Best Dog Food for Mini Goldendoodles (2024)

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When it comes to selecting a dog food for your mini goldendoodle, you no doubt want to ensure you select the best possible food for their health. However, there are many different options on the market today, making it difficult to navigate the choices and find the most suitable food for your dog’s needs.

Our guide aims to help you select the best dog food for mini goldendoodles by detailing some important considerations you should have before buying dog food for your pup. We also include our top picks for the best dog food for mini goldendoodles and some answers to important questions about finding the right dog food for your pup.

What to Think About When Buying Dog Food for Your Mini Goldendoodle

There are several important considerations that you should keep in mind when buying dog food for your mini goldendoodle. These considerations can help you narrow down the many options of dog food out there and ensure you pick a dog food that suits your mini goldendoodle’s exact needs.

Food Quality

The quality of the dog food that you buy is essential to pay attention to, as cheaper and lower-quality dog food tends to have more unhealthy filler ingredients in them. This isn’t to say that the most expensive dog food will always be better, but more that you should pay attention to where the food is produced and the ingredients list.

Lots of filler grains, a lack of protein, and even ingredients like colorings can be found in lower-quality dog food, and these items don’t necessarily make for the best diet for your mini goldendoodle.Instead, you should look for a dog food in your budget that works to include lots of protein plus healthy fruits and vegetables with minimal filler ingredients.

Food Allergies

Sometimes, mini goldendoodles might develop food allergies, partly due to the fact that they are a hybrid designer dog. The most common allergies for a mini goldendoodle include grains, like wheat or corn gluten, and poultry.

If you suspect that your mini goldendoodle has a food allergy, you should be looking for a dog food that does not include the allergen they have issues with. If you have concerns about food allergies, take your dog to a vet to ensure that there are no underlying health issues or to narrow down the cause of potential allergy symptoms.

Caloric Needs

Mini goldendoodles are fairly energetic, and they will need a dog food that provides plenty of nutrients and meets their daily caloric needs. Of course, the caloric needs of your mini goldendoodle will vary depending on their exact size, life stage, and energy level, but you should always check the nutrition label of your chosen dog food to ensure that you can meet your dog’s caloric needs.

In general, your adult mini goldendoodle will need about 350 calories per day, which will equal around one to two cups of food, depending on the caloric content of the food. Mini goldendoodle puppies will eat a similar amount, as they need the calories to grow, and older mini goldendoodles will eat around the same 300 to 360 range of calories.

Special Health Needs

Your mini goldendoodle might develop special health needs throughout their life, including the need for prescription food or food that matches a specific dietary requirement. Common special health needs for goldendoodles call for food that is moderate in calories, food that is healthy for the joints, and food that helps to treat bladder issues or stomach sensitivity.

Many of the most popular brands of dog food, and some on our list, craft special formulations of food to help you ensure your dog has a healthy diet.

Life Stage

The life stages of your mini goldendoodle include puppy, adult, and senior. Your dog will have slightly varying nutritional needs at each life stage, with puppies needing lots of nutrition and calories to grow, adult dogs needing a well-balanced diet, and senior dogs needing more protein.

You can find a dog food to purchase based on your dog’s life stage by checking the bags of the brand you wish to purchase to find one suited to your dog.

Wet Versus Dry Food

Wet versus dry food has long since been a debate in the dog food world, though neither option is wrong. Wet versus dry food simply comes down to your preference, your dog’s preference, the nutrition of the food, and your budget.

Many dog owners choose to feed their mini goldendoodle both types of food on rotation to ensure they have the healthiest diet possible.

Your Dog’s Preference

Despite your best efforts to feed your mini goldendoodle dry food or wet food, they may not enjoy the type of food you have selected for them. Always keep your dog’s flavor and texture preferences in mind, trialing several different types of food until you find one that suits your dog’s tastes and nutritional needs.

The Best Dog Food for Mini Goldendoodles

Below, we give you an overview of the best dog food for mini goldendoodles. You can review details about the brand, as well as special product notes, such as different varieties or food formulations each brand provides.

