Golden Retrievers are known for their friendly personalities, boundless energy, and luscious coats—but keeping them healthy starts with the right nutrition. Choosing the best dog food for Golden Retrievers means finding a formula that supports their joints, promotes a shiny coat, and provides the right balance of protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients.
Whether you’re looking for kibble, fresh food, or a raw diet, the right choice depends on your pup’s age, activity level, and any specific dietary needs. In this guide, we’ll explore top-rated dog food options tailored for Golden Retrievers to help you keep your furry friend thriving.
If you wanna read more about your favorite breed, check out our 50 fun facts about Golden Retrievers.
Nutritional Needs of Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers should eat nutritionally complete and balanced foods that are high in protein (22-30%) and low fat (8-9%), powered by natural, high-quality ingredients like chicken, fish, whole grains, and yummy fruits and vegetables.
Omegas and minerals like taurine, chondroitin, and glucosamine, are also crucial to support healthy hearts and strong joints in large dogs as they age. Omegas are also good for maintaining those luscious golden locks and keeping the skin healthy, as well as the mind, as larger breeds age faster.
If your Golden has a sensitive stomach, we recommend looking for high-fiber formulas with added probiotics to aid their digestion. Always avoid foods with artificial additives and fillers and tailor your Golden’s food to their age group to ensure they get the nutrients they need.
Top Picks
Best Organic Kibble: ButcherBox For Pets Premium Nutrition Dog Food
ButcherBox For Pets Premium Nutrition Dog Food is certified organic and sustainably sourced. It’s not specifically designed for large breeds, but it’s nutrient-dense enough to nourish dogs of all sizes. It’s a subscription-based brand that offers customized meal plans, with all-natural food, treats, toppers, and supplements.
Key features:
- Certified organic dry food
- Developed and tested by vets
- Sustainably sourced
- Human-grade ingredients
- Free-range chicken
- High-fiber sweet potato
- Ancient grains like quinoa
- Hormone and antibiotic-free
- No artificial additives or fillers
- Produced with minimal waste
- Made in the USA
- Comes in 1.8 kg bags
- Subscription service
What we like:
The brand’s adult kibble offers premium nutrition, with human-grade ingredients like upcycled, bioavailable meat. Organic free-range chicken is the first listed ingredient, with wholesome grains like quinoa and digestive superfoods like sweet potato for healthy metabolism, blood sugar levels, and cognition.
Their dry formula was carefully developed and tested by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and made in the USA using minimal waste. It contains no artificial additives or fillers and all of the meat is free from hormones and antibiotics.
What to consider:
Again, subscription services aren’t right for everyone, but ButcherBox is fantastic value for money and offers regular deals and discounts for their customers.
Full review: Read our full review here.
ButcherBox for Pets Premium Dog Food Subscription
Delicious, nutritious, sustainably sourced food and treats where ButcherBox meat is the #1 ingredient.
- Free from antibiotics & added hormones
- Never using added colors, fillers, or artificial preservatives
- Companion-grade, made with high-quality ButcherBox meat
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Our Review
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Best Chicken-Free Kibble: Redbarn Grain-Free Large Breed Recipe Dog Food
If your pup can’t stomach poultry products, try the Redbarn Grain-Free Large Breed Recipe. It’s a chicken-free dog food packed with five different protein sources and comes in wholegrain and grain-free formulas.
Key features:
- Beef, lamb, beef meal, salmon meal, & menhaden fish meal
- 25% protein content
- Wholegrain and grain-free options
- Complete and balanced for large breeds
- Omega-6 and 3 fatty acids
- L-carnitine
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Pumpkin and miscanthus grass
- Probiotics and prebiotic fibers
- No by-products or fillers
- No GMOs or artificial preservatives
- Strict quality assurance
- Discounted auto-ship options
- Comes in 15 and 28-lb bags
What we like:
It’s designed to be nutritionally complete for large breeds like Golden Retrievers, with 25% protein content for active dogs and special attention paid to the joints, muscles, and heart. It contains optimal levels of Omega-6 and 3 fatty acids from flaxseed and sunflower oil, L-carnitine, and guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin.
It’s also designed to improve gut health with pumpkin and miscanthus grass, as well as probiotics and prebiotic fibers.
What to consider:
The premium pricing may not be for everyone, but it is reflected in the quality of the food, with strict quality assurance programs and guaranteed refunds if you’re unsatisfied. They also offer auto-ship subscriptions for a discounted price.
