The Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers

The most necessary thing you can do for your dog as a pet owner is to keep him healthy. It means feeding them a well-balanced and nutritious diet. A great way to do this is by providing them with high-quality dog food. However, there are a variety of options available when selecting dog food.

Golden retrievers are active, large-breed dogs that need lots of exercise and play. They also have different dietary needs at different stages in their lives. To decide the best dog food for your golden retriever, we’ve compiled a list of reviews of different types of dog food for golden retrievers.

The Top 10 Golden Retriever Dog Foods

1. Ollie Fresh Lamb Dog Food Recipe


Ollie’s Lamb Recipe is the best food for Golden Retrievers. It is made from fresh ingredients and delivered to your door. This food is high in protein and fat, which is suitable for active Golden Retrievers. The food is adjusted for moisture, containing 37% protein and 30% fat. It means that it might not be ideal for older or overweight dogs.

One of the reasons this food is a great choice is because of its ingredients. The main ingredient is premium lamb, which is a healthy protein that is good for dogs with allergies or digestive issues. Other ingredients in the food include butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice, chickpeas, and cranberries. These ingredients provide a healthy mix of vitamins, grains, and macronutrients to keep your dog going all day. One thing we wish this recipe had was probiotics, which can be an excellent aid for dogs with digestive issues.

Pros

  • Delicious, high-quality lamb
  • Fresh fruits, veggies, and healthy grains
  • High in protein and fat
  • Delivered right to your door

Cons

  • It May be too high-fat for some dogs
  • Expensive
  • It doesn’t contain probiotics

2. Eukanuba Breed Specific Adult Dry Dog


Labrador Retriever Dry Dog Food is a breed-specific food that will not empty your wallet. It was created to provide the vital vitamins required by Golden Retrievers and other large retriever breeds.

This dog food is rich in protein and will help your Golden Retriever to have strong, lean muscles. The animal-based products in this food are of high quality and will help your dog to stay in good physical condition.

Pros

  • Breed-specific high protein formula at a price

Cons

  • Fruits and vegetables are insufficient.

3. Golden Retriever Puppy Dog Food From Royal Canin


Are you looking for the best food for Golden Retriever puppies? A name that is well-known for offering healthy, premium dog food is Royal Canin. Many top breeders and veterinarians recommend their food blends, and three of their products have made our list of reviews.

Royal Canin’s Golden Retriever Puppy formula is designed to help your pup grow and be healthy. It has a mix of chicken, grains, and vegetables that are perfect for dogs aged two months to 1 year old.

Pros

  • Breed-specific\sAge-specific
  • fantastic dietary mixture

Cons

  • Price

4. Adult Dry Dog Food for Golden Retrievers from Royal Canin


After your dog has grown up on Royal Canin puppy food, you should consider switching him to their Golden Retriever Adult dry dog food. He was born about 15 months later.

This dog food is perfect for Golden Retrievers. It has the right mix of products, including meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Finding excellent dog food for your mature Golden Retriever will be challenging.

The only downside of this food is the price. Royal Canin is a well-known company that makes high-quality pet food but it can be expensive.

Pros

  • Breed-specific\sAge-specific
  • fantastic dietary mixture

Cons

  • Price

5. Dry dog food made by Blue Buffalo Life Formula


The dry dog food in Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula is a blend of meat, fruit, grains, and vegetables. It is the same food that the American Kennel Club recommends.

Life Protection Formula is a chicken and rice formula rich in protein. It has been specially prepared to meet the needs of large dog breeds, like golden retrievers. Your pet will receive the essential vitamins and minerals he needs. The formulation contains deboned chicken, full-grain brown rice, and a variety of grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Life Protection Formula comes in 15, 24, and 34-pound bags and is the best option for active adult golden retrievers.

Pros

  • High-protein formula
  • Antioxidant-rich
  • Available with chicken, fish, or lamb
  • It contains a variety of fruits and vegetables
  • Price

Cons

  • None

6. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Dog Food


Nutro Wholesome Essentials’ Large Breed dog food is an attractive option for large, active adult dogs. This food is not made explicitly for golden retrievers. Still, it has the right ingredients to provide your pet with a well-balanced diet.

One of the product’s main selling features is that it contains no by-products, maize, wheat, or soy protein. It also doesn’t have any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, it has a slightly higher fat content than other dog foods. If your golden retriever has a history of weight gain or joint issues, you might want to look for this.

Pros

  • No synthetic flavors, colors, or preservatives
  • It does not include any by-products

Cons

  • Not confined to bread
  • High-fat foods

7. Golden Retriever Loaf in Sauce Dog Food Can by Royal Canin


If you have a golden retriever getting old or picky about its food, you may want to try wet dog food. Royal Canin’s Golden Retriever Loaf in Sauce is one of the best-wet foods for this type of dog.

