Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles: Reviewed by Experts

A poodle-golden retriever, this dog is truly the best of both worlds. Playful and fun-loving but loyal and patient, this breed loves its people and its food. Unfortunately, this designer breed can be known for having sensitive stomachs or developing muscle and joint issues.

If your goldendoodle puppy doesn’t get the proper nutrition in the growing stage they can easily become at risk for developing painful conditions like bilateral hip disease. This is because goldendoodles have at least one large breed parent, and they need targeted support to grow at an appropriate rate and reach adulthood with strong bones, joints, and lean muscle mass.

Specific brands do have recipes made for these issues but that also maintain energy levels and the needs of large-breed dogs. However, choosing the perfect food for your pet can be a daunting task, but that’s why we’ve taken the stress out of it by reviewing the top-rated food choices for goldendoodles for you.

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Dog Food for Goldendoodles

#1 Best Overall: Stella & Chewy’s Classic Kibble

For the best overall dog food for Goldendoodles we recommend Stella and Chewy’s Classic Kibble as it provides a wholesome option.

Made in USA, this classic, wholesome grain recipe contains meat from three animal protein sources: chicken, duck, and turkey. It’s formulated to be nutrient-dense using “whole prey” ingredients, which include muscle meat, organ meats, and cartilage. 81% of the protein in this recipe comes from animal sources. Additionally, these proteins are sourced responsibly from cage-free chicken and duck. It’s free of legumes and made with wholesome grains.

You won’t find any potatoes, peas, lentils, by-product meals, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in the ingredients list. Instead, this formula is expertly designed to support your goldendoodle’s whole body health with just the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (including taurine!). Taurine is a huge plus because it helps goldendoodles with cardiac function, eye health, and proper immune system function.

It’s fortified with all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs to thrive while offering healthy fiber from sources like sweet potatoes to support your pup’s healthy digestion. Goldendoodles, especially when they grow to a large size, need extra hip and joint support so there are naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin included in the recipe to support healthy joints. Goldendoodles are known for their skin and coat appearance so omega fatty acids from flaxseed and salmon oil are a must to support coat health.

However, the kibble pieces are small which some dogs do not like and can find difficult to eat.

Pros and Cons of Stella & Chewy’s Classic Kibble

Best Overall

Stella & Chewy's Classic Kibble

• Packed full of protein with beef, pork, and lamb
• Crafted without legumes or poultry
• 81% of protein is from actual animal sources
• "Whole prey” ingredients including muscle meat, organ meat, and cartilage
• No fillers, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

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2. Best Dry Food: Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food

Our selection as the best dry food is the Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food.

This dry dog food contains real deboned beef as the first ingredient. We chose this recipe because it’s a customer favorite but keep in mind that it’s also available in chicken, lamb, and salmon flavors. This recipe contains ancient grains, including quinoa, to support healthy digestion. Packed with leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, you can rest assured your large breed dog is getting the support they need for healthy hips and joints.

This formula also contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for good coat and skin health. The deboned beef helps to build and maintain your dog’s healthy muscle tissue while the other ingredients support digestive health, joint health, and skin health. To make this an even more balanced meal, vitamins and minerals round up the formula.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that their pets did not like this food. A small number also found that it made their dogs quite gassy.

Pros and Cons of the Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food

Best Dry Food

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef + Brown Rice

• Contains real deboned beef
• Contains ancient grains to support healthy digestion
• Balanced meal, with added vitamins and minerals
• Reasonably priced 

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3. Best Wet Food: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill

Most dogs love wet food, and our suggestion is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill.

This wet food contains real turkey and chicken and is grain and gluten-free, instead primarily delivering high protein. This formula contains 10% protein, 9% fat, 1.5% fiber, and 78% moisture. The natural ingredients included in this dog food are enhanced with vitamins and minerals. It is also free from by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives. This wet dog food is made with mouthwatering, protein-rich meats in one delicious meal. You can serve this as a meal on its own or use it as a dry dog food topper.

Although this food has a lot going for it, it’s important to remember that a grain and gluten-free diet may not suit all dogs. Also, some pup parents have reported that the gravy lacks consistency as some cans are more watery than others.

Pros and Cons of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill

Best Wet Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill

• Contains real turkey and chicken
• Grain-free
• Enhanced with vitamins and minerals
• Dogs love the taste

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4. Best for Puppies: Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food

As you know, purchasing puppy food for your goldendoodle is vital for ensuring optimal growth. It’s also important to consider how large your dog will grow. Goldendoodles may grow to a medium size depending on how they were bred, and that’s why we’ve selected the Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food as the best option.

