Your cute little Goldendoodle needs a healthy diet that will meet all of their nutritional requirements during their most important growth stage, puppyhood. Adult Goldendoodles grow to about 21 inches tall and weigh between 10 to 45+ pounds depending on what size of Goldendoodle that you purchased (mini, medium, or standard). Providing your Goldendoodle puppy with a healthy diet gets them started on the right track for the rest of their life. You can find our top 10 choices for the best puppy food for a Goldendoodle on the helpful list below. We’ve reviewed over 100 different puppy foods and narrowed our list down to 10.
In a hurry? Here are the Top 3 Picks:
- Pros
- Grain-free with absolutely no filler items or additives.
- Quality ingredients with a high meat to low carb meal.
- Added probiotic for digestion, enhanced metabolism, and immune response.
- More than 80% protein comes from animal protein.
- Cons
- None, this is one of the best puppy foods a Goldendoodle can get.
The Nulo Freestyle puppy food for a Goldendoodle features a low carb and high meat ratio for overall good health. More than 80% of the protein in Nulo comes from animal protein which means there aren’t any filler additives like you’ll commonly see in other dog foods. When buying a puppy food for your Goldendoodle make sure that they don’t have cheaper additives like corn, wheat, soy, or potatoes. Nulo only provides high-quality ingredients that have a protein-rich puppy diet with probiotics and other essential vitamins and minerals.
Nulo has added BC30 probiotics which supports a healthy gut and aids in digestion which is great for that will inevitably experience an upset tummy. In addition, Nulo is made in the USA with natural ingredients. One of these ingredients is DHA (omega-3 fatty acid) which comes from real salmon and promotes and a shiny Goldendoodle coat, teeth and gum health, and promotes normal stools.
The healthy ingredients in this Goldendoodle puppy food also contain phosphorous and calcium which is responsible for the growth and structure of the skeletal system. This puppy food is available in salmon or turkey flavor and offers a choice on a variety of size bags. This is by far one of the best puppy foods for a Goldendoodle.
- Pros
- MANY veterinarians will recommend Purina Pro Plan Puppy food.
- High-Quality ingredients with Chicken as the main source.
- DHA Omega 3 fish oil added for brain and vision development.
- Antioxidant rich as well as metabolism energy for your puppy.
- Cons
- There isn't a ton of different flavor options.
The Purina Pro Plan puppy food one of the best puppy foods especially for a Goldendoodle. You’ll find this food recommended by many different veterinarians because of the high-quality ingredients inside of the food. For instance, chicken is the first ingredient listed which means that it contains the most amount of chicken without any additive fillers that you need to look out for.
In addition, the Purina Pro Plan contains DHA sourced from omega-rich fish oil that supports vision and brain development in your puppy! Chicken is the number one ingredient to support a protein-rich diet and lean muscle, but the added nutrients set this Goldendoodle puppy food apart. This puppy food is great and supports skins, digestive health, weight management, and the right amount of nutrition for your dog.
The special formula includes ingredients that support a developing immune system so your pet grows up strong and healthy. You can choose from a variety of flavors and sizes to suit your pup’s needs. Purina’s mission in life is to help your pet live their best life possible through the best possible ingredients. This is why they are so highly recommended as one of the best dog foods for a Goldendoodle.
- Pros
- Specifically created for puppies up to 1 year old.
- Helps for developing immune systems with antioxidants and vitamins.
- Enhances joint and bone growth through their mineral blends.
- Highly digestible proteins and prebiotics for normal stools.
- Cons
- None, one of the best in the puppy industry.
The Royal Canin healthy nutrition puppy food is specially created for puppies that will grow up to weights between 23 and 55 pounds. The nutritious ingredients are formulated to meet the high energy needs during puppyhood (less than 1 year old). Royal Canin is a well-known brand that creates precisely balanced nutrition for your puppy based on its future potential weight.
By optimizing a diet based on your future Goldendoodle’s weight, they are able to provide the optimal joint support, weight, and dental care ingredients that your puppy needs in their food. The ingredients include a special mineral blend with vitamins and antioxidants that are easy for your puppy to digest. The prebiotics supports good digestive health and helps maintain optimal stool quality.
We picked the Royal Canin “Medium” puppy formula as one of the best puppy foods for a Goldendoodle. This will meet the high energy need of your puppy as well as provide all the key nutrients during their growth phase.
- Pros
- High protein chicken diet to support muscle growth.
- Grain free puppy food with DHA and ARA fatty acids.
- Lifesource bits which contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidents.
- No by products used this food.
- Cons
- There is a small amount of filler ingredients.
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness puppy food is grain-free and packed full of protein that is perfect for a Goldendoodle. The main protein source comes from real chicken in this tasty recipe your puppy will love! This promotes muscle growth and gives your puppy food that they will absolutely love to eat.
