As a Goldendoodle puppy owner, you don’t want to be questioning whether the food that you’re feeding them is the best one for them, you’d rather wholeheartedly know that they’re getting the right nutrition for their age and growth.
Proper nutrition is critical to the health and development of puppies, regardless of breed, as it directly influences their immune system and body composition.
If you don’t provide your Goldendoodle puppy with the right kind of nutrients to grow, then they will be at a higher risk of developing health problems such as diabetes and skeletal deformities.
Choosing the right puppy food, then, is essential for your puppy’s health, growth, and development and will also save you a large vet’s bill.
Keep reading to find out the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppies.
Best Dog Food For Goldendoodle Puppies
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe, 30 lb. Bag
No products found.The Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food Puppy is formulated to support a healthy immune system and overall growth for puppies.
This puppy food uses a balanced set of minerals to promote strong bones and strong teeth in young dogs.
To help your growing dog’s brain and eye development, this puppy food made with natural ingredients contains DHA from fish oil, as well as quality protein for lean muscle growth.
Pros:
- Clinically proven antioxidants – To support a healthy immune system and to ensure your puppy is getting the right nutrition for their digestive health.
- #1 veterinarian recommended – So you can rest assured knowing that your puppy is getting the right balance of nutrients with this puppy food.
- Natural ingredients – Make this food easily digestible for your pup’s stomach.
Cons:
- Some customers noted that they didn’t like the smell of this particular dog food.
Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics, High Protein Dry Puppy Food, Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula – 34 lb. Bag
No products found.The Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics High Protein Dry Puppy Food is made with high-quality protein, including real chicken as the #1 ingredient. This is the dog food that we put our Cavapoo Rosie on when we first got her as a puppy and it seemed to go down a treat.
DHA from omega-rich fish oil nourishes brain and vision development, and the antioxidant-rich formula supports their developing immune system.
This puppy food is fortified with guaranteed live probiotics for dogs to support your pup’s digestive and immune health, while phosphorus, calcium, and other minerals build strong teeth and bones.
Pros:
- Unique texture – Hard kibble mixed with tender meaty shreds creates a unique texture and taste that your Goldendoodle puppy won’t be able to resist.
- Fortified with live probiotics – Supports your pup’s digestive and immune health.
- Highly digestible – This puppy food promotes optimal nutrition delivery and contains no artificial colors or flavors, so you don’t have to worry about any hidden nasties.
Cons:
- Some customers claim that this particular bag is easy to tear in transit but we have never had a problem.
Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food, 30 Pounds
No products found.The Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food is tailor-made for puppies up to 1 year old with an expected adult weight of 23-55 pounds.
This dog food is designed to meet the high energy needs of medium-sized puppies with key nutrients needed during their short growth period.
An exclusive mix of antioxidants and minerals supports their developing immune systems and keeps their bodies growing strong.
Pros:
- Easy to digest – Promotes healthy digestion with highly digestible proteins and prebiotics for optimal stool quality.
- Exclusive kibble design – Enables and helps your pup to chew their food properly, so you can rest assured that the risk of them struggling to digest this food is significantly lower.
- Specialized mineral blend – Supports healthy growth for their bones and joints so you know that your pup is getting the right nutrients for their development.
Cons:
- A few customers noted that the packaging of this particular dog food could be improved.
Nulo Puppy Food Grain Free Dry Food With Bc30 Probiotic And Dha (Salmon And Peas Recipe, 24Lb Bag)
No products found.The Nulo Puppy Food Grain Free Dry Food is a delicious, nutritionally balanced meal that satisfies and keeps your puppy feeling fuller longer.
The high meat/low carbohydrate proprietary formula is made out of 80% animal-based protein such as salmon, turkey, or cod for more amino acids to fuel your pup’s growing muscles!
The Nulo puppy food contains calcium and phosphorus to support strong bone formation.
Pros:
- Grain-free – This recipe contains no corn, wheat, soy, white potatoes, tapioca, artificial colors, flavorings, or preservatives, so you can feed your pup with confidence.
- DHA fatty acids – DHA is a key Omega-3 fatty acid and a building block used to support brain and eye development.
