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How Many Cups Of Food Should A Golden Retriever Eat

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Golden Retriever Calorie Requirements

Golden Retrievers generally range in weight between 55 and 75 pounds. Based on the average weight of this breed, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends between 989 and 1,272 calories daily for sedentary Golden Retrievers and between 1,353 and 1,740 calories per day for active Goldens.

Pregnant and nursing Goldens may require 2 to 4 times the calories of a normal healthy adult Golden as the mothers energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation.

What Is A Good Golden Retriever Feeding Schedule

For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is one in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at 7:00 am, lunch at noon, then dinner at 5:00 pm.

Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period.

After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated.

Are Golden Retrievers Considered Large Breed Dogs

According to the American Kennel Club , the Golden Retriever is considered a medium-sized dog breed. On other lists, they are classified as large. When it comes to conflicting information, well look instead at the facts. A mature Golden Retriever will grow to stand 21-24  inches tall and weigh in the range of 55-75 pounds .

For comparison, a bonafide Large Breed Dog like the Rottweiler will weigh from 77-130 pounds and stand  22-27 inches tall . The Beagle, a medium-sized breed, will weigh roughly 25 pounds at maturity and stand at 13-16 inches tall .

 

As you see, the Golden Retriever comes in at the low end of Large Dog Breeds and at the high end of medium-sized Dog Breeds!

FUN FACTS: The Blue Great Dane is the record-holding tallest dog, able to reach a height of 7 feet 3 inches when standing on his back paws! In contrast, a Chihuahua holds the record for being the shortest dog a mere 3.8 inches !

Can You Feed Your Golden Retriever Puppy Raw Food

Some dog owners prefer to feed they are golden retrievers raw food as opposed to kibble. A diet that is raw means that you only give him raw bones, row organs, raw meats, as well as fruits and vegetables. Many consider this raw diet to be better than kibble.

In all truth, kibble may not be ideal for your Golden because dogs are carnivores who require high amounts of protein. Many of the kibble on the market has approximately 60% carbohydrates.

Dogs need more protein and fats for good nutrition. When dogs consume too much carbohydrates, they tend to have health problems from being overweight. 

However, there are downsides to a raw diet because one must be careful about the way the food is prepared and stored.

You would need to think about the bacteria like salmonella and E Coli coming from the uncooked liver, meat, and eggs which can affect your dog and even be fatal if not handled properly. It can also cause issues with the pancreas if introduced too abruptly.

When your dog is on a raw diet, the amount of food you give him would need to be adjusted, as he may actually need to eat less. Many people who give dogs raw food only feed them once or twice per day

How Long Should A Dog Take To Eat His Dinner

How Much to Feed a Golden Retriever? (Puppy & Adult ...

Some people leave food down for their dogs to graze on. I prefer my dogs to eat their meals up fairly quickly. Some dogs are more likely to be picky if they know they can come back to their dinner later on. So I recommend you take up your dogs bowl after ten minutes if he hasnt finished what is in there.

He wont come to any harm if he hasnt devoured the lot. Plus, he will eat more enthusiastically at the next meal if he is a little hungry.

Feeding Length Of Your Golden Retriever Puppy

For Golden Retrievers you should monitor the amount of time they take to eat. In general, you should give them about 20 to 30 minutes to complete a meal.

If for some reason he is unable to finish in that amount of time, then remove the remaining food and give him the amount he was able to eat. It is not advised to use the leftover kibble from the last meal to the next meal you give him.

If hes completing all the kibble in less than a half-hour, you can increase the amount just a bit. It is a good practice to feed your puppy in the same place every day without distractions so that he can focus on his meal.

How Often Should You Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy

As mentioned, when they begin eating solid food at 8 weeks or 2 months, they should have meals thrice a day. However, as they grow older and bigger, mealtimes should be reduced while increasing the amount of food.

For example, once they reach 3 months, they should be fed more but reduce the number of meal times to twice a day.

The ideal times to feed your 2-month old puppy is around 6 to 7 AM, then again at noon, then lastly at around 5 or 6 PM. Its recommended to avoid feeding them later than 6 PM and giving them water beyond 7 PM to make house training them easier and more convenient.

