Grooming Your Golden Retriever
Calorie Needs What To Feed A Golden Retriever
Full-grown retrievers have a weight range between 55 and 75 pounds. Based on this average weight, experts recommend a calorie range between 989 and 1272 calories per day for Goldens who are less active. Increase these calories for active dogs. A calorie range between 1353 and 1742 per day is ideal. Senior goldens who are suffering from joint issues require fewer calories than their younger and more active counterparts.
Food choices
Kibble has many benefits and can keep your Goldens teeth free from tartar. Chewing kibble scrapes the teeths surface. Wet food gives added moisture to your dogs diet and can be combined with dry food to your dog with its tempting aroma. When you mix foods, calculate the number of calories based on information on the labels. It ensures that your dog will get the optimum number of daily calories. What to feed a golden retriever?
Dog foods that are commercially produced are often labeled complete and balanced. They meet every standard of a nutritious diet established by the AAFCO. It ensures that your Golden retriever will receive the full spectrum of nutrients and vitamins needed to be in their best health.
Ingredients
When you have selected a diet for a dog, observe its effect on them. If you transition to new food and your dog eliminates loose stools and flatulence, which do not mitigate over several weeks, you might consider switching to their regular food again. There might be something in the new diet your Golden retriever is allergic to.
How To Feed A Golden Retriever
Before switching your dog to any new diet, always consult with a veterinarian. Remember that no article on the internet, including this one, can replace a consultation with a vet.
Puppy Golden Retrievers
Large-breed puppies like Golden retrievers are more susceptible to malnutrition and developmental orthopedic disease compared to small-breed pups. Many Golden owners have heard of these diseases- hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis , panosteitis, and hypertrophic osteodystrophy .
While there is a genetic component to these diseases, there are significant nutritional risk factors that play a part during puppyhood. These risk factors are rapid growth and excess dietary calcium intake.
The best dog food for Golden Retrievers provides just enough of the right balance of nutrients. Large-breed specific puppy foods are a great safeguard to help prevent these issues. My top recommendation for Golden puppies is Royal Canin Golden Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy.
Royal Canin has done all the legwork for us in creating their Golden retriever-specific puppy food. Goldens are a more slowly maturing breed and it is recommended to feed this puppy food until 15 months of age.
The calorie content and mineral balance are optimal for preventing developmental orthopedic diseases. Goldens have teeth that meet in a scissors bite and a long mouth and snout. Royal Canin has designed square, thin kibble for optimal chewing and digestion by Goldens.
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Best Dog Food For A Golden Retriever
The beautiful, gentle Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the world today. They are noted for being smart and easy to train, as well as being good with children. For many people, they make an ideal family dog, especially for an active family. Goldens are large dogs and require plenty of exercise, as well as a healthy, nutritious diet. So, whats the best dog food for a Golden Retriever?
Check out our recommendations below to help you select the right formula for your pup.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Dog Feeding Guidelines About What Not To Feed Dogs
Your Golden Retriever would happily become a bottomless garbage can if you let him. For his own safety, follow these wise dog feeding guidelines. Make sure he doesnt get any of the following:
- Never give your dog chocolate. It contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs.
- Avoid feeding him grapes and raisins. He may not like them anyway, but their ingestion has recently been associated with kidney failure in dogs.
- Dont feed your dog bones, as they can splinter and cause a number of major problems.
- Raw or cooked onions can cause fever and even death. Leave onions off his menu.
- Dont feed your dog cows milk. Some dogs react unfavorably to it and it may cause diarrhea.
I know its tough to resist those big, brown eyes. But tell him he cant have that tasty tidbit, because you love him. Then make sure he gets the nutrition he needs in that yummy top-quality dog food youve selected.
If you stick to these dog feeding guidelines and make sure he gets plenty of exercise, youll be the happy recipient of his love and loyalty for many years.
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Do Golden Retrievers Eat A Lot
The short answer to this is yes, but it all depends on how active your dog is and sometimes what gender they are too. For an adult dog, you can expect to be feeding them anywhere between 2½ 4½ cups per day depending on whether male or female.
You might find that a lot of dog blogs will average this out to around 3 cups per day which falls right in the middle. This will cost around $2 to $2.50 per day which can average out to $65 per month. To save you the time with finding the right foods, I have listed out a few in the table below for you to check out now.
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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How Many Cups Of Dry Dog Food Should I Feed My Dog
Assuming your dog has a typical activity level, toy breeds should have about ¼ cups to 1 cup, small breeds should have about 1 cup to 1 2/5 cup, medium breeds should have about 2 cups to 2 2/3 cups, and large breeds should have about 2 4/5 cups to 3 cups. -Senior dogs should be fed a little less than adult dogs.
Best Food For A Golden Retriever Puppy
Quality nutrition sets your Golden Retriever puppy up for a long and healthy life. Here are our top picks for the best food for a Golden Retriever puppy.
This dog food will support your Golden Retriever puppys growth and development without going overboard on fat or calories. The recipe features fresh chicken and digestible brown rice.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large-Breed Puppy Recipe
Featuring deboned chicken as its first ingredient, this puppy recipe offers a wholesome balance of protein, whole grains, and vitamins and minerals.
Made with fresh chicken as a lean source of protein and chicken meal to provide glucosamine and chondroitin, this dog food for puppies will get your Golden Retriever off to a healthy start in life.
