Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

How far would you go to save fur? We all know that the Goldendoodles are among the designer dog breeds with the cutest fur in the world. They’re smart, loyal, social, and highly trainable. They truly bring out the best of both dog worlds – the world of the Golden Retrievers and that of the Poodles. To care for the coats of our furry friends then, we should feed them right. We only choose the best dog food.

Unfortunately, Goldendoodles have sensitive stomachs. Often, deep-chested dogs like them experience gastric dilatation-volvulus, which is commonly known as bloat. This happens when owners feed them one big meal, followed by a large water intake. Regardless of the food quality, gastric torsions do happen. The remedy lies in the feeding procedure. Be aware and let’s do our share, fellow dog parents.

Doing our part also implies knowing that Goldendoodles are prone to food allergies, like any other dog breed. Read the label as you carefully pick the right food treat for your golden pal. Here is our list of the best food for your beloved dog.

Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles Buying Guide

What’s in a Goldendoodle’s Ideal Diet?

A typical Goldendoodle can weigh anywhere between 45 pounds and 100 pounds. As such, when determining the ‘ideal’ diet for your Goldendoodle it is important to take note of its weight, age, activity level, and life stage. This will give you the number of calories that your Goldendoodle will need. Highly active Goldendoodles will require more calories than those that spend most of their days on their doggie beds or on the laps of their human masters.

In addition to the right amount of calories that is commensurate to your Goldendoodle’s weight, age, and activity level, the ideal diet will also require plenty of proteins, especially from animal sources. You can say we’re a bit biased towards animal proteins, but this is not necessarily without basis. Animal-based proteins have complete essential amino acids while plant-based ingredients have some missing AAs. The gut of dogs is also more in-tune when it comes to digesting animal ingredients.

Using animal ingredients also provides healthier fats for your Goldendoodle, especially if salmon, herring, mackerel, or any other fatty fish is included. These healthy fats should include omega-3s and omega-6s. However, we have to caution you about going for more omega-6 fatty acids in relation to omega-3s as it can have the opposite effect of triggering a host of inflammatory reactions instead of protecting your pet against inflammation. Ideally, the ratio of these essential fatty acids should be at least 4:1, that’s omega-6 to omega 3. The closer you can bring the ratio to an ideal 1:1, the better it is for your Goldendoodle.

Vegetables and fruits are also important for your Goldendoodle as these provide minerals and vitamins that can support many of the physiologic processes in its body. We don’t recommend going for dog food that contains allergenic cereals like corn, wheat, or soy. We also would like to caution you about giving too many potatoes and rice to your dog as these are high glycemic foods that can be a great risk factor for diabetes.

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. The weight of their body 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.

Feeding Your Goldendoodle Puppy

When it comes to the nutrition of your Goldendoodle puppy, only the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppy will suffice. Unfortunately, given the fact that the Goldendoodle is not purebred you will never find a dog food that is specifically tailored for your Goldendoodle puppy. As such, what you can do is to look for dog foods that are specially formulated for either Golden retrievers or Poodles. Otherwise, you’d have to pay attention to the unique nutritional requirements of a crossbreed.

While searching for the best puppy food for Goldendoodle is important, it is equally crucial to know how to feed your pup. Your puppy’s nutrition should first come from its mom since mommy’s milk is rich with all the nutrients and antibodies that young puppies need. By around 6 weeks of age, you can then start introducing milk replacers and solid foods while slowly weaning your puppy from its mommy’s milk.

By the time it reaches 8 weeks of age and weighs about 6 pounds, you will need to give your pup about 280 calories every day, divided into 3 to 4 meals. Once your Golden doodle reaches the age of 16 weeks or about 12 pounds, its calorie requirements can be increased to about 490 calories divided into 3 meals per day.

Goldendoodle puppies reaching the age of 6 months can already be given their meals at the same frequency as adults, which is twice a day. However, to help minimize bloat or gastric dilatation volvulus, we’d recommend going or smaller yet more frequent feedings.

 Ingredients to Avoid Feeding Your Goldendoodle

Grapes and almonds should never be given to your Goldendoodle no matter how much it begs you to do so. Chocolates and candies, as well as other treats and food items that contain xylitol and caffeine, should also be avoided. Onions and garlic are also not advisable to be given to your Goldendoodle or any other dog for that matter.

Common Health Problems for Goldendoodles

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 poor Goldendoodle diet can significantly reduce their lifespan by making them more prone to the development or occurrence of health problems.

Goldendoodles are prone to the development of hip dysplasia which can be made worse by their weight as this can increase the pressure in the already-damaged hip joints. They are also susceptible to allergic skin disease which can be brought about by a variety of causes which will often require a thorough work-up. Some Goldendoodles are also known for developing patellar luxation in which the kneecap slips out of its normal anatomical position.

Aside from these health conditions, Goldendoodles can also be affected by Von Willebrand’s Disease, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, diabetes, degenerative myelopathy, bloat or gastric dilatation volvulus, and corneal dystrophy, among others.

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 a comprehensive DNA testing to identify genetic markers for canine diseases.

Our Top Pick

We picked Blue Buffalo’s Freedom Adult Recipe as our best dog food for Goldendoodles because of the good combination of calories, proteins, and fats that are necessary to ensure adequate energy and optimal tissue-building and maintenance. It is easily digested and comes in just the right size of kibbles for your pet. The probiotics, amino acids, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and antioxidants all work together to ensure a healthier, happier Goldendoodle.

Ensuring your Goldendoodle grows up to be a well-rounded, healthy, and happy dog is every pet parent’s dream. By starting with the right nutrition for Goldendoodles you can help secure their healthier and happier future.

Sources:

1. A Good Diet is Critical for the Health of Your Goldendoodle, Goldendoodles101
2. Let’s Talk About Your Goldendoodle’s Dietary Needs, Blue Ridge Goldendoodle Puppies