Redbarn Large Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food | Redbarn Pet Products
Crafted for Peak Performance! Redbarn Large Breed Dry Dog Food doesn’t just provide great protein; it helps build strong muscles with it. High quality protein, plus guaranteed levels of L-Carnitine to help optimize energy metabolism, this formulation becomes a recipe for boundless vitality.
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Best Raw Food: We Feed Raw
If you’re interested in raw-feeding your Golden Retriever, consider We Feed Raw. They are the #1 pre-made raw dog food delivery company in the US and tailor your dog’s meal plan according to their breed, age, and more.
Key features:
- #1 Pre-made raw dog food delivery company
- Tailored meal plans
- Human-grade meats
- Six protein source options
- 100% raw and minimally processed
- Cold-pressed to eliminate bacteria
- Formulated by PhD animal nutritionist
- Nutritionally complete and balanced
- Optimal protein and essential nutrients
- Highly digestible
- Improves whole body health
- No fillers or additives
- Safely prepared, packaged, and shipped
- AAFCO and USDA-compliant
- Biodegradable packaging
- Subscription service
- Free cold-shipping nationwide
What we like:
All of their meals are 100% raw with human-grade meats and no cooking for maximum digestibility. They’re treated with cold pressure to ensure there’s no harmful bacteria and safely shipped in well-insulated, biodegradable packaging. They’re the most minimally processed foods of their kind on the market, with no fillers or additives, and more variety than any of their rivals.
There are six protein sources to choose from, including chicken, beef, venison, and duck, and all of their recipes are formulated by a PhD animal nutritionist. They’re also designed to be nutritionally whole with optimal levels of protein and essential nutrients for weight control, more energy, and healthy skin and coat, as well as fewer allergy symptoms, better digestion, and more mealtime excitement.
What to consider:
It’s a subscription-only service. Also, if your dog isn’t used to raw, you’ll need to go through a transition stage. If you’re worried about the recent news about raw dog food and bird flu, check out We Feed Raw’s statement on how they keep their food safe.
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Best Subscription Plan: The Pets Table
The Pets Table is our top pick for lovers of subscription services that deliver your dog’s meals straight to your door. Although there are a few on the list, The Pets Table offers a wide variety of plans and recipes, so there’s truly something for everyone.
Key features:
- Variety of plans and recipes
- Wholegrain, grain-free, and allergy-friendly meals
- Developed with board-certified vet nutritionists
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Real human-grade ingredients
- High in fiber
- Made with superfoods
- Enriched with vitamin A
- Postbiotics
- Minimally processed
- Picky-eater friendly
- Free from fillers
- AAFCO compliant
- Made in the USA
What we like:
The brand not only offers a variety of plans including fresh, air-dried, mixed, and half-fresh plans, all of which are prepared in the USA, but a variety of recipes within each plan. There are different meat, fruit, and veggie combinations to choose from, as well as wholesome grains or grain-free, allergen-friendly meals. They’re all free from fillers and minimally processed, with real, human-grade ingredients.
All of the meals are also developed with board-certified vet nutritionists to ensure they meet AAFCO industry requirements, and they’re designed to please even the fussiest of eaters. They offer complete and balanced nutrition for all breeds and age groups and high fiber content for easy digestion. They’re also made with superfoods and enriched with vitamin A and postbiotics for healthy vision, a strong immune system, and good gut health.
What to consider:
Subscription services aren’t right for everyone, but The Pets Table offers a diverse and thoughtful range of plans, including the half-fresh plan, which sends you fresh toppers to mix with your dog’s existing food, so they can experience the benefits of some fresh food without the price tag of a completely fresh diet.
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Best Wholegrain: Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice
The Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice is specially formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for large-breed dogs like Golden Retrievers, with premium deboned chicken and wholesome brown rice.
Key features:
- Formulated for whole-body health of large dogs
- Premium deboned chicken
- Wholesome brown rice
- Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids
- Calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin
- Dietary fibers, prebiotics, and probiotics
- Taurine for heart health
- Free from GMOs, by-products, fillers, and preservatives
- Made in the USA
- Comes in 15 and 30 lbs bags
What we like:
The special formula contains skin and coat-nourishing Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, with calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate to maintain strong bones and joints. It also utilizes prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fibers for good gut health and taurine for a healthy heart, without GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, or artificial additives.
What to consider:
It’s unsuitable for dogs with sensitivities to grains and/or poultry.
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
This natural dry food is specially formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for your large breed dog. It is crafted using carefully chosen ingredients that include premium proteins and wholesome grains supported by omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine. This balanced, healthy dry dog food is designed to encourage a strong immune system, optimize energy levels and ensure a healthy skin and coat while promoting whole body health.