This puppy food for your Goldendoodle also contains DHA and ARA which are essential fatty acids that are found in a dog’s mother’s milk. DHA and ARA are great in this puppy food because they promote brain and eye development within a puppy. I also really like that this kibble isn’t too big and it isn’t too small. The sizing on this kibble seems to be perfect that fits easily in a Goldendoodle’s mouth.
This nutritious formula includes life source bits that are precisely blended with the perfect amount of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. This natural dog food meets life stage requirements and supports a healthy immune system. Blue Buffalo puppy food also contains no by-products like wheat, corn, soy, or other artificial preservatives.
- Pros
- Small kibble in chicken flavor.
- Promotes high quality protein that builds lean muscle.
- Made in the USA with a lot of recommendations from veterinarians.
- Made with all natural ingredients.
- Cons
- The largest size bag is only 15.5 pounds which won't last too long!
The Hill’s Science dry puppy food for a Goldendoodle contains small bites for your pet’s petite mouth. This chicken meal and barley recipe is tasty for small pups and it contains high-quality protein for building lean muscle. Like most of the other puppy kibbles, this one also has DHA which is the essential omega 3 oil that helps to promote a healthy brain.
This kibble for Goldendoodles is made with natural ingredients and is specially formulated with a balanced set of vitamins, minerals, and protein for overall good health. These minerals help to promote strong bones as well as strong teeth. The Hill’s Science veterinarian recommended puppy food will get your cute little Goldendoodle pup off to a great start in life.
- Pros
- Smoked salmon is the main ingredient in this puppy kibble.
- Fish provides optimal amino acids and protein for lean muscles.
- Sustainably sourced ingredients with absolutely no fillers.
- Made in the USA and family owned.
- Cons
- There is a small amount of filler ingredients.
The Taste of the Wild premium high-protein puppy food is grain-free and features real smoked salmon as the #1 ingredient. The Pacific stream recipe also includes easy to digest ingredients and added minerals, vitamins, proprietary probiotics, and nutrients. Fish is a great ingredient because it naturally provides amino acids and proteins which helps to promote brain functionality, lean muscle, and vision.
The combined ingredients provide a balanced and complete diet that supports overall good health, especially for your Goldendoodle puppy. This puppy food does not contain common food allergens such as fillers, corn, grain, wheat, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It’s a great food if you think your Goldendoodle is suffering from allergies.
- Pros
- Lamb and rice / chicken and rice recipes.
- All natural dog food with vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients.
- Provides calcium for strong bones and joints.
- DHA, antioxidants, vitamin E, to support a healthy immune system
- Cons
- Lack on consistency between bags.
Nutro Wholesome essentials puppy food for a Goldendoodle features a delicious lamb and rice recipe, but they also have a chicken and rice recipe. It includes minerals, vitamins, and essential nutrients in this high protein recipe. The best part of this dog food for a Goldendoodle is that the ingredients are all-natural with no fillers.
The combined ingredients support a healthy immune system, plus healthy overall growth and development for a Goldendoodle dog. The added vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids combined with the other ingredients create a balanced and complete diet. Nutro is a great company that always has non-GMO ingredients with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. This is why it is great puppy food for a Goldendoodle.
- Pros
- Grain-free with a complete balanced diet for your Goldendoodle.
- Deboned chicken and whitefish as the main protein sources.
- All natural ingredients with no preservatives.
- Made in the USA with a wellness guarantee warranty.
- Cons
- Some owners complain of paw licking which could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
The Wellness Complete Health natural puppy food is grain-free and contains natural ingredients that make a balanced and complete diet for your pup. The main protein sources come from both chicken and whitefish. The fact that it has two different protein sources is both good and bad. Introducing multiple different types of ingredients may cause allergic reactions in your Goldendoodle such as itching or licking. However, these are all quality ingredients with essential vitamins and minerals.
This puppy food is good for Goldendoodles that need a balanced diet to support their high energy. This healthy food does not contain common allergens such as soy, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and meat by-products. The ingredients in this puppy food for Goldendoodles also supports hair growth, a shiny skin, immunity, and digestive health.
- Pros
- Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.
- USA farmed raised chickens is the main protein source.
- Blend of many different vitamins and minerals for healthy immunity.
- Grain-free food with no corn, wheat, or soy.
- Cons
- Up and coming dog food. You won't find this in most stores.
Natural Balance Ultra puppy food for a Goldendoodle contains farm-raised USA chickens as the first ingredient and is packed with protein and other essential vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet.
This healthy puppy food is gluten-free and grain-free to ensure your pup has less risk of experiencing allergic reactions or a sensitive tummy. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids support brain health and overall good health during puppyhood.
- Pros
- 10 ingredients or less to prevent against food allergies.
- Grain-free food for puppies with sensitive stomachs.
