Take it from someone who knows: Golden Retrievers are incredibly loyal, affectionate, and awesome dogs. But they can also be a handful—which is why you need to make sure you’re feeding them the right food.
If you’ve got a Golden Retriever puppy, adult, or senior dog at home, there’s no better way to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need than by sticking with the right diet.
They may eat just about anything and not get sick, but their long-term health will suffer if they’re not getting the right mix of vitamins, minerals, and good-for-them proteins or fatty acids.
But what should you feed them? If you’ve ever Googled “what to feed Golden Retriever,” then you’ve probably been bombarded with several options. It can be overwhelming trying to decide which is right for your pup.
Well, we’ve got good news for you! We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to. After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what kind of food will keep your Golden Retriever thriving.
General feeding guidelines
For feeding your Golden Retriever puppy, you have a lot of choices. How much should you feed him each day? What foods are healthy for him? What foods should you avoid?
- Golden retrievers eat more than most other breeds of dogs. They also require a different ratio of proteins and carbohydrates than most other dog breeds do.
- When training your golden retriever, you need to be sure that your dog has a full stomach. They are very energetic animals, and they’ll burn off their energy quickly if you’re not careful.
- If you have a young, growing puppy, he needs to eat three times a day (at least). As he gets older, he can go down to two meals per day. Once he’s an adult, at one-year-old or so, you can go down to one/two meals every day.
- The amount of food you give your golden retriever will depend on its age, health, size, and activity level. If you’re feeding a puppy, it’s important to make sure he is getting enough food to grow properly. If you’re feeding an adult dog, then you want to make sure he gets enough food to maintain his healthy weight.
- With this in mind, you can’t just feed them 24/7. Not only will you waste a lot of money on food for your pooch, but it’s possible that he’ll become overweight and unhealthy too.
- If your golden retriever is overweight or underweight, then it’s time to adjust the amount of food he eats each day. You can do this by reducing the size of his meals or increasing the number of meals per day. This should help get him back to a healthy weight in no time.
- For the best results with your dog’s health and growth, make sure that his last meal is at least 4 hours before you go to sleep at night. This will prevent him from eating too late and having an upset stomach, which may lead to bathroom accidents overnight.
- We advise you to feed at the same time. It will enhance the digestive ability of your pooch. Allow him 15-20 minutes to eat.
How much should I feed my Golden Retriever?
How much should I feed my Golden Retriever puppy?
It’s a question every new Golden Retriever owner wants to know the answer to, and we’re here to help. This article will break down how much you should feed your Golden Retriever pup by month, starting at eight weeks old (or two months).
8 weeks old: 1.5 cups dry food thrice daily
3 months old: 2 cups dry food thrice daily
4 months old: 2.5 cups dry food thrice daily
5 months old: 3 cups dry food thrice daily
6 months old: 3.5 cups dry food twice daily
7 months old: 3.5-4 cups dry food twice daily
8 months old: depending on the growth
Adults: 3-4 cups dry food twice daily
For all the Golden Retriever’s life, you will want to make sure that they are being fed the right food, but what do you feed them? There are mainly two options, and it is up to you as an owner to determine what works best for your pet.
Homemade food for Golden Retriever
There are a lot of advantages to feeding your golden retriever homemade food. The first is that you have complete control over what goes into the food. You can make sure that your dog gets all the nutrients she needs with no ingredients that could cause allergies or other issues.
You will also know exactly what your dog has eaten, which helps you avoid stomach upsets, food poisoning, and other problems. And you can easily keep a balance between nutrients and calories to keep your dog from gaining too much weight.
On the downside, preparing homemade food for your dog requires a lot of time, effort, and money. You’ll need to buy all the ingredients each week, plus special tools like pots and pans to cook it in. And if your dog doesn’t like what you’ve made, she may not want to eat at all!
If you choose to feed your dog homemade food, take the following precautions:
- Do not feed leftover table scraps as the sole source of nutrition for your pet.
- Do not substitute ingredients in a recipe without checking with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist first; certain foods may create nutritional imbalances or even pose health risks for your pet.
- Correctly calculate the calories in the diet so that your dog maintains a healthy body weight.
- Store raw meat away from other foods in the refrigerator, preferably on the bottom shelf or in a separate container.
For proper and balanced formulation, contact your vet. He will guide you depending on the condition of your dog.
