Golden Retrievers are one of the most beloved dogs in the United States. These friendly and lovable dogs can be prone to specific health conditions and diseases, so it’s important to make sure that they’re eating the right kinds of food to support their well-being.
We’ve created a list of reviews of the best dog food for Golden Retrievers so that you know exactly what to look for when shopping for your dog’s next meal. We’ll also go over common health conditions that Golden Retrievers can develop so that you know what kinds of nutrients can help prevent or strengthen these dogs from them.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Subscription
High quality ingredients
Pre portioned
Delivered to your door
Click to Save 50%
- Free Shipping
Best Value
Purina Pro Plan Adult
Affordable option
Chicken is the first ingredient
Tasty kibble texture
Check Price
Freshpet Vital Grain-Free
Fresh, non-GMO ingredients
No preservatives
Blends different meat proteins
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Nutro Natural Choice Recipe
Supports bone growth
No GMOs or chicken byproducts
Has over the bare minimum amount of protein
Check Price
Wellness Core Grain-Free
Uses high-quality ingredients
Contains a lot of protein
Delicious poultry taste
Check Price
The 11 Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers
1. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
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Crude Protein: 8.5% min
Crude Fat: 6% min
Main Ingredients: Chicken, sweet potato, squash, spinach
Nom Nom is a fresh dog food subscription that features several formulas, including the Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine. This food is completely fresh and human-grade, and you won’t find it in a pet store. Instead, you’ll have to order directly from their website, where they will ask you specific questions about your canine so that they can carefully pre-portion all of your dog’s meals.
This food is far healthier than most of the other options on the market, and you can literally see the ingredients that are in each serving! The primary ingredient in this recipe is chicken, but there are a few veggies like sweet potatoes and squash included too.
After subscribing, this food is shipped to your house frozen every month. Each bag is pre-portioned specifically for your dog. All ingredients are human-grade, and the company will provide suggestions based on your pet’s information. As you might imagine, this recipe is extremely high in protein due to the high amount of lean chicken included.
Human-grade
High in protein
Shipped straight to your door
Pre-portioned
- Human-grade
- High in protein
- Shipped straight to your door
- Pre-portioned
More expenisve than others on the list
- More expenisve than others on the list
You don’t have to pay a fortune to give your Golden Retriever healthy and tasty food. Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula is the best dog food for Golden Retrievers for the money you pay because it can support your dog’s daily needs while helping them stay at a healthy body weight.
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 12%
Main Ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal
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The formula contains an adequate amount of protein and fat, and it also includes essential vitamins and minerals for dogs, such as vitamin B12, folic acid, and potassium.
The kibble also has a crunchy texture that falls on the softer side, so it’s easier to chew. It also has dried shredded chicken pieces in it for a different texture and added flavor.
The recipe contains many healthy ingredients, but it isn’t a simple formula. Since Golden Retrievers commonly have allergies, this recipe may not be the best option for them. It contains wheat and soy, which are common allergens for these dogs.
Affordable option
Chicken is the first ingredient
Tasty kibble texture
- Affordable option
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Tasty kibble texture
Contains soy and wheat
- Contains soy and wheat
Freshpet Vital Chicken, Beef, Salmon, & Egg Recipe Grain-Free Fresh Dog Food contains fresh ingredients that appeal to all dogs. It includes a blend of chicken, beef, salmon, and eggs, so many dogs enjoy eating it. It also uses non-GMO ingredients and doesn’t contain any preservatives or meat by-products.
Crude Protein (without moisture): 48%
Crude Fat (without moisture): 28%
Main Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, beef, salmon, pea protein
The recipe is rather simple, so dogs with food sensitivities can easily digest it. Each batch goes through a gentle cooking method so that all the ingredients unlock and retain their nutritional value.
Since this food doesn’t contain any preservatives, it has a much shorter shelf life than dry food. You have to use it within 7 days after opening. Also, since it’s wet food, you have to be on top of your Golden Retriever’s dental hygiene. Golden Retrievers tend to have tartar build-up pretty quickly on their teeth, and wet food can increase tartar buildup.
Fresh, non-GMO ingredients
No preservatives
Blends different meat proteins
No meat meals
Simple formula
- Fresh, non-GMO ingredients
- No preservatives
- Blends different meat proteins
- No meat meals
- Simple formula
Short shelf-life
Can increase tartar buildup
- Short shelf-life
- Can increase tartar buildup
The Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is the best choice for puppies because it supports the growth of large breed puppies by keeping their specific needs in mind. Puppies need dog food with at least 22% crude protein, and this formula contains 26% crude protein. It also uses high-quality real chicken and doesn’t contain any GMOs and chicken byproducts.
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 14%
Main Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain sorghum, whole grain brown rice, whole grain barley
The formula also contains essential vitamins and minerals that support healthy bone growth and brain and eye development as your puppy matures. You can feed this food to your puppy until it reaches 18 months old.
One thing to keep in mind is that this formula only uses chicken. It keeps the recipe simple, but if you have a picky puppy, they may prefer other dog food containing mixed meat proteins.
