8 Best Dog Foods for Goldendoodles — 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Goldendoodles are a unique blend of Golden Retrievers and Poodles, making them exceptionally smart and loving dogs. Because they are a mix, however, their sizes can vary, which can affect the amount of food that they need to consume. But as long as they are getting essential nutrients and high-quality ingredients in their dog food, they should grow from puppyhood to adulthood just fine.

What exactly constitutes a healthy diet? What are the necessary ingredients that should be included in their daily dog food?

We have put together a comprehensive list, reviewing the top dog foods for Goldendoodles, as well as creating a guide with everything you need to know about their nutrition needs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 8 Best Dog Foods for Goldendoodles

1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

 

 

Ollie is the best overall dog food for Goldendoodles. It is made with natural ingredients and contains no grain. Ollie also has a unique recipe that was created by veterinarians and nutritionists to make sure your dog gets the nutrients they need. Although a grain-free diet may not be necessary for all dogs, it’s a great choice for dogs that have grain allergies. We recommend you talk to a vet first about whether grain-free food is necessary for your dog.

Ollie also offers food that comes in dry kibble or softer, fresher versions. However, with all new dog food, it’s important to slowly transition dogs to this food when switching. Finally, it’s also a little pricey being that it is fresh food and a subscription service.

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2. Whole Earth Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy

The Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food offers a similar formula to the Wellness Complete, as it contains essential protein, fat, carbs, fiber, vitamins, and minerals while being more affordable. This is the best budget dog food for Goldendoodles and for the quality of product that you get. It is grain-free and full of protein.

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3. ORIJEN Dry Dog Food

Orijen gives your dog the food they have evolved to eat. Quality meat and other ingredients give this food an edge in being our premium choice. More specifically, the formula is 85% fresh, raw ingredients. This brand is also slightly more expensive than the first two options on our list. However, it is still a great choice for high-quality ingredients packed full of protein that your dog will love.

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4. Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies

This grain-free formula by Merrick is a great option for Goldendoodle puppies. It is packed full of protein, with real freeze-dried bits of meat or fish, depending on the flavor you choose.

One drawback is that the amount of freeze-dried meat in each bag depends on the flavor. Some bags contain more than others, so you may get a bag with 20 pieces or with four. This formula is also specific to puppies, so there are better options for adult Goldendoodles.

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5. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food

Although this formula claims to have a large amount of protein and other nutrients, a closer look at the ingredients list shows that the first ingredient is “chicken meal,” which is not the same as whole, raw chicken. This also contains wheat and corn, which are not the best ingredients compared to the grain-free alternatives listed above. This food does have all the necessary nutrients for your Goldendoodle, they’re just not coming from the highest-quality ingredients.

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6. Wellness Complete Health Dog Food

The Wellness Complete Health Dog Food is a great choice when it comes to a well rounded healthy dog food. It has essential nutrients like protein, fat, carbs, and fiber, as well as additional vitamins and minerals. It also contains no meat by-products, only real chicken, and no wheat, corn, soy, or artificial flavors. This product is as real as it gets, and it’s an excellent option for a dog food.

This formula is specific to seniors, so if your Goldendoodle is a puppy, you may want to look for the similar puppy formula from this brand.

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7. Natural Balance Dry Dog Food

The Natural Balance Dry Dog Food is made from lamb protein, which is a good alternative to chicken if your dog doesn’t like chicken or can’t eat it. It is also grain-free.

This formula, however, is made for dogs with limited ingredient diets, which is not ideal for all dogs. Goldendoodles need plenty of protein and other nutrients that this seems to be lacking. Although it is a fine option for dogs who cannot eat certain things, there are better options for dogs without any dietary restrictions.

It has also been reported that this formula has been found to have sharp pieces of bones or something similar sticking out of the kibble. This can be dangerous, so please make sure to watch out for this if you purchase this food.

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8. Solid Gold Natural Adult Dog Food

The Solid Gold Natural Adult Dog Food is the last on our list because it contains a number of unnecessary ingredients, including lamb meal and ocean fish meal. Although these can be considered proteins, they are not the best versions of protein that dogs need in order to thrive. You can find much better whole protein, as well as fewer unnecessary ingredients, in other options.

There have also been reports that this food can upset your dog’s stomach and cause diarrhea.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Foods for Goldendoodles

What types of nutrients does a Goldendoodle need?

Protein

Protein, specifically animal protein, is essential for Goldendoodles because it helps their muscles grow and develop, as well as maintain healthy brain function and other bodily functions. Protein is the most important element of a Goldendoodle’s diet, especially when they’re puppies. Although the size of a Goldendoodle can vary, they generally tend to get quite large. They grow quickly throughout puppyhood, which makes protein necessary for them to ensure proper growth speed.

Fat

Fat is what gives Goldendoodles energy. It helps them stay active and not go hungry between meals. Fat will not make your dog overweight in and of itself. It simply affects energy levels over time, as well as hunger satiation.

Fiber

Fiber is needed to help regulate your dog’s digestive system and help them go to the bathroom regularly. It also keeps your dog full throughout the day because it makes them feel less hungry.

Carbohydrates

Carbs affect energy levels in dogs as well, but they are also a main source for possible weight gain. Simple carbs convert to sugar, which converts to excess fat, and too many carbs can cause an increase in weight. Carbs are important, but they should be monitored so weight gain does not become a possibility. Regular exercise and activity will help keep your dog’s weight in check as well.

Omegas

Omegas 3, 6, and 9 affect the health of your dog’s skin and coat. These fatty acids keep your dog’s skin moisturized and healthy and their coats shiny and full. Omega 9 helps omegas 3 and 6 absorb fully into the dog’s system, so all three in conjunction with one another are more valuable than just one or two.

Supplementary vitamins and minerals

High-quality foods will contain supplementary vitamins and minerals to keep your dog’s health well-rounded and not lacking in any nutrients.

Should the food be different when they’re puppies vs. adults?

As long as the food you give them has essential high-quality ingredients such as animal protein, fat, fiber, low carbs, omegas, and other vitamins and minerals, their food may not necessarily have to change from when they are puppies to adults.

One consideration, however, is that puppies need to eat more because they’re growing much faster. They also need food that contains DHA, which helps develop their brain, eyes, and ears and increase memory function. DHA is important during puppyhood because their brains develop and learn the most during this time, and it can actually affect how easily they can be trained because they can remember more.

Conclusion

We have found the Ollie Fresh Dog Food to be the best option for Goldendoodles because it contains all-natural proteins, is grain-free, and has all the best ingredients needed to keep your Goldendoodle healthy through adulthood. Our budget-friendly choice is the Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog food, which may not be as nutritious as Ollie but serves as a viable option for those looking to save on dog food.

We hope that this guide on the best food for Goldendoodles helps you understand important factors to consider when shopping for a dog food for your Goldendoodle and that you can find a dog food that best fits your needs.

See also:

• Best Freeze-Dried Dog Foods
• Best Brushes for Goldendoodles 

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Featured Image Credit: Tara Lynn and Co, Shutterstock