1

Purina Pro Plan

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 out of 5

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Why we like it
Purina Pro Plan creates high-quality dog food with a range of options for any type of nutritional needs your mini goldendoodle may have.
Key Notes

All life stages, special health formulas, and veterinary prescription diets available

Purina Pro Plan is one of the most popular dog foods around today, and for good reason. This brand features many different formulations of dog food, including special health formulations, life stage formulas, and veterinary prescription diets. Both wet and dry food are created under the Purina Pro Plan line, and the flavors are typically appealing to most dogs. However, online ordering can be somewhat hit or miss with this brand, and it’s important to double-check your order for rips in the bag or completely crushed food when you receive it.
Pros
  • Ample formulations and life stage dog foods available
  • Generally appealing flavors and varieties to most dogs
  • Wet and dry food available
  • Veterinary prescription diets available
Cons
  • Online ordering can be hit or miss
2

Hill’s Science Diet

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 out of 5

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Why we like it
Hill’s Science Diet specializes in dog food with protein as the number one ingredient and varying formulas for all life stages.
Key Notes

All life stages, specialized health formulas available, protein is the number one ingredient.

Hill’s Science Diet is another incredibly popular choice for dog food, and your mini goldendoodle is sure to benefit from the formulas that utilize high-quality protein as a top ingredient. Most of Hill's Science Diet formulas avoid using corn, wheat, and soy filler ingredients, and dogs will generally find this brand easy to digest. However, it can be somewhat confusing to choose between flavors and varieties for your mini goldendoodle, and you may need to put in some extra time researching this brand to select the perfect option for your dog.
Pros
  • Formulas all utilize high-quality protein as a top ingredient
  • Puppy and varying adult life stage formulas available
  • No corn, wheat, or soy filler ingredients in most formulas
  • Most dogs find the brand easy to digest
Cons
  • Flavor choice can be lacking
  • Can be confusing to choose between formulas
3

Royal Canin

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 out of 5

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Why we like it
Royal Canin specializes in formulas based on breed to create nutritionally packed and delicious food for your dog.
Key Notes

Breed-specific formulas, veterinary diets available, all life stages

Royal Canin is a dog food brand that specializes in formulas based on the nutritional needs of each dog breed. The flavors are typically pleasing to even the pickiest of pets, and there are large wet food cans available if your dog prefers wet food over dry.  With a mini goldendoodle, you may want to opt for the poodle formulation of dog food, though golden retriever dog food formulations can also work. If you are confused about the feeding guidelines for your mixed-breed dog, consult the Royal Canin website for advice on which brand to pick.
Pros
  • Breed-specific nutrition for your mini goldendoodle
  • Often pleasing to picky pets
  • Large wet food cans available in addition to dry food formulas
Cons
  • One of the more expensive types of dog food available
  • Mixed breed feeding guidelines can be confusing
4

Ollie Fresh

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 out of 5

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Why we like it
Ollie Fresh crafts fresh, quality, and balanced meals for your dog to enjoy, and the brand is perfect for wet food lovers.
Key Notes

Primarily high-quality wet food, dry food formulas available, supplemental treats available

Ollie Fresh is one of the most premier brands specializing in fresh and protein-rich wet food formulas, though dry food formulas are also available for mini goldendoodles that like a little crunch in their diet. There is a meal plan system available directly through the Ollie Fresh brand that helps to keep your costs down, and this food is about as natural and fresh as you can buy today. Keep in mind that Ollie Fresh doesn’t craft specific breed-friendly formulas or certain health formulas, such as sensitive stomach or urinary diet foods. If you need these, or if you need a veterinary prescription plan, you may need to look at a different brand.
Pros
  • High-quality and protein-rich fresh wet food formulas
  • Dry food formulas available
  • Meal plan system available
  • No preservatives, fillers, or artificial ingredients
Cons
  • Limited life stage formulas
  • Limited specialized health formulas
  • No veterinary plans available
5

IAMS

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 out of 5

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Why we like it
IAMS is a staple brand in the dog food world and provides plenty of variety and easy access to healthy mini goldendoodle food.
Key Notes

Advanced Health formulas available, easy to find, different kibble sizes available

IAMS is seen through stores and online, and this brand is easily accessible, making it a popular choice. There are plenty of formula varieties to meet your dog’s needs, including Advanced Health formulas that are available as wet or dry food.  You should note that some dogs may have an upset stomach because of this food, meaning you might need to try a more stomach-sensitive formula, and other pickier dogs might not enjoy the flavor of IAMS.
Pros
  • Easily available online or in stores
  • Plenty of formula variety to meet your dog’s needs
  • Advanced Health formulas available
  • Wet or dry food available
Cons
  • Sometimes causes stomach issues
  • Dogs may not enjoy the flavor
6

