It is essential to consider the type of food you give to your beloved pooch. One of the factors you need to keep in mind is if the food you give your dog meets the requirements of its specific breed.
If you have a golden retriever, then you need to provide a diet that caters to its lifestyle needs, including its high activity levels. Golden retrievers are easy to train and make great family dogs. Their personality thrives more in the outdoors running around and playing with toys.
This points out to show that the best dog food for golden retriever should cater to its energy requirements. Being a large breed, this dog needs to maintain a healthy weight while ensuring it has an adequate supply of essential nutrients for normal functions of body systems.
If you are looking for the best dog food for a golden retriever, then this article can help you through the selection process. Here are some of the best foods that have proven to work well for golden retrievers.
For those who have just welcomed a Golden Retriever puppy to their family, we’ve dedicated an entire post to the best puppy food for this breed.
Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever
1. Merrick – Texas Beef
If you are looking for an appropriate high-protein diet for your golden retriever, this recipe from Merricks is an ideal choice.
Key Features
- Texas beef
- Grain-free recipe
- Real whole foods
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
This dog food contains high-quality proteins that ensure a healthy energy level while ensuring strong and lean muscle development. It has real beef as the first ingredient to satisfy your dog’s love for meat.
The diet is enriched with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which promote the health of the skin and coat. It is wholesome and balanced to meet the nutritional requirements of your dog.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Promotes a healthy coat
- Balanced and complete
- Easy to digest
Cons
- Cause runny stools at first
The diet is recommended for its high-quality ingredients and the balanced formula for active dogs.
2. Royal Canin – Puppy
Royal Canin for your golden retriever puppy ensures it gets all the essential nutrients it needs for proper growth and development.
Key Features
- For puppies from 8 weeks to 15 months old
- Small kibble
- Antioxidants added
- High-quality proteins
- Prebiotics added
The diet is specially formulated to suit your golden retriever puppy and ensure optimal health. The food is balanced and comes with a high level of protein to support lean muscle development.
Also, it has an antioxidant blend that includes vitamin E to help protect your puppy’s immune system. It has added prebiotics to aid in digestion and improve bowel movements.
Pros
- Balanced and complete
- Easy to digest
- Small kibble for easy biting
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals
- High-quality ingredients
Cons
- Might cause diarrhea for the first few days
This golden retriever food works well for puppies and is formulated to meet their daily nutritional requirements.
3. Pedigree
This diet is one of the best retriever high protein dog foods. It comes as a balanced formula and provides all the essential nutrients.
Key Features
- Beef and lamb
- 25 % more protein
- Complete and balanced
- Omega 6 fatty acids and zinc
The diet is formulated in a simple recipe that makes it easily digestible for adult golden retrievers. It has high protein content from lamb and beef to support the dog’s muscle health.
On this note, this food provides 25% more protein than other large breed dog foods. It has omega 6 fatty acids and zinc that promote the health of the skin and coat.
Pros
- High-quality protein
- Easily digestible
- Promotes a shiny coat
- It provides balanced nutrition.
Cons
- Not ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs
The food has high protein levels and is recommended for adult golden retrievers to help maintain a healthy weight.
4. CANIDAE
This diet is specially made for large breed adult dogs hence suitable for golden retrievers.
Key Features
- High-quality protein
- Turkey and brown rice
- Calcium and phosphorous
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids
This food provides complete nutrition for your adult dog. It has turkey as the first ingredient and the primary source of protein. This helps to promote muscle health.
The food is enriched with brown rice, which provides energy to match your dog’s active lifestyle. The diet also has calcium and phosphorous to ensure healthy bones for your aging dog.
Pros
- Ideal for multiple dogs
- Balanced and complete
- High-quality ingredients
- Promotes a shiny coat
- Enriched with essential minerals
Cons
- Some kibbles are too small
The food by pedigree is recommended for families with multiple dogs. It provides balanced nutrition to support the immune system and promote health.
5. Diamond Naturals
The quality of ingredients affects the nutritional components of dog food. This diet from Diamond Naturals is made from high-quality, natural ingredients for a wholesome formula.
Key Features
- Chicken
- Added vitamins and minerals
- Fatty acids
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Proprietary probiotics
The diet has chicken as the first ingredient which has a high amino acid profile for lean and strong muscles. The food has added vitamins and minerals which support the immune system. With the fatty acids, this food helps to promote the skin and coat appearance.
More to this, it has glucosamine and chondroitin, which are essential for hip and joint health.
