Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles in 2024

If you're a proud owner of a Goldendoodle, you know that this lovable mixed breed, a cross between Golden Retrievers and Poodles, deserves the best overall food option for their unique nutritional needs.

Whether you have a goldendoodle puppy, adult, or senior, finding the RIGHT DIET is essential to their overall health and wellbeing.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS

Goldendoodles require a nutrient-dense diet that supports their active lifestyle and helps maintain their curly coat in top condition.

When it comes to selecting the right dog food for goldendoodles or mini goldendoodles, it's important to consider their size, age, and any specific health concerns they may have. A high-quality diet formulated for mixed breeds such as goldendoodles will provide the right balance of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and essential nutrients to support their overall health.

In this article, we'll explore our top choices for goldendoodles at every stage of life, so you can make an informed decision about what to feed and what to look for a dog food.

Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles

 

1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food (Turkey Recipe)

Made with 100% human-grade ingredients and expertly balanced for complete nutrition.

Protein-rich turkey is boosted with superfoods such as blueberries and kale to offer your Goodle a nutritious meal that is packed with essential nutrients in every bite.

For an extra boost of vitamins and minerals, they've added in some vitamin-rich spinach to give your pup the nutrition they need to thrive.

Ollie's Turkey Recipe is perfect for dogs of all shapes and sizes, providing them with the protein they need to maintain strong muscles, the fiber to aid in digestion, and the essential nutrients to support a healthy immune system.

Ollie’s meal plans are tailored to each dog’s unique needs. Plus, with Ollie's convenient delivery service, you can ensure your pup always has a fresh and tasty meal ready to go.

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 2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Recipe

Give your dog a taste of the wild with this High Prairie Recipe. This premium dog food is made with real roasted bison and venison, providing your furry friend with the protein they need to thrive.

Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

In addition to the high-quality protein sources, this recipe also contains a blend of fruits and vegetables, including dried chicory root, to provide antioxidants and essential nutrients. With no grain, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, you can feel good about feeding your dog the right food.

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3. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Looking for an affordable dog food for Goldendoodles? Try the American Journey line. They have a wide array of selection: grain free, classic healthy grains dry dog food, wet/canned, semi-moist, etc. Every dog is unique so find which formula is best for you pupper.

This is a formula that is perfect food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This grain-free recipe is specially formulated to provide the best food for your furry friend, regardless of their breed size.

The main ingredient is real salmon, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids to support your dog's overall health and wellbeing.

The addition of sweet potatoes provides a great source of complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, while also being gentle on the stomach.

This recipe is also free from corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, and artificial preservatives, making it an excellent food for goldendoodles with sensitive tummies.

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4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula

Always choose the best food for a goldendoodle puppy. This premium dog food is part of our top pick and is specially crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of a growing pup, making it the perfect choice for pet owners who want only the best for their furry friends.

With a focus on natural, high-quality ingredients, this formula is packed with real roasted meat and a blend of protein sources, ensuring that your puppy gets the energy and nutrients they need to thrive.

Breed dog owners, particularly those with active breeds like goldendoodles, may face challenges in finding the best food for their puppies.

Luckily, this offers a solution. It not only supports healthy growth and development but also contains essential vitamins and minerals to promote overall well-being. Plus, with its delicious roasted venison and bison flavor, your puppy will love mealtime.

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5. Stella & Chewy Wild Red Chicken & Lamb Stew

Stella & Chewy is one of the dog food brands by Chewy.com, and it’s a premium line known for placing emphasis on a meat-first dog food diet. This particular recipe is meat-packed to ensure that your dog is getting as much protein as possible.

It uses a whole-prey approach to crafting the dog food, which means that your pup gets not just muscle meat but organs and cartilage as well. This approach brings in much more nutrients since organs and cartilage are filled with vitamins and minerals. 

The grain-free dog food is meant for adult dogs. It uses shredded chicken and lamb as its protein sources. Pumpkin delivers the fiber to ensure a healthy digestion, while sunflower oil and flaxseed oil supply the much-needed omega fatty acids.

