How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy With Treats
Golden Retrievers thrive on positive reward-based training, since they are food motivated and eager to please their owners. But, the most successful rewards in this type of training are often food, such as kibble or small chunks or meat and cheese. And, giving all of these treats on top of your dogs daily food allowance can quickly lead to excess weight gain and obesity.
So, its vital to subtract the calories in your training treats from your dogs overall allowance. This is often easiest with kibble dog food, as you can simply use kibble pieces during training and then give whatevers left for your dogs meals.
But, its also important to spread out your training sessions when youre using food rewards. Doing all of your training in the morning can lead to stomach upsets if your puppy ends up eating a large amount of their daily allowance all at once. Instead, try and complete shorter training sessions before each mealtime, and give whatever allowance is left for each meal after training is done. This can also benefit your training, as a hungry dog will be more motivated to work for those treats!
The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Though breed-specific dog food formulas might be fine for your dog, its better to understand your dogs nutritional needs and make an informed decision based on that. Considering your dogs age, breed size, and activity level will help you make the best choice.
With that in mind, these are our top picks for the best dog food for adult Golden Retrievers.
Formulated for digestibility, this holistic natural dog food recipe features real chicken as the main ingredient, acting as both a lean source of protein and a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin for your Golden Retriever.
Halo Holistic Chicken Recipe Large-Breed Dog Food
This holistic crunchy dry dog food features real chicken as the main ingredient.
Pasture-fed lamb is the protein-rich foundation of this large-breed recipe, balanced with whole brown rice, whole grain oatmeal, and assorted vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure optimal nutrition.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large-Breed Adult Lamb & Rice Recipe
This large-breed recipe contains lamb as its main source of protein and glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
Our Fourth Choice: Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy
4th Choice
Hills Science Diet is specially made with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth. It consists of high-quality protein to help your Golden Retriever build and maintain lean muscle. It is made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust.
This brand meets and exceeds nutrient guidelines from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Association of American Feed Control Officials . They employ veterinary nutrition specialists, PhD nutritionists, food scientists, flavorists, and veterinarians.
Top Ingredients:
- Uses a balanced set of minerals to promote strong bones and teeth in large puppies
- Meets and exceeds nutrient guidelines
- 2 flavor options- chicken meal & oats and lamb meal & rice
- The lamb formula is only available in a 33lb bag size while the chicken formula is available in 15.5lb and 30lbs.
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Feeding A Golden Retriever With Good Quality Foods: Retriever Dog Food Ingredients To Look For Include:
1. Meat and/or meat meal provides protein for growth, and repair of body tissues and organs . It provides strength and flexibility in muscles and forms the essential components of the blood, hormone and immune systems. Good quality proteins are recommended to be the top or main ingredient in Retriever dog food.
2. A small selection of healthy grains brown rice, whole oats or barley. Carbohydrates are not an essential nutrient for dogs however, they can be useful in the diet as, when broken down during digestion, they become glucose and are used as energy.
3. Vitamins and minerals ensures complete nutrition.
4. Vegetables and fruit provide essential fiber for good digestion.
5. Healthy fats fat is a major source of energy producing twice the calories of protein or carbohydrates. It helps the body absorb and transport certain vitamins and is essential for reproduction and pregnancy. Fat provides insulation and maintains skin health. It protects and waterproofs the coat hairs via sebum secretion.
6. Natural preservatives many natural preservatives provide the fat soluble Vitamin E.
7. Prebiotics can be helpful when it comes to healthy digestion.
Read the package of Golden Retriever food the ingredients will be listed according to weight. The top ingredient will also be the main ingredient in the Retriever dog food.
You must provide plenty of fresh water to your Golden throughout the day.
When To Switch From Puppy To Adult Food
The switch from puppy food to adult food is an important process and needs to be done at the right time. The general consensus is to switch anywhere between 6 months to 1 year old, though it will depend on how well your Golden puppy has developed. Like we discussed earlier, puppy food is very protein and nutrient-rich to support growth and development. If youre not sure, consult with your veterinarian on when to switch.
Switching from puppy food to adult food might seem easy, especially if youre sticking with the same brand/protein type. However, adult food is different and can cause indigestion. Similar to starting a new brand of dog food, slowly incorporate the adult food over time so your Golden can adjust:
Start with ¼ adult food and ¾ puppy food for a few days, then ½ and ½ for a few days, ¾ adult food and ¼ puppy food for a few days. If there have been no immediate signs of indigestion after incorporating the adult food, make the full switch over to it.