This canned food for dogs is much easier to chew than dry foods. Your dog will still receive balanced food that is complete. We like that this product gets most of its protein from animal-based sources containing essential amino acids.

Pros

  • simple to chew
  • Animal-based proteins that can be spread as a paste

Cons

  • Price
  • less practical than dry food

8. Science Diet by Hill Dog food with a Chicken & Barley Recipe


Dry feed made by Hill’s Science Diet, which contains chicken meal and barley, is intended for large breed dogs. Looking for good, non-by-product dog food might be a good choice. Barley and chicken are this recipe’s two main ingredients. But it also contains other healthy grains and vegetables to ensure your dog gets the necessary nutrients.

Pros

  • Contains no by-products
  • Great nutritional mix

Cons

  • Price

9. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Dog Food


Suppose your golden retriever has a food sensitivity or allergy. In that case, this grain-free dry dog food from Wellness CORE can be a viable option. This high-protein recipe has been specially formulated to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients he needs, even without grains.

This golden retriever puppy food has a mix of sweet potatoes, peas, and other vegetables. It will ensure your dog gets the carbohydrates it needs to be active and energetic.

Pros

  • Contains no by-products
  • Great nutritional mix

Cons

  • Price

10. Pedigree 10083901 Adult Dry Dog Food


Pedigree is one of the more well-known dog food manufacturers. It is accessible nearly everywhere. Pedigree’sFrom a nutritional standpoint, pedigree’s Adult Dry Dog Food will give your dog the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals they need to live a healthy existence. It comes in a variety of flavors and sizes. Still, it is neither a product made explicitly for huge dogs nor a breed-specific product. Pedigree is relatively affordable compared to most other dog foods on our list.

Pros

  • Readily available price

Cons

  • Not particular to breed
  • Not exclusively for giant dogs

A Buyer’s Guide to Selecting the Best Dog Food for Golden Retrievers

Selecting the best dog food for your golden retriever can be challenging. There are numerous varieties of dog food, and every manufacturer claims their product is the finest. The food you feed your Golden Retriever is crucial, but how do you choose what’s best for them?

There are a lot of different dog foods out there. Knowing which is the best for your dog can be challenging. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ve reviewed a few good dog foods from reputable brands. And depending on your dog’s needs, one of these foods might be the right choice for them. When selecting a food for your Golden Retriever, there are other factors you should consider.

Dog Food Labels Can Be Confusing

When you look at any dog food online or in stores, you will see a lot of confusing information on the packaging. That is because there are guidelines in the US that have been set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). To govern what pet food companies can put on their labels.

If a package states that it only contains one product, then at least 95% of that product must be present.

The product must include at least 25% of the stated ingredient if the label contains words like supper, platter, and entrée.

When the word “with” appears on the packaging, only 3% of the stated component must be present in the final product.

A product must have traces of an ingredient to qualify as having a “flavor” when displayed on the packaging.

Read the Ingredients

On a dog food label, the components are listed in weight order. It means that the ingredient with the most weight is recorded. First, the second-most ingredient is listed second, and so on.

It means that if an ingredient contains much water, as meat does, it will be listed first. But it would help if you read further down the list because other essential ingredients for your dog may weigh less.

Be Sure to Consider the Grains

Most dog foods contain grains. Grains are a good source of carbohydrates, which your golden retriever needs for energy. Suppose your dog has an allergy or sensitivity to grains. In that case, you will need to choose a grain-free food that includes carbohydrate-rich vegetables like potatoes.

A Word on By-Products

Many people avoid dog foods that list animal by-products in their ingredients. People mistakenly think that the manufacturer has used low-quality meats. However, this is not true. The opposite is the case.

The term “by-products” does not mean that the manufacturer used animal parts like horns or hooves. Instead, it refers to healthy organs such as livers, lungs, and kidneys often used in pet dog foods. These organs are quite digestible and are still good for your dog, even though humans do not as commonly eat them.

Consult Your Veterinarian

Always remember that your veterinarian is an excellent source of information tailored to your pet’s needs. Your vet can tell you if your dog’s weight is too high or low. They know about your dog’s health problems and can provide valuable nutrition information.

Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers: Comprehensive Guide

Golden retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They are friendly, playful, and have a sweet nature. They are excellent family dogs since they are energetic and enjoy keeping up with active youngsters and adults. Golden retrievers are intelligent and affectionate dogs that are relatively easy to train.

It is essential to ensure your golden retriever gets the proper nutrition for its age and activity level. Golden retrievers are active dogs but can also get overweight if you’re not careful about how much they eat. You must check how much your dog eats and ensure they get the proper nutrition without too many extra calories.

Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food Delivery


If you like to feed your dog a raw diet but don’t want to have to do it yourself, you can use a company like Nom Nom. They make great raw meals for dogs that can help clear up pickiness and skin issues. Whole vegetables and fruits include antioxidants and vitamins that enhance bone, coat, and brain health.

You can design your dog’s meal plan on the website. The meals will be delivered to you, and you put them in the freezer or fridge until you need them. It is easy to do and can save money on your dog’s food.

Nom Nom works with canine nutritionists to create the best raw food diet for your pet. You get meals delivered, making it simple, and you can fill out a questionnaire to find the right dog food for your Golden Retriever.

Pros

  • Simple raw food
  • Organic, fresh ingredients
  • Formula with few ingredients
  • Delivery is practical.
  • Whole-protein alternatives

Cons

  • Refrigeration is required.
  • It takes time for dogs to adjust.

2. Taste Of The Wild Wetlands Formula


If your dog has a refined palate, this duck dog food from Taste of the Wild may be ideal. This cuisine is high in protein and fat and has a beautiful combination of poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables. The main ingredients are duck, duck meal, and chicken meal, which appeal to dogs. This food also includes roast quail, roast duck, smoked turkey, and ocean fish meals, making it a tasty option for your pet.

This food is packed with proteins, fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients that are good for your dog. Some of the ingredients include peas, potatoes, blueberries, and raspberries. Taste of the Wild also contains essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants.

Taste of the Wild also includes a prebiotic and probiotic blend designed to help keep your pup’s digestive system healthy and its immune system functioning correctly. Chelated minerals are also included in the food to help your dog absorb the proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals in the food better.

Pros

  • Protein-rich from natural components
  • Organic, fresh ingredients
  • Ideal for energetic dogs
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Fat content may be too high for a giant dog.

3. American Journey Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe


American Journey dog food is a good choice for golden retrievers. It has all the things that are important for their health. There are a lot of different foods for dogs, but American Journey may be the best one for golden retrievers.

We use whole proteins like lamb, chicken, and turkey to make this food. These are the essential food ingredients. Then we add peas, sweet potatoes, blueberries, carrots, dried kelp, and beet pulp. These nutrients combine to make a dish heavy in protein and fat while supplying fiber and carbohydrates.

One of the most important things about American Journey’s food is that it doesn’t contain grain like wheat, soy, or corn. It is a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies. American Journey’s meal is also high in other essential vitamins and nutrients. It’s high in antioxidants, which aid in immune system health.

This food is also good for your dog’s skin and coat. It has omega fatty acids, which help keep your dog’s skin healthy. The meal also contains DHA, which aids in developing your dog’s brain and vision.

American Journey is made in America using only American components. It costs only $1.66 per pound, making it one of the market’s most economical high-end dog foods.

Pros

  • High in quality animal proteins
  • Grain-free
  • Ideal for energetic dogs
  • It has essential nutrients for your dog’s wellness.
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Fat content may be too high for a giant dog.

4. Go! Solutions Carnivore Chicken, Turkey & Duck Recipe


Go! is a relatively young dog food manufacturer that emphasizes animal-based ingredients. They are owned by the Canadian manufacturer Petcurean, one of the only manufacturers that don’t source any ingredients from China.

If you look at the ingredients in this food, you’ll see a lot of animal proteins. Five proteins are listed on the first page, but there are also trout and duck.

This cuisine is high in complex carbohydrates derived from tasty fruits and vegetables. Pumpkin, squash, broccoli, blackberries, blueberries, spinach, and alfalfa sprouts are all available. These give your dog lots of energy while providing the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs for peak performance.

Prebiotics and probiotics are also included to boost your dog’s immune system and gastrointestinal health.

This food is packed with protein and complex carbs. It also has antioxidants to support joint health. The only disadvantage is that it is somewhat expensive, with a per-pound price of around $2.84.

Pros

  • High in protein from animal sources
  • A lot of complex carbohydrates in fruits and veggies
  • Prebiotics and probiotics are present.

Cons

  • Expensive
  • It doesn’t contain chondroitin or glucosamine

5. True Acre Foods Beef & Vegetable Recipe


Authentic Acre Foods has created a dog food formula that uses beef as its primary protein source. It provides a lot of value for your money. The procedure’s omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids will help keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy.

True Acre dog meals are prepared using ingredients sourced from reputable farms. No grains, wheat, corn, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives exist. Even though peas are one of the ingredients, you will find this ingredient in many other dog foods that cost about the same.

Pros

  • The first ingredient is low-cost beef farmed in the United States.
  • Made with farm-grown fruits and vegetables
  • This product has no grains, wheat, maize, artificial colors, or flavors.
  • Natural fibers are present.