Lastly, if your are a bit adventurous and wants to experiment on your dog's food, the brand also offer a raw dog food line made from the finest food ingredients.

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6. Chicken Soup for the Soul Mature Chicken, Turkey & Duck Recipe

Senior dogs are picky due to many factors. If your dog seems to lose interest on his food, look for food that contains new types of meat for more flavor.

This is a dog food option meant for the mature pup. Since mature dogs are often not as energetic as they were  during their peak years, they need lots of protein to support lean muscles and provide them with energy. 

This Goldendoodle dog food recipe uses real chicken as the main protein source but it is also supported with turkey, chicken liver, ocean white fish, salmon, and duck for a truly meaty and satisfying meal. 

It’s not grain-free. Rather, it uses whole grain brown rice and oatmeal to provide your pup with easy-to-digest carbohydrates and fiber for his digestion. It’s a nutritious dog food that does not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

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7. Nutro Small Bites Lamb & Brown Rice

This dry dog food offers all the nutrients that your little goldendoodle buddy needs. Small dogs have faster metabolism than big ones and this recipe supplies them all the fuel for their daily activities.

Real deboned lamb is the main protein source in this dog food, followed by chicken meal to add further protein support. The carbohydrates come from rice and rice bran, while the chicken fat supplies additional energy and the fatty acids that strengthen your dog’s immune system, skin, and coat.

Nutro makes its dog food recipes purposeful and clean. This one is no different with its non-GMO ingredients to make sure your pup only gets the best and healthiest. All ingredients are also recognizable and sourced from trusted farmers.

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8. True Acre Foods Chicken & Vegetable Recipe

This True Acre kibble is formulated for the adult stage of your pup’s life and is guaranteed to be free of any grains or gluten. The primary protein source is chicken raised in the U.S.A., followed by real fruits and veggies like cranberries, carrots, and peas.

The dry dog food is nutritionally balanced and includes fatty acids to maintain healthy skin and a good-looking and good-feeling coat. This recipe also contains digestion assistance via natural fibers incorporated into the yummy tasting kibble.

There are no fillers in this formula, so you will not see corn, wheat, or any artificial colors on the ingredient list. You have a couple of product sizes to choose from with this chicken and veggie recipe: 15-lb, 30-lb, and a 40-lb bag.

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More Top Rated Goldendoodle Foods:

1. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken

This Gentle Giants dry food is available in a wide variety of sizes, so if you just want to test it out and see how your pup likes it, you can start off with a 3.5-lb bag.

Once your pup decides he loves it, you can go all in with a purchase of their largest size, a 33-lb bag.

Who doesn’t like options? This formula was created for the adult stage of life for all dog breeds! The recipe is great for sensitive tummies / food intolerance because it is gluten free and omits those pesky fillers like wheat, soy, and corn.

Instead, you can feed your beloved Goldendoodle a complete meal with farm-raised chicken, brown rice, non-GMO fruits and veggies (a total of twelve!), and some extra good stuff like prebiotics and probiotics that support optimal digestion.

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe

This dry food is made by Blue Buffalo with a chicken recipe that also contains sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peas to deliver complex carbohydrates to your dog’s diet.

Also included is antioxidant support via fruits and vegetables like blueberries and carrots. This recipe offers complete nutrition from protein to supplementary vitamins and omega fatty acids.

This food is formulated for dogs in the adult stage of their lives and is free from fillers like soy, wheat, and corn. It’s a grain-free dog food so pups who might be sensitive to grains will be able to enjoy it fully.

Blue Buffalo has an exclusive blend that includes antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals – they call this BLUE LifeSource Bits and it promotes a balanced immune system and a healthy oxidative balance.

The entire recipe is crafted with your pup’s overall wellbeing in mind. You can choose from three different sizes for this product: 4.5-lb bag, 11-lb bag, and a 24-lb bag.

3. Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula

This Purina Pro Plan formula is designed specifically for dogs in the adult stage of life who have sensitive skin and sensitive stomach.

