Golden Retrievers are known to be one of the most playful and energetic of all dog breeds. If you have a Goldie in the house, you’ll probably agree with that statement. One of the things that keep them so highly active and full of life is a well-balanced and nutritious diet.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
Golden Retrievers love to eat, and they always look forward to their mealtimes. One of the most popular foods options for Goldies is dry food that is packed with all the essential nutrients and minerals that these dogs need to maintain their energy levels.
The 4 Best Dry Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers
In order to help you get the best dry dog food for Golden Retrievers, we have come up with a list of dry foods that will truly satisfy your pet and also keep them fully satiated.
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Dog Food
This dog food has been formulated particularly for all your hyperactive and playful Golden Retrievers. It’s a high protein dog food that comes with real duck that not only satisfies your pet’s craving for meat but also provides them with great strength and significantly maintains their lean muscle mass.
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Dog Food contains healthy carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes that provide your Golden pet with high energy levels and significantly boost their active lifestyle. It’s a completely natural dog food that features the healthiest and the finest natural ingredients – ingredients that are full of minerals and vitamins.
What makes it an excellent dry dog food for Golden Retrievers is that it consists of an ideal blend of carefully chosen antioxidants and other essential nutrients. These nutrients provide a healthy oxidative balance and enhance the overall immune system of your dog.
Another great feature of this dry dog food is that it’s completely void of artificial flavors, preservatives, soy, wheat, and any poultry by-products.
Pros
- Consists of omega fatty acids and amino acids for tissue growth
- Provides 34% protein in a single cup serving
- Has a delicious taste
- Contains calcium for strong teeth and bones
Cons
- Tends to give off an unpleasant odor
- Can make some dogs sick
2. Merrick Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Merrick is one of the leading brands when it comes to dog food, which is why the Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is one of our top picks for the best dry dog food for Golden Retrievers.
One of the key ingredients of this dog food is real, deboned chicken, combined with a delicious mix of blueberries, sweet potatoes, and peas. Together, these ingredients provide an allergy-free and a highly nutritious meal to your Golden Retriever.
This dog food has been formulated with an abundance of all the essential minerals and vitamins that your golden pet needs to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Additionally, it consists of high levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that greatly enhance your dog’s shiny and healthy coat. This dog food also consists of large amounts of chondroitin and glucosamine for increased hip and joint function.
One great thing about this dry dog food for Golden Retrievers is that it caters to the food needs of all Golden Retriever types, including puppies, seniors, and large dogs. It is also free of any preservatives, gluten, soy, corn, wheat, and any fillers.
Pros
- Supports healthy skin and a shiny coat
- Consists of the best locally-sourced ingredients
- Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors
- Has a delicious flavor
- It has real fruits and veggies
Cons
- Tends to cause diarrhea
- Not suitable for dogs with food allergies
3. Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Dry Dog Food
If you have a golden puppy in the house, this is the best dry food that you can get for them. This dog food has primarily been designed to provide nutrition to purebred Golden Retrievers that are between 8 weeks to 15 months old.
The Royal Canin Dry Dog Food features an exclusive blend of complex antioxidants, including vitamin E, that greatly protect a puppy’s developing immune system and also give a great boost to their body’s natural defenses.
The main reason why this dog food is one of the best dry dog foods for Golden Retriever puppies is its unique kibble shape that has been designed according to the biting patterns of little puppies. This design significantly encourages chewing.
Another reason why it’s such a great dog food for Golden Retrievers is that it consists of high-quality probiotics and proteins that help maintain the digestive health of your puppy and also ensure optimal stool quality.
Pros
- Easy on the stomach
- Leads to a healthy, soft coat
- Has an amazing taste
- Maintains good weight and health
Cons
- Some dogs may not like the taste of this dog food
- Might cause some pups to throw up
4. Fromm Adult Gold Large Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
As the name suggests, the Fromm Adult Gold Large Breed Formula Dry Dog Food has been primarily designed for large Golden Retrievers that weigh more than 50 lbs. It features a delicious combination of some incredible ingredients, including oatmeal, fresh Wisconsin duck, real cheddar cheese, brown rice, whole eggs, lamb, chicken, fish, and potatoes. All these ingredients together provide your Golden pet with a wholesome and nutritionally balanced meal with added strength and energy.
This dry dog food for Golden Retrievers is a holistic food that contains a special ingredient, that is, salmon oil, which promotes the healthy skin and coat of your dog. It also consists of an adequate amount of probiotics, that greatly aid your dog’s digestive function and health.
This dog food contains cartilage as well, which helps improve your dog’s joint health.
Pros
- Contains wholesome, natural ingredients
- Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or colors
- Greatly supports digestive health
- Has a great flavor
Cons
- A little heavy on the pocket
What Makes the Best Dry Dog Food?
You will find a whole variety of dry dog foods in the market; however, you must buy the food that best meets your Golden pet’s dietary and nutritional needs. Not every dry food will suit your dog, which is why you need to ensure that you buy dog food that suits your dog. The following factors will help you choose the best dry dog food for your golden retriever.
Ingredients
The first thing you should do when buying dry dog food for your Golden Retriever is to check the ingredients of the dog food. Make sure that it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, and ingredients like soy or corn as these can cause your dog to have a severe allergic reaction.
Protein Content
The best kind of dry dog food is the one that consists of an adequate amount of protein and amino acids that help boost your dog’s immune system and make them healthy and strong. Look for dry food that’s rich in protein. These foods will help your dog live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Flavor
Most dry dog foods for Golden Retrievers feature a meat-based taste that is generally liked by all dogs. However, some might not be a huge fan of the particular flavor. Keep in mind the kind of food and flavors that your pet normally enjoys and get dry food with a similar flavor profile. This will ensure that your Goldie will want to eat the food that you buy.
Our Final Thoughts
As a pet owner, you should take extra care of your furry friend’s dietary needs, for which you should get your hands on the best dry dog food for Golden Retrievers. This won’t just keep them in the best of health, but will also make them look forward to their mealtimes. After all, a fully-fed Goldie is with a joy to have around the house!
