6 Best Foods for Goldendoodle Dogs Reviewed

The best dog foods for Goldendoodle are usually rich in protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients. Dry pellets are recommended by most Vets and canine diet experts as the easiest and best form of dog food for Goldendoodles. 

The food is fine to contain some carbohydrates. Carbs do not contribute the overall nutrition to the Goldendoodle. Look for meat and protein as the basis of good quality natural food. 

best foods for goldendoodle dogs
What are the best foods for Goldendoodle dogs?

Avoid preservatives as possible. Much like humans, most dog breeds require a balanced diet. Bearing these requisites in mind, here are six of the best dog foods for Goldendoodle reviewed.

The 6 Best Foods for Goldendoodle Dogs

Just looking for the top Goldendoodle dog foods? Here is the list of the top six recommended dog foods for Goldendoodles. See below for detailed reviews for each brand. Our number one all rounder pick for Goldendoodles is Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food.

Best All Round – Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult
Vet’s Choice – IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Minichunks
Easy to Digest - Hill's Science Diet Chicken and Barley
Brain and Muscles Support - Eukanuba Adult Small Bites
Premium nutrition – Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult
Grain Free HIGH Protein – Turkey and Duck - Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food - 40 lb. Bag
IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken and Whole Grains, 30 lb. Bag
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Bites, Chicken & Barley Recipe, 35 lb. Bag
Eukanuba Small Bites Dog Food, Dog Food Dry Formula with Protein, DHA and Vitamins to Support a Healthy Lifestyle, 30 lb Bag
Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Adult Dog Food, Chicken, Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe, 28 lb. Bag | Soy Free, Corn Free, Wheat Free | Dry Dog Food Made with Real Ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Flatland Feast High Protein, Natural Dry Dog Food with Turkey, Quail & Duck 22-lb
Best All Round – Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult
Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food - 40 lb. Bag
Vet’s Choice – IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Minichunks
IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken and Whole Grains, 30 lb. Bag
Easy to Digest - Hill's Science Diet Chicken and Barley
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Bites, Chicken & Barley Recipe, 35 lb. Bag
Brain and Muscles Support - Eukanuba Adult Small Bites
Eukanuba Small Bites Dog Food, Dog Food Dry Formula with Protein, DHA and Vitamins to Support a Healthy Lifestyle, 30 lb Bag
Premium nutrition – Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult
Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Adult Dog Food, Chicken, Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe, 28 lb. Bag | Soy Free, Corn Free, Wheat Free | Dry Dog Food Made with Real Ingredients
Grain Free HIGH Protein – Turkey and Duck - Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Flatland Feast High Protein, Natural Dry Dog Food with Turkey, Quail & Duck 22-lb

Best All-Round – Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food

This is bestselling dog food. The chicken and rice formula works well for both pups and adults. Of course, the size of the serving and the frequency would vary depending on the weight and activity of your Goldendoodle. 

Purina ONE Natural Dog Food, SmartBlend Chicken and Rice Dog Food Formula - 40 lb. Bag
$59.88 ($1.50 / lb)
  • One (1) 40 lb. Bag - Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
  • Purina ONE chicken and rice dog food offers a microbiome balance and a SmartBlend of high-quality ingredients, including prebiotic fiber for dogs, to help your pal be his best self
  • With real chicken as the first ingredient, this Purina ONE dog food supports your dog's strong muscles, including his healthy heart, and has high-quality carbohydrate sources for healthy energy
  • High protein dry dog food for skin and coat care is easily digestible and made with omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, plus four antioxidant sources to help maintain a strong immune system
  • Is Purina ONE good for dogs? Purina ONE red bag dog food provides 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs and has natural glucosamine sources to promote joint health for dogs
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04/21/2023 09:34 am GMT

The SmartBlend range includes chicken and rice, lamb and rice, beef and rice, and only lamb. The lamb variant is for smaller breeds of dogs. The beef and rice formula comes as small bites. The chicken, rice, and lamb; rice is in the form of dry pellets. All these variants have different sizes, from 8lb to 40lb.