Commercial food for Golden Retriever
Commercial dog food is a popular option because it comes in many varieties and can be found almost anywhere. This makes it easy for owners to find something that their dog likes and can eat without having to worry about getting ahold of any unusual ingredients or finding time to prepare anything.
Though commercial food is the easiest and most convenient option, it can also be expensive. Commercial foods are convenient because you don’t have to worry about finding the right mix of nutrients and ingredients, which is important for some dogs with special dietary needs because homemade food may not cover all the nutrients.
Choosing proper commercial food for Golden Retriever
There are many things to consider when choosing a commercial food for your Golden Retriever, and it can feel overwhelming. Let’s break it down into some simple steps.
1. Choose foods that are appropriate for your dog’s age. If you have a puppy, look for a puppy-specific food. Older dogs have different needs and should not eat puppy food, as it can be too high in calories for their lifestyle.
2. Choose foods that are appropriate for your dog’s size. Small breeds need fewer calories and larger breeds need more calories, so choose the appropriate sized kibble to ensure the proper amount of nutrients is available to your pup.
3. Consider what kind of lifestyle your dog lives—is he active? Does he go on lots of walks and hikes? Or does he lounge around most days? This will affect how many calories he needs each day, so make sure you’re feeding him enough to meet his needs but not so much that he becomes overweight or obese (which can put him at risk of diabetes).
4. Look at the ingredient list—it should be made with real meat as the first ingredient (not meat meal or by-products). This way you know it has quality protein sources that will support your Golden Retriever’s health and development. You should also see fruits or vegetables in the ingredient list, too. That way you know there are nutrients in the food beyond just protein and fat that are necessary for a healthy dog.
5. Look at the guaranteed analysis—it should be between at least 22 and 30% protein. This is the amount of protein in the food after processing, and it is a good indicator of whether your Golden Retriever is getting enough protein to maintain his health. It’s also important to look at fat content—it should be between 8 and 15%. Make sure the food is high in fiber—that means there’s plenty of fiber to keep your dog regularly.
6. Look at feeding guidelines on the bag—they should have guidelines for how much to feed based on your dog’s weight, age, and activity level. You don’t want a bag without feeding guidelines because then there’s no way of knowing if it’s right for your dog.
7. Check the label for AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement—if it’s there, it means they have tested the food as complete and balanced.
3 best commercial food for Golden Retriever
1. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food
If you’re looking for a dog food that’s fairly affordable and offers high-quality ingredients, then Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food is a great choice for your Golden Retriever.
Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the United States, which means many people are going to be searching for dog food that meets their specific needs. If you have one of these pups, then it’s important to find food that has enough protein in it without being too expensive or having a lot of fillers. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food is a great choice because it offers these things at an affordable price.
The top ingredient in this product is chicken, which makes it ideal for any canine who might have allergies or intolerances to other meats like beef or soybeans.
The second ingredient is ground rice, followed by whole grain wheat and corn gluten meal (both of which are good sources of fiber).
Third, this food is great for your Golden because it has probiotics in the formula. If he has a sensitive stomach and probiotics help with his digestion.
Finally, poultry by-product meal provides glucosamine for joint health and omega-3 fatty acids to help maintain an ideal body weight.
If you’re looking for the best overall dog food for Golden Retrievers, look no further than ”Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food”.
2. Royal Canin Golden Retriever Dog Food
Anyone who has a Golden Retriever knows these dogs love to eat. They are so food focused, in fact, that keeping them at a healthy weight can be a challenge.
Enter: Royal Canin Golden Retriever Dog Food. This is the best premium food for your Golden Retriever, because it’s specifically designed for their unique nutritional needs. The top ingredients are chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, rice, and corn gluten meal.
The product features include EPA and DHA to help with heart health and a precise amount of calories and fat to maintain a healthy weight, so you won’t have to worry about overfeeding Fido—a common problem among Golden Retriever owners.
You can buy it as wet or dry food, so you can find the right option to deliver the right nutrition with the right taste for your pup.
While there may be cheaper options on the market, you’ll see the benefits of this food when you see how much your dog loves it! At first glance, it may seem like a lot of money for a bag of dog food, but with all the health benefits your dog will receive, you’ll see why it’s so highly reviewed.