The ingredients in this recipe include real salmon to deliver a protein-rich meal that encourages lean muscle mass and oatmeal as an easy-to-digest carbohydrate.

This recipe is free from wheat, peas, soy, and corn to ensure a comfortable digestive experience for your best friend.

The fatty acids added to this kibble aid with not only the upkeep of his skin and coat, but also with his mobility and overall joint health to keep him active alongside you.

Added prebiotic fiber is also incorporated to assist with keeping his sensitive tummy feeling great through the nourishment of healthy gut bacteria.

This product is available in four different sizes: 5-lb, 16-lb, 30-lb, and a 41-lb bag.

4. Instinct by Nature's Variety Original Recipe with Real Chicken

This dry food by Nature’s Variety is grain-free and made with real chicken, balanced along with vegetables, Omegas, antioxidants, and fruits.

Omitted, along with grains in this recipe, are potato, corn, wheat, by-product meal, soy, and artificial colors and preservatives, making this meal wholesome and delicious for your pup without unnecessary ingredients.

This formula guarantees levels of live probiotics to support overall digestive health while delivering antioxidants that promote a thriving immune system.

When it comes to its products, Nature’s Variety actually offers two brands and an assortment of different product lines. The Prairie brand features holistic pet food products made with simple, natural ingredients and available at an affordable price point.

The Instinct brand includes half a dozen different product lines including original, grain-free, high-protein, freeze-dried, and raw recipes.

In addition to their Originals line of high-protein, grain-free kibbles, Nature’s Variety Instinct offers the Ultimate Protein line of kibbles with up to three times as much protein as conventional dry dog food.

5. Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Barley, Peas

Wellness’ large breed dry dog food with chicken and brown rice offers complete nutrition for large breed dogs.

It includes mixed tocopherols that are meant to protect against the development of eye disease and it also includes Yucca Shidigera extract to help lessen the usually overpowering smell of stools expelled by large dogs.

The recipe omits needless fillers but includes the perfect amounts of calcium, phosphorous, and additional minerals to support strong bones. The moderate fat content and optimized protein levels ensure lean muscle mass that keeps extra fat off your big fur buddy.

Goldendoodle Special Dietary and Nutritional Considerations

Do goldendoodles have special considerations? Well, like any other dog, they need the following nutritional considerations:

1. Protein

Goldendoodles, like any other dog, have a primary meal requirement: protein! Puppies up to adults are highly active so they need dog foods that use high-quality proteins to keep them happy. The first ingredient in their dog foods should always be meat.

Your Goldendoodle can get his protein from several different sources, including whole meats like buffalo, beef, and fish. He can also get some of his protein from plants that can be easier on his tummy during the digestive process. 

It is important to choose a dog food crafted for his specific life stage so they can get all the required nutrients they need. And if your pup has food sensitivities, you can work around that by choosing dog foods with novel proteins instead. 

2. Fat 

Fat will not make your Goldendoodle fat, but what it will do is deliver consistent energy for all his puppy activities, like those wrestling matches with your shoes, the wobbly walks around the block, and the forever-fun playtime with his human companion—you! 

Fat is a standard aspect of your pup’s nutritional requirements and any high-quality dog food will deliver the amount your little buddy needs for his best health.

Lastly, fat is also where those omega fatty acids that are responsible for your dog’s healthy skin and coat comes from. You can find fat in the form of chicken fat, salmon oil, or fish oil, to name a few.

3. Fiber

Fiber is an excellent helper for two reasons: your pup gets loaded with tons of energy, and it encourages a healthy digestive tract. This makes it a win for both your pup and you—no pet parent likes to see their fur buddy suffering with a tummy ache or having trouble with passing his food. 

Fiber as a daily part of your pup’s diet will keep his digestion working adequately and keep you worry-free. The fiber comes from carbohydrate sources such as grains (whole-grain brown rice, for example) or if it’s a grain-free food you’re feeding your pup, it may come from potatoes or peas.

4. Carbohydrates

Carbs are also a general part of your pup’s dietary requirements and will help to keep stability in his blood sugar levels, but be careful! 