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Dog Food

Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 out of 5

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Why we like it
Merrick crafts both wet and dry grain-free dog food, and the Lil’ Plates variety are perfectly portioned wet food meals for your dog.
Key Notes

Wet or dry food available, formulas designed for smaller dogs

Merrick is a great alternative brand if you are looking for dog food that is specifically packaged for smaller breeds. The Lil’ Plates variety of Merrick is a grain-free wet food that comes in perfectly portioned sizes. This makes the food easy to feed, though you may need to feed several trays of this food a day based on your pup’s caloric needs, making this brand one of the more expensive ones to feed your mini goldendoodle.
Pros
  • Suitable for small dog breeds like the mini goldendoodle
  • Perfectly packaged portion sizes
  • Grain-free diet for dogs with allergies or special dietary needs
Cons
  • Can be more expensive to meet your dog’s caloric needs
  • May need to feed many trays per day

Your Guide to Buying Mini Goldendoodle Dog Food


Buying mini goldendoodle dog food can often feel overwhelming as you work through the many different food options out there. We give you more advice below on buying mini goldendoodle dog food and ensuring your beloved pup has a healthy diet.

What Do the Best Dog Foods for Mini Goldendoodles Contain?


The best dog foods for your mini goldendoodle will contain high-quality ingredients like proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and a small number of grains. Look for foods that have a minimal number of filler ingredients and avoid colorings. You should also ensure that the food you choose is balanced for your dog’s specific life stage and caloric needs.

How Do I Introduce a New Food to My Dog?


Introducing a new food to your dog should be done slowly over a few days or weeks instead of all at once; quick food switches may leave your dog with an upset stomach or avoidance of the food you are trying to switch them to.

When you first purchase a new type of food, mix it into their old brand of food, making the mix around 25 percent new and 75 percent old. Over the next few days, decrease the old brand of food and increase the new brand until your dog has fully been switched over.

Once you make the change to a new dog food, monitor your pup for a few days or weeks to ensure the food settles well with them and they are enjoying it.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has Food Allergies?


It can be hard to tell when our dogs are sick or not feeling their best, as they cannot speak to us when they are feeling bad. However, there are a few signs that you can look out for that indicate that your mini goldendoodle has food allergies.

Signs of food allergies in dogs include:

  • Itchy paws or ears

  • Vomiting or upset stomach

  • Diarrhea

  • Weight loss

  • Lethargy or lack of energy

  • Hyperactivity

  • Unexplained aggression


If you notice any of these signs, switch your dog’s food to something unlikely to irritate their stomachs, such as plain boiled chicken and rice. From there, you can reintroduce food slowly to determine what their trigger food is. You may also want to visit your vet to rule out any potential medical issues.

Are Grains a Bad Thing in Dog Food?


Grains in dog food are an often debated topic, with many individuals arguing that grains are not a natural thing to include in a dog’s diet due to their carnivorous nature. However, others argue that grains will not hurt dogs when included in small amounts.

These days, it’s been mostly agreed that dog foods with grains are unlikely to be too unhealthy, though dog foods that feature primarily grains and filler ingredients instead of proteins and healthy ingredients are more likely to leave your dog not feeling their best.

If you choose to avoid grains or you suspect your dog has an allergy to grains, you can opt for a wet or dry food that is formulated mostly with protein and without common allergens like wheat, corn, and rice.

When Should I See a Vet About My Dog’s Diet?


Ensuring that the diet you feed your dog is the best for them can be difficult, especially if you suspect your mini goldendoodle has health issues or if they are developing food allergies. You should immediately take your dog to the vet if you notice them being particularly lethargic or itchy after eating, or if eating their food gives them an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Additionally, if you have questions or concerns about feeding your mini goldendoodle, don’t hesitate to contact your local veterinarian for guidance and advice.

Keeping Your Mini Goldendoodle Healthy and Happy


Feeding your mini goldendoodle a healthy diet of nutritionally-sound food is one of the best ways to make sure your dog grows up strong and happy from the time they are a puppy until they reach adulthood.
Keeping this healthy diet up throughout their lives helps to combat the potential for health issues and ensure your dog feels their best, looks their best, and enjoys all of the time they get to spend at your side.