How much food, and how frequently, should a Goldendoodle eat? The following information can assist in addressing those queries.
Do you want to know what to feed your Goldendoodle? When choosing the proper food for this breed, there are many factors to take into account, and some foods should be avoided entirely. A well-balanced diet and avoiding foods that are forbidden to dogs will help your Goldendoodle live a long, healthy, and happy life.
How Much Should a Goldendoodle Puppy Eat?
Depending on the type of food you are feeding your Goldendoodle puppy, you should adjust the amount you give him.
For instance, if you are feeding him adult dog food rather than puppy formula, he will require more food to meet his calorie requirements.
When your puppy is younger than six months old, he will require three meals per day to maintain his energy levels and provide him with the calories he requires. You must cut back on this feeding frequency to just twice daily after the baby turns 6 months old.
Goldendoodle Puppy Feeding Chart
To assist you in determining how much food your Goldendoodle puppy needs and how frequently he should eat, we have created the chart below.
It’s important to keep in mind that each dog is still very different, so your puppy’s specific needs might not exactly match those listed in the chart.
Additionally, during times of growth spurts, your puppy may require more food than is indicated on the chart. As a result, you should really pay attention to what your puppy needs.
2 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
When you look at a two-week-old Goldendoodle puppy, you should not be giving it regular dog food. Puppy food should not be consumed at this age; the puppy should still be nursed by his mother.
Talk to your veterinarian about the type of food you can give a Goldendoodle puppy at this age to meet his nutritional needs if your puppy has another problem that prevents him from drinking milk from his mother.
But it won’t be your standard dog food. Without their mother’s milk, they require a special formula substitute.
4 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
A Goldendoodle puppy at 4 weeks old will still be with his mother and should still be dependent on her milk for nutrition.
Even though your puppy will be much more active and willing to spend brief periods of time away from his mother, he still won’t have weaned himself from her milk.
You can check to see if he’s interested in the puppy food, but don’t be shocked if he isn’t right now. Additionally, he will only be able to consume a very small amount of puppy food. Although, don’t push it.
6 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
Your Goldendoodle puppy will be even busier and moving away from his mother at 6 weeks old. As the puppies start the transition from mother’s milk to puppy food, their mother will also start to distance herself from them.
They most likely are still nursing, but they should also be trying the puppy food. As a result of their small size, they won’t be able to consume much puppy food. Offer a total of one-fourth cup of food per day. You can give your puppy more food if they consume it all at once.
8 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
Puppies will begin to be placed into new homes when they are 8 weeks old because by then they should have weaned themselves from their mothers. At this stage, the Goldendoodle puppy shouldn’t be dependent on milk and should only be eating puppy food. Additionally, the puppy needs three equally sized meals each day.
The amount of food you feed your puppy will vary, but typically the puppy needs to eat between a quarter and a half cup at every meal.
10 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
Your Goldendoodle puppy will have more energy and be getting ready for a significant growth spurt by the time he or she is 10 weeks old. Feed your puppy three times a day as usual; he or she should be receiving about a half cup of food at each meal.
You should keep an eye on your puppy’s development to determine whether you should give him more or less food.
The puppy’s ribs should be palpable beneath the skin, but they shouldn’t be protruding. Just keep an eye on your dog’s appetite because the growth rate will vary.
12 Week Old Goldendoodle Puppy
The largest growth spurt of your Goldendoodle puppy’s life will begin when he turns 12 weeks old. Over the coming weeks, they are likely to put on a lot of weight and depending on their particular needs, their appetite may fluctuate.
In order to meet the demands of the growth spurt and his own energy level, your puppy will need a lot more calories because he will be moving around a lot more.
At this age, you should be able to see your puppy’s waist, which will enable you to determine whether he is the appropriate weight.
How Often Should a Goldendoodle Eat?
Feeding your Goldendoodle 2 to 3 times a day while they are puppies is recommended. They ought to consume a puppy formula created especially for their developing bodies. puppy food contains higher fat than adult dog food.
One meal per day is recommended for adult dogs. Due to the Goldendoodle’s propensity for being more content with two daily feedings, the majority of owners will do so.
The likelihood of food aggression in Goldendoodles decreases when you feed them frequently throughout the day. They also feel fuller for longer. As a result, they will be less likely to damage household items or consume inappropriate foods.
What Can a Goldendoodle Eat?