Although carbohydrates are a great source for quick energy, too many carbs will cause a sudden increase in your pup’s blood sugar, so keep it to a minimum. If your dog food is high-quality and specifically formulated for either the puppy or adult life stages, you should be all set so long as you abide by the feeding instructions.

5. Fatty Acids

These essential fatty acids are vital for healthy skin and a beautiful, shiny coat. A dog’s health can be witnessed via his appearance – weight, eyes, and coat. 

Any pet lover will want to see his pup thriving and looking his best and omega fatty acids deliver the nutrition required to have your Goldendoodle ready for the doggy runway.

Omega fatty acids also keep inflammation down, support the brain development of your goldendoodle puppies, and boost the immune system of your adult goldendoodles.

6. Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants

You will find that high-quality dog foods will always add supplementary vitamins and minerals to support your canine’s health. 

Minerals are a foundational aspect of proper organ and tissue growth and will assist throughout the duration of your Goldendoodle’s life span. Antioxidants will fight free radicals and promote long-lasting health as well.

7. Moisture

Your friendly Goldendoodle likely loves lapping up some water after long walks on a warm afternoon so keep his water bowl full to encourage sufficient consumption of water. However, if he doesn’t, the moisture in his dog food should help some.

Your dog needs to stay hydrated because water assists with moving all the nutrients in his food down into his cells and the rest of his body. Every single body function is dependent on his level of hydration.

Wet dog food typically contains around 72-82% moisture. If your dog is not very fond of drinking water, canned dog food would be your best option.

Also read: About The Mini Golden Retriever

Extra Tips When Selecting Puppy or Adult Dog Food For Your Goldendoodle

While goldendoodles will usually have excellent health when bred responsibly, there are certain health problems that they may possibly inherit from their poodle or golden retriever ancestors. 

Reputable breeders will ensure that the puppies they breed will have no hereditary issues. However, other breeders may not have this compunction. And the health problems will become more obvious as the dog gets older if you happen to get a puppy from a not-so respectable breeder.

Diseases Goldendoodles Are Prone To and How to Address Them With Food

Hip Dysplasia 

Poodles and golden retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia as well as eye disorders. This may show up in your goldendoodle if you are not careful where you get your pup. If this happens, the best dog food for goldendoodles are those that can provide extra support for their joints as well as their eyes so that they can live a long and full life despite their condition.

Food Allergies

Another thing that adult Goldendoodles are susceptible to are food allergies. Make sure to select foods that do not contain artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

Dogs do not need these. Try as much as possible to stick to good quality dog food because these do not contain fillers, common allergens, and other unnecessary ingredients.

For some goldendoodle pups, a grain-free diet works best, although many also thrive on grain-inclusive meals. It really depends on each individual dog.

Bloat

Lastly, the large breed Goldendoodles are prone to bloat. Just like their golden retriever ancestors, many Goldendoodles tend to eat too fast and too much. While this can’t be helped by the food you select, there are slow-feeding products you can use to minimize the risk for your pup. 

Also read: Legume & Pea Free Dog Food Brands

Goldendoodle Puppy Feeding Chart

The various puppy life stages are exciting times. Your puppy is growing at a fast pace, and each of his developmental phases brings about new wonder at the progress your dog is making. We’ve listed down all the different puppy life stages leading up to adulthood and what to expect and do for each one. 

6 Weeks Old 

When Goodle puppies reach six weeks of age, they are still babies who require their mother’s support for nutrition. During this stage, all you need to do is make sure your pup is feeding freely from his mama, because she produces all of the good stuff your puppy needs to thrive.

10 Weeks Old 

At ten weeks of age, they are ready to be weaned off their mom’s milk. At this point, you can start to introduce some yummy puppy food into your pet’s daily feedings.

Since you will be transitioning from a liquid diet to a diet filled with solid foods, you can soften this change by using wet canned food as his transitional food. 

This will make it less shocking to your little buddy’s sensitive tummy, allowing him to get acquainted with the new type of food in a more comfortable way. (It will also keep his stools healthier and that means less of a mess to clean up after!)