Purina One is among the most renowned dog food brands. It is known for premium quality at a family-friendly budget. The SmartBlend Natural dog food with chicken and rice formula is no different. 

baby goldendoodle barking
Even teacup Goldendoodles are prone to barking. Luckily Goldendoodles are razor smart and ready to learn to stop barking.

What is actually in SmartBlend?

There are no fillers in the formula. Your pup or adult Goldendoodle would get all the essential nutrients. The ingredients in the chicken and rice formula are real chicken meat, rice flour, whole grain corn, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, beef fat, and soybean meal.  

There is a byproduct meal of chicken, liver flavor, glycerin, calcium carbonate, phosphates, dried peas and carrots, potassium chloride, and salt.

Your pet would get a healthy dose of several vitamins in SmartBlend. The formula offers Vitamins E, B-3, A, B-5, B-1, B-12, B-2, B-6, B-9, K, D-3, and B-7. There are several minerals, including ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, choline chloride, and sulfur.

Purine One has a 28 days challenge for its SmartBlend range of dog foods. The brand says that you would notice a noticeable transformation in your dog.

While SmartBlend is balanced dog food and comes in dry and wet variants, Goldendoodle requires the dry pellets and not the wet food. Also, some Goldendoodles may be allergic to soy, corn, and wheat.

Suppose your pup or adult Goldendoodle is sensitive to these ingredients. In that case, it is better to opt for another formula excluding these. 

Vet’s Choice – IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Minichunks Dry Dog Food, Chicken

This dog food has been recommended by veterinarians. The formula is indeed well balanced. While rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, the Proactive Health Minichunks also offer antioxidants, prebiotics, and fiber.

IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken, 30 lb. Bag
$45.99 ($1.53 / Pound)
  • Adult Dry Dog Food: Give your dog the nutrition they need in the small kibble size they prefer, with real, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient to promote strong muscles with premium-sourced...
  • Veterinarians Recommend IAMS: This tasty kibble supports healthy digestion with a wholesome blend of fibers and prebiotics, plus antioxidants to support a strong immune system
  • Complete and Balanced Nutrition for Adult Dogs: IAMS Dog Food is made with high quality animal protein and no artificial preservatives, flavors or fillers, for complete and balanced nutrition
  • Tailored to Your Dog: We carry a full line of foods for your dog's age, size and dietary needs from puppy to adult to mature, small breeds to large, and with recipes to support healthy weight and...
  • IAMS Super Premium Dog Food: Choose the nutrition that brings out your dog's best, tailored for their unique needs; Our high-quality, premium recipes are made in the USA with the finest ingredients...
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03/03/2024 01:07 am GMT

The dry pellets are smaller than the usual size. This makes the food more suited for young pups. That doesn’t imply it is not for adult Goldendoodles. Adult Groodles can have this kibble! The Minichunks are available in bags weighing 7lb and 30lb.

black goldendoodle puppy
A beautiful black Goldendoodle puppy!
Photo by Bennylover CC-by-SA no modifications

No cage chicken

There are several identical ingredients in the Minichunks and SmartBlend. One distinct difference is the source of chicken and its byproduct meal. The chickens used for Minichunks are raised in farms and not constrained in battery cages. The formula also includes farm-grown carrots and beet pulp.

The latter offers natural fiber and prebiotics. There is chicken fat, which is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, an essential nutrient for dogs. The Minichunks have dried egg products, caramel color, flaxseed, and rosemary extract. There are no preservatives or fillers.

There is a feeding guide and a set of recommendations from IAMS. You can find these details on the packaging itself. You could refer to this guide to determine how much you would feed your Goldendoodle or use your own experience. Not all guides work perfectly for every breed of dogs.  

Besides, dogs don’t always have identical routines of physical activity. Metabolism varies, so does the frequency of feeding. Your Goldendoodle may do well with two meals a day. You may opt for four smaller meals a day. Plan the routine as you deem fit for your pet.