Nutro Ultra Large-Breed Puppy Recipe
This chicken-based puppy recipe is formulated to support the energy needs of young Goldens and other large breed puppies.
All dogs have the same basic nutritional needs when it comes to protein, fat, and essential nutrients, but there are some disparities among breeds of different sizes.
To learn more about the nutritional needs of large dogs, check out our guide to the best dog food for large breeds.
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Feeding Your Puppy A Homemade Diet
While they might sound very similar, the BARF diet is not the same as the homemade diet, which is typically a cooked human food diet.
Here, you simply must work closely with your veterinarian to ensure your puppy is receiving sufficient nutrients.
Including the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is critical for bone growth and skeletal development.
What Should You Consider In Golden Retriever Treats
Treats are also a great way to get some nutrients into your dog that allows them to enjoy it too. Not only that, but it is also great for training your puppy as giving him/her treats when they do something good, will ensure that they can make a positive connection with the activity in the future.
Another great way to use treats is to use them for taking care of your dogs dental care. When t comes to treats, there are a few benefits to using natural treats over reproduced foods that include:
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Golden Retrievers And Food: All You Need To Know About Feeding Your Dog
Do you want your Golden Retriever to live a long and happy life?
Then you better start by feeding your fluffy friend only the best dog food for Golden Retrievers! The quality of the dog food you give to your furry friend plays a fundamental role in his overall health and well-being.
Golden Retrievers are extremely active and playful large dogs.
So, you need feed them according to their unique dietary needs, activity level, weight, etc.
Your Golden Retriever needs just the right combination of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to thrive and live a healthy and happy life.
So, lets get started, shall we?
What We Feed Our Golden Retriever
Oliver had a few different brands of food that he ate as a puppy.
First, we started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM.
Once we heard about the study we switched to another brand, although he didnt like that at all.
Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked.
Finally, after talking to a few veterinarians and Golden Retriever breeders, we decided to test out Royal Canins Adult Golden Retriever food , which has been his favorite food so far.
If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food.
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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.
How Much Food Should An Adult Golden Retriever Eat
Generally, the average amount of food an Adult Golden Retriever eats is around 3-5 cups a day. The problem is that each dog is different and will have its own specific needs. Factors like age, gender, energy levels, and lifestyles are all things that will increase or decrease the amount of food given. Also, some dog food recipes are high in calories and dont require as much per meal. When in doubt, consult with your veterinarian to prevent malnutrition or obesity, both of which can lead to more serious conditions if left unchecked.
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What To Look For In A Good Golden Retriever Food
To ensure that your Golden Retrievers basic nutritional needs are met, its best to choose a large-breed dog food formulated for her life stage.
Here are some other things to look for when choosing a good dog food for your Golden Retriever:
- Wholesome, natural ingredients with no fillers, byproducts, or artificial additives
- Rich in lean protein from high-quality animal sources like poultry, meat, and fish
- Limited fat and calorie content to control growth in puppies and maintain lean mass in adults
- Controlled calcium and phosphorus levels with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- Nutritionally complete and balanced formulas, according to AAFCO nutrient profiles
Besides making sure your Golden Retrievers food meets these requirements, you should also check to see if it comes in a bigger kibble size. Large and deep-chested breeds have a high risk for bloat which is exacerbated by eating too fast or eating too much at oncebigger kibble means that your dog gets the same nutrition in smaller portion sizes.
Why Is Important To Start Young
Young dogs are more like small children. They can be easily molded into becoming good adult dogs when their training starts out young. Waiting for them to reach adulthood or even adolescence before training them does not bear the desirable fruits.
Design a strict schedule for your puppys daily activities in order to set a pattern for them to follow even if they are not in the mood for it. This will eventually cause them to grow into better-behaved adult dogs.
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Can They Get Upset Easily
Though a Golden Retriever is low tempered and quite well behaved still do a thorough research before you pick your puppy up. Golden Retrievers are very popular and unfortunately, this has led to indiscriminate training practices that lead them to maintain unstable temperament.
In short study, the bloodline thoroughly before you buy your puppy. After all, you would not want to leave your puppy if you cant control them.
What About A Grain
Only if your dog has allergies, and only if its a good quality food.
Grain-free diets have been hugely popular recently, but arent always the best or healthiest choice. Fillers that replace grains can often be less nutritious than their counterparts.
In the world of dogs, legume-based grain-free diets have been the center of controversy. Dogs fed these diets have been found to be lacking in taurine, which is essential to heart health. Too little taurine in a dogs system can cause heart failure.
If you suspect your dog is allergic to grains, have a talk with your veterinarian about foods available that can fit your dogs unique needs.
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Homemade Food For Golden Retriever Puppies
A Golden Retriever puppys diet varies from that of an adult Golden Retriever.
As Golden Retrievers age, they will require fewer daily calories. The AKC notes that senior dogs require 20% fewer calories than adult dogs. Puppies, on the other hand, need about twiceas many calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog of the same breed according to the American College of Veterinary Nutrition .
A Golden Retriever puppy homemade diet should contain a proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, water, and vitamins as explained in our nutritional guidelines above.
Be sure to contact your veterinarian about your puppys diet. They will be able to give you expert advice and suggestions.
Are Female Golden Retrievers Better Than Males
female golden retrievers when it comes to temperament and behavior. You may have heard that male goldens are more affectionate, or that females are calmer or easier to train. However, thats simply not true! There is no evidence that gender plays any role in determining the temperament and personality of any dog.
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