Best dog food for Golden Retrievers to ensure your fluffy BFF stays healthy and active

Is there any better food for a Golden Retriever than one that's literally made for Golden Retrievers? The Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Dog Food recipe is tailored to the nutritional needs of Golden Retrievers to ensure their food is giving them everything they need to stay happy and healthy. It contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids as well as borage oil, which will help keep your Goldie's coat looking thick, full and fabulous. The recipe also has an adapted calorie content to help keep your GR at the perfect weight.

Since feeding their pooch this food, reviewers have found that their dog's coat condition has improved as well as their general health. The food does contain rice, maize and wheat as some of the main ingredients though so it may not be ideal for those Golden Retrievers with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities to these ingredients.

Another brand with a specific Golden Retriever recipe is AVA. The AVA Breed Health Golden Retriever Dry Dog Food has added L-carnitine which helps to promote a healthy weight and maintain lean muscles as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin added to the mix, both of which are great for supporting joints. Not to mention, omega 3 and 6 for heart, kidney and brain health as well as for keeping their fluffy coat looking and feeling healthy.

The recipe is also naturally hypoallergenic with no added wheat, wheat gluten, beef, pork and soya, making it a fab choice for any Goldies with food allergies. The recipe is also grain free, however, it is produced in a factory that handles grains so traces could be present, so it depends on how severe your pup's grain allergy is as to whether this food is suitable.

For a food that targets two important things in keeping Golden Retrievers healthy, consider these Butcher's Joints & Coat Dog Food Tins. As the name suggests, it's packed full of ingredients that will support their joints and keep their coat in lush condition. Developed by nutritionists, this recipe has added glucosamine and chondroitin to keep your dog's joints in good health with added salmon oil and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

There are three different flavours included in this multipack of dog food tins which will provide your pooch with variety, keeping mealtimes interesting and tasty. That's one of the reasons why customers believe this food is tasty for their pups. However, some reviews online comment that their doggos have bad flatulence after eating this food. Reviews also mention this multipack being good value for money.

Weight gain is a concern for Golden Retrievers so if your pooch is starting to look a little porky, this Royal Canin Satiety Dog Food should help your hound shed some pounds. The recipe is full of natural fibres which should help to reduce begging in between meals as they'll still feel full and satisfied. It also has a high protein content which will help to keep those muscles lean and strong as they lose the weight. Like the other Royal Canin recipe we've featured on this list, it has wheat as one of the main ingredients so this won't be the right weight loss food for your Goldie if they have an allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to this ingredient.

Reviewed by Senior Writer, Rosie Floyd and her pooch Barney, who is 44 per cent Golden Retriever: "Barney needed to lose a significant amount of weight before undergoing surgery but increasing his exercise and adjusting the volume of food he ate just didn't seem to work. That's when my vet recommended this Royal Canin food. I gradually introduced this food by mixing it with his regular meals and fully transitioned to it within a month. After a few months, Barney successfully lost the 12kg necessary for his surgery. He’s now much more energetic, with a noticeable bounce in his step. The packaging includes a very useful chart that helps you determine the right portion size based on your dog’s ideal weight, so you know exactly how much to feed them."

Lily's Kitchen Lean Machine is packed with flavorful, freshly prepared turkey and squash, offering a tasty option for your Golden Retriever without the extra calories at just 85 calories per 100g. This recipe includes natural ingredients that will provide your pooch with a health boost, such as kale for vitamins A and C, manganese, and potassium, along with goji berries rich in vitamins C, E, and K.

We and online customers give this food high marks for its impressive meat content, with 50 per cent turkey providing a crucial source of protein to allow your Goldie to maintain muscle strength. The premium natural ingredients make it a standout choice for customers, so while it might be considered a higher-end option in the world of dog foods, reviewers say the quality and taste are well worth it. Some reviewers mention it has a strong smell, so be ready for that when opening a tin.

Keep your Golden Retrievers joints in tip-top condition with the Pooch & Mutt Joint Care Dry Food. It's packed full of ingredients that are great for active dogs, including 45 per cent salmon as a rich source of omega 3 that is essential for joint wellbeing plus green-lipped mussel and linseed that reduce inflammation and stiffness. Glucosamine and chondroitin are added too which are ingredients associated with joint care and health in dog food. This recipe also includes Pooch & Mutt's unique supplement NUTRA-BIONIC which will help to keep your Goldie's coat and skin healthy, aid digestion, reduce stool odour and support tract health, so the food is a good all-rounder.

Reviewers say this food has really helped with keeping their pooch active and happy. There are some reviews that say their fussy dogs didn't like the food though so that's something to keep in mind if your pooch has a tendency to turn their nose up to new food.

A fresh dog food delivery service, Butternut Box offers tailored, nutritious meals designed to meet the unique needs of your Golden Retriever. Each meal is made from high-quality, human-grade ingredients, with recipes that prioritise natural proteins, such as chicken, turkey and beef, with vegetables and grains also thrown into the mix to provide a balanced diet for your pooch. The meals are customised based on your Golden Retriever's specific requirements, including their age, weight, activity level, and any dietary restrictions. That way, they can provide a meal that ensures your Goldie receives the right amount of energy and nutrients they need to maintain their vitality, plus offer extra support for their joints or have reduced calorie content if needed.

Butternut Box has rave reviews online, with many mentioning the positive impact the food has had on their dog since switching, including a shinier coat, increased energy and better digestion. They are convenient too as the meals arrive straight to your door when you need them. As the food arrives frozen, you need to make sure you’ve got plenty of room to store them and you’ll need to remember to allow plenty of time for a meal to defrost before you serve to your Golden Retriever at mealtimes.