How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Goldendoodle Puppies
Goldendoodle puppies are lively little creatures, full of adventure and fun. With their dashing good looks and comical ways, it’s hard to resist the charm of these adorable pooches.
The Goldendoodle was developed in the United States in the 1990s. The first Goldendoodle was the result of purposefully breeding together a Golden Retriever with a Poodle to produce a larger version of the beloved Cockapoo. The dog’s main purpose was to serve as a loyal, loving family companion, and one of the ideal traits desired by the founder of the breed was a low-shedding coat.
Goldendoodle puppies are devoted family friends, bonding deeply with their families. From their Golden Retriever parent, the breed retains its amiable, friendly temperament while the Poodle contributes a high level of intelligence. An extremely versatile breed, Goldendoodle puppies are highly active and require regular daily exercise to remain physically and mentally well.
Available in three different size variations, there is a Goldendoodle puppy that is the ideal fit for most living situations. However, Goldendoodle puppies generally do not thrive in apartments since they have excess energy to burn and are best permitted in a fenced area in which to run.
A breed that is both loving and affectionate, Goldendoodle puppies love people of all shapes and sizes. They are equally as friendly with children as well as with dogs and cats.
To help the Goldendoodle puppy through each of its developmental phases, this dog should be fed a premium quality diet. The best dog foods for Goldendoodle puppies are well-balanced and full of top quality ingredients that are easy for pups to process and utilize effectively.
Since Goldendoodles are considered to be large breed puppies, they should be fed a food formulation designed to meet the needs of puppies of this size. Two key things to look for in a food for this type of pup are the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus (1.2 parts calcium to each unit of phosphorus) and the protein content. The best dog foods for Goldendoodle puppies contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Goldendoodle Puppies
Goldendoodle puppies have very high energy levels and thus require a diet that can help the dog to have the nutrition it needs to enjoy a busy lifestyle. In addition to this, Goldendoodles are a breed in their infancy, and thus, determining precisely how much of the best dog food for Goldendoodle puppies to feed a dog can be very challenging.
Thankfully, AAFCO requires all dog foods to list suggested serving sizes on their packaging. These measurements can serve as effective starting points. Amounts can be adjusted with the puppy’s weight, activity level, and appetite helping to point the path to the correct meal portion.
Goldendoodle puppies are not prone to weight gain. However, free feeding is strongly discouraged; in part, because the breed can be predisposed to developing bloat. Though it is not known what factors must combine to cause bloat to occur, experts agree that overeating and eating too rapidly may play roles. A large breed puppy food contains pieces of kibble big enough to discourage a puppy from eating too much or too quickly.
The Goldendoodle puppy will reach full maturity between 18-24 months. However, at 12 months of age, this pup should be transitioned to an appropriate adult food.
Dietary Requirements for Goldendoodle Puppy Foods
As a highly active breed, Goldendoodle puppies require a diet that takes a lean meat as its primary ingredient. The best dog foods for Goldendoodle puppies include whole meats as the basis for their formula. However, meat meals are also an excellent option.
Since Goldendoodle puppies can be prone to allergies, it is best to avoid foods that contain plant-based proteins such as soy, wheat, or corn as well as by-products. These items are of inferior quality and can be very difficult for puppies to digest properly. Other ingredients to avoid in a food include chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors.
Healthy fats contribute a great deal to the health and well-being of the Goldendoodle puppy. They are responsible for promoting brain and eye development as well as encouraging skin and coat health. These are best derived from animal origins and include such foods as oily fish and chicken fat.
Carbohydrates are an important part of any well-rounded diet for Goldendoodle puppies. These can be taken from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Each ingredient included should be selected from its high nutritional content with fiber and antioxidants being of high importance. Puppies that have displayed food sensitivities may do better on a food that is grain-free.
Supplements can help a food to be of greater benefit to puppies by providing needed support for developing systems. The best supplements to look for in a food for Goldendoodle puppies include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Goldendoodle Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Goldendoodle puppy:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
The best foods for Goldendoodle puppies place a high emphasis on lean meats. Whole meats or meat meals should be the first ingredient in any diet best suited to this breed. Foods that include plant-based proteins and/or by-products are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to a growing Goldendoodle puppy. Any foods containing these items is best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements can be a great help to the Goldendoodle puppy. The ideal supplements to look for in a food are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Goldendoodle puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.