Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles 2023 : Our 15 Healthiest Choices For Budgets of All Sizes

Goldendoodles were the first designer dog breed to reach celebrity status, and it’s no wonder. They’re wonderfully silly, loyal, and great family dogs. They were bred to be excellent companions for the visually impaired but still retain all the allergy resistance of the standard poodle.

Families love the Goldendoodle for their distinctive looks and the way they blend right into the family. Feeding a Goldendoodle is crucial to their overall health and well-being and can mean the difference between a lethargic dog and one full of the breed’s distinctive energy and playfulness.

Goldendoodles have high energetic needs because of their playful personalities, so foods should support those overall needs. Cheap foods only go so far with Goldendoodles before you notice issues with the coat and skin.

Let’s take a look at some Goldendoodle foods that are suitable for supporting the health and wellbeing of your wonderful companion.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

What Is The Best Dog Food for a Goldendoodle?

Understanding A Goldendoodle’s Diet Requirements

Goldendoodles have been bred since the late 1960s, but they gained prominence in the 1990s as an alternative to labs, common seeing-eye dogs. Labradors often trigger allergies, so the breed became a hypoallergenic alternative.

One thing that makes them less likely to trigger allergies in humans is the production of dander. Dogs that produce a lot of dander are more likely to cause those allergic responses. Goldendoodles may produce less of that dander because of the Poodle line in the dog’s history. Goldendoodle foods that support healthy skin are critical to this hypoallergenic edge because it prevents over shedding of skin cells (and itchiness that could cause excess scratching, and yes, more dander)

Let’s look at a few things you should always keep in mind when you’re evaluating your Goldendoodle food. Use these guidelines to decide if the food is going to help your Goldendoodle with skin and other common issues or cause more damage in the long run.

• Goldendoodle food should have a whole source of meat as the first ingredient. Dogs are primarily carnivores despite their adaptation to the omnivore diet of their human companions. Real meats are the foundation of any dog food and help dogs feel full. They also help support strong muscle tone and healthy skin.
• The Goldendoodle food should have a good balance of healthy fats because dogs get energy from fats rather than carbs. Proteins and healthy fats help your dog experience fewer injuries through physical activity and keep your dog feeling full.
• Foods that have a blend of fruits and vegetables give dogs critical vitamins and minerals to support things like the immune system and healthy digestion. Fiber from those veggies are great for helping keep dogs’ regular and free of obstruction.
• Many gluten-free foods use peas or potatoes as a source of carbohydrates. However, a new study has uncovered a possible link between foods high in these ingredients and an increase in the risk of a condition called Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart.

Special Diet Considerations For Goldendoodles

• Dysplasia
• Skin Issues
• Ear Infections

Goldendoodles have several health issues associated with the size of the breed and distinctive to the breed itself. Their health issues could be alleviated by a quality diet, but let’s take a look at what you should be watching out for.

Dysplasia

Dysplasia, commonly found in the hips and elbows, is an issue common to large breed dogs. It’s a genetic condition that causes the joint and socket to develop improperly. With stress such as exercise or excess weight, the joint could pop out of place and cause pain and immobility.

Puppies from breeds prone to dysplasia benefit significantly from having foods that support overall health. They’ll show proper growth and may not experience the skeletal issues common with puppies that gained too much weight in too short of a time.

Skin Issues

Goldendoodles sometimes experience skin issues, particularly a condition known as Sebaceous Adenitis. This condition causes the sebaceous glands to become irritated and inflamed, causing hair loss and massive irritation. Dogs with skin issues benefit from foods that are high in healthy fats, something not present in larger quantities with cheap kibbles.

Good proteins help support the coat and could help alleviate some skin conditions associated with allergies or dryness. The proteins and vitamins in nutritious Goldendoodle food can rebuild the skin’s natural defenses over time, giving your dog some relief from the constant itching.

Also, some dogs are allergic to ingredients common in cheap kibbles. These could include cheap fillers such as corn or soy, artificial ingredients (flavors or colors), and by-product meals often used for a cheap source of protein. Without these, the skin could begin to heal itself.

Ear Infections

Goldendoodles are prone to ear infections because of their furry, longer ears. Good Goldendoodle food can help alleviate those symptoms, along with regular cleaning, but removing the types of things that can cause excessive inflammation and irritation.