Cons

  • Have Peas (may trigger sensitive dogs)

6. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe


Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe adult dog food is grain-free. Every bowl of this recipe contains 33% crude protein from a single animal protein source.

This recipe also features essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to keep your Golden healthy and energetic.

This recipe is made with probiotics to help support immune and digestive health. It contains no fillers, grains, artificial colors, or chemicals. Nulo offers a variety of dog and cat foods and meal mixers. Their goal is to produce high-quality meals created from natural ingredients.

They picked high-quality animal-based proteins to help your active Dalmatian grow muscle and maintain a healthy weight. This Texas-based company specializes in athletic breeds, making them an excellent choice for active Golden Retrievers.

Pros

  • Perfect kibble size for all breeds.
  • Excellent for Goldens who are allergic to dairy, grains, or soy.
  • Proteins are available in a variety of forms.
  • There are numerous non-chicken recipes available for dogs who are allergic to chicken.

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Certain proteins, such as salmon, have an unpleasant odor.

7. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken


Gentle Giants has made chicken-based dry-budget dog food full of vitamins and minerals. It uses twelve fruits and vegetables, including beets, tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, spinach, celery, and apples.

This dog food contains natural sources of vitamins A, B, 12, and C. These vitamins help to keep your dog’s immune system healthy. This food also has a low protein content of only 22%. It might not be the best for your dog’s muscles and bones, but it will still meet its nutritional needs.

This formula is made for dogs who have sensitive stomachs. If your pet has trouble with regular dog food, you might want to try this. Gentle Giants will be a good choice for dog owners on a budget.

Pros

  • It contains twelve whole fruits and veggies.
  • Enhanced with prebiotics and probiotics
  • Vitamins and antioxidants are present.

Cons

  • Kibble is far too large for puppies
  • Picky eaters may be disappointed.

8. Horizon Legacy Grain-Free Puppy Food


Horizon’s Legacy brand covers you if you’re looking for a protein-rich meal for your golden puppy. This meal will give your puppy everything they need to develop and flourish. Horizon employs products pet owners may feel good about giving to their dogs. Most of its components are sourced from local farmers.

This food gets a lot of its protein from chicken, chicken meal, and turkey. But it also has fruits and vegetables that are good for your pup. They have vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

In addition to protein, you’ll find healthy omega-III fatty acids in salmon oil. You’ll also find carrots, apples, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, and blueberries. There’s also a probiotic blend to promote healthy digestion and immune support.

It is expensive high-quality dog food. It will cost you about $2.84 per pound, more than other foods we’ve covered. But if you want the best option for your puppy, this may be.

Pros

  • Packed with protein
  • Rich in omega III and antioxidants
  • It contains a probiotic blend
  • Provides balanced nutrition for growing goldens

Cons

  • Very expensive

9. Blue Buffalo Rocky Mountain Senior Recipe


Your dog’s requirements change as they age. You must ensure you are feeding them food that will help them stay healthy as they age. Blue Buffalo’s Rocky Mountain Recipe for Senior Dogs could suit your senior golden retriever. The beef and chicken provide most of the protein in this dish, but it also contains peas, pea starch, and pea fiber.

This food contains nutrients such as omega-III fatty acids, veggies, and fruits. These substances collaborate to support healthy skin and coat, immune system health, and healthy bones. The food also includes Blue Buffalo’s patented LifeSource Bits, which provide older dogs with the vitamins and antioxidants they need to stay active and thrive.

Blue Buffalo is also grain free, like all of the other foods we’ve talked about. It costs around $2 per pound, the middle of prices for premium dog food.

Pros

  • It promotes bone and joint health in senior dogs.
  • High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it promotes heart health.

Cons

  • Instead of natural meats, it gets some of its protein from peas.

A Golden’s Caloric Needs

Golden retrievers come in all different types of personalities. Some are more active and energetic, while others are more subdued. Each day, the amount of calories a golden retriever need depends on their activity. An inactive golden retriever will require 1000-1300 calories, while an active golden retriever will need 1350-1750 calories.

Your golden’s caloric intake will need to be adjusted depending on its activity level and size and whether or not it has been fixed. Your golden is significant for the breed, so it will need more calories. If they are small for the breed, they should eat less.

Read more: How to Buy the Best Dog Food for Your Dog

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Dog Food for Golden Retrievers

Is Grain-Free Good for Golden Retrievers?

Grains are necessary for a dog’s health because they provide essential vitamins and minerals. They also contain fiber, which can help with digestion. If you’re wondering if you should feed your Golden Retriever grain-free food, the answer is no.

Is Purina Pro Plan Good for Golden Retrievers?

Purina Pro Plan Sport is designed for active dogs in their prime. The primary ingredient in the dish is chicken, which is essential for maximizing the nutritional content and keeping your dog’s diet as natural as possible.

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