Supports bone growth
Has over the bare minimum amount of protein
No GMOs or chicken byproducts
Simple recipes
- Supports bone growth
- Has over the bare minimum amount of protein
- No GMOs or chicken byproducts
- Simple recipes
Picky puppies might not like the recipe
- Picky puppies might not like the recipe
Wellness CORE Large Breed Grain-Free Protein-rich Nutrition Chicken & Turkey contains a delicious blend of ingredients that specifically support large dog breeds. The first three ingredients are meat proteins, and the recipe contains more protein than the minimum intake that dogs need in their diet.
Crude Protein: 34%
Crude Fat: 12%
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, lentils, peas
The kibble size is also larger than the average kibble so that large dogs have an easier time eating it. It also contains important antioxidants, probiotics, and omega fatty acids that protect a dog’s immune system and maintain healthy bodily functioning.
Most dogs like the flavor of this recipe, but some may pass up on it if they prefer beef and other meats. The kibble can dry out rather quickly, and the bag isn’t resealable. Therefore, you must immediately transfer it to an airtight container to retain as much moisture as possible.
This formula is a great choice for Golden Retrievers because it uses high-quality ingredients, has a delicious poultry flavor, helps dogs maintain healthy body weight, and nourishes their skin and coat.
Uses high-quality ingredients
Contains a lot of protein
Delicious poultry taste
- Uses high-quality ingredients
- Contains a lot of protein
- Delicious poultry taste
Not for dogs that don’t like chicken
Kibble can dry out quickly
- Not for dogs that don’t like chicken
- Kibble can dry out quickly
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken Recipe Grain-Free helps maintain the adult life stage requirements for large breeds with its nutrient-dense formula. It’s high in protein and uses deboned chicken as its first ingredient. It also contains complex carbohydrates and foods rich in antioxidants so that every bite is nutritious and beneficial to your dog’s well-being.
Crude Protein: 32%
Crude Fat: 13%
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, tapioca starch, menhaden fish meal
The kibble size is also designed for large dogs to chew and eat it easily. In addition to the regular kibble, LifeSource Bits are also in the formula, which provides an extra burst of delicious flavors and nutrients.
As with many grain-free dry dog food, Blue Wilderness contains other carbohydrate fillers, such as peas and tapioca starch. So, just keep in mind that this recipe still contains a good amount of carbohydrates. However, they do add more nutritional value than other fillers, such as corn.
Chicken is the first ingredient
LifeSource Bits included
Uses nutritious carbohydrate
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- LifeSource Bits included
- Uses nutritious carbohydrate
Contains carbohydrate fillers
- Contains carbohydrate fillers
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a relatively affordable dog food that’s great for large dog breeds of all ages. It contains enough protein to support a puppy’s development and growth, and it’s also a well-balanced meal for adult dogs. The formula is also completely chicken-free, so it’s a great option for dogs with chicken allergies.
Crude Protein: 25%
Crude Fat: 15%
Main Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, lentils
All the vitamins and minerals in this dog food come from natural ingredients, and the recipe also includes probiotics and prebiotics. These inclusions help support a dog’s digestive system and immune system so that they feel great and have the strength to fight infections.
Just keep in mind that this dog food may have a more pungent smell compared to other dog foods, and it can deter some dogs from eating it.
Contains prebiotics and probiotics
Chicken-free
Affordable
- Contains prebiotics and probiotics
- Chicken-free
- Affordable
Strong, pungent smell
- Strong, pungent smell
If you have a Golden Retriever with food allergies, Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-free Lamb & Potato Recipe for large breed adult dogs is a safe option. It has a simple formula so that you can have an easier time keeping track of the food your dog eats. It’s grain-free and doesn’t contain any wheat or soy. You also won’t find other common meat allergies, such as beef, chicken, and eggs.
Crude Protein: 20%
Crude Fat: 13%
Main Ingredients: Deboned lamb, potatoes, pea starch, peas, lamb meal
The first ingredient is real lamb, and the other ingredients, such as pumpkin, are gentle on dogs’ stomachs. The recipe also has glucosamine and chondroitin, which both support joint health. These compounds are great for Golden Retrievers because they can be susceptible to developing hip dysplasia or arthritis later in life.
This dog food is on the more expensive end of commercial dog food. However, if your dog enjoys the flavor, it’s worth the price because it’s nutritious and is very gentle on the stomach.
Good for dogs with food allergies
Gentle on stomach
No wheat or soy
- Good for dogs with food allergies
- Gentle on stomach
- No wheat or soy
Relatively expensive
- Relatively expensive
9. Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Grain-Free Dog Food
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Crude Protein: 36%
Crude Fat: 21%
Main Ingredients: Beef, white fish meal, herring meal, chicken fat, peas
Dog food containing a variety of kibble in the mix is always a good option to consider because it keeps your dog interested in the meal. Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe contains freeze-dried pieces of meat that encourage your dog to eat right away.
