The Rundown
Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food
“The Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food has everything that your Goldendoodle needs to maintain muscle mass and keep him healthy. From vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to protein, Omega fatty acids, and fats that your pup will get from this dog food’s different flavors.”
Best Value for Money: Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula
“The Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula is great if your dog doesn’t have a chicken allergy. It has superfood ingredients, high Omega fatty acids, and high protein and fats that are perfect for energetic and active Goldendoodles.”
Best for Goldendoodle Puppies: Merrick Backcountry Raw Puppy Recipe
“The Merrick Backcountry Raw Puppy Recipe is perfect if you are looking for a puppy food that’s easy to digest. It also helps with strengthening the joints and proper brain and eye development.”
Your Goldendoodle is a unique breed, and no doubt has a unique personality! As such, they also need special care, which includes feeding them the best dog food for Goldendoodles.
Mixed breeds tend to inherit health issues from both parent breeds (in this case, Golden Retrievers and Poodles), so it’s essential to begin feeding your Goldendoodle the right dog food from the very start of their fluffy puppy lives.
Getting their diet right can eliminate potential problems right from the beginning. Along with regular grooming, this could be the key to keeping your Goldendoodle happy and healthy!
Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles (2022 Review)
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
- Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food
- Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Diamond Naturals Senior Dry Dog Food
- Canidae PURE Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
- American Journey Active Life Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Dry Dog Food
- Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
- What to Look for When Buying Your Goldendoodle’s Dry Dog Food
- Nutritional Requirements
- Conclusion
Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles (2022 Review)
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Premium Option
PROS
- Added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in LifeSource Bits
- Various recipes available, including healthy weight and small bite
- Moderate protein and fat counts, good for most Goldendoodles
- Added Omegas and joint supplements
CONS
- May not be high enough in protein for very active dogs
Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food wins our top spot for the best Goldendoodle dog food. It’s a good choice for adult Goldendoodles who are fairly active, and also has options specifically for dogs who need to maintain a healthy weight, and those who prefer a small kibble size. This is particularly helpful for dogs such as Goldendoodles, who can suffer from bloat.
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Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food
Best Value for Money
PROS
- One of the most affordable foods on the market
- High in protein and fats, great for active dogs
- Higher than average levels of Omega fatty acids
- Superfood ingredients add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
CONS
- High fat count may be too much for less active dogs
We’ve chosen Diamond Naturals Dog Food as our best dog food for Goldendoodle parents who are on a budget and want something high-quality but with a nice price tag.
This dog food is best for a Goldendoodle who’s quite active and gets a good amount of daily exercise. It’s a comprehensive, complete, and balanced choice.
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Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Best for Goldendoodle Puppies
PROS
- Contains DHA and joint supplements
- Multiple protein sources in one recipe
- Contains freeze-dried raw bites for extra amino acids
- High-quality, natural ingredients
CONS
- Somewhat pricey option
We believe the Merrick Backcountry Dry Dog Food is one of the best foods for a Goldendoodle puppy to start off with. Puppy food should be easy to digest, and this one is, thanks to its unique mix of raw-coated kibble and raw meat bites.
The grain-free recipe, high-quality ingredients, and dash of DHA for brain and eye development make this our choice for the best puppy food.
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Diamond Naturals Senior Dry Dog Food
Best for Goldendoodle Seniors
PROS
- Affordable senior dog food
- Contains joint supplements to keep old joints strong
- Low in calories, great for less active seniors
- Added L-carnitine for energy regulation
CONS
- Might not be suitable for senior dogs who are sensitive to chicken
When your Goldendoodle becomes an Oldendoodle, they need a dog food that caters for their nutritional needs. Their joints need extra support, their immune system could do with some help, and their digestive system needs care.
Just like Goldendoodle puppy food, there are specific recipes out there for seniors. The Diamond Naturals Senior Dry Dog Food is our choice for senior Goldendoodle dog food.
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Canidae PURE Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Best for Sensitive Tummies
PROS
- Variety of reduced ingredient recipes
- Fewer than 10 ingredients each
- Contains joint supplements
- High Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health
CONS
- Expensive food
Goldendoodle tummies are notorious for being sensitive, and they can develop allergies easily. A limited ingredient dry food like Canidae PURE Dry Dog Food could make all the difference.
In each recipe, you’ll find fewer than 10 ingredients. High protein and fat levels make the recipes great for energetic dogs, and even picky eaters will be able to find something they like in this recipe range.
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American Journey Active Life Dry Dog Food
Best Without Glucosamine
PROS
- Suitable for every life stage, includes DHA
- Fairly low calorie per cup of dry food
- Good levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids
- Great protein and fat levels for the average Goldendoodle
CONS
- If you aren’t already feeding your dog glucosamine supplements, you’ll need to buy a separate supplement
If you’re already feeding your Goldendoodle a separate joint supplement, you may not need a dog food with joint supplements added to it. American Journey Active Life Dry Dog Food is a good choice, no matter what life stage your Goldendoodle is at.
Whether you’re looking for new food for your Goldendoodle puppy, adult, or senior, this one could be it!
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ORIJEN Dry Dog Food
Best for Active Goldendoodles
PROS
- High protein and fat for energetic dogs
- Good Omega 3 and 6s
- Suitable as a grain-free puppy food too
- Variety of recipes available
CONS
- May be too high protein and fat for less active dogs
If your Goldendoodle is very energetic and gets plenty of exercise, the ORIJEN Dry Dog Food could be the best food for them.