3. ‘Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural Large Breed
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly dog food to keep your Golden Retriever happy and healthy, Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural Large Breed is an option worth considering. Purina ONE has a strong reputation as a trusted brand and the Smart Blend line is one of the highest rated among Purina’s products.
The top ingredients in Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural Large Breed include chicken, rice flour, whole grain wheat, and soybean meal. While they list chicken as the first ingredient, there are also some less desirable ingredients like meat by-product meal that some people may be concerned about.
Athletes and active dogs will enjoy enough protein content that contributes to strong muscles, while the added glucosamine helps support healthy joints.
If you have a golden retriever, you know they need top-quality nutrition. But it doesn’t always have to come at a high cost.The Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural Large Breed is a great choice for your golden friend, and it won’t break the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water should a Golden Retriever drink?
It’s always recommended that your dog have easy access to fresh water, but exactly how much should a Golden Retriever drink each day?
The answer varies based on several factors. You want to provide your Golden with about ½ to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight. So if your Golden Retriever weighs 75 pounds, he or she will need between 37 and 75 ounces of water per day.
The amount of water your dog needs also depends on their daily activity level and the temperature outside. If it’s hot out, they’re more likely to sweat, which means they’ll need more water than usual. The same goes for exercise—if your furry friend is being active, they’ll probably be sweating in the process and will need more water to make up for it.
In most cases, if you’ve got a healthy Golden that’s eating a good diet and getting the right amount of exercise, they won’t need any special “hydration” beyond what they get from their food. Make sure their food contains lots of natural moisture, like fruits and vegetables. And don’t forget treats! If your pup gets dehydrated from too much exercise or from spending too much time in the sun, you can get them back on track by offering them treats with high water content, like chicken or turkey breast.
How long can a Golden Retriever dog go without food?
With a healthy Golden Retriever dog, you can expect them to go three days without eating food as long as they have water.
After three days without food, your dog will exhibit symptoms of dehydration and fatigue. If they don’t eat, they will die.
It’s important to note that your dog won’t know when it is going to get food again; if you feed them at roughly the same time every day, they may exhibit hunger around that time.
If you are going away for a few days and want to leave your Golden Retriever at home, make sure that there is enough food for them for the entire trip and be considerate of the fact that they may need more frequent access to water than usual because of the stress of being left alone. Consider hiring someone who can check on them at least once a day or take them with you instead.
How long can a Golden Retriever dog go without water?
The average Golden Retriever can go about 3 days (72 hours) without the consumption of water. However, the maximum time a dog can survive without water is determined by several factors, including the dog’s size, health, and environment.
Large dogs like Golden Retrievers are more at risk for dehydration than smaller dogs because they have higher body mass to volume ratios. This means that their bodies require larger amounts of water to function than smaller dogs.
Because of this, it’s extremely important that larger dogs have access to water at all times. If you’re going out of town or you have to leave your dog alone for an extended period, make sure someone will check in on them and provide them with fresh water throughout the day.
Can Golden Retrievers eat human food?
The short answer is yes, but there are some things you want to keep in mind.
You’ll want to be very careful about what foods you give your dog. There are some foods that aren’t safe for dogs to eat, but there are also many that are not healthy and shouldn’t be given regularly.
It’s a good idea to avoid giving human foods like bread and pasta. Bread can cause gas and bloating in some dogs, while pasta is hard for them to digest.
Most fruits and vegetables are safe for dogs, but some may have toxic compounds or dangerous bacteria that make them unsafe for dogs (for example, grapes). Apples are usually okay as long as they’re cut up into small pieces without seeds or stems attached.
You should only give oranges in moderation because of their high sugar content. Also avoid giving onions because they can cause anemia with prolonged exposure.
Some human foods can be toxic to dogs, such as chocolate or coffee beans (in large amounts). Other foods like grapes and raisins contain compounds that can lead to kidney failure if ingested by your pet over time so it’s best not to give them at all.
Conclusion
These tips will bring you and your Golden Retriever closer together. Not only are they going to be healthier, but their behavior will improve as well. You’ll find that your Golden is more trainable, more energetic, and more cuddly than before.
No matter what you do, it’s important to remember that you should work with your vet to determine the best diet for your Golden Retriever. This article has given you a place to start, but it’s not a substitute for professional advice. Your vet will help you decide what kind of food and supplements are right for a dog of this size and activity level. With their help, your Golden Retriever will live a long and happy life.