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Golden Retriever Exercise Needs
Dogs of this breed are energetic, athletic, and full of stamina, so Golden Retriever exercise needs are pretty considerable. Breed members can begin exercising for short periods as early as three months of age, and by one year they’ll need an hour or more per day. Specifically how much exercise does a Golden Retriever puppy need daily? Follow the 5-Minute Rule: from age three months to one year, give your Golden five minutes of exercise for each month it’s been alive. From one year on, give the dog at least an hour.
Be aware, though, that with its stamina and “people-pleasing” traits, a Golden may not know when to quit! It’ll be up to you, the owner, to be sure not to over-exercise the dog . But try and find a balance, as an under-exercised Golden Retriever can be a hyperactive, misbehaving nightmare. This breed is also highly prone to obesity, so a Golden will quickly become overweight without enough physical activity.
EXERCISES FOR GOLDEN RETRIEVERS:
- Walking/Jogging: Good for both the dog and you
- Swimming: Goldens love the water
- Treadmill: Good for bad-weather days may take a bit of training, but a Golden is intelligent enough to learn how
- Fetch/Frisbee: A Golden will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
- Tug-of-War: Can be done indoors or out
- Hiking: Good for bonding and exploring with your Golden
How Many Calories Does A Golden Retriever Puppy Need
Even though Golden Retrievers are known to be active dogs, they can gain weight quite easily if their diet is not correct. To make the decision about how many calories you should be feeding your golden retriever, you need to look at his weight, age, and level of activity.
- When he is two months old, you should give him 1 ½ cups of food daily
- When he is seven months old, give him 3 to 4 cups of food daily
- Adult Golden Retrievers that are active, require about 1,300 to 1,700 calories daily
- Senior Golden retrievers require about 900 calories daily
Please consider these to be a guide and consult your veterinarian if you are unsure about anything.
Another method you can use to find the right amount of food to feed your golden retriever is the RER method. This is the resting energy requirements of your dog, found by multiplying his weight in kilograms to the power of ¾ by 70.
For instance, if you have a puppy that weighs 10 kg all you need to do is multiply this amount by the power of ¾ by 70. You should get an RER of 70 X 10kgs ¾ = 400 calories per day.
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Weight Loss Food For A Golden Retriever
Since your Golden Retriever loves eating, it is more likely to get obese. And although obesity results from overeating, you cant starve your pet. Can you?
Thus, there are some foods in the market to help a Golden Retriever in weight loss. Along with this, they also provide all the essential nutrients for your pet to keep functioning. Thus, they are:
- Kidney and liver disease
- Digestive disorders
Furthermore, I hope this article helped you in making an effective diet plan for your Golden Retriever.
Summing up, Golden Retriever is an expensive and high-maintenance dog breed. So, it needs constant attention, care, and love. Thus, you must be very conscious while parenting this breed.
Besides this, food plays a critical part in strengthening your bond with your pal. Moreover, if you manage to give your pet healthy and adequate food, it loves and adores you. Hence, you should ensure your pal gets all the essential nutrients in enough quantity.
However, you might give your pal more food due to its pleading attribute and a contagious smile that may lead to obesity. Thus, be careful not be overfeed them.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article, and it was informative enough to help you get closer to your pal.
If you have any suggestions, please share them through comments.
How Much Should A Golden Retriever Eat Daily
On average, an adult golden will eat between 2 and 3 ½ cups of food per day. However, the exact amount of food varies from one dog to the next and depends on age, activity level, weight, health problems, and quality of food.
Furthermore, neutered golden Retrievers need fewer calories compared to their unaltered counterparts, and nursing females will have to eat more to maintain their weight and produce milk for the puppies.
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Naming Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Whatever you decide to name your puppy, make sure you like it, because you sure are going to be saying it a lot.
There are no real guidelines, although most people try to at least avoid intense names, like Killer, because golden retrievers are well, golden retrievers.
Some people go with human names, like Doug, others go with plant names, like Aspen, there are food names, like Cashew, and there are the names of other animals, like Bear.
If you need some name inspiration, check out our giant list of golden retriever names here.
How To Avoid Health Issues Of Goldens With The Proper Nutrition Golden Retriever Food Guide
If your Golden retriever suffers from the following health problems, giving them home-made food following the recommendations below can get these health issues under control.