Upon reaching 3 months, their feeding times should be reduced to twice a day only, once in the morning and once at night. Make sure that you dont feed them too late into the night as you might find yourself cleaning up a mess the next morning.

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.

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Food

dog food is our first choice for Golden Retriever adults. This food is highly recommended by our staff veterinarians, and it contains ingredients that are highly nutritious with high protein for strengthening muscles.

Below is a feeding chart for Purina Pro Plan Large Breed.

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Feeding Chart

Weight
3 3 2/3 Cups Per Day
75-100 lbs. 3 2/3 4 Cups Per Day

This chart does not give an exact amount based on gender, age, activity level, or health conditions. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to get the exact amount for your Golden.

How To Know If Youre Feeding Them Too Much

As mentioned, puppies, especially Golden Retriever puppies, should appear lankier than youd expect, not chubby.

This means that they should have a slimmer profile wherein you can feel the ribs when you touch them but not see them. They should also have a bit of a waist.

Therefore, overfeeding your puppies can result in several health conditions that will become more apparent as they grow older.

Some of the conditions they can develop due to overfeeding are:

  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Bloating

They will also end up having shorter lifespans because of ill-health. So, how can you tell when your puppy is being fed too much?

Overweight/Obesity

Dogs, especially puppies, have strong appetites but this doesnt mean that you should always feed them when they are. Puppies, in general, dont often recognize that theyre already full so theyll keep eating as long as the food is readily available.

This can result in them being overweight or sometimes even downright obese which you can tell when theyre too large or heavy for their breed.

Body Condition Score

As mentioned, puppies arent supposed to be round and chubby they have to have a bit of waist to them. Aside from this, you should be able to feel their ribs without seeing them. Their figure should be an hourglass one.

Soft Stool

When And How To Change The Feeding Of Puppy To Adult

When your Golden Retriever is anywhere from 18 months to 24 months old, you should switch to adult dog food. The large breed puppies take a bit more time to attain adult development, and by two years of age, many of them are still growing.

Whenever your puppy reaches six months, you should begin feeding him twice per day, but you should keep him on puppy food until he reaches adult age.

It is always better to do this gradually as an abrupt switch may not be ideal. If you feed your dog twice per day, you can start giving him adult food mixed in with the one he is used to.

Kibble And Wet Dog Food

You should add a little wet food to your kibble which is also recommended by most of the dog breeders and vet so that the meal your golden eats has moisture in their diet which helps your puppy to stay well hydrated.

So, Kibble + Wet food can be served to your pooch and it will be a tasty treat too !

You can add more small pieces of ingredients from your side to the bowl for instance scrambles organic egg, organic veggies, and fruits, or probiotics such as yogurt!

Make sure you dont overfeed! Also by adding wet food we maintain the calories that we are feeding our golden! 

How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Adult

What Foods Do Golden Retrievers Prefer to Eat?

Golden Retriever adults should eat around twice a day. What is more important is the portion size of those meals. The portion size will vary depending on age, weight, activity level, and health conditions of your Golden Retriever. After being spayed or neutered, your Golden Retriever may not need as many calories so consulting with your veterinarian would be a good idea.

Golden Retrievers reach their full height and weight between 12 and 18 months old. They will usually weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. When your Golden reaches adulthood, their caloric intake should decrease. 

During adulthood, they should be eating two scheduled meals a day. If they do get hungry between meals, give them a good, healthy snack that will tide them over until the next meal. Check out our article Best Dog Treats for Golden Retrievers for some healthy treat ideas.

Golden Retriever Homemade Food Tips

Once you decide on a recipe for your Golden, its time to make it. We recommend following these tips.

  • Set a consistent feeding schedule.
  • Feed your Golden twice a day .
  • Meal prep weekly or monthly.
  • Measure and control portion sizes depending on your dogs calorie needs.
  • Keep meals frozen for 2 to 3 months or refrigerated for about 5 days.
  • Make a new batch when the food supply is getting low.
  • If you want to feed different recipes, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals.
  • Prepare the food in bulk and portion it into containers .
  • Increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows.
  • Monitor weight to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of calories.
  • Maintaining A Healthy Puppy Weight Of Your Golden Retriever Puppy

    A puppy grows faster, no doubt! But nobody loves an overweight or underweight puppy so make sure that your feeding schedule is proper and you have to monitor your poochs weight on a regular basis when your Golden Retriever is in the puppy phase!