Pros
- Wholesome and balanced
- Quality ingredients
- Easy to digest
- Enhances the coat and skin appearance
Cons
- Couldn’t find any
It is the best food for golden retriever; thanks to the quality ingredients and the balanced formula.
6. Natural Balance L.I.D.
This food comes in a simple formula that is easy on your golden retriever’s stomach.
Key Features
- Grain-free recipe
- Sweet potato and fish
- Complete and balanced
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
The food has fish as the primary source of protein to support your dog’s muscle health. Also, it has sweet potato, which is a simple carbohydrate that your dog can easily digest. This provides adequate energy to keep up with your dog’s active lifestyle.
The food is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which help to maintain healthy skin and a luxurious coat.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Easy to digest
- Rich and wholesome
- Improves the appearance of the coat
- Ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies
Cons
- It has a strong fishy smell
The food is nutritious and provides all the essential nutrients that your golden retriever needs, especially if it has a sensitive stomach.
7. Merrick – Buffalo
If you are looking to upgrade your retriever dog food options, this buffalo diet from Merrick is an ideal choice.
Key Features
- Real deboned buffalo
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Grain-free recipe
The food provides sufficient protein to support your adult dog’s muscle development. It is formulated using high-quality ingredients to ensure your dog gets nutrients in the most wholesome state. With high levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids this aids in healthy skin and coat.
It also has high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin that support healthy hips and joints.
Pros
- High protein diet
- Promotes a healthy coat
- Ideal for aging dogs
- Easy to digest
- Complete and balanced
Cons
- Not suitable for dogs with highly-sensitive stomachs
This is a high protein diet that you can choose for your golden retriever.
8. Royal Canin – Adult
This diet is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of purebred golden retrievers from 15 months old.
Key Features
- Exclusive kibble shape
- EPA and DHA
- Taurine added
- Balanced and complete
The golden retriever diet is made with high-quality ingredients to ensure it is safe and nutritious for your dog. It comes in a perfectly-shaped kibble that is suited for a golden retriever’s muzzle for easy biting and chewing.
It has Taurine, DHA, and EPA, which are essential nutrients to support healthy skin and promote a shiny coat. It provides balanced nutrition while ensuring your dog maintains a healthy weight.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Promotes a healthy coat
- Ideal for managing weight
- Perfect kibble for easy chewing
Cons
- Not ideal for dogs with grain allergies
The Royal Canin golden retriever food meets the nutritional requirements of your adult dog to promote overall health.
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness
If you are looking for retriever high protein dog food, you can get this diet from Blue Wilderness.
Key Features
- Real duck recipe
- Grain-free
- Vitamins and minerals
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
- Sweet potato and peas
This diet comes in a simple but complete formula that ensures your dog gets all the essential nutrients. It has real duck which satisfies your dog’s natural love for meat. This also provides protein which is vital for muscle health.
In addition, the food has sweet potato and peas which provide energy to support your dog’s active lifestyle. With the added vitamins and minerals, this food helps to protect the immune system.
Pros
- Easily digestible
- High-quality components
- High-protein diet
- Supports skin and coat health
Cons
- Has small hard kibbles
Blue Wilderness can work well as part of your dog’s daily diet. It is wholesome and helps to manage weight in adult dogs.
10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain
If you are looking for a protein-rich diet for your golden retriever, this food from Blue Buffalo is an ideal choice.
Key Features
- Real beef recipe
- Grain-free
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins and minerals
- Poultry-free diet
This diet is rich in protein and features a blend of red meat to satisfy your dog’s love of meat. It helps to build and maintain lean muscle mass in your adult dog. The food is grain-free hence suitable for dogs with sensitive tummies.
It is enriched with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are essential in the health of the skin and coat. With the antioxidants, this food supports the immune system of your dog.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Complete and balanced
- Promotes a shiny coat
- Easy to digest
Cons
- Mixed with tiny bits of vitamins
It is the best food for a golden retriever and provides balanced nutrition to support overall health.
11. Purina Pro Plan
This adult food comes in a simple formula that is easy to digest for adult dogs. It is one of the best foods for golden retriever adult dogs.
Key Features
- Shredded blend chicken
- Live probiotics
- Rice
- High-quality ingredients
- Crunchy kibble
The food has shredded chicken as one of the protein sources. The food is rich in protein to support muscle health in your dog. It has rice, which is a simple carbohydrate for easy digestion. It caters to the energy requirements of your adult dog.
The food has live probiotics to support digestive health.