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Best Grain-Free: Taste Of The Wild Southwest Canyon Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Taste Of The Wild Southwest Canyon Grain-Free Food is our top grain-free pick, with a naturally delicious high-protein formula inspired by your dog’s ancestral diet. It’s also the perfect pick for active dogs and working dogs, with a 29% protein content for high energy and lean muscles.
Key features:
- Wild boar #1 ingredient
- 29% protein for lean muscles
- Real fruits and vegetables
- Legumes and superfoods
- Essential vitamins and minerals
- Amino acids to optimize absorption
- Omega fatty acids
- Species-specific K9 probiotic blend
- Supports strong bones and joints
- Strong gut and immunity
- Skin and coat health
- Free from grains and gluten
- No artificial additives
- Made in the USA
- Comes in 5, 14, and 28 lb bags
What we like:
Wild boar is the first listed ingredient, with important vitamins and minerals from real fruits and vegetables like dried chicory root, as well as nutrient-dense legumes like peas and garbanzo beans. It’s also rich in essential minerals chelated with amino acids to optimize absorption, plus Omega fatty acids for strong bones and joints, healthy skin, and shiny coats.
Like all of their formulas, it contains the brand’s special species-specific K9 blend of proprietary probiotics, with prebiotics and antioxidants for optimal digestion and immunity.
What to consider:
There’s not much to consider with this product. It’s one of the highest-rated among customers. The protein content might be too high for less active dogs, though.
Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Formulated with novel proteins including wild boar, this grain-free recipe includes nutrient-rich legumes like peas and garbanzo beans that deliver the highly-digestible energy your active pup needs, along with natural antioxidant support from real fruits and vegetables and dried chicory root for prebiotic support and healthy digestion.
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Best Wet Food: Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon & Sweet Potato Canned Dog Food
Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon & Sweet Potato Canned Dog Food is our top wet food pick, with a low-fat, high-protein recipe that’s full of flavor and nutrition.
Key features:
- Line-caught Alaskan cod and salmon
- Digestive superfood sweet potato
- High-quality natural formula
- Limited ingredients
- High protein and low fat
- Essential nutrients
- Delicious flavor
- Whole body health
- Daily immune support
- No grains, soy, additives, or poultry by-products
- Made in the USA
- Comes in 13 oz cans and cases of 4, 6, or 12
What we like:
The limited ingredient formula is simple yet delicious, with line-caught fish from trusted sources and sweet potato for easy digestion. It’s all-natural and high quality, with no grains, soy, or artificial additives, and it’s chock full of essential vitamins and minerals for a daily dose of immune system support that nourishes the whole body.
What to consider:
Whilst its main flavor and protein source is fish, it also contains chicken, so it’s not suitable for dogs with poultry allergies.
Purina Beyond Alaskan Cod, Salmon & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Made with natural ingredients, this wet food features line-caught Alaskan cod as the first ingredient, along with salmon and sweet potato for a wholesome and delicious flavor. It’s high in protein and free of any bad stuff like poultry by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. MADE IN THE USA.
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Best For Puppies: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Golden Retriever Breed Specific Puppy Dog Dry Food
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Golden Retriever Breed Specific Puppy Dog Dry Food is tailor-made to nurture growing Golden Retriever puppies aged 2-15 months.
Key features:
- For 2-15-month-old puppies
- Breed-specific
- High-quality protein
- Essential nutrients
- Exclusive complex of antioxidants
- Omega fatty acids EPA & DHA
- Added probiotics
- Aids healthy growth
- Whole body support
- Cognitive development
- Sustained energy levels
- Designed for Golden mouths
- Soft for puppy teeth
- Comes in 30 lb bags
What we like:
The special formula promotes the healthy growth and development of your precious pup from head to toe, with essential nutrients and an exclusive complex of antioxidants including vitamin E for a strong immune system. It also supports sustained energy levels and a healthy digestive system, with high-quality proteins and added probiotics.
The kibble itself is specially designed for the mouths and bites of Golden Retrievers, with a soft, chewable texture for puppy teeth. It’s enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA to promote clever cognition for learning and training, as well as strong joints and bones, and healthy skin and coat.
What to consider:
It’s on the pricey side, but if you want to start your Golden pup off on the right paw, this food couldn’t be more tailored to them!
Royal Canin® Breed Health Nutrition® Golden Retriever Breed Specific Puppy Dog Dry Food
This golden retriever food features a specialized kibble shape and texture designed for your golden puppy’s straight muzzle and scissor bite, encouraging them to chew. Not only that, but this complete and balanced puppy kibble provides nutrition to help your best friend thrive. Antioxidants and vitamin E in this healthy dog food help support the development of your puppy’s immune system, while high-quality proteins and prebiotics support your dog’s digestive system and promote optimal stool quality.