12 Weeks Old

Twelve week-old pups are ready to start the shift from wet food to dry dog kibbles!

If you had a successful weaning process, you can use the same, gentle method of introduction to make sure your pup’s digestive system adjusts to the new type of puppy food. Since dry dog food contains less water, be sure to leave water out for your pup as he will need to keep hydrated.

3 Months Old 

At three months, your Goodle pup should be just about done with the transition from wet food to dry dog food. This is a good time to keep a keen eye on labels to be sure you are feeding your puppy the best recipes for his particular life stage. 

Look for “puppy food formula” on the packaging to bring home dry dog food that is packed with the nutrition his growing body needs. Foods for adult dogs are crafted differently and don’t support the extra calories required by your growing puppy.

5 Months Old

At five months, your puppy should be sticking to his dry dog food, although you can still give him canned food from time to time. Some pet owners like to feed their dogs canned food exclusively, and that’s not a bad thing.

At this age, you will have to feed him less often, bringing feeding times to two meals per day. Do not leave food out for him to munch on, this will lead to overeating and weight gain!

1 Year Old

At this stage, your little pup is now an adult and will need to convert from puppy food into adult dog food. You’ll notice he may even leave some food in the bowl, and if that happens, you can lessen the number of kibbles you provide at mealtime.

 

Our Goldendoodle Feeding Guide

1. Puppy Life Stage

It is difficult to identify just how much your puppy will weigh during puppyhood because goldendoodles have different sizes (toy, small, medium, and large). It’s a still-developing breed so there is no set standard for minimum or maximum size.

If you have a small Goldendoodle, you can expect him to weigh somewhere between 4 lbs. to 9 lbs. A medium-sized puppy will weigh a little more, between 8 lbs. to 10 lbs., and a large puppy will come in weighing over 11 lbs. 

Puppies should be fed three to four times per day, using feeding instructions provided by the food manufacturer.

2. Adult Life Stage

In the adult stage, your Goldendoodle may weigh anywhere between 15 to 30 lbs. if he’s small, 30 – 45 lbs. if he’s medium-sized, and 45-90 lbs. for large breed puppies. 

Since this designer breed is crossbred, the exact weight of your Goldendoodle may vary. Feeding instructions will also vary, depending on his weight, so abide by the instructions set forth on the labels of the food you choose and be sure to feed about twice a day. 

The average dog needs about 30 calories per pound of weight, but smaller dog breeds tend to have fast metabolism and may need more than their large breed counterparts.

So long as he is visiting his vet regularly and you are receiving a clean bill of health, you are doing right by your pup!

3. Senior Life Stage

With the senior stage comes some muscle loss and a slowed metabolism, so you will want to change up his diet to foods that have a higher protein level and fewer calories. 

Looking for the best dry or wet food that is crafted specifically for senior dogs would be your best bet during this phase. Senior dogs need food that address common issues such as mobility, decreased appetite, lower energy, and so on.

Senior dogs should maintain their adult weight, give or take a few lbs., but any sudden increase or decrease in their weight is likely signaling an issue and should be brought to the attention of your trusted vet.

Conclusion

The Goldendoodle, designed willfully by humans, is a lovable, smart pup that will live to play, comfort, and adore you throughout his life. With the right nutrient support throughout his life, you will have a fantastic pup that not only looks gorgeous but feels excellent and in top health.

The right food for your dog will be different from that of a large Goldendoodle puppy, so be mindful of the food you are selecting. The food you choose can encourage optimal health at each stage of your furry best friend’s life.

Having taken the time to read through the nutritional requirements of your Goldendoodle, you are better equipped when reading dog food labels. So, how do you go about in finding the best doog food? The choices out there for different kinds of dog food seem like they are endless and can feel overwhelming at times. So we hope this guide will help you choose the best and healthiest option, a food that is specially formulated for their  unique needs.

The best food for your Goldendoodle is only a few clicks away – and you can trust us when we say your pup will be thanking you with cuddles and kisses the rest of his days!