Having a canine friend is a fantastic experience, and we recommend it to everyone. Dogs love unconditionally, and that is their main difference from us humans. For this exact reason, you should do your best to provide them with an enriching life that is filled with compassion and attention.
Apart from walking your dog on a regular basis, you should also make sure that they always have a fresh source of water, as well as nutritious dog food, whether it is dry or wet. When it comes to a Goldendoodle, which is a mix of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, our personal recommendation is that you feed them with high-quality kibble, at least in the early stages of their life.
With this in mind, we will do our best to suggest the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppy throughout this article by highlighting a couple of products that we consider worthy. Let’s get right to it!
Comparison Chart
Best Dog Food for Goldendoodle Puppy Reviews
Pedigree Puppy Growth and Protection Chicken and Vegetable Flavor
First on our list is a formula that is designed by one of the most popular brands on the market – Pedigree. It doesn’t feature artificial flavors, preservatives, added high-fructose syrup, or artificial sugar. You are looking at a well-balanced kibble that is perfect for a medium-sized breed, such as a Goldendoodle. This is the reason we consider it worth your attention.
Review
First and foremost, this product comes at a fantastic price for a 36-pound bag, which is the only sizing option. It is made for puppies that are between 6 weeks and 24 weeks old, as the formula tries to replicate both the nutrients that are found in mother’s milk, as well as provide your dog with poultry protein and complex carbs.
It is completely balanced in terms of macro and micronutrients, ensuring that your canine friend has healthy skin, coat, bone, and muscle development. Additionally, it is a small and tasty kibble that is quite easy for your puppy to eat. However, we weren’t impressed by how digestible this product is, as it doesn’t contain a prebiotic and probiotic complex that would provide much-needed healthy gut bacteria.
Luckily, it features fish oil. Apart from fresh sources, such as mackerel, salmon, sea bass, tuna, and cod, fish oil is considered to be the best source of Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Still, we weren’t that happy to find that ground whole grain corn is the first ingredient and that the main source of protein is chicken meal. It would be much better if it was in a whole meat form. On the other hand, it is made in the USA according to all the industry standards in terms of macro and micronutrient requirements. We still consider it a fine choice for those who are on a limited budget.
Pros
- Affordable for most people
- Tasty and crunchy
- Small kibble for easy chewing
- Great for oral health
- Contains fish oil
- Complex carbs
Cons
- Lacks a probiotic/prebiotic formula
- Chicken meal as first protein
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Puppy Chow Tender and Crunchy with Real Beef
With Purina standing behind this product, the Puppy Chow formula seems to be a well-balanced and highly nutritious choice. It features real beef as a protein source, as well as fish oil, which is a reliable source of DHA and essential omega-3 fatty acids.
Review
Much like the aforementioned product, this dry dog food is intended for puppies. However, it is recommended that you give it to your Goldendoodle only until it turns 1 year of age. After that, switch to adult kibble or the BARF diet. The product comes in a 16-pound or 32-pound bag, both coming at an affordable price.
One of the coolest features has to be the added calcium, as well as vitamins and minerals that are essential for your puppy’s development. It includes complex carbs that come from whole grain corn and whole-grain wheat. However, we weren’t impressed with the fact that chicken meal stands as the first protein source. Also, the advertised real beef is preserved with tocopherols.
This, as well as the fact that it is not free of artificial colors and flavors, makes the Puppy Chow Tender a budget-friendly but not an all-natural formula. Frankly, it can provide your dog with all of the necessary macronutrients, as well as DHA, which plays a huge role in brain development. However, we would rather recommend that you go for other products listed in this review.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Crunchy/easy to eat
- Includes DHA
- Real beef included
Cons
- Includes products and fillers
- Has artificial colors and flavors
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Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites
Hill’s comes as one of the most successful companies in the dry dog food industry. This, as well as the fact that you are going to help animals in need by buying this product, makes it an option that you should definitely consider. Highlighted by an all-natural chicken and barley formula, it will provide your Goldendoodle puppy with much-needed macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals for healthy growth.
Review
The first and most important point when reviewing dry dog food is to determine that it doesn’t include artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Luckily, that is the case with Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites, which is thoughtfully developed and comes in small kibble which is perfect for smooth digestion.
What we love about this formula is that it includes poultry (chicken) as the main protein source. This provides much-needed chondroitin and glucosamine (hip/joint health). It comes in two different sizes, including a 4-pound bag and a 15.5-pound bag. We have to say that it would be much better if it also featured beef or lamb protein for versatility.
However, as it features fish oil, you won’t have to worry about omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and Vitamin E, which are all crucial for eye, skin, coat, and brain development. It is highlighted by a fantastic taste (natural), and it is perfect for oral health for two reasons. Firstly, it is supplemented by essential minerals, such as phosphorus and calcium. Secondly, the crunch that is present in Hill’s kibble goes a long way when it comes to cleaning your puppy’s gums.