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Best For Seniors: Holistic Select Senior Health Chicken Meal & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food
Holistic Select Senior Health Chicken Meal & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food is our top pick for Golden oldies. It’s made in the USA with high-quality ingredients from around the world, and it’s carefully crafted for superior senior support.
Key features:
- Designed for senior dogs
- Optimal levels of protein and healthy fats
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Rich in antioxidants
- Glucosamine and taurine
- Natural fibers, live yogurt cultures, and digestive enzymes
- Pre and probiotics for good gut health
- Grain-free and gluten-free
- Made in the USA
- Comes in 24 lb bags
What we like:
This senior blend combines natural fibers with digestive enzymes, live yogurt cultures, prebiotics, and probiotics to stabilize slowing metabolisms. It’s grain-free and gluten-free for sensitive tummies, with optimal levels of protein and healthy fats, like Omega-3 fatty acids, for strong joints and beautiful skin and coat. It’s also rich in antioxidants, with guaranteed levels of glucosamine, and a daily dose of taurine for a healthy heart.
What to consider:
The only consideration with this product is the price, but it’s worth it to give your dog the best. You can also get it cheaper with autoship!
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Best Fresh Food: The Farmer’s Dog Human-Grade Fresh Dog Food Delivery
The Farmer’s Dog Human-Grade Fresh Dog Food Delivery is our top pick for lovers of fresh food. Develop your personalized plan in just three minutes using their online quiz and have your dog’s food delivered in days.
Key features:
- Pre-portioned fresh meals
- Real meat and veggies
- Human-grade quality
- Increased health and vitality
- Gently cooked to lock in taste and nutrition
- Developed by board-certified nutritionists
- Exceeds AAFCO standards
- Personalized subscription plan
- Delivery within days
- Two-week trial period
What we like:
The meals come in easy pre-portioned packs that you just pour and serve. They’re developed by board-certified nutritionists that exceed industry standards, with real human-grade meat and veggies and human-grade safety precautions. All of their food is gently cooked at a low temperature to lock in nutrients and flavor, with no artificial preservatives for a healthier, more vibrant dog. You can expect a shinier, nicer-smelling coat, increased vitality, healthier skin, and better digestion with a subscription to The Farmer’s Dog!
What to consider:
Subscription services aren’t right for everyone, but the brand offers a two-week trial to test it out before you commit.
Human-Grade Fresh Dog Food Delivery | The Farmers Dog
The Farmer’s Dog is a fresh, human-grade dog food delivery service that customizes meals based on your dog’s age, breed, weight, and activity level. Made with real meat, vegetables, and essential nutrients, their vet-formulated recipes support overall health and digestion. Meals are pre-portioned and delivered straight to your door.
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FAQs
How much should I feed my Golden Retriever?
Generally, adult Golden Retrievers should eat 3-4 cups of food per day split between two meals. Puppies should eat smaller more frequent meals until they’re fully grown, and seniors should eat fewer calories as they slow down to avoid gaining weight.
Are Golden Retrievers picky eaters?
Golden Retrievers are not generally considered to be picky eaters, but every dog is different, and some are pickier than others. If your dog is picky, mix things up, try wet or fresh food, an air-dried kibble, or mixing a topper in their dry food.
Do Golden Retrievers have sensitive stomachs?
Like most breeds, Golden Retrievers can have sensitive stomachs, so if you notice your dog’s digestive system is easily reactive, keep their diet as clean as possible and buy food with added pre and probiotics.
Are Golden Retrievers allergy-prone?
Golden Retrievers are somewhat allergy-prone. If you notice a change in their skin, coat, energy, or digestion, talk to your vet about their diet. They can help you get to the bottom of the cause or suggest an alternative food to try.
Is wet or dry food better for Golden Retrievers?
Generally speaking, dry food is a better long-term choice for large breeds like Goldens because wet foods tend to be higher in fat. However, there are some great quality wet foods out there like the one on our list, as well as raw and fresh foods. It all depends on your dog’s activity levels, and there’s also nothing wrong with a bit of variety!
Final Thoughts
We’re so happy you trust us to help you step up your pup’s diet! Which of our best dog foods for Golden Retrievers are you going to try? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to transition your dog gradually to their new food if you’re drastically changing their diet. For more cool stuff for Goldens, check out our list of the best dog beds for Golden Retrievers.
