buffalo contain chicken in some form, which is why it's not suitable if you're not looking for chicken as the main ingredients in dog food.

PROS

  • It is grain free and suitable for dogs with allergy
  • It's suitable for puppies
  • It contains antioxidants for overall health

CONS

  • No chicken-free variety available

3. Healthy Breeds Grain Free Freeze Dried Dog Treats

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

If you're searching for a way to train your dog while keeping him healthy and happy, you may want to include these dog treats in his diet. What you'll like about this product is that it' grain and gluten free.

Another important thing most dog owners appreciate is that this dog food contains USA sourced ingredients.  Moreover, the product is freeze-dried, which means that it won't lose its nutritive value after long. It's available in a large box with an easy-release lid, so it's easy to get as many as you want for your Goldendoodle.

It's also going to serve as a good food choice for a Goldendoodle suffering from food allergies mainly because of its natural ingredients.  Thanks to its ingredients, you'll be providing your dog with a good dose of phosphorous, calcium, zinc, phosphorous, niacin, potassium, and other nutrients in a delicious way.


Overall, your Goldendoodle is going to love these dog treats, but keep in mind that you can't use them as your main source of dog food, especially if you have a growing puppy with more nutritional needs.

PROS

  • It's easy to feed
  • It's all natural and safe for dogs
  • It contains several nutrients

CONS

  • It may be a bit on the expensive side

FAQ - A Buyer's Guide

You know you love your Goldendoodle and you want the best things to happen to him, so it's obvious that you don't want to make any compromises over his diet. Here's what you should know about finding the best dog food for your Goldendoodle pup.

How Much Should You Feed a Goldendoodle?

When you have a Goldendoodle at home, you need to be very careful with what he eats and how much. You need to be aware of Goldendoodle food allergies to be able to make the best diet choices for him. The best dog food is the one that provides him with fatty acids, minerals, and other important nutrients. Still, you need to understand that they don't have very high levels of energy, so you need to give them some time to play and exercise and maintain a healthy weight knowing how much to feed your Goldendoodle.

When designing his diet plan, know that this dog breed works great with a structured schedule. Free feeding would increase risk of bloating and gastrointestinal issues.  Only scheduled feeding helps you know how much they're eating and if you need to adjust anything to help your Goldendoodles maintain a healthy weight. A simple way to make sure that your Goldendoodle is at a healthy weight is to look for their ribs from afar. If you can only feel them and not see them without pushing hard, they're healthy. Similarly, a Goldendoodle is not overweight if you see his waistline while looking down at him.

For your smaller Goldendoodle, you can always find puppy food from the market.  Keep in mind that you should feed your 8-12 weeks puppy 3-4 times a day.  It's okay to limit how much he eats after 6 months. This is when you can switch to 2-meal a day like most adult dogs. Just make sure that you feed him exactly the same time each day, and avoid giving him table scraps.

The fact of the matter is that how much you should feed your Goldendoodle depends on various factors, including the age, weight, size, metabolism, build, and activity level of your dog. You may even have to experiment a little with different dog foods and change portion sizes if you think your dog's putting on weight.

What can Goldendoodles Not Eat?

Keeping your Goldendoodle on a strict diet is usually a good thing to do, but you may want to reconsider in case your dog is not responding well to dry dog food or other dog food options. Your aim should be to use a dry dog food with natural and fresh ingredients. You need to be very careful when feeding your dog human food because not everything is suitable for him and cause serious health problems. For instance:

  • Don't give him chocolate. It's true for most dogs and Goldendoodles are no exception. The reason is that chocolate contains methylxanthine that you dog can't process and develop several health related problems.
  • Never give your Goldendoodle citrus fruits. Understand that citric acid found in fruits and peels of fruits can cause digestive discomfort in dogs.  Moreover, citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits increase the risk of damaging the central nervous system in dogs.
  • Don't feed your dog grapes and raisings. It's important because these foods can cause kidney failure in dogs. Raisins and grapes, even in small quantities, can prove fatal for your Goldendoodle.
  • Don't give dairy to your Goldendoodles if they're suffering from digestive issues already.  In most cases, a Goldendoodle would manage to digest a small amount of cheese, milk, or other dairy products, but it's better to avoid it as much as you can.
  • Say no to raw meat. If you've been thinking of feeding your Goldendoodle raw meat, think again. It's not the best choice because even a small piece of uncooked bacon or raw chicken can prove lethal if it contains harmful bacteria such as E-coli or salmonella.
  • Keep alcohol away from your Goldendoodle.  No matter what the festivity is, your dog deserves better.

Similarly, it's a good idea to avoid feeding leeks, garlic, onions, and chives to your Goldendoodles and stick to high quality dry dog food for Goldendoodles with lots of omega fatty acids, protein, and other important nutrients.

Keep in mind that whatever you choose for your dog, it should be healthy, and in most cases, healthy meats will work just fine. Under no circumstances should you be feeding your Goldendoodles dog foods stuffed with additives, artificial flavors, and chemically created ingredients.  You should also consider your dog's appetite when selecting dry dog food for him because it's not possible for all dogs to self-regulate and determine how much they want to eat. Even if you give them healthy dog food with loads of protein, fatty acids, and nutrients, too much of it can still cause problems. So, consider his size, activity level, and age to determine the best dog food for him.

Is Royal Canin Good for Goldendoodles?

Finding the best dog food for Goldendoodles requires you to be vigilant and consider exactly what your dog needs at a certain age. You have to educate yourself about what a Goldendoodle should eat per day depending on his size and age.  Remember, your Goldendoodle may be eating puppy food right now but he can grow up to be a large dog, as a fully grown Goldendoodle can gain 90 pounds of weight.  Therefore, it's important to find the best dog food for Goldendoodles that contains protein, omega fatty acids, calcium, and other healthy ingredients. 

Many dog owners opt for Royal Canin because it's a popular option. You may be wondering if it's a good choice for your Goldendoodle or not. In most cases, it's a good dog food for Goldendoodles, especially if you're mainly looking for puppy food. Royal Canin actually offers a number of good products here. Their special mix designed for puppies is quite effective because it contains minerals, vitamins, and plenty of protein. It contains omega fatty acids, which is why it's suitable for their overall health. Just keep in mind that so many of Royal Canin products are not grain-free, so they may not be suitable for your Goldendoodle if he has some food allergies.

The Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles to Buy

You can keep your Goldendoodle healthy by finding the best dog foods. If your dog has allergy, going grain free is important. Similarly, you need to consider his size and age to determine what he should eat and how much he can have per day. Paying attention to the ingredients is equally critical. If it's getting difficult to identify the best dog food for Goldendoodles, you may want to opt for Blue Buffalo dog food because they have various lines to help you select the best product to cater to your dog's unique dietary needs. Try it!

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