Regular cleaning is critical for Goldendoodles, but foods that encourage overproduction of sugars, such as those with too many carbs, can cause inflammations that spread to soft tissues. Densely nutritious foods provide critical support to the body and offer vitamins and minerals that can better balance the body’s systems and help heal irritations and inflammation.

Goldendoodle Feeding Chart

Feeding your Goldendoodle correctly will depend a lot on what food you decide on. Different recipes will have different serving sizes, and higher quality foods often require less per serving than your typical cheap kibble.

Also, your vet is a critical resource here because advice from a vet can help you customize food servings for your Goldendoodle based on life stage and activity level. Adjusting the servings or even changing foods can help alleviate some Goldendoodle issues, but you’ll need the expert guidance of a good veterinarian to make the connection between certain foods and some health issues.

Here are typical feeding recommendations to give you an idea of what it’s going to take for your Goldendoodle to be happy and healthy.

• Puppies: Your vet’s advice is critical here because Goldendoodle puppies need foods that will encourage healthy growth without packing on too much weight and growth too quickly. Goldendoodle puppies fed the wrong food could display musculoskeletal issues later, so feeding recommendations are likely to change quickly throughout your Goldendoodle’s puppy period.
• Adults: Depending on the Goldendoodle food and the final size and weight of your adult Goldendoodle, the average amount to feed is three to four cups per day divided between two meals. This number will fluctuate depending on whether your Goldendoodle is fixed and if your Goldendoodle is pregnant or nursing. Be sure you read the serving sizes on your particular dog food and follow your vet’s advice to maintain the balance between proper weight and enough food for energy all day.
• Seniors: Senior Goldendoodles will need very similar nutrition as they did in their adult years, but you may have to adjust based on your senior’s activity level. Goldendoodle food for seniors should help maintain proper weight in spite of decreased activity levels and should also support things like joints and mental acuity. Your vet’s advice can help you choose a Goldendoodle food that supports your senior or adjust the servings of your current diet.

Goldendoodles are considered large breed dogs, so your serving sizes should be divided into two or three smaller meals throughout the day. This practice can help stabilize energy levels, and also help reduce the risk of bloat. Bloat can be a dangerous condition in dogs, and while we aren’t sure what triggers it, best practice for large dogs is to reduce meal amounts to help digestion flow more appropriately.

Best Dog Food For Goldendoodles: Our Top 2023 Picks

Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Our Pick	Ziwipeak Lamb Air Dried Dog Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$15.74/lb	A+
Affordable	Nutro Ultra Large Breed Formula Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.98/lb	A+
Most Popular	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain Free Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.20/lb	A+
Super Premium	Ollie Human-Grade Turkey Dish w/ Blueberries Buy Online Customer Reviews	Varies	A+
Best for Allergies	Zignature Catfish Limited ingredient Formula Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.14/lb	A+
Sensitive Stomachs	Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.69/lb	A
Grain Free	Solid Gold Wolf King Bison, Sweet Potato, And Brown Rice Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.49/lb	A
Human Grade	Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$9.99/lb	A
Low Fat/Low Calorie	Nulo Freestyle+ Limited Ingredient Turkey Puppy And Adult Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$3.27/lb	A

We’ve chosen our top picks based on the quality of ingredients and the formulas themselves. Companies that have clean track records for production were considered and all foods are free of cheap fillers, artificial ingredients, and unidentified meat byproducts.

Best Overall – Ziwipeak Lamb Air Dried Dog Food

Ziwipeak’s recipe is 96% meat derived, giving your Goldendoodle plenty of protein and healthy fats for energy all day and healthy muscles. Dogs are carnivores and thrive on meat-based diets, so Ziwipeak’s naturally sourced proteins are excellent.

The meat comes from organic sources in the company’s home country of New Zealand. They contain no added hormones or antibiotics and come from ethically raised sources. The rest of the recipe includes a few holistic ingredients to round out nutrient levels.

The unique air-drying process gives Ziwipeak’s foods more moisture than your typical kibble, increasing digestibility and helping smooth out elimination. The air-drying process preserves vital nutrients present in raw ingredients but eliminates dangerous bacteria and organisms. It contains no cheap fillers, potatoes, corn, artificial ingredients or preservatives.