This recipe is tailor-made for puppies up to one year old with an expected adult weight of 23 to 55 pounds. It contains key nutrients that meet the high energy needs of these dogs during their short growth period. It also contains a specialized mineral blend that supports your puppy’s bone and joint health along with an exclusive length of antioxidants and vitamins to promote the healthy development of your puppy’s immune system. It’s super easy to digest and contains probiotics to assist with digestive health.

The only drawback to this food that we could find is that some customers have reported that their picky eaters are not fussed on eating it.

Pros and Cons of the Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food

Best for Puppies

Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food

• Supplies adequate nutrition for dogs up to 12 months old
• Contains antioxidants and vitamins for the development of your puppy's skeletal system
• No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
• Great for weaning dogs

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5. Best for Seniors: Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food

Most senior dogs need a little extra help to keep them in top shape, so that’s why we suggest the Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food.

This chicken and lamb recipe by Nutro is developed for senior dogs aged seven and older. The first ingredient is real chicken and there is no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy included. Senior dogs need extra support for their bones and their joints, and this formula is fortified with calcium to keep your aging dog strong. The recipe is also formulated to support your senior dog’s immune system using essential antioxidants. It also delivers natural fiber for healthy digestion. Plus, it’s cooked in USA facilities with only the best ingredients from around the world.

Unfortunately, some owners reported that this food had a “horrible fish smell” and as a result their dogs did not want to eat it.

Pros and Cons of the Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food

Best for Seniors

Nutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

• Specially developed for dogs seven years and older
• No chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy
• Added calcium for bones and their joints
• Support your senior dog’s aging immune system

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Choosing the Best Dog Food

Although dog foods have similarities, their formulas are entirely unique. Dog food brands may develop breed-specific formulas while others focus on creating an affordable product suitable for different breed sizes. There are wet and dry options and so long as real meat is the first ingredient, they can make a suitable option for your goldendoodle. However, it’s vital you remember that if you have a puppy or senior goldendoodle, you should only be providing food specifically formulated for either life stage. Below, we cover the factors to consider when deciding on the best dog food for your Goldendoodle.

Type (Dry or Wet)

You have options when feeding your pup. Many people choose to stick with dry dog food because it’s more affordable and easier to manage but you can also incorporate wet dog food, which is significantly more palatable and may be easier on your dog’s teeth. Especially if your dog is aging, they may need a softer texture to enjoy their mealtimes more comfortably. However, it’s always a nice treat to have some wet food as a food topper, even if it’s only on special occasions. Mostly, you can buy dry dog food in bulk and keep it on hand for an extended period instead of having to worry about wet food spoiling if it’s not properly sealed and stored.

Formula

We can’t stress enough that your goldendoodle needs life-stage-specific food. Additionally, it’s important you consider the optimal weight your dog reaches in adulthood. Although many goldendoodles are considered a large breed, sometimes, you get a medium-sized or small goldendoodle. Feeding according to your goldendoodle’s size and life stage helps you determine which formula is best suited for them. Remember that senior dogs need more protein and fewer calories while puppies need extra nutrients to help them during their development stage.

Price

The commitment you’ve made to your goldendoodle isn’t just emotional — it’s financial too. No matter your budget, you can find high-quality dog food that your pup loves. Don’t be afraid to shop around and check the best prices. Sometimes, items go on sale and you can stock up!

The Different Types of Dog Food: Pros and Cons Compared

Dry Food

Wet Food

Puppy Food

Senior Food

Our Criteria: How we Chose the Best

Dog foods are the most important factor to consider as it will affect the long-term health of your furred companion for their whole life. When it came to ensuring the best possible option for goldendoodles, we judged the products based on quality of nutrition, health benefits, type and price. Here we will discuss what affected our choices in detail:

• Quality: First consideration always goes to the quality of the products. Specifically, the quality of ingredients used in the recipe, the amount of nutritional value and how the product was made. All of these factors make up the overall quality of a product and we ensured that only the best were presented to you.
• Benefits: We also considered the added benefits such as taste, flavor and additional health benefits. Such as skin and digestive issues, growth and joint issues, excessive fatty oils etc. were some things that we want to avoid at all costs.
• Type: The type of food, whether wet or dry, plays a big part in your pets food choices and we wanted to present you with both.

Up Next

• Choosing The Best Dog Food — Everything you need to know about choosing the best dog food for your pet.
• The Best Dog Food Containers — Don’t let your pricy food spoil and make your dog sick!
• The Best Large Breed Dog Food — Check out these top-rated selections for large breed dogs.