Color change on the coat increase the levels of amino acids obtained from protein sources. Make sure to provide 75 g of protein per 1000 cal.
Gastrointestinal issues steer clear from foods that contain tryptamine and histamine. These are commonly found in dairy and fermented vegetables as well is as some meats such as bacon.
Itching and dermatitis enhance their diet with vitamin E and B vitamins. Provide them optimal amounts of omega six and omega-3 fatty acids sourced from fish oil. You may want to add a probiotic.
Scaling and dull coat make sure they have balanced amounts of EPA and DHA levels in their nutrition. You can do this by adding fish oil and zinc.
Dandruff and crusty skin provide them high levels of zinc and vitamin A.
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What About Growing Puppies
A puppys needs for protein and calories are higher than an adults. However, large-breed puppies need to be kept on a calorie-controlled diet to prevent them from growing too quickly.
According to AAFCO nutrient profiles, they also need lower calcium and phosphorus levels to reduce the risk of joint issues. So, yes, its good to look for a Golden Retriever puppy food thats right for your growing pup.
Feeding Guide For Mature Adult Golden Retrievers: 6 Years And Older
You should feed the mature adult Golden Retriever food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Golden Retriever below:
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Weaning A Puppy From Formula
Weaning is a gradual process and it cannot be done overnight. The weaning process will last about two to three weeks. During this time period, you should gradually increase the proportion of solid food.
It is best to select a formula that has been designed for puppies. You can consult with your veterinarian or pet nutrition expert to understand more about the best options.
When the puppy is between six weeks old, you can make gruel by mixing a small amount of solid food with the milk formula. The gruel can be offered 3 to 4 times a day. You should gradually reduce the formula milk content during each serving.
If you wean your pup to solid food in this way, the chances of any gastric upset will be minimized. The pups digestive system will slowly get accustomed to solid food. When your pup becomes eight weeks old, it should be exclusively fed on solid food.
Monitor Weight And Health
As with any new diet regiment, you want to make sure its positively impacting your dog. Be sure to monitor your Goldens health and weight for changes over time.
Not preparing a balanced meal individualized to your dogs needs can lead to certain conditions or diseases such as lack of energy, skin or coat disorders, malnutrition or obesity, and more.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can save you thousands on vet bills down the road.
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Our Golden Retriever Puppy Feeding Guide Frequently Asked Questions
Having learned the basics about your puppys nutritional needs, youre finally ready to start shopping. Once youve followed our advice above to select a quality Golden Retriever puppy food, follow these tips for feeding your puppy:
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy
Rating:
Golden Retriever Puppy is one of 11 dry recipes rated in our review of the Royal Canin product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat gluten, chicken fat, wheat
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: Growth
- Best for:Golden retriever puppies
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 16% fat and 46% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
We also note the inclusion of taurine, an amino acid supplement believed to help prevent dilated cardiomyopathy in large breed dogs.6
A time-proven formula containing just the right amount of calcium considered safe for golden retriever puppies. Recommended with confidence.
Sample buyer reviewMy golden retriever absolutely loves this food, the previous food he ate he didnt like very much but once I got this puppy food the first time I opened the bag he got excited just by the smell. Every time he eats now he jumps around and moves his tail like crazy. Great food I will definitely buy the adult food when he grows!!!!
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Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula With Probiotics Dry Dog Food
Whether you want to give your golden some extra digestive support or youre already dealing with stomach upset, the guaranteed live probiotics in Purina Pro Plans puppy formula can be a lifesaver. Your dog will go crazy for the delicious chicken and rice flavors in this kibble, and youll love the health-conscious ingredients like antioxidants and omega-rich fish oil. Whats not to love?
Commercial Food Vs Homemade Food
There are pros and cons to every type of puppy food available. Dry food is long-lasting and easy to use during training, but can contain filler ingredients. Wet food is palatable and easy to serve, but can be more expensive and harder to use during training. Homemade food is often very appealing in terms of taste for our dogs, but is the most likely type to contain nutritional imbalances that can lead to serious health problems.
Homemade food can also be much more expensive and time consuming, as each meal is made fresh. Ultimately, the best food type should be one that fits your lifestyle. If youre choosing a commercial option, make sure it is high quality, made for large breed puppies, and nutritionally balanced. If youre choosing a homemade diet, work with your veterinarian to ensure youre not leaving out any important nutrients.
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