Are you looking for the best dog food for Golden Retrievers?
Perfect! You’re in the right place.
In this Digdoggy.com guide, you’ll learn:
- The top 5 foods for Golden Retrievers
- What to consider when buying dog food
- What type of foods you can choose from
And much more!
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to find our in depth reviews on each of the top dog food for Golden Retrievers.
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Our Top Pick  | Our Top Pick | Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Breed Specific Dry Dog Food
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| View on Amazon |
Best high-End  | Best high-End | Diamond Naturals Premium Dry Dog Food
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| View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | Best Budget | Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free Recipe
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| View on Amazon |
 | Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Merrick Grain Free with Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On October 16, 2021
Our top choice is Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Breed Dry Dog Food.
This brand has created precise formulas made with nutrients to address the specific needs of pure breeds.
Even the shape and texture of the kibble have been designed for a Golden Retrievers jaw structure and biting patterns.
Royal canine has specially designed food that supports common health problems and healthy growth. Overall the perfect choice for Goden Retriever owners.
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Our Top 5 Best dog foods For Golden Retrievers
In a hurry? Check out our top 5 dog foods for Golden Retrievers! Keep reading to discover more about our top choices.
What Are The Different Types of Dog foods For Golden Retrievers?
A healthy diet requires the perfect balance of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that are found in various food types:
- Dry dog foods
- Wet dog foods
- A mix of both wet & dry diet
Dry Dog foods
Dry dog food diets are used to help with dental care as sodium hexametaphosphate helps to bind the calcium in a Golden Retrievers calcium to slow the formation of tartar.
This type of food also provides more convenience due to the low price tag and ease of storage which is why it is favored amongst the majority of dog owners.
Wet dog foods
Wet foods generally contain more protein and more fats providing a better taste for dogs over dry.
It also contains a lot of water which means if your dog is ill, they’ll probably continue to eat their food, and in doing so the water content will help in keeping them hydrated while the nutrients help them to fight off the illness.
Mix Of wet and dry dog foods
Ideally, dogs should be fed a combination of wet and dry. The wet food makes for a tasty choice, better protein quality, and your Golden Retriever will eat it more readily.
On the other hand, dry food adds the economical aspect, so the cost of the overall diet is minimized.
With this combination, your dog is less likely to stop eating when they are ill. The important thing to remember when feeding a combination is the calorie count.
You’ll have to account for the calories in the wet and then separately in the dry to ensure you do not exceed the total recommend intake for your golden Retriever.
Dehydrated
Unfortunately, the vast majority of pet food on the market today does not place priority on human-grade ingredients. Wet and dry foods are made from ‘feed grade’ ingredients made of unwanted parts that are unsuitable for human consumption.
Thankfully, companies such as HonestKitchen produce high-quality dehydrated dog foods that retain healthy nutrients that contain anti-oxidants which help with various systems with your dog’s body.
Fresh Homemade
Homemade dog foods can help to improve digestive issues, bad breath, and the quality of skin and coat.
This gives you more control over what your dog consumes helping to ensure a balanced diet.
What Should You Look For In A high-Quality Dog Food For Golden Retrievers?
In order for your dog to have the best-balanced diet, you’ll need to know what to look out for:
High protein
Proteins are the key building blocks in a healthy Golden Retrievers nutrition. According to Merck Veterinary Manual, adult size Golden Retrievers require 18% protein in their diets.
High protein diets help with recovery, skin, coats and weight management.
Low Fat
A lower fat diet is good for dogs with pancreas problems, sensatives stomachs and obesity.
The amount and quality of fats become an issue when protis first companies choose to use ingredients such as fatty trimmings, ananymouns animal fats and slaughter house waste.
National Research Council of the National Academies recommends 1130.5 calories per day with 18% fat in the diet.
Micronutrients
Microutrients, also referred to as vitamins and minerals are essential canine superfoods that help your dog to fight disease, boost energy and maintain general good health.
High heating and processing of dog foods reduce the existing supply of micronutrients which is why it has to be added.
A deficiency of micronients can causebone and joint disease, poor coat condition, bad reprodcutive systems and low immunity to disease.
To combat, food manufactures use ‘added vitmans and minerals’ whcih are a synthetic form that is added in order to meet minimum standards of nutrition set by AAFCO.
Nutraceuticals
A ‘nutraceutical’ is a type of dietary supplement that isn’t an essential nutrient, but still does provide other health benefits in addition to nutrition.