• Pros: no peas or potatoes in the recipe, natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, shelf stable but comparable to raw food
• Cons: still on the expensive side even with smaller serving sizes, some bags have more dust in the bottom from broken food pieces

Best Value – Nutro Ultra Large Breed Formula

Nutro uses whole proteins in this recipe from chicken plus named meat meals to offer quality proteins. Salmon meal provides a good fatty protein source while chicken meal is a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine. Brown rice offers fiber and carbohydrates while chicken fat helps round out healthy fat options for all-day energy.

The recipe contains no artificial ingredients or cheap fillers and doesn’t use potatoes or peas as a source of carbohydrates or protein. The recipe also uses a few holistic ingredients to help things like the immune system and digestion. It’s well balanced and not too expensive, but still a vast improvement over traditional kibble recipes.

The recipe also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals to help maintain your adult Goldendoodle’s muscle tone and bone structure. Sunflower oil helps support a healthy coat and skin tone. The sources of protein are farm raised, and chicken and salmon are complementary proteins for overall health.

• Pros: Premium ingredients, Budget price, No cheap fillers
• Cons: Picky dogs may not like the taste, Not many flavor options

Most Popular: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain Free Recipe

Blue Buffalo’s recipes are all in memory of their favorite Airedale Terrier, Blue. It uses a lean protein source with healthy fats to help encourage health, energy, and efficient digestion. Quality ingredients with no cheap fillers or artificial flavors help reduce food sensitivities while vitamins and minerals support a robust immune system.

Fresh fruits and vegetables provide excellent sources of fiber and the building blocks for healthy systems. Calcium builds strong bones while glucosamine and chondroitin supports joints early on. It’s a great blend of nutrition while still remaining affordable and easy to get, no specialty stores required.

Best Super Premium – Ollie Human-Grade Turkey Dish w/ Blueberries

If you’ve got room in your budget, one of the best things you could do for your dog is to change to a cooked food diet. Real ingredients with no fillers or excess processing could help alleviate those skin issues and maintain overall weight. Cooked food could also finally encourage your picky Goldendoodle to eat.

If cooking food every day for your Goldendoodle seems hard, Ollie is here the make it a whole lot easier. This unique Goldendoodle food offers cooked foods in limited ingredient recipes that arrive fresh at your door for serving.

The turkey with blueberries recipe uses real, whole turkey with just a few fruits and vegetables to round out protein and healthy fats for all-day energy. It contains no cheap fillers, no artificial ingredients, and no unnamed meat meals. The recipe is designed by a veterinarian and could make it a lot easier to finally feed your Goldendoodle the food it deserves.

• Pros: portion sizes are already done, delivery – no more running out at midnight to pick up dog food, cooked food made easy
• Cons: delivery may not be convenient in all parts of the country, expensive

Best For Allergies: Zignature Catfish Limited ingredient Formula

Zignature’s grain free formula uses novel proteins designed to reduce allergic reactions and provide better digestion for dogs with severe allergies. It has only a handful of ingredients, and it’s 96% meat based for dense nutrition. It uses a blend of vitamins and minerals that supports robust immunity while the use of healthy fats helps soothe skin irritations and support brain health.

The recipe uses catfish, which is less likely to irritate the digestive system than poultry or beef. It shouldn’t react with your dog’s gut plus plenty of minerals to improve the skeletal structure. It’s a great option when you’ve run out of options.

Pros: novel protein, 96% meat-based recipe, good blend of healthy fats

Cons: Expensive, some dogs may not like the texture

Best For Sensitive Tummies: Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison Recipe

Natural Balance’s limited ingredient recipe helps cut out irritants and smooth digestion for your sensitive dog. It contains venison and sweet potato, a combination less likely to cause gas and that could be more easily digestible. It has plenty of vitamins and minerals for immune system support, but it contains only a handful of ingredients that won’t irritate.

It’s contains healthy fats for better skin and joint health while a blend of complex carbohydrates helps maintain blood sugar throughout the day. It uses no empty fillers, grains, or artificial ingredients and nothing that could prevent your dog from digesting easily.

Pros: digestive system support, healthy fats support skin health, novel protein source

Cons: contains peas and potatoes.

3 More Top Rated Goldendoodle Adult Foods

Solid Gold Wolf King Bison, Sweet Potato, And Brown Rice Recipe

Solid Gold’s recipe is designed to mimic the canine ancestral diet. It uses a novel protein, bison, for better digestibility, and a blend of complex carbohydrates and fiber to help dogs feel full all day. There shouldn’t be any energy spikes and a good blend of vitamins and minerals supports the immune system. It’s densely nutritious without adding in empty fillers or artificial ingredients.

Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Recipe

If your Goldendoodle has gained a little too much weight, this turkey recipe could help shed some pounds without sacrificing nutrition. It’s designed to help dogs feel full all day and experience better digestion. It contains a blend of vitamins and minerals to support the immune system and the food is simple to store and prepare. Just rehydrate it for a great taste and interesting mouthfeel that many dogs love.

Nulo Freestyle+ Limited Ingredient Turkey Puppy And Adult Food

If you want a single food to follow your puppy all the way through adulthood or you have a blend of puppies and adults in your house, the Freestyle+ could be a good option. It’s suitable for all life stages and contains a blend of healthy proteins and fats that support skin health and good brain activity. The blend of fiber helps keep digestion regular and support overall energy levels.

3 More Recommendations For Puppies

Our 2023 Picks: Goldendoodle Puppy Food Recommendations:
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Chicken Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$3.49/lb	A+
Most Affordable	Nutro Large Breed Puppy Tender Lamb Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$0.15/oz	A+
Most Popular	Solid Gold Love At First Bark Chicken And Apple Puppy Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.29/lb	A+

Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Chicken Recipe

Instinct by Nature’s Variety uses a combination of kibble and freeze-dried raw bits of meat to make the food more nutritious and more interesting for your puppy to eat. The raw bits provide interesting mouthfeel, encouraging puppies to eat regularly while providing dense protein and good sources of carbohydrates for all-day energy.

The food uses a mix of fish, poultry, and labeled meat meals to give puppies a varied yet complementary source of protein. It contains no artificial colors or flavors and uses no cheap fillers such as corn or soy. If your puppy has allergies, this could be an excellent option to help condition the skin and reduce itchiness.

Nutro Large Breed Puppy Tender Lamb Recipe

Nutro’s wet food is specifically formulated for the unique needs of your Goldendoodle puppy. It contains quality meats with excellent sources of fat to provide dense nutrition without causing excess growth. It’s a great option for picky puppies who need some encouragement to eat after being weaned and comes in easy to serve cans.

The recipe contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives and uses no cheap fillers. The recipe uses whole sources of lamb plus sunflower oil to balance energy needs. The oil also helps condition the coat and skin for better health. Guaranteed levels of calcium and phosphorus are good for your puppy’s growing bones.

Solid Gold Love At First Bark Chicken And Apple Puppy Recipe

Solid Gold’s puppy recipe is designed to help puppies grow strong and healthy without gaining weight too fast. It contains a healthy blend of proteins and fats for all day energy with fruits and veggies providing vitamins and minerals. Guaranteed levels of DHA help brain development while the calcium and phosphorus levels build strong, healthy bone structure. It has no cheap fillers that can encourage weight gain and no artificial ingredients.

3 More Recommendations For Seniors

Our 2023 Picks: Goldendoodle Senior Dog Food Recommendations
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Senior Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.39/lb	A+
Most Affordable	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Senior Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.54/lb	A+
Most Popular	Instinct By Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Senior Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$3.33/lb	A+

Best Overall – Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Senior Recipe

Merrick’s senior recipe combines lean sources of protein with plenty of fruits and vegetables to offer dense nutrition that can maintain a healthy weight even when your Goldendoodle has slowed down. It uses whole chicken plus salmon meal for a varied yet complementary protein source and salmon oil to condition the skin and coat.

Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin help keep seniors’ joints healthy while the added fish oils can also provide critical lubrication as well as support for mental acuity. The food is good for seniors who’ve put on a little bit of weight because it allows you to feed less per serving without sacrificing your Goldendoodle’s nutritional needs. The food is an excellent choice for supporting your Goldendoodle in the twilight years.

Best Value – Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Senior Recipe

Blue Buffalo’s senior recipe uses beef to provide a familiar and quality source of protein for your senior Goldendoodle. It uses a well-balanced formula of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats to provide energy for your Goldendoodle all day. The blend of beef plus DHA helps keep brain function high and encourages healthy skin and coat growth.

The recipe also contains dense nutrition with no cheap fillers that can add empty calories. It uses glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint and hip health and contains Taurine for overall heart health.