Easy to Digest – Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Bites, Chicken; Barley Recipe

Hill’s Science Diet is bestselling dry dog food, known mainly for its easy digestibility. It is recommended by veterinarians, and the formula contains clinically proven antioxidants.

The chicken and barley flavored dog food has real chicken meat without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The primary ingredients are chicken, meat, fat, liver flavor and meal, cracked pearled barley, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, soybean oil, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, pork flavor, and lactic acid.

Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Bites, Chickey & Barley Recipe
$78.98
  • A dry dog food with easy-to-digest ingredients to fuel the energy needs of adult canines, with a little kibble
  • This dry food for small-breed dogs provides omega-6s & vitamin E for healthy skin & coat
  • Provides your adult little dog with high-quality protein for maintaining lean muscle
  • Promotes healthy digestion for your adult dog with natural fibers
  • Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
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03/03/2024 12:27 am GMT

If your Goldendoodle is lactose intolerant, then you may want to speak with the vet before opting for this dry dog food.

feeding time of Goldendoodle
A dog waits for his dog food to be served. (Image: Instagram/@reagan_doodle)

Introducing new food to a sensitive Goldendoodle stomach

Hill’s Science Diet should be introduced in a phased manner. It is best to gradually substitute some of the old food with the new diet. The fresh food should be around one-fourth of the daily intake for the first two days.  

The serving can be increased to half of the daily intake for the third and fourth days. For the fifth and sixth days, the intake of the new food can be increased to around three-fourths of the daily consumption, or slightly more. By the end of the first week, the new diet can replace the old food for the entire daily intake.

There are several minerals in Hill’s Science Diet, including calcium carbonate, choline chloride, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, manganous oxide and sodium selenite, and Vitamins E, C, A, B-12, and D-3. The food also has oat fiber, green peas, apples, carrots, broccoli, cranberries, beta carotene, and taurine.

Brain and Muscles Support – Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food

Any of the best dog foods for Goldendoodle that provides sufficient nutrition should promote the development of muscles and enhance brain functions. Some formulas tend to do this better than others.  

Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food, 33 lb
$77.99 ($0.16 / Fl Oz)
  • COMPLETE AND BALANCED: Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food is complete and balanced nutrition for small and medium breed dogs that are 12 months or older, weighing up to 54 lbs, and have a smaller...
  • MUSCLE & JOINT SUPPORT: A combination of animal protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate promotes lean muscle development and joint health in active adult dogs
  • HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION: DHA and vitamin E help keep dogs sharp and support healthy brain function
  • SUPPORTS ACTIVE DOGS: Optimal levels of fats and carbohydrates fuel an active lifestyle
  • DENTAL HEALTH: 3D DentaDefense maintains dental health by helping reduce tartar buildup
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02/11/2024 11:01 am GMT

Nutrients are not always sufficient in a portion of particular dog food. Bioavailability of these nutrients plays a vital role in providing brain and muscle support. This availability depends on the ingredients and the digestibility of the food.

Eukanuba dry dog food is available in 5lb, 16lb, and 33lb bags. The dry small bites are meant explicitly for adult Goldendoodles and other breeds. This chicken-based dry food is not ideal for large breeds.

If your Goldendoodle is older than twelve months and does not weigh over fifty-four pounds, this is one of the best dry foods for brain and muscle support. 

hungry Goldendoodle asks food
The hungry dog patiently waits for his food. (Image: Instagram/@reggiethedoodle1)

What ingredients give Eukanuba the brain boost?

Eukanuba Adult Small Bites dry dog food uses a combination of animal protein and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to provide optimum support to the brain. This also supports the development of lean muscles. As a result, dogs are more active, sharper, and more robust.

The formula contains DHA, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and several vitamins. The food also prevents the buildup of tartar and is therefore brilliant for your pet’s dental health.

Eukanuba’s primary ingredients in this formula are chicken and its byproducts, cornmeal, brewers rice, ground whole grain barley, dried beet pulp, fish oil, dried egg product, and flax meal, among others.