Nutraceuticals is a categorized by supplements such as fish oils, fatty acids, vitamins B, C, E, glucosimine and so on.
Although this does not provide a nutritional benefit to dogs, it does help a dogs innate healing process to improve clinical outcomes.
Our Reviews Of The Best Dog Foods For Golden Retriever Allergies
Pick #1: Royal Canin Golden Retriever Dog Food
It’s the best golden retriever food overall due to its nutritional value and food shape.
This food features taurine, EPA, and DHA, which will help with healthy heart function, reduce the risk of blood clots and inflammatory conditions.
Likewise, it’s packed with the necessary daily vitamins and minerals golden retrievers should have. You won’t find any fillers or unnecessary ingredients here.
Moreover, they have this exclusive kibble shape designed with the retriever’s mouth in mind. They’re big, and they encourage chewing and actual enjoyment of the meal.
Pros
- Can clear gastrointestinal issues
- Big kibble design
- Helps to manage weight
Cons
- Quality is not consistent
Pick #2: Diamond Naturals For Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Unlike many products, this all-natural food comes in two flavors of lamb or chicken with rice.
Pasture-raised animals make up the bulk of the food, while superfoods like chia seeds, coconut, quinoa, and kale complete the meal.
No fillers or artificial flavorings and preservatives are used here, too, so your furbaby won’t be consuming anything he doesn’t need.
Likewise, vitamins such as potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, zinc, and copper are also prevalent in Diamond Naturals. They’re mixed in with probiotics to help your buddy’s digestive tract.
You’ll also be guaranteed better joint function for your retriever since it features chondroitin and glucosamine.
Pros
- All-natural ingredients
- Packed with vitamins
- Great on joints
Cons
- Causes dogs to become gassy
Pick #3: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free Recipe
Some fur-parents may opt to go grain-free for various reasons, and if you’re one of them, you may want to check out this product.
Despite having no grains, it’s still guaranteed to be nutrition-packed.
Meanwhile, the grain-packed version features millet, sorghum, chia, and quinoa seeds.
These grains are high in protein, so they’ll suit your furbaby well if they’re highly active.
This food comes in two flavor and three versions: grain-packed bison and venison roast, grain-free bison and venison roast, and grain-free bison and venison for puppies.
Pros
- No artificial flavors
- Loaded with superfoods
- Packed with vitamins
Cons
- Only two flavors
Pick #4: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed
Blue buffalo features a grain-free, high protein, and high fat mixture that’s perfect for your growing pooch.
You’ll also love how Blue Buffalo has antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids mixed into it to give your buddy the best nutrition he can get.
With this, you’ll have a shiny coat, functional joints, and high energy levels. Blue Buffalo is available in various flavors, including chicken, lamb, beef, and venison.
Pros
- High in protein and fats
- Helps with stomach issues
- Affordable price
Cons
- Bag doesn't have a zip seal
Pick #5: CANIDAE PURE Real Salmon Grain free Dog Food
CANIDAE Dry Dog foods give you the option of choosing from 11 flavors that include salmon, bison, lamb, duck, boar, and chicken.
Each is grain-free and contains a minimum of 20% crude protein.
However, the Salmon and sweet potato flavor, in particular, contains 36% protein, 20% fat, and 36$ estimated carbs.
While being hypoallergenic this food also helps with digestion, supports antioxidants, and manufactured with omega 6 & 3 fatty acids to encourage a healthy coat.
All ingredients are made with real food paired with whole foods such as sweet potato, peas lentils, or chickpeas. There’s no doubt that this high protein diet will help your Golden to stay Golden and build lean, strong muscle in the process.
Pros
- High in protein
- Helps to support healthy skin and coat
- Works For sensitive stomachs
Cons
- Food has almost doubled in price
Our Top Pick: Merrick Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Our top pick is the Royal Canin Adult Breed Specific Dry Dog Food.
The brand aims to support the specific needs of a Golden Retriever through the nutritional value provided in their foods.
With the recommended diet for this breed, all the nutrients and vitamins encourage healthy growth of coat and prevention of illnesses.
Currently available in 3kg and 12kg bags for the best price here.
Conclusion
A great diet for Golden Retrievers involves dry and wet foods along with the odd homemade recipe from time to time. Foods that are rich in Omega3, high protein, and fatty acids encourage healthy growth of skin and coat.
Royal Canin by far offers everything you need making this the perfect choice for Golden Retriever dog owners.
