Choosing the Best Dog Food For a Goldendoodle

The Goldendoodle is an adorable mixture between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Hence, inherited attributes from both parents (Golden Retriever and Poodle) make it a great pet as they are considered highly intelligent, hypoallergenic, and mostly non-shedding. 

As a pet owner looking to adopt a Goldendoodle, you should note that its hybrid nature does not necessarily mean it needs a strict nutrition or diet, but you should be feeding them high-quality dog food without filler ingredients. 

Additionally, due to the various common sizes amongst Goldendoodles (like miniature, medium, and standard sizes), you need to pay attention to the kind of food you give to your pet as there are dog foods based on the sizes of a dog. 

In this blog, we will be examining the best dog food for a Goldendoodle dog to help narrow down your options. For more information about Goldendoodles, feel free to check out We Love Doodles.

CHOOSING YOUR GOLDENDOODLE’S FOOD

As mentioned earlier, the fact that Goldendoodles are hybrid dogs does not mean that their nutrition needs to be special and exclusive. Like all dogs, their nutritional requirements should be based on their age and size. For general dog nutrition, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has set a standard for which dog food manufacturers are encouraged to adhere to when producing dog food (either wet or dry). 

According to the standard set by AAFCO, food for Goldendoodle puppies and pregnant female dogs should contain at least 22% protein and 8% fat. For adult dogs, on the other hand, their nutritional requirement is at least 18% protein and 5% fat.

As a pet owner, you should know that the amount of food your dog consumes is subject to its energy requirement.

In certain cases, Goldendoodles may require more protein or fat if they tend to exercise more. Hence, you would need more protein and fat in their meals.

It’s not uncommon to see dog food producers who have not met the standard set by AAFCO label their products as meeting the requirements. So, we recommend taking the time to verify what you want to buy for your pet is not substandard. 

What to look out for in the product before buying:

1. Presence of animal protein as an ingredient and not by-products
2. What are the sources of its animal-based fat 
3. Fewer carbohydrates as ingredients 
4. Absence of artificial additives and preservatives

 Remember to check the calorie content of the food you are buying for your Goldendoodle as they need food with average to high-quality content to meet up with their energy requirements. 

 Check out: Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

THE BEST FOOD FOR GOLDENDOODLE DOGS

Choosing your Goldendoodle’s food can be challenging, but we have collected and curated some of the best products and dog food producers out there for your pet. Remember to follow specifications or seek your veterinarians advice when in doubt. When choosing a diet for your Goldendoodle, there are three types of diets to choose from. These diets could be complementary or complete dog foods.

1. Complementary dog foods

   These dog foods do not offer the full nutritional requirements needed for your dog when they feed on them alone and are only meant to be a supplemental part of the diet. Complementary foods are often called dog treats or toppers, which can be used to reward your dogs. Dog food manufacturers make complimentary food for them to be mixed with other dog food products to make a complete meal. 
   
   

2. Complete dog food

   These are dog meals that offer the full nutritional value required by dogs for a healthy lifestyle in a meal. Most types of dog food diets are complete dog foods.

The best available doggie diet is a raw diet!

RAW (BARF) DIET

This is a diet that contains a mixture of raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables. It often comes frozen or freeze dried. Raw food is suitable for Goldendoodles from the ages of 1 year old and above. A raw diet product you can consider for your pet is from CALI RAW. If you are looking to place your dog on a raw food diet, Cali Raw’s foods are based on the BARF Diet and have the best options for your dog. Their dog meals are made with meats and fresh vegetables that meet the requirements set by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and are sourced locally.

Raw dog food products are classed into two categories:

-       Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (BARF), also known asBones and Raw Food Diet which consists of 70% muscle meat, 10% vegetables and fruits, 10% bones, and 10% organs. 

-       The Prey Model Diet consists of 50% lean muscle meat, 38% organ meat, and 12% bone and supplements. 

Due to the diet content, raw food diets are mostly classified as complete dog food.

Benefits of Raw diets For Goldendoodle:

1. Your pet will develop a shinier coat from the nutrients present in the diet.
2. The dental and oral health of your Goldendoodle will increase.
3. Your pet will develop a healthier skin and coat.
4. Allergies will lessen or even disappear on their own.
5. Your Goldendoodle will have increased energy and vitality.
6. Overall decreased visits to the health and less vet costs.

Read more:Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs

Common Health Issues in Goldendoodles

Like all dogs, Goldendoodles are prone to a series of health issues based on their breed. A few of the most common health issues a Goldendoodle may experience are hip dysplasia, cataracts, Addison’s disease, subvalvular aortic stenosis, and bloat. 

Fortunately, a raw diet can prevent or treat all of these issues! A diet is the key to health and prosperity for both humans and dogs, which is why feeding a whole, natural raw diet is so important! Since a raw diet is the most complete and balanced form of dog food, the risk of these common health issues is greatly lowered for raw-fed dogs.

Conclusion for Best Dog Food for a Goldendoodle

When it comes to choosing a dog diet or dog food for your Goldendoodle, what matters the most is that the diet is a nutritional one that meets a healthy dog's standard. This depends on a variety of factors including the size of your Goldendoodle (miniature, medium, or standard), age, and activity level. Feeding your Goldendoodle a good dog food ensures that they grow into healthy dogs that would live a fulfilling life.