Yes, we would be happier if there was a dedicated prebiotic/probiotic complex to make this food easier to digest, but it still shouldn’t be too difficult for your Goldendoodle. Overall, this dry dog food comes at a reasonable price and is highlighted by a well-balanced formula for any small or medium-sized puppy.
Pros
- Reasonably priced for a good product
- Crunchy and tasty
- Poultry protein for vitamins and minerals
- DHA helps improve and maintain dog’s health
- Great for oral/bone health
- Rich in antioxidants
Cons
- Does not include probiotics
- Doesn’t feature beef/lamb protein
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Purina Pro Plan Focus Classic Chicken and Rice Can Food
Moving on with our list of the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppies, we present you with a well-thought-out canned formula. Coming from Purina in a case of twelve 13-ounce cans for an affordable price, it features chicken and rice as the two main ingredients.
Review
You can use this product not only for puppies but also for adult dogs given its high-quality protein source, as well as supplemented DHA that is essential for brain health. One can is 13 ounces, which can be one or two meals depending on how old your Goldendoodle is.
The most advertised trait of this product is that it provides a hefty dose of protein from chicken and chicken liver, as well as complex carbs from rice. These work together to energize your puppy and support the early growth phase. It is quite good to know that this formula doesn’t include any preservatives or flavors.
However, we did find that it contains meat byproducts, which is not the best solution for the third ingredient in dog food. Still, we were quite happy with the vitamin and mineral complex that this Purina Pro Plan is highlighted by, as your dog will be getting a balanced dose of Vitamin B12, riboflavin, manganese, selenium, zinc, and DHA from fish oil, which is essential for brain, skin, and coat health.
Made in the USA, you shouldn’t have a lot of questions in terms of whether this formula is safe to use for your Goldendoodle puppy. Overall, it is an affordable and nutritious solution for all fans of canned food.
Pros
- Good price point for good quality
- Easy to eat and digest
- High-quality chicken protein
- Vitamin/mineral complex
- Rich in DHA – optimizes your dog’s well-being
Cons
- Meat byproducts are included
- Artificial colorants used
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Last on our list is an all-natural chicken and brown rice dry dog food that is just perfect if you are enthusiastic about your dog going holistic. While at a higher price, it offers a well-balanced and nutritious formula that is free of any artificial ingredients and potentially harmful chemicals.
Review
Blue Buffalo is a company that does an amazing job with super-premium dry dog food formulas. In our opinion, it is the best choice if you have a somewhat flexible budget, given the fact that deboned chicken, whole grains, and a mix of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies are great for a puppy that is in development.
One of the coolest features is that you can be 100% sure that the protein source is high-quality, as in this case, we are talking about farm-raised deboned chicken and not meal or byproducts. Brown rice, oatmeal, and barley are sources of complex carbs and soluble fiber that will provide your dog with essential minerals, including zinc, manganese, and selenium.
As we have mentioned above, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product truly is all that you need given the fruits, veggies, and several other superfoods that are rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries and cranberries. The peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes act as natural supplements of vitamins A and E, playing an essential role when it comes to strengthening the immune system, as well as supporting the skin, coat, and eye health of your Goldendoodle.
There is not much to worry about in terms of keeping this food fresh, even if you go for the largest package, which is 30 pounds. Other size options include 3-pound, 6-pound, and 15-pound bags. This kibble is cold-formed, which means that it will stay rich and nutritious for more than a few months after being opened.
Lastly, the featured DHA is a great addition to this dry dog food formula, especially as it doesn’t include any fresh fish protein. Finally, apart from the somewhat higher price, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection dog food is a flawless product that we recommend!
Pros
- It is tasty and easy for dogs to digest
- Deboned chicken is a great source of protein
- Includes brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Rich in antioxidants and vitamins
- Great vitamin/mineral complex
- Featuring DHA for optimal health
Cons
- A bit pricey compared to similar options
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Alternative: My Ollie
While we did our best to highlight a couple of high-quality dry dog food products, we understand that you simply may not be a fan. For anyone who is enthusiastic about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet, we have a great alternative – My Ollie.
This is a company that provides customized feeding schedules and plans that will help you ensure the optimal growth of your puppy and adult dog. The process is incredibly simple and involves you giving them the essential information of your canine friend and following the detailed instructions that will arrive a couple of business days once the meal plan is done.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it is quite hard to come out with a final verdict on which is the best dog food for a Goldendoodle puppy. However, our personal favorite is the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, as it is highlighted by high-quality protein, complex carbs, essential fatty acids, and a fantastic vitamin/mineral complex for healthy development.
Our second choice is the Hill’s Science Puppy Formula, which lacks a dedicated prebiotic/probiotic complex, but given how highly nutritious and reasonably priced it is, we consider it a product worthy of your time and money!
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