What’s the Best Dog Food for a Golden Retriever?

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

There’s so much to love about Golden Retrievers. These dogs are known for their soft, long coats, gentle temperaments, and goofy personalities. But they’re also prone to a few health concerns, like hip dysplasia, obesity, and skin and hair issues. Other common health concerns include bloat from eating too fast and being overweight. Feeding a diet rich in nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of certain health problems. So, what’s the best dog food for Golden Retrievers?

Below are 9 different AAFCO-compliant dog foods that address the overall dietary needs of Golden Retrievers. From kibble to dehydrated raw, there are lots of different options to help you find the best dog food for your goofy and gorgeous Golden Retriever. As always, it’s best to consult with your vet when deciding on and changing your dog’s food to ensure all their dietary needs are met.

Note that we’ve converted all nutritional analysis to a dry-matter basis so you can compare nutrients across food types with different moisture contents (like canned versus kibble).

Best for Golden Retriever Puppies: Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula

Time flies when you have a puppy. One minute, they’re a snuggly ball of cuddles and fluff, and the next minute, they’re zooming around and looking as if they’ve grown ten times their size in a matter of months. That’s why AAFCO puppy nutritional guidelines recommend foods with a higher protein (22%) and fat content (8%) than their adult life stages guidelines. At 28% protein content and 18% fat content, this puppy food meets those guidelines to help support your fast-growing friend.

The formula also includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oils to help with critical eye and brain development, added minerals and nutrients for bone and teeth health, and vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to help support a healthy and shiny coat. This dry dog food also has a blend of probiotics and antioxidants to help with gut, digestion, and overall immune health.

Key Nutrients:

• 406 kcal/cup
• Protein: 31.8%
• Fat: 20.5%
• Fiber: 3.4%
• Calcium: 1.25%

Best for Adult Golden Retrievers: Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Dry Dog Food

While AAFCO adult nutritional guidelines don’t differentiate between breeds, sometimes it can be helpful to choose a formula that has added nutrients to address health issues breeds are prone to. This Golden Retriever–specific blend was made for purebred Golden Retrievers and features kibble pieces that are uniquely shaped to help promote chewing and prevent bloat, which can be common in Goldens.

This adult dry kibble also contains taurine, EPA, and DHA to help support your dog’s heart health. Since Golden Retrievers are prone to sensitive skin, it also has added vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E and fish oil, to strengthen the skin’s barrier. The ingredients also include glucosamine and chondroitin to help with joint health and mobility. It features a mix of protein from chicken and energy-providing carbohydrates, like brown rice and oat groats.

Key Nutrients:

• 276 kcal/cup
• Protein: 25.5%
• Fat: 12.2%
• Crude Fiber: 6.3%

Best for Joint Health and Weight Management: Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight & Joint Support

Golden Retrievers are prone to both joint and weight management issues, and this dry kibble blend helps address both. This blend is made specifically for large breeds with bigger-sized kibble pieces (approx. 5mm x 11mm) to prevent overeating.

At 300 kcal per cup, it was formulated to provide the nutrition adult dogs require while losing weight for health. The formula contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which help support healthy cartilage, and omega-3 fish oil, which supports joint, hip, and skin health. Chicken is the #1 ingredient, adding to the formula’s 28.5% protein content. We especially like the high fiber content, which can help a dog on a diet feel full.

Key Nutrients:

• 300 kcal/cup
• Protein: 28.5%
• Fat: 14.3%
• Carbohydrate: 36.5%
• Crude Fiber: 15%

Best for Sensitive Stomachs and Skin: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin

This dry dog food is a nice option for dogs with sensitive stomachs, skin issues, or both. Beet pulp acts as a prebiotic fiber for gut health and digestion, while vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids support your dog’s skin and coat. Added antioxidants and vitamins C and E also help support your dog’s immune system.

Chicken and whole grains make this a highly digestible choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. At 3.55mm x 10mm, the kibble pieces are a bit small for Goldens, so if your dog is a speedy eater, you may want to feed this in a slow feeder. At 22% protein and 14.4% fat content, this kibble falls well within AAFCO’s feeding guidelines for adult dogs.

Key Nutrients:

• 394 kcal/cup
• Protein: 22.2%
• Fat: 14.4%
• Crude Fiber: 4.4%

Best Dry Kibble: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Recipe

This dry kibble, made by the well-known and trusted brand Hills, is formulated specifically for large adult dogs in their prime. As a large breed, Golden Retrievers have a higher risk of bloat, which can be exacerbated by eating too fast or too much at once. This kibble features big pieces (14 mm to 15.5 mm) to help slow your Golden down so they get the same nutrition in smaller portions.