The food provides Vitamins A, B-1, B2, B-6, B-12, D-3, and E. It also has a plethora of minerals. The daily intake or serving and its frequency should be regulated as per the age, weight, and lifestyle of your Goldendoodle.

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Premium Nutrition – Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult Dry Dog Food

This is one of the healthiest and balanced dog foods available on the market. It offers premium nutrition without any byproduct meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. The tasty pellets are made of real chicken and turkey, the two primary ingredients in the formula. There is some duck and salmon too.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Adult Dog Food, Chicken, Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe, 28 lb. Bag | Soy Free, Corn Free, Wheat Free | Dry Dog Food Made with Real Ingredients
$62.99
  • All-natural dog Food made with real chicken & Turkey as the #1 and #2 ingredients
  • No by-product meals
  • No wheat, corn or soy
  • No artificial colors, preservatives or flavors
  • Lovingly prepared in the USA with the world's finest ingredients
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11/14/2023 12:32 pm GMT

All these meats are the healthiest among animal proteins. The formula also includes cracked pearled barley, veggies, whole grain brown rice, herbs, and fruits. Brown rice is a lot healthier than white rice. Barley is much leaner and more nutritious than wheat.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is primarily for adult dogs, irrespective of the breed. It is rich in omega fatty acids, necessary for healthy skin and coat. The formula contains prebiotic fiber derived from dried chicory root. This aids digestion and enhances the bioavailability of the other ingredients. The dry food also contains chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy muscles and joints.

hungry Goldendoodle asks food
The hungry dog patiently waits for his food. (Image: Instagram/@reggiethedoodle1)

Grain-Free – Turkey, and Duck – Blue Buffalo Wilderness Flatland Feast High Protein Grain Free

Since Goldendoodle is a hybrid and golden retrievers tend to have gastric problems, the trait may be genetically passed on to your pup. A pup or adult Goldendoodle can experience bloating.

Some Goldendoodles tend to be overweight. Grains are not their best friend if they are overweight or obese. Also, not all forms of animal protein can be suitable if your Goldendoodle experiences bloating.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Flatland Feast High Protein, Natural Dry Dog Food with Turkey, Quail & Duck 22-lb
$32.99 ($8.25 / lb)
  • MORE TURKEY IS COMING: An evolution of your dog’s formula with more turkey than ever, plus wholesome grains
  • PACKED WITH REAL TURKEY: A recipe inspired by the vast Midwestern plains, this high protein dog food features a blend of turkey, quail and duck to satisfy your dog’s wild side while helping build...
  • HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: BLUE Wilderness grain free dog food, made with healthy carbohydrates including sweet potatoes and peas, helps fuel your adult dog’s active lifestyle; It also contains omega 3 &...
  • ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life...
  • A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy,...
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09/14/2023 11:28 am GMT

Blue Buffalo’s grain-free, turkey, and duck based dry food work well for adult Goldendoodles. The food does not contain any wheat or soy. There is a blend of turkey, duck, and quail, all promoting the development of lean mass.

Instead of using grains, the carbohydrates are sourced from sweet potatoes, a much healthier source of glucose and energy. The formula also includes antioxidants, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

goldendoodles part of the family
Goldendoodles with wavy or curly coats shed less – making them often the best pick for kids with allergies or asthma triggered by dogs.

Goldendoodle Food Choice Conclusions

A balanced dry food diet will hit every marker for health in a Goldendoodle. Even super active Goldendoodles that love to swim and run can get their complete nutritional hit from dry food.

You can supplement with treats or homemade dog snacks if you like. Cooking up a storm? Why not whip up a treat for your Groodle? There are plenty of easy simple dog treat recipes using ingredients like meat or even almond milk.

If you are cooking for humans and have leftover vegetables – many can be used as a low calorie snack. Carrots, Bell Peppers, and Asparagus are safe for Goldendoodles to occasionally eat.