Instinct By Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Senior Recipe

Instinct By Nature’s Variety uses a unique blend of kibble and freeze dried raw bits to give seniors a protein boost and an interesting mouth feel. It contains a good blend of proteins and carbohydrates to help seniors feel full all day without adding any empty calories that can cause unnecessary weight gain. It also uses a blend of vitamins and minerals to support the immune system while healthy fats keep your senior’s brain functioning properly. It’s suitable for seniors even when activity has lessened, and the kibble is manageable for many seniors.

Our FAQ and Goldendoodle Feeding Guide

Let’s answer a few questions you may have about feeding your Goldendoodle. Feeding dogs doesn’t have to be hard, but if you’re a first-time dog owner, it can be a little confusing at first. Once you get the hang of some things, taking care of this wonderful breed should be a snap.

How Much Do I Feed My Goldendoodle?

Your veterinarian is an excellent source of information for customizing the nutrition for your Goldendoodle. Life stage, mature size, ideal weight, and any special consideration such as pregnancy or injury could change the recommended portions. Also, portion sizes can vary from food to food so make sure you understand the portion size for the food you choose and how those portion sizes are decided.

How Do I Feed My Goldendoodle?

It’s generally best practice to divide daily nutrition requirements between two or three smaller meals. This can reduce the likelihood your Goldendoodle will suffer from bloat and can help stabilize energy throughout the day.

It’s not a good idea to free feed. Instead, put food down and give your Goldendoodle a time limit. Take up the food that’s left to make sure your Goldendoodle is receiving the right portions. Otherwise, you could risk unnecessary weight gain.

How Do I Switch Foods?

If your Goldendoodle is currently eating a food that you aren’t happy with, or if you decide to upgrade your food to a premium brand, there are a few things you need to do. If your dog develops discomfort because of new food, it can be difficult to convince it to try it again later.

Changing foods suddenly can sometimes cause stomach irritations or sudden pickiness in dogs.  It’s best to start new food slowly. Mix in just a little of the new food with the old food for the first meal. Gradually add more of the new food and less of the old food until you’re serving nothing but the new food.

What If My Dog Is Picky?

Pickiness in dogs has a lot of causes, but if your dog is so picky it won’t eat anything, don’t worry. There are some things you can do to help encourage your dog to eat without much hassle.

Try these options:

• Take the food up: Leaving food out all the time convinces your dog that eating is not necessary all the time. Sometimes what you perceive as pickiness is merely the luxury of having food out whenever.
• Try different flavors: If you love a specific food, but your dog hates it, see if the brand has other flavors. Just like people don’t all like the same things, neither do dogs.
• Mix with something savory: Dry kibble can be unappetizing as far as smell or texture. Mixing in a little bit of wet food or freshly cooked meats can help encourage your dog to go ahead and eat the kibble. Entice your dog’s sense of smell and the mouthfeel of food, and it could improve the outcome of mealtimes.
• Switch to limited ingredient diets: A limited ingredient diet can sometimes help with pickiness. They use a single protein source so you can identify your dog’s favorite and stick with that.
• Use cooked meals: Prepared cooked meals may be a more significant investment, but having your dog eat quality, healthy food willingly could be just the incentive you need to make the switch.

What About Grains?

There’s some controversy about what exactly the best course of action for dogs is. Grain free is trendy right now, but not all the research points to grains being a bad thing. We recommend that you pay attention to the quality of the food first and if your Goldendoodle seems to suffer from constant itchy skin or digestion issues, you may want to consider grain free.

Be aware that many grain-free diets use legumes, peas, and potatoes to substitute for carbohydrates. Discuss any dietary changes first with your veterinarian for guidance on how to make the transition and the safety of your food.

Goldendoodle Dog Food – A Final Word

Feeding your Goldendoodle quality food is a vital part of your dog’s health and wellbeing. Good foods help alleviate digestion and skin issues and build good health early on. Premium foods can pay off in the long run by giving your dog the right foundation for health and prevent some veterinarian visits happening because of those food issues.

The best Goldendoodle food uses premium ingredients with all-natural formulas to help dogs feel their best and most energetic. When you remove all the cheap fillers and artificial ingredients, dogs often feel better in the long run. Make sure you take care of your Goldendoodle’s skin to prevent overproduction of dander and ramping up allergies in your home an get your veterinarian’s take on feeding for best results.