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Goldendoodles are a hybrid of the Golden Retriever and Poodle, known for their friendly disposition, intelligence, and affection for their family. As a hybrid breed, you can’t quite predict what your Goldendoodle will look like when they grow up. But one thing you can control is your dog’s diet.
When you’re searching for the right food for your Goldendoodle, the first thing to consider is your dog’s size. Standard-size Goldendoodles are considered a large dog breed, which means do best on a large-breed formula with fewer calories per pound of body weight than smaller pups. Toy and Miniature Goldendoodles, by contrast, need calorie-dense small-breed recipes designed for their fast metabolisms.
Beyond that, you’ll want to consider diets that support a Goldendoodle’s vulnerabilities. For example, since large Goldendoodles are prone to conditions like hip dysplasia and joint disease, these pups often benefit from extra joint support—usually in the form of recipes that feature glucosamine and chondroitin. Their tinier friends have smaller mouths that are more crowded with teeth, which means dental formulas to stave off periodontal disease can be a smart pick.
To help you find a good fit, we’ve rounded up nine dog foods that are strong choices for Goldendoodles, converting their ingredients to a dry-matter basis for easy comparison. Our priority is to make sure the foods we surface comply with AAFCO guidelines and help you understand what they’re especially effective at—but no matter what, it’s a good idea to run your selection by your vet, who can ensure your pick is a good choice for your particular dog.
All puppies grow quickly, but excessive growth puts large breed puppies like Standard Goldendoodles at risk for bone and joint disorders—so you’ll want a recipe that keeps calcium and phosphorus in check. For miniature Goldendoodle puppies, you’ll need something you can feed frequently and easily to sustain their metabolism and prevent hypoglycemia.
This mix of crunchy kibble pieces fits the bill for both small and large Goldendoodle puppies. It meets AAFCO nutritional standards for the growth stage, and it’s made with high-quality protein (chicken), antioxidants, and live probiotics. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from omega-rich fish oil offer critical nutrients for vision and brain development.
Calcium and phosphorus, which aid dental and bone growth, are in healthy proportion for large-breed puppies. We especially like the addition of probiotics to keep volatile puppy stomachs steady.
Key Nutrients:
- 406 kcal/cup
- Protein: 31.8%
- Fat: 20.5%
- Fiber: 3.4%
Nutro Natural Choice Adult Lamb & Brown Rice
This lamb and brown rice dry dog kibble is made with non-GMO ingredients and fortified with omega-3 and fatty acids for skin and coat health.
While AAFCO guidelines don’t differentiate between younger and older adult dogs, it can still be worth transitioning to a “junior” formula once your Goldendoodle has graduated from puppyhood. This dry kibble serves as a nice transition from puppy to adult food thanks to antioxidants that strengthen developing immune systems, omega-3 and fatty acids to help with skin and coat health, and natural fiber to promote smooth digestion.
The number one ingredient is lamb, along with a mix of non-GMO ingredients, including whole grains, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. It’s free from corn, soy, and wheat.
Key Nutrients:
- 3612 kcal/kg
- Protein: 24.4%
- Fat: 15.6%
- Fiber: 3.9%
Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility for Joint Health Dry Dog Food
This kibble provides extra support to adult and senior Goldendoodles who have joint issues.
Goldendoodles are prone to hip and joint issues, which can start in their youth or become more pronounced as they age. This dry dog food is made with EPA from fish oil to help provide additional joint support for adult large-breed dogs. It also contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, which both promote joint health.
In addition to providing extra support to joints, this food includes omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E for with skin and coat health, which can help pups whose skin has dried out with age. The kibble pieces are each larger in size (about 14 x 14 mm), which prevents a dog from eating too fast.
(Note that this formula won’t be a good fit for miniature and toy breeds.)
Key Nutrients:
- 367 kcal/cup
- Protein: 18.9% min to 31.1% max
- Fat: 13.3%
- Fiber: 3.3%
American Journey Protein & Grains Large Breed Salmon, Brown Rice & Vegetables Recipe Dry Dog Food
This dry dog feed, formulated for adult dogs, leads with salmon to support your dog’s skin and coat health.
If your dog struggles with environmental allergies or regular skin irritation, a recipe that leans heavily on omega fatty acids can help. American Journey is Chewy’s own dog food line, and it’s a popular pick for not just skin and coat health but also a wallet-friendly quality kibble.