The recipe contains a lot of meat protein, and the formula consists of a total of 36% crude protein. This amount of protein can help support strong and lean muscles in adult dogs. It can also help younger dogs as they grow and develop.
The formula doesn’t contain any by-product meal, grain, potato, corn, or wheat. It’s also free of artificial colors and preservatives.
Though the first ingredient is beef, it contains a significant amount of white fish and herring meal. These ingredients cause the dog food to have a strong fishy smell. It’s a smell that may be unappealing to humans, but most dogs love it and get excited about mealtimes.
Freeze-dried meat mixed in kibble
High in protein
No artificial colors or preservatives
- Freeze-dried meat mixed in kibble
- High in protein
- No artificial colors or preservatives
Strong fishy smell
- Strong fishy smell
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Lamb & Pea Recipe is another great option that fits well with Golden Retriever’s dietary needs. Dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies will appreciate the limited amount of ingredients inside the formula as it only contains ten natural food ingredients. It doesn’t have any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Crude Protein: 36%
Crude Fat: 18%
Main Ingredients: Lamb, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potato, peas
It also contains a healthy amount of calories so that you have an easier time monitoring and maintaining a healthy body weight for your dog. It also has a blend of probiotics and antioxidants to give a boost to your dog’s digestive system and immune system.
This dog food tends to be more expensive than other options, so it can be a risk transitioning to this formula because there’s always the possibility that your Golden Retriever won’t like the new food.
Good for dogs with sensitive stomachs
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Healthy amount of calories
- Good for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Healthy amount of calories
Some commercial dog food brands have recipes made for specific dog breeds. Royal Canin is one of these brands that have a formula just for Golden Retrievers.
Crude Protein: 23%
Crude Fat: 10%
Main Ingredients: Brown rice, chicken by-product meal, oat groats, brewers rice, wheat
The formula contains essential nutrients that support heart health and healthy skin and coat. Since Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity, the portions of this food have a precise amount of calories than most of its competitors.
We also like the attention to detail that we can see from the kibble shape. It’s the optimal shape that’s easiest for a Golden Retriever to chew.
However, upon further review of the ingredient list, we were disappointed to see that brown rice is the first ingredient. Chicken by-product meal is the second ingredient. Although it’s a meat protein, by-product meal is ambiguous, so it’s unclear as to what’s inside of it.
Made specifically for adult Golden Retrievers
No excessive calories
Kibble shape is optimal for Golden Retrievers
- Made specifically for adult Golden Retrievers
- No excessive calories
- Kibble shape is optimal for Golden Retrievers
Brown rice is the first ingredient
Uses chicken by-product meal
- Brown rice is the first ingredient
- Uses chicken by-product meal
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Health Concerns for Golden Retrievers
Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers can have certain genetic health concerns that owners should keep in mind. Here are some common diseases and illnesses that many Golden Retrievers can encounter over time.
Dog Cancer
Golden Retrievers tend to develop cancer more than many other dog breeds. Therefore, it’s important to choose food with natural ingredients. It should also be free of additives and artificial flavors.
Tumor cells also thrive on carbohydrates, so it’s important to feed your Golden Retriever a diet with fewer carbohydrates.
Dog Obesity
These dogs are also prone to becoming overweight and obese. In fact, a 2013 survey showed that over 60% of surveyed Golden Retrievers were overweight.
Diet plays a crucial role in keeping your Golden Retriever at a healthy weight. Again, avoid foods with high amounts of carbs, and make sure to look at the calories in the dog food to make sure it’s at a reasonable amount.
Make sure that you’re in good communication with your veterinarian about your dog’s weight. Your veterinarian can help you determine a healthy dog food formula for your dog and provide recommended portions that your dog should eat. Veterinarians are one of your best resources to help your Golden Retriever eat a healthy diet and avoid unnecessary weight gain.
Atopy and Food Allergies
Golden Retrievers are prone to having atopy and food allergies. Therefore, if you’ve noticed your Golden Retriever exhibiting increased scratching and inflamed skin, it can be due to a food allergy.
If you suspect that your dog has a food allergy, consult with your veterinarian to see if you can pinpoint what foods are causing an allergic reaction.
If you know your dog has a food allergy, one of the best ways to provide relief is to start feeding it a limited-ingredient diet. This ensures that you know what’s going into your dog’s food so that you can protect your dog from experiencing an allergic reaction.
Conclusion
Out of all our reviews, we believe that the best overall dog food for Golden Retrievers is Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine because it is high in protein, and it helps support a Golden Retriever’s specific nutritional needs.
We also liked Purina Pro Plan Brand Dog Food Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice Formula because it has a recipe that’s especially beneficial to Golden Retrievers.
Golden Retrievers are wonderful companion dogs. Feeding them a healthy, well-balanced diet can significantly increase the chances of prolonging their lives so that they can continue to be a part of our lives for many more years.
- Next on your reading list: 10 Best Foods for Golden Retriever Puppies: Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: chendongshan, Shutterstock