- Fortified with probiotics – This food contains essential vitamins, probiotics, and minerals to support digestive and immune health and healthy coats.
Cons:
- A few customers claimed that their dog took longer to adjust to this particular food than they were anticipating.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken 24-lb
No products found.The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food features real chicken as the first ingredient to help encourage strong muscle growth.
This food boasts a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs, and a healthy oxidative balance.
Specially formulated with high-quality protein to support healthy muscle growth, this nutritious recipe also features DHA to support your puppy’s cognitive development.
Pros:
- Natural ingredients – This puppy food contains no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives so you don’t have to worry about allergy triggering ingredients.
- High protein – Real meat is always the first ingredient to support muscle growth in the early stages of your pup’s life.
- LifeSource Bits – This puppy food features antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients so your pooch gets the right balance of nutrients.
Cons:
- One customer claimed that their dog became fussy when given this specific puppy food.
Buyer’s Guide
There are a few factors that you’ll need to take into account when purchasing dog food for your Goldendoodle puppy, but it mainly comes down to protein, health issues, and hydration.
Investing in good quality food is essential for your dog’s health. Lower-quality foods are often bulked out with filler foods that hold little nutritional value, and therefore, won’t keep your puppy full for as long.
Save yourself the hassle (and money) by making sure that you buy good quality food from the start, so that your dog can thrive and live the happiest and healthiest life possible.
Check out the following factors before going ahead with your purchase.
Protein
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing dog food for your Goldendoodle puppy is the protein content. Puppies are full of energy, and you’ll want to make sure that you’re providing them with the right balance of nutrition to aid their active lifestyle.
Protein requirements for growing puppies are the highest immediately after weaning, but the amount of protein they need will begin to steadily decrease thereafter.
Typically speaking, the recommended protein range for healthy puppy growth is 22-32% on a dry matter basis. These levels support optimal growth, so it is generally not recommended to exceed these protein levels unless your veterinarian advises you to do so.
Always make sure that you are happy with the protein content before going ahead with your purchase.
Health issues
Something you’ll need to take into account when purchasing dog food is any health issues that your puppy may have or is prone to developing. Goldendoodles may develop health conditions common to both Golden Retrievers and Poodles, especially if you aren’t cautious about whom you buy your puppy from.
You should always make sure that you are buying from a reputable breeder and that they are honest about the types of health issues that can be common to Goldendoodles. A good breeder will be happy to show you their breeding dogs and health records. If not, then you should generally take this to be a huge red flag.
Like many other dogs, Goldendoodle puppies can be prone to having sensitive stomachs or are allergic to certain ingredients. As a result, you’ll need to feed them several times a day in small intervals and take extra care with what you feed them to avoid any stomach upset or sensitivities. Patience is key! Allow them time to adjust to their new diet.
Goldendoodles are also prone to developing Hip Dysplasia, which can be worsened if they are overweight as this can increase the pressure in the damaged hip joints.
As a result, you will need to monitor how much you are feeding your pup as they grow to ensure that they don’t become overweight, as they can also be prone to developing diabetes if you’re not mindful of what you’re feeding them and how often.
Below are some more health conditions that you should be aware of, that affect Poodles and Golden Retrievers.
Health conditions common in Poodles:
- Hip Dysplasia is a genetic condition that causes the hip joint to weaken and deteriorate due to the hip socket not forming correctly and becoming dislocated.
- Hypoglycemia is a condition caused by a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and usually occurs in toy and miniature Poodle puppies within the first four months of life.
- Addison’s Disease occurs when the adrenal glands are not functioning properly. Rather than producing the correct amount of natural steroid, the body produces too little, causing levels to drop dangerously low.
Health conditions common in Golden Retrievers:
- Cataracts are a condition that Golden Retrievers are known to commonly suffer from. This condition, which is known to cause poor vision, can lead to blindness if not addressed quickly.
- Hip Dysplasia also affects Golden Retrievers, so is something to be aware of on both sides of a Goldendoodle.
- Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs and can affect the Golden Retriever.
As a Goldendoodle is a hybrid of both breeds, you will need to be extra careful when it comes to looking after them and make sure that you research the signs for these conditions to make sure you can spot if your Goldendoodle develops any of them.