    Overweigh can develop health and orthopedic problems in your Golden!

    Monitoring your pups weight is really important, and make sure you dont ignore that! Monitoring and adjusting the diet accordingly, you should be able to feel but not see your pups ribs!

    If your puppy is obesethen make sure you check out this article which I wrote a month back! Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

    Also, you can define your pup is overweight or not by letting your Golden Stand and you just need to observe the abdomen, if the abdomen is round and bulgy then your puppy isoverweight and if the back is all good no bulginess then its good.

    Regular visits to your vet is recommended!

    What Are The Differences Between Puppy Food & Adult Food

    Since puppies are growing and adults are just maintaining their weight, they have different dietary needs.

    According to , puppy food should have at least 22.5% protein, compared to 18% protein for adult food.

    And for fats, puppy food should have at least 8.5% fats, compared to 5.5% for adults.

    As far as when to switch from puppy food to adult food, talk to your veterinarian.

    Theyll likely recommend making the switch when theyre done growing at about one year old.

    To see a list of other milestones your puppy will hit check out this article here.

    How Much Should A 6

    Meal size will vary for each Golden Retriever pup, but on average, a six-month-old puppy will eat three cups of food a day. Male Golden Retriever puppies usually need more calories and can eat up to four cups of food per day. Once a puppy is six months old, you should start feeding him two meals a day one in the morning and one in the evening.

    How Often Do You Need To Feed Your Golden Retriever

    If you are a dog owner, you may have noticed by now that dogs require special attention and nutrition, and it is important to avoid overfeeding them because it may be causing them more harm than good, especially if you are dealing with Golden Retriever, this special breed is prone to many problems such as hip dysplasia, skin conditions, cancers, and obesity, if you werent careful with their nutrition, so it is essential for their well-being health to know how much food they require.

    How To Switch Your Golden Retrievers Food

    Lets say that after reading this post, you decided you wanted to switch foods.

    Well, with dogs, its not as easy as just switching food from one day to the next.

    Dogs have sensitive stomachs and if you just suddenly switch the brand of food, theyll likely have diarrhea felt terrible).

    So how do you switch food?

    Slowly.

    You want to take about a week to switch from the old brand to the new brand.

    For example, on day one, 90% of your goldens meal might be the old food, and 10% would be the new food.

    Day two: 75% of their meal would be the old food, and 25% would be the new food.

    You would slowly increase the amount of new food youre giving them and decrease the amount of old food until theyre fully transitioned.

    This will decrease the chances of them having stomach issues.

    Nutritional Guidelines To Follow

    To ensure a homemade dog food diet will meet your Golden Retrievers dietary requirements, you need to take into account your Goldens weight, health condition, size, and activity level.

    The best homemade diet for Golden Retriever will always have the six essential nutrients any dog meal should always have.

    Nutrient
    Protein Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more.
    Carbohydrates Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat
    Fat From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues
    Minerals Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production.
    Water Water Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day.
    Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function.

    Its not advice to improvise when cooking for your pooch.

    What The Golden Retriever Owners Suggest

    How much should a Golden Retriever eat daily?

    Im sure youve come across a lot of Golden Retriever parents.

    And, Im also certain that each and every one of them recommended different diets and dog foods that worked for their fluffy ball of fur. Some people suggest you to buy dog foods meant for other large breeds.

    Thats one thing you should never try.

    The problem is that each and every breed is different in many ways so, obviously, each breed has different nutritional requirements. Golden Retrievers are intelligent, energetic, playful and have a long and beautiful coat, they need special nutrition for their needs.

    So, the first thing you should do is to tune out all advice you get from fellow dog parents and stick to what your vet recommends.

    There are three important things that you should consider when youre buying dog food.

    These include the following:

    • Stay as far away as possible from filler ingredients which includes as soy, corn, rice, etc.
    • Always choose a dog food with high meat content—not just high protein as it comes from vegetable sources as well
    • Macros matter more than total calories per meal do

    That being said.

    One of the most important things you need to know before making any changes to your dogs diet is to always consult the vet because he is a highly trained professional who knows more about your dogs body and nutritional needs.

    After all, we all want our Golden Retrievers to be happy and healthy, right?