This large-breed formula features fresh deboned salmon and Whitefish meal as the top two ingredients, with brown rice as a digestible source of carbohydrates. It includes a strong mix of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, plus glucosamine and chondroitin from whitefish meal for joint health. And it’s enhanced with DHA for vision and brain health.
Key Nutrients:
- 322 kcal/cup
- Protein: 26.7%
- Fat: 13.3%
- Fiber: 6.7%
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Science Diet, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
A medium-sized kibble formulated to help support the gut health of dog’s with sensitive stomachs.
Standard-sized Goldendoodles may be more prone to suffer from gastrointestinal issues that are more common in large dog breeds. If your adult pup has a sensitive stomach (at any size), this highly digestible, medium-sized kibble (approx. 12.4 x 10.5 mm) is made with beet pulp, a prebiotic fiber that helps support gut health. Chicken is the main ingredient, and it is a mix of vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for the whole body’s health.
Not only is it fortified with ingredients for dogs who suffer from sensitive stomachs, it also has vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids to help with skin and coat health.
Key Nutrients:
- 394 kcal/cup
- Protein: 22.2%
- Fat: 14.4%
- Fiber: 4.4%
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Dry Food
A high-protein dog food packed with essential vitamins and nutrients.
This ancestral grain formula contains high levels of protein and a healthy dose of vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. Formulated for medium and large breeds, this chicken and pomegranate recipe is ideal for especially active medium and standard Goldendoodles.
This dry dog food is a low-glycemic formula designed to avoid spiking blood sugar levels. It also includes omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and the pomegranates and berries provide a natural source of antioxidants for overall immune health.
Key Nutrients:
- 400 kcal/kg
- Protein: 33%
- Fat: 19.8%
- Fiber: 3.2%
JustFoodForDogs Joint & Skin Support
A fresh-made dog food made with ingredients that help support skin, coat, joint and digestive health.
Fresh dog food has grown in popularity over the last few years, and JustFoodForDog’s joint and skin support formula is a nice option for Goldendoodles. The ingredients include a mix of pork loin and tenderloin, quinoa, kale, carrots, Fuji apples, and collagen. Since it uses a single source of animal protein (pork), it may be a good option for dogs with food allergies. At 11.4% fat, it can also be a good option for pups who need a low-fat diet.
This gluten-free formula arrives frozen and must be thawed before feeding it to your pup.
Key Nutrients:
- 1143 kcal ME/kg
- Protein: 40.9%
- Fat: 11.4%
- Fiber: 9.1%
The Honest Kitchen Food Clusters Whole Grain Chicken & Oat Recipe
A cold-pressed dehyrated kibble made with chicken, vegetables, oats, and vitamins.
This slow-roasted, cold-pressed, dehydrated dog food provides a mix of dry bite-sized clusters made with chicken, vegetables, oats, and vitamins packed with nutrients. It can be fed to dogs of any size and age as a meal or topper, even for canines with sensitive stomachs.
For dogs with dry skin, this formula includes flaxseed, coconut oil, chia seeds, and salmon oil to support healthy skin and coat. It also includes natural fiber and live probiotics for gut health and immune-boosting antioxidants, like carrots and broccoli.
Key Nutrients:
- 428 kcal/cup
- Protein: 27.3%
- Fat: 16.5%
- Fiber: 5.7%
Merrick Healthy Grains Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food
A healthy weight recipe that’s low in calories but packed with protein and fiber.
If your dog needs to shed a few pounds, this healthy-weight, dry dog food is a nice option. It’s made with deboned chicken, whole grains, flaxseed, fruits, vegetables, and a mix of vitamins and nutrients. It also includes omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that provide a boost of skin and coat support, especially for dogs suffering from dry skin.
Best of all, it stays within AAFCO protein, fat, and fiber guidelines while still having fewer calories than the standard Merrick adult dry dog food. This is also a nice option for Goldendoodles of all sizes since it includes glucosamine and chondroitin, which help support their joints.
Key Nutrients:
- 355 kcal/cup
- Protein: 29.2%
- Fat: 10.1%
- Fiber: 11.2%
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing,
a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms and
adherence to AAFCO nutritional guidelines. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing
alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their
feedback.