Apple of the eye in dogdom, Golden Retrievers have been ranked as the 2nd most intelligent dogs and the 3rd most popular dogs in the US for the last five years.
Goldies are large-sized dogs that belong to the sporting group and are known for their lustrous hair, therapeutic woofs, high trainability, and elevated energy levels.
To have all these qualities that a Goldie lover expects from this breed, they need the best of the best foods that will not only fulfill their energy requirements but also hit their sweet tooth as well.
This article lists the 9 best dog foods for Golden Retrievers, approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Best Dog Food for Golden Retriever Puppy
a. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food With Roasted Bison And Roasted Venison For Golden Retriever Puppies
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Water buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, pea protein, peas, potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, roasted bison, roasted venison
Type: Dry
Flavor: Combo of roasted meats, vegetables, legumes, and fruits
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Contains roasted bison and roasted venison that provide highly digestible protein with a roasted flavor your Golden Retriever puppy will crave
- Its kibble size is small, which makes it easy for puppies to chew
- Its crunchy texture helps keep teeth clean
- Contains prebiotic fiber that provides fuel for the beneficial probiotic bacteria in the digestive system
- It contains salmon oil that provides Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—an omega-3 fatty acid that helps support brain and vision development in puppies
- 28% protein
- Formulated without grain, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or artificial colors
- Its recipe is great for pregnant or nursing mothers
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- Because of the brand’s popularity, beware of the product replicas, else it can affect your dog’s health
- It contains a high protein content which is not suitable for all dog breeds
b. Castor & Pollux Organix Puppy Recipe Organic Dry Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppies
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic oatmeal, organic barley, organic brown rice, organic peas, organic chicken fat, organic sweet potatoes, organic pea protein
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
- The company is certified by USDA as the number 1 organic dog food manufacturer
- It’s USDA-certified organic chicken dog food that is free from artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
- It is completely organic and made without any filler grains, i.e., corn, wheat, or soy
- Good for pregnant or nursing females
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- It contains peas, potatoes, and lentils that may be not good for some dogs; luckily, peas aren’t problematic for the Golden Retriever breed
c. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Large Breed Puppy Food
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, ground brown rice, salmon meal, oatmeal, barley, oats, tomato pomace, chicken fat
Type: Dry
Flavor: Combo of roasted meats, vegetables, legumes, and fruits
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Made without grains, corn, wheat, or soy
- No meat by-products
- Contains DHA for healthy brain development
- Made with a nutrient-packed superfood blend, such as organic flaxseed, organic blueberries, and organic sweet potatoes
- Cooked in an organically-certified USA kitchen
- Made without grains, making it ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- Packaging isn’t handy; once torn, there is a chance the freshness of food will fade away
- Some users might find it pricey
- For puppies, only the chicken flavor is available
Best Dog Food For Adult Golden Retriever
a. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food With Roasted Bison And Roasted Venison For Golden Retriever Adult Dogs
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), egg product, roasted bison, roasted venison
Type: Dry
Flavor: Roasted bison and roasted venison
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- 32% of this formula is protein, giving adult Golden Retriever the highly digestible energy they need to remain active
- The nutrient-rich formula supports bones, joints, and muscles
- Loaded with vegetables, legume, and fruits
- Provide powerful antioxidants to help maintain overall vitality
- Formulated without grain, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or artificial colors
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- Its high protein content might not be suitable for dog breeds having moderate energy levels. However, as Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs, this formula is perfect for them
- Its kibble size is too small
b. Castor & Pollux Organix Dry Dog Food Organic Chicken Recipe For Adult Golden Retriever
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic oatmeal, organic barley, organic brown rice, organic peas, organic chicken fat, organic sunflower seed meal
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken and sweet potato, chicken, and oatmeal
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
- Free of corn, wheat, soy, and Genetically modified organisms (GMO)
- Contains organic oatmeal and barley that help support healthy digestion
- All carbs in this Golden Retriever food come from organic compounds—it’s free from corn, wheat, and soy and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- No added antibiotics or artificial growth hormones
- It’s certified by the USDA
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- The size of the bag keeps shrinking, and the price has grown incredibly in the last few years
c. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Golden Retriever Dog Food
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, barley, peas, oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salmon meal, tomato pomace, oatmeal, tomatoes
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken, lamb, and whitefish
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Contains no meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives
- Balanced nutrients deliver a complete diet packed with the minerals that will promote the healthy growth of your Golden Retriever
- Antioxidant-rich ingredients support strong immune systems and defend against allergies
- This food contains flax seeds that are enriched with fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids to help support healthy digestion and a shiny coat
- Your puppy will easily transfer to this adult food because of the same flavors
- It’s certified by the USDA
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- It’s pretty expensive
- Feed in a specified amount as per instructions, or else it can cause health concerns
Best Dog Food For Senior Golden Retriever
a. Taste of the Wild High Protein Wet Dog Food For Senior Golden Retrievers
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Whitefish, fish broth, turkey broth, water sufficient for processing, turkey, turkey liver, dried egg whites, salmon, dried ground peas, potatoes, peas
Type: Wet
Flavor: Pacific Stream – Salmon
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Doesn’t contain grain, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- This food for Golden Retrievers is nutrient-rich and highly digestible with prebiotic fiber that gives them strong immunity
- Contains vitamins and powerful antioxidants from real fruits and vegetables that support overall health
- Contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that support healthy skin and coat
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- The company produces dry food for senior dogs as well, but we recommend going for wet food, as it’s easily chewable
- As wet food comes in cans, sometimes the cans come dented and crushed which can compromise the quality of food
- It’s expensive
b. Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Organic Senior Recipe For Golden Retriever
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Organic turkey, organic chicken broth, water sufficient for processing, organic chicken, organic chicken liver, organic pea protein, organic peas, organic dried egg product
Type: Wet
Flavor: Turkey
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Free of chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, added growth hormones, or antibiotics
- USDA organic-certified chicken dog food that contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
- This organic grain-free Golden Retriever dog food contains glucosamine and chondroitin to help support healthy hips and joints
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- As the type of this food is wet, means you’d have to be careful to keep it safe from humidity
- Also, cover and refrigerate unused portions to retain freshness
c. Wellness Natural Pet Food Complete Health Natural Dry Senior Dog Food
Key Features
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, ground brown rice, peas, rice, ground flaxseed, tomato pomace, chicken fat, tomatoes, carrots, natural chicken flavor
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken
Grains: No
What’s Best About It
- Designed specifically for senior large breed dogs such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds to encourage healthy brain development, optimize energy levels and ensure healthy skin and coat while promoting whole-body health
- Developed without any GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives
- Ingredients are easily digestible by senior dogs
Flaws But Not the Deal Breakers
- This food is not gluten-free and has more carbs. So feed your dog in a balanced way otherwise, it can make dogs obese
- This dog food for golden retrievers comes in a dry form, which means you can’t feed it to senior dogs that have weak teeth and can’t chew hard kibble