Feeding schedule
When choosing your Goldendoodle puppy’s food, you will need to consider their feeding schedule. Generally speaking, puppies need to be fed around 3 times a day, spread out over equal intervals. This will eventually decrease to 2 feeds once they’ve grown into adulthood.
It is important to mention that puppies are highly energetic and will require more protein than an elderly Goldendoodle that has become less active as they’ve grown older.
Taking all of this into account, consulting with your veterinarian is your best bet for figuring out the best feeding schedule for your dog.
Arguably, the most important thing to remember is that consistency is key when it comes to a feeding schedule for your Goldendoodle puppy.
Puppies are quite often known for having sensitive stomachs to begin with as they get used to eating solid foods aside from their mother’s milk, so when it comes to altering your puppy’s diet, it is important that you do this gradually and slowly.
This will give your dog the chance to adapt to their new food and give you the opportunity to notice if anything seems out of the ordinary, such as a food or skin allergy as a result of the food that you’ve bought.
Wet or dry
When it comes to choosing puppy food for your Goldendoodle, you will need to consider whether you buy wet or dry dog food. Generally speaking, there are pros and cons to both dry and wet dog food that you’ll need to weigh up, some of which we go into below.
The main benefit of wet dog food is that it provides more hydration, as it is made up of around 80% water. However, although this type of food is excellent at providing your active pooch with an extra boost of hydration, dental issues can easily plague the life of a Goldendoodle puppy on a wet diet.
Dry kibble, on the other hand, only has a water content of around 20% water. However, despite the lack of hydration this dog food provides, dry kibble plays an essential role in keeping plaque and tartar at bay and are fundamental for your dog’s dental health.
Dry kibble is excellent for scraping any plaque build-up in the process of your dog chewing crunchy dry kibble.
As for making sure that your dog is hydrated enough throughout the day, most Goldendoodles will drink enough water on their own because of their active lifestyle.
You can always try adding water to their dry kibble or mix both wet and dry food. The latter option is great if you have a fussier pup, as it’s a good method of tempting them to the bowl with the meaty aromas that wet food provides.
Consult your veterinarian
It is important to note that you should always consult with your veterinarian before making any drastic changes to your dog’s diet.
Your vet will be able to provide you with advice on any ingredients that may cause your Goldendoodle puppy any upset or can advise you if they’re particularly fussy. They are trained professionals and will be able to help you create an eating schedule for your pup if you’re not sure how many meals you should be giving them.
If you’re new to owning a Goldendoodle puppy, the veterinarian is always your safest bet when in doubt.
FAQs
What is the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppies?
The answer to this question is likely to change, as every dog is different, and some puppies can begin fussier than others. However, there are a few factors that you should look out for when searching for the best food for your Goldendoodle puppy.
You should choose a food that has a relatively high protein content as this will be a big source of nutrients immediately after weaning. This will be less necessary as your puppy ages, but to begin with, is a very important factor in their diet.
Take your dog’s activity into account, too. Highly active Goldendoodles will need more calories than a lazier one, so take their temperament into account when choosing.
How often should I feed my Goldendoodle puppy?
Generally speaking, puppies tend to need smaller amounts of food more frequently throughout the day, and grown dogs can eat larger portions less often.
For example, you may feed your Goldendoodle puppy 3-4 times a day, whereas you feed a grown Goldendoodle 1-2 times each day.
Goldendoodles can vary in size, build, and activity level. The amount of daily food requirement also changes accordingly. The main rule you want to think of when feeding your puppy food is little and often.
If you’re new to owning a Goldendoodle, then it is always the safest bet to work out a feeding schedule with your veterinarian.
This is because you don’t want to risk over or underfeeding your new addition. Physical activity is another important factor in determining how much food your Goldendoodle should eat, so don’t be alarmed if your pup seems hungrier on one day more than another.
Conclusion
There are so many factors to consider when choosing the best food for your Goldendoodle puppy and sometimes it can be a bit of a taste test. Providing your puppy is happy with the food selected, has no side effects and is getting all the nutrients that they need from it, then there should be no need to supplement this.