At 363 kcal per cup and only 12.8% fat, this dry kibble helps maintain a healthy weight. It also includes natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, and omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to nourish your Golden’s long, shiny coat. This formula is available in two flavors—chicken & oats and lamb & rice—and comes in a version for Golden seniors.

Key Nutrients:

• 363 kcal/cup
• Protein: 22.2%
• Fat: 12.8%
• Crude Fiber: 4.4%

Best Wet Food: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Wet Dog Food

Incorporating wet food into your dog’s diet from time to time can spruce up mealtime. It’s also excellent for food puzzles, which can help work your Golden’s energetic and active mind.

This Purina Pro Plan formula is especially gentle on sensitive digestive systems with ingredients like oatmeal, rice, and salmon. The DHA from the salmon also provides omega-3 fatty acids to help with brain function and vision—an added factor to consider as Golden Retrievers are prone to eye conditions like cataracts.

Key Nutrients:

• 1006 kcal/kg; 370 kcal/can
• Protein: 29.5%
• Fat: 20.5%
• Crude Fiber: 6.8%

Best Raw: Stella & Chewy Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties

Recent anecdotal evidence has suggested dogs may be able to digest raw protein more easily and retain its nutrients better than food that undergoes a heating process. But with these purported benefits comes the risk of contamination. Golden guardians should always exercise caution when giving raw food to their pups. 

Stella & Chewy helps ease some of that concern by ensuring the safety of their raw products. Each of their recipes goes through a high-pressure process to remove pathogens and eliminate bacteria while still keeping the raw nutrients intact. 

These freeze-dried patties are a great introduction to raw feeding without the mess of frozen raw meals, making them easy to use for travel or training. They come in a variety of proteins for individual preferences and needs, from rabbit and lamb to beef and chicken. Each patty features nutrient-rich organs and bones, probiotics, and antioxidant-rich ingredients like kale, blueberries, and turmeric to promote your Golden’s overall well-being. 

If you have a Golden Retriever on the larger side, these patties might be better as a supplement to your pup’s main diet—it takes about 15 pieces to meet a 60-pound dog’s daily needs.  

Key Nutrients

• 50 kcal/patty
• Protein: 50.5%
• Fat: 29.4%
• Crude Fiber: 5.2%

Best Dehydrated: Spot & Tango Unkibble

Putting a spin on fresh dog food, Spot & Tango’s “Unkibble” gently dehydrates each raw non-GMO ingredient in the recipe at low temperatures to preserve natural vitamins and minerals. 

Each of Unkibble’s four recipes is in accordance with AAFCO’s nutritional guidelines and is considered complete and balanced for all life stages. This includes large-breed puppies and adults, making it a good dehydrated choice for Golden Retrievers at any age. 

This food does require a subscription, but there is some flexibility in the ordering process, allowing you to edit the amount of food and change your order date if needed. The meal plans are customized and conveniently portioned with your specific Golden in mind. 

Key Nutrients (Turkey + Sweet Potato Recipe): 

• 4,367 kcal/kg
• Protein: 25.8%
• Fat: 19.6%
• Crude Fiber: 3.1%

Best Air Dried: Ziwi Peak

Similar to dehydrated meals, air-dried dog food takes the moisture out of raw ingredients through a low-temperature evaporation process. This gently dries the food with the goal of preserving nutrients and improving digestibility. 

ZIWI Peak’s air-dried dog food meets the nutritional standards set for all life stages (including large dogs) by both the AAFCO and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. Except for a couple of blends, each recipe has one main protein with unique choices like venison and lamb, making it appealing for picky palates or Goldens with food allergies. This is also a strong high-protein choice for working and especially active dogs.

Hypothyroidism is another health issue that Goldens could face in their lifetime, leading to lethargy, weight gain, and thinning hair. ZIWI Peak’s formula includes superfoods like organic kelp, which features iodine to help regulate thyroid hormone levels. It’s also packed with fatty acids, like cold-washed green tripe and green mussels, for healthy skin, coat, and digestion. 

Key Nutrients (Beef Recipe): 

• 465 kcal ME/level cup
• Protein: 44.2%
• Fat: 34.9%
• Crude Fiber: 3.5%

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.

New Pet Parent Resources

Taking care of your Golden Retriever takes a lot of work, from sourcing the best dog food for their nutritional needs to making sure they get enough exercise each day. Consider Rover for a helping hand (or sturdy leash arm!). Sitters and walkers on Rover are here for all kinds of romps, including care for while you’re away. Book loving experienced dog walkers or pet sitters in your neighborhood.

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