    Giving Water To Your Labrador

    Puppies and older dogs need water available to them at all times during the day. It is ok to take your puppys water away an hour before bedtime to help with housetraining. Provided that it is at least an hour since his last meal.

    Kibble fed dogs drink quite a lot of water, raw fed dogs may drink very little. This is normal. Check out this article: how much should my Labrador drink for more information.

    The Disadvantages Of Kibble

    Kibble itself doesnt smell too bad. But what comes out of a kibble-fed dog smells very unpleasant. That is partly because kibble is full of fillers. These are additional bulking agents that are not fully digested and that pass through straight through the dog.

    These fillers mean that kibble fed dogs produce much greater quantities of poop and much smellier poop, than dogs fed on raw meat and bones. Kibble fed dogs may also need their teeth cleaning on a daily basis. There may also be a small increased risk of bloat in susceptible dogs fed on a dry food diet. You can find out more about this in our article on bloat.

    Kibble fed dogs may also be more likely to snack on their own poop than raw fed dogs. Well look at the best way to feed your dog on kibble in a moment. But first lets take a quick look at what is involved in raw feeding.

    How To Care For A Golden Retriever Puppy

    Your Golden Retriever puppy will have a built-in timer which prompts him for eating on time. You should give him three meals per week for the first three weeks, and then you should feed him twice every day for the rest.

    Professional trainers, breeders and professionals prefer to feed their dogs twice daily. Many dogs only eat once a week, but smaller meals provide more satisfaction, better weight control and can prevent bloating. Your dog will also think its big deal that you give him the same food twice a day.

    Feed your puppy from 6 to 7 a.m. until noon. Then, feed him again between noon and 5 or 6. For easier house training, do not feed him after 6: p.m.

    He can have an ice-cube to keep him hydrated if he becomes thirsty. He will be fine through the night if he takes a trip outside at 10 pm.

    He will need three meals per days for the next few months. At around 11 or 12, he will be able to eat twice per day.

    While each Golden puppy will have its own unique meal size, an average Golden puppy consumes approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dry foods per meal.

    Give it water and let it air dry. The best way to prevent tartar build-up is to dry it out, especially after his adult teeth come in.

    Dangerous Foods For Golden Retriever Puppies

    Golden retrievers are special dogs. Some foods that Golden Retrievers should stay away from are:

    • Avocado They contain persin, which is an oil-soluble toxin, They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death for dogs who are highly sensitive. 
    • Chocolate Chocolate, has a substance called theobromine, which can have a detrimental effect on your dog. 
    • Grapes and raisins Grapes and raisins can cause serious complications like kidney failure and even death if your dog eats them.
    • Xylitol This can be found in gum, candies, baked good,s or other sugar-substituted items. 

    Some other foods that you should look out for are Pips, seeds, and stones, Mushrooms, Nuts, Unripe tomatoes, Onions and garlic,  Nutmeg, Broccoli,  Rhubarb, Potatoes plants, Persimmon seeds.

    How Much Should I Feed My Golden Retriever Puppy

    A Golden Retriever puppy will have to be fed three meals a day until he is six months old, at which time you can feed him twice a day. Meal size can vary from one puppy to the next, but the average three-month-old Golden puppy will eat two cups of food a day. At this time, you should divide the food into three meals and serve it in the morning, noon, and evening.

    Avoiding Underfeeding & Overfeeding

    Overfeeding and underfeeding can happen, so its crucial to know how much to feed your growing puppy. While overfeeding tends to happen way more, underfeeding can be dangerous as puppies are still developing. The best way to avoid both at home is to feed the same amount at each meal while monitoring your puppys weight.

    If your puppy is growing and is not gaining enough weight, consider adding a little more food. If your puppy seems to look a little round or bloated, overfeeding can be the cause. Consult with your puppys veterinarian if you see any significant changes in weight, appetite, or appearance as these can be symptoms of serious medical conditions.

    Best Food That You Can Feed Your Golden Retriever

    Not only does the amount and frequency of food influence the health of your golden retriever, but the type and quality of food are also determining factors when it comes to their overall well-being.

    Most veterinarians recommend a diet of quality dry dog food throughout the life stages of canines. However, pet owners may have alternate ideas for the best food to feed their golden retrievers.

    Here are some food considerations:

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