Pros
- Wholesome and balanced
- Easily digestible
- High-quality ingredients
- The kibble is easy to bite and chew
- Ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs
Cons
- Might cause diarrhea for the first few days
The diet is an ideal retriever food; thanks to the balanced, high-protein formula.
12. WholeHearted
This diet can be an ideal retriever dog food; thanks to the wholesome formula.
Key Features
- Real chicken
- Peas
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Canine probiotics
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids
This dog food is formulated to provide essential nutrients to your active adult dog. It has chicken as the first ingredient and the primary source of protein to support muscle health. Also, it has peas that are easily digestible.
These provide energy to support the lifestyle of your active dog. With the omega 6 and 3 fatty acids, this food helps to promote the health of the skin and coat.
Pros
- High-quality chicken
- Easy to digest
- Supports joint health
- Balanced and complete
Cons
- Couldn’t find any
If you are looking for golden retriever food that provides complete nutrition, especially for older dogs, this is the right bet.
13. Fromm
If you are looking for golden retriever food that supports joint health, this diet is an ideal choice.
Key Features
- High protein diet
- Prebiotics and probiotics
- Omega fatty acids
- Natural, wholesome ingredients
This dog food is specially made to support the health of your aging adult dog. It has high protein content from chicken, lamb, whole eggs, and cheese. The food is enriched with cartilage, which helps to support joint health. It has added prebiotics and probiotics which make it easy on the dog’s stomach for proper digestion.
Pros
- Nutritious recipe
- Supports joint health
- Easy to digest
- High-quality protein
Cons
- Pricey
This is an ideal retriever high protein dog food that you can get to ensure your dog gets adequate nutrients while maintaining a healthy weight.
14. Eukanuba
This dog food comes in a high-quality formula that is designed for adult dogs from one year old. It is a suitable choice for golden retrievers.
Key Features
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Chicken recipe
- Whole foods
- L-carnitine
- Omega 3 fatty acids
This food from Eukanuba has chicken as the first ingredient to provide your adult dog with essential protein for muscle health. It is further enriched with whole foods to cater to the energy requirements and support your dog’s active lifestyle.
It also has omega 3 fatty acids that promote the health of the skin and the coat. More to this, it has 3D DentaDefense, which reduces tartar build-up up to 80%.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Helps to maintain a healthy weight
- Easy to digest
- Improves the coat’s appearance
Cons
- Pricey
This is the best dog food for golden retriever adult dogs. It helps to maintain a healthy weight while ensuring your dog gets all the nutrients it needs.
15. Nutro Max
It is essential to consider the ingredients used in dog foods to ensure they suit your dog. This dog food is made using natural ingredients to ensure your dog gets the most nutrients out of it.
Key Features
- Real farm-raised chicken
- All-natural ingredients
- Whole grains
- Vitamins and minerals
This diet has chicken as the first ingredient to provide essential protein. This helps to support lean muscle development. The food is enriched using other wholesome ingredients to balance it out and ensure it meets your dog’s nutritional requirements.
Furthermore, it’s made from natural ingredients hence safe for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Pros
- Soft kibble
- High-quality ingredients
- Easy to digest
- Essential vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Not ideal for dogs with grain allergies
Bottom Line
When looking for appropriate dog food for golden retrievers, it is essential to consider the number of nutrients it provides.
The right diet for this breed should contain a high percentage of animal proteins from sources such as chicken, beef, fish, etc. Protein is essential in supporting their relatively large muscles while ensuring your dog maintains a healthy weight.
As much as protein is one of the essential nutrients, you should ensure the diet is balanced and complete. That means it should have considerable levels of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals as well. These cater to the dog’s overall nutritional requirements for optimal health.
When it comes to fat, the best food for golden retriever should have low to moderate levels. If you are a new golden retriever parent, it is advisable to visit your vet to understand what the diet should constitute.
That way, you ensure you provide a diet that promotes overall health and supports an active lifestyle. The above foods have proven to work well for golden retrievers, and you can find the best for yours too.
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The Review
Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever
Read through our review of the best dog food for Golden Retriever before heading out and making a purchase.
Review Breakdown
- Merrick - Texas Beef
- Royal Canin - Puppy
- Pedigree
- CANIDAE
- Diamond Naturals
- Natural Balance L.I.D.
- Merrick - Buffalo
- Royal Canin - Adult
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness
- Wilderness Rocky Mountain
- Purina Pro Plan
- WholeHearted
- Fromm
- Eukanuba
- Nutro Max
Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever DEALS
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