It’s the highest protein dog food on this list, so if you’d like to feed it to your less active dog, you may need to introduce an extra run in the park every day!
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Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food
Best for Weight Management
PROS
- Reduced fat, but retain a high protein level
- High in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids
- Grain-free and wholesome
- Suitable for large breed or small breed Goldendoodles
CONS
- No flavor variations
If your Goldendoodle needs to shed a few pounds, a weight management kibble is what they need. The Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is our choice, and it’s suitable whether your Goldendoodle is a large breed or small breed variety.
It’s loaded with only the top ingredients and supplements to keep your dog healthy.
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Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Best With Grains
PROS
- Trio of proteins for good dose of amino acids
- Superfood blend for vitamin and mineral boost
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Large breed adult dry food
CONS
- Not suitable for dogs who are sensitive to chicken
While grain-free works for some dogs, others can handle some good grains. Brown rice and whole grain oatmeal are wonderful fiber sources, and the rest of the Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is filled out with an array of superfoods that are filled with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
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Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Recipe Dry Dog Food
Skin & Coat Care
PROS
- Good Omegas for nourishing skin and hair
- Added vitamin A and E
- DHA amino acids included
- Top-quality superfood ingredients
CONS
- No glucosamine
If your Goldendoodle’s coat and skin need some extra care, the Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Recipe Dry Dog Food may be able to help. It’s specially formulated for skin and fur, and Goldendoodle’s have beautiful hair that needs taking care of.
Make sure to add a separate joint supplement if your dog needs it, as this kibble doesn’t contain glucosamine.
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What to Look for When Buying Your Goldendoodle’s Dry Dog Food
All-Natural Ingredients
Goldendoodles have a tendency to suffer from sensitive stomachs. When their food is filled with low-quality, non-nutritious ingredients, it can disagree with them and lead to digestive upset.
It’s important to make sure your Goldendoodle dog food contains only healthy, all-natural ingredients that are easy to digest. Grains can be touch and go, so you may want to choose a grain-free dog food that has real meat and vegetables in it too.
Although they are natural, it’s best to avoid corn, wheat, soy, and by-products. These can really mess with a dog’s digestive and immune system, so your Goldendoodle should stay away from them.
Joint Supplements
The best dog food for Goldendoodles should contain glucosamine and chondroitin. Regardless of whether your Goldendoodle is small, medium, or large, their joints need support, especially if they’re very active or overweight.
Although you can use separate glucosamine supplements, it’s easiest to just choose a dog food that already includes it. Some dog foods will contain glucosamine on its own, while others will have both glucosamine and chondroitin.
Goldendoodles should be given glucosamine from when they’re a puppy, all the way through til they’re a senior. Food for Goldendoodle puppies needs supplements to build strong joints, and seniors need them to keep their joints strong as they age.
Omega Fatty Acids
Goldendoodle fur can be extremely varied. They may be long and wavy like their Golden Retriever parent, or curly like their Poodle parent. Either way, that hair needs taking care of, and a good dose of Omegas in the diet will help immensely.
Omega fatty acids nourish skin and fur, keeping them both moisturized and supple. They also help with metabolism to a degree, so it’s always a good idea to choose a dog food that has a high level of Omegas.
Nutritional Requirements
Protein
Goldendoodles are high-energy dogs, so they need a good amount of protein to keep their muscles strong and supple.
The best dog food for Goldendoodles should be in the zone of 25% to 35% protein, and that protein should be from all-natural, real meat sources (which includes meat meal). Keep in mind that a more active Goldendoodle will do better with more protein, and a less energetic dog should have slightly less.
Fats
Fats have a bad reputation in the human diet world, but in the canine world, they’re the main nutrient that your Goldendoodle gets his energy from!
It’s a concentrated form of easy-to-access energy, and also facilitates the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals.
A Goldendoodle would do well with a moderate fat count, in the mid to high teens. Like protein, this fat must be from high-quality sources, preferably animal sources.
Carbohydrates
Dogs don’t need carbs as humans do. The carbohydrate content of their food should be between 20 and 25%.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that carbs don’t serve a purpose. Fruits and vegetables add valuable vitamins and minerals to your dog’s diet, as well as antioxidants.
Fruits, vegetables, and grains are all good sources of fiber. Apart from the fiber, though, grains don’t offer much nutritional value.
Supplements
Depending on your dog’s size and lifestyle, they may need extras in their dog food. Regardless of what size your Goldendoodle is, it’s a good idea to select a food containing joint supplements. They’re prone to joint problems, so they could do with extra help.
Goldendoodle puppies will need a dose of DHA and EPA in their puppy food. Seniors can also benefit from DHA, as it keeps the eyes and brain strong. L-carnitine is another thing to look out for, as it helps to regulate energy in senior dogs.
Conclusion
Your Goldendoodle deserves the best dog food that’s not only easy on their stomach, but nourishes their skin, fur, and provides all the nutrients they need.
The best dog food for Goldendoodles really depends on your dog, but you know them best! Consider what your Goldendoodle needs and choose something that will fulfill their specific needs, especially if they struggle with food allergies or a sensitive tummy.
Every one of the dog foods on this list is a worthwhile choice. Compare and decide, but remember, make your choices with your Goldendoodle’s health in mind!