- Includes all necessary vitamins and minerals for your Goldendoodle.
- All natural ingredients that are high quality.
- Cons
- None, this is a great choice for a Goldendoodle puppy.
The Canidae Pure puppy food is carefully formulated with limited ingredients for puppies with sensitive stomachs. The ingredients include up to 10 real foods and offer proteins such as chicken, bison, boar, lamb, duck, and salmon. This puppy food is also great for Goldendoodles who are possibly suffering from food allergies. If you dog is constantly itching, scratching, or licking their paws then your puppy may have a food allergy.
Added ingredients include omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, plus antioxidants for a healthy immune system. This also helps to promote a healthy Goldendoodle curly coat that you will need to brush on a regular basis. A wide range of flavors is available so you can be sure you will find the one your pup loves the most! However, we recommend the chicken puppy food for a Goldendoodle.
Choosing the Right Puppy Food for Your Goldendoodle
Choosing the best dog food for a Goldendoodle puppy is easier than you think. The first thing you need is to consider their overall health. A healthy puppy needs a balanced and complete diet that meets their nutritional needs during puppyhood. All of the foods on the list meet these requirements.
If you have a pup that has health issues or digestive issues it’s wise to consult with a veterinarian first. It’s best to mention a few of the puppy food options on the list that support a healthy digestive system and are specially formulated for easy digestion. The guidance and advice of a veterinarian will help you choose the best food for Goldendoodle puppies and make sure your pet enjoys a balanced and healthy diet.
The best advice to look for in a puppy food for a Goldendoodle is to make sure that the food doesn’t contain any additives or fillers. Common additives in puppy food are corn, soy, wheat, white potatoes, and tapioca. You should also look out for any artificial preservatives or coloring. Typically, cheaper puppy foods for Goldendoodles will contain fillers and additives.
Puppies that are Picky Eaters
How can your adorable Goldendoodle puppy be a picky eater? You will be surprised by how many puppies prefer a specific flavor in their food. Many Goldendoodle puppies do just fine with chicken flavor, but some pups are picky eaters and enjoy exquisite flavors such as lamb or bison or fish. The good news is, there are several options on the best puppy food for a Goldendoodle list that offer a wide range of flavors. If you have a picky eater, try a small bag of each flavor until you find the one your little fluff ball enjoys eating the most. We recommend trying the chicken or the fish puppy foods first.
If you can’t seem to get your puppy to eat meals regularly there can be a hidden health issue causing their lack of appetite. In this case, discussing the situation with the veterinarian is recommended.
Nutritional Requirements
Your little Goldendoodle dog is going to grow quickly during puppyhood. You will be shocked at how rapidly they will grow and change during this time frame. Your energetic pup needs a complete and balanced diet that is filled with nutrients, vitamins, protein, and more to keep them healthy throughout this very important life stage.
All of the Goldendoodle puppy food options on the list meet the nutritional needs of a puppy and helps maintain overall good health. If you have an energetic little puppy make sure you choose a high protein option that includes carbs in the ingredients to ensure your pup has enough fuel in their body to keep up with their energy needs.
Choosing a Flavor of Puppy Food
If you are one of the lucky pet parents that have welcomed two or more Goldendoodle puppies into your home, you need to find the best puppy food for all of your precious pups. An excellent tip is to offer all of your puppies a few options. Place chicken flavor in one bowl, lamb in the next, and a tasty flavor of your choice in the third bowl.
Place all of the bowls on the floor for your puppies to eat and watch closely as each one of them goes from one bowl to the next. You might need to do this experiment a few times to fully determine all of their choices. If the majority of the puppies prefer a specific flavor try to purchase a large size bag so you have enough for all of them without having to worry about buying more too soon.
While the majority of the puppies will enjoy the chosen flavor keep an eye out for the pups that are lagging behind and not that interested in being first in place at the feeding bowl. There’s a chance you might have a picky eater or the chosen food might be causing an upset tummy in one of the puppies. If any of the puppies refuse to eat any food consult with a veterinarian. Hopefully, you just have a picky eater but it’s best to rule out any serious conditions.
Goldendoodle puppies have good appetites, plenty of energy and are sweet caring family dogs. Always do your best to provide a healthy and balanced diet for your puppy by choosing one of the trusted brands listed above.
Conclusion for Best Puppy Food for Goldendoodle
We’ve reviewed over a hundred different types of puppy food for a Goldendoodle and narrowed down our list to the top 10 choices. Our list of the Best Puppy Food for a Goldendoodle contains foods that don’t use fillers, additives, artificial colors, or preservatives that you will find in cheaper dog foods. In addition, you’ll see that these foods have vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants that are important for your Goldendoodles growth. We hope you made a good choice for your Goldendoodle as they rapidly grow and transition from puppyhood to adulthood.
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