A high-quality, nutritionally balanced dry dog food should be fed to your Goldendoodle. Avoid giving your Goldendoodle human foods as treats and try to avoid switching dog food brands as this can upset their stomachs because many Goldendoodles have sensitive stomachs that react negatively to dietary changes.
You have a choice of two different diets to feed your Goldendoodle or Goldendoodle puppies. You have two options for feeding your dog: either purchase canned food or prepare it yourself every day.
Since it is much simpler and takes less time to ensure that your Goldendoodle is eating a well-balanced diet, most people decide to feed commercial dog food.
Commercial Dog Food
The majority of commercial diets are perfectly balanced and the simplest to feed your Goldendoodle. You can feed your Goldendoodle one of many excellent diets.
The Purina Pro Plan is one of the best canine diets for Goldendoodles. Make sure a protein source is listed as the first ingredient when choosing a diet for your Goldendoodle.
The ideal food to give your Goldendoodle is typically dry dog food. This dry food is excellent for the teeth of your Goldendoodle and is simple to feed and store in large quantities. Any tartar on your Goldendoodle’s teeth will be removed when they bite down on the dry kibble.
Homemade Diets
You can cook for your Goldendoodle if you don’t want to give it a commercial diet. You must ensure that the diet you prepare for your dog will aid in meeting its nutritional requirements.
You can find recipes for your Goldendoodle in many fantastic places. One website that many veterinarians use for recipes that are completely balanced and even customized for any disease that your Goldendoodle has is Balanceit.com. It will quickly create a meal plan for your Goldendoodle based on the food you currently have on hand.
Some foods that are good in nutrition and are easy for your Goldendoodle to digest are:
- White meats like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and other sources of protein. Avoid using chicken meal because it contains a lot of chicken fat, which can upset your dog’s stomach.
- Vegetables include great options like sweet potatoes and potatoes with the skin on, asparagus, corn, bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and carrots. Just introduce them one at a time so you can spot any allergies your Goldendoodle or mini Goldendoodle may have.
- Fruits, like apples, are great for senior pets with a slower metabolism; just make sure there are no seeds. Dogs also enjoy eating other fruits like apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe (again, be aware of food allergies).
These are just a few of the numerous fruits and vegetables that you might want to add to your Goldendoodle’s homemade diet. You can even use this list of vetted human foods to treat your Goldendoodle.
What Goldendoodles Cannot Eat?
There are many foods that shouldn’t be given to any dog. This is a list of numerous foods that dogs shouldn’t eat.
- Grapes or Raisins (all dogs have a grape allergy)
- Prunes
- The digestive system of your dog was not designed to process dairy, so if it is given in large amounts, it will do a lot of damage. It is acceptable for your dog to consume a small amount.
- Cherries: Toxic to dogs and cats
- Citrus fruits can cause an upset stomach
- Raw food diet items like eggs or raw or undercooked meat can contain salmonella (no, the raw diet is not healthy for dogs)
- The carbonation in soda is difficult for dogs to handle.
- Chocolate: dark or baker’s chocolate is very toxic to dogs
- Coffee
- Avocado
- Onions
- Garlic
- Macadamia nuts
- Salty foods
- Foods that contain a lot of sugar
Pay Attention to Your Goldendoodle’s Appetite
Some people allow their dogs to control how much they eat on their own. For some dogs, this won’t be effective. Some dogs struggle with self-control. No matter if they are hungry or not, some dogs will consume all of the food in the bowl.
Treats are very popular with dogs, but you should be careful not to overdo it. Some experts advise that treats account for no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake.
Schedule a visit with the veterinarian if you notice any strange changes in your dog’s eating routine. Changes in appetite may be transient and typical or they may be a sign of a medical condition. The ideal food dosage for your Goldendoodle can be determined with the assistance of your veterinarian.
What If My Goldendoodle is a Picky Eater?
There are a few things you can do to encourage your picky Goldendoodle to start eating their food if they are a Goldendoodle.
Add Warm Water to Their Food
You might try putting a little warm water in their food. When combined with the dry kibbles, this will have a gravy-like consistency. Additionally, it will slightly soften the dry kibble, making it more palatable to your Goldendoodle.
Add in Some Canned Food
Your dog’s dry food will taste better if you mix in a tiny bit of canned food. All that is necessary is a tiny spoonful mixed thoroughly into the food.
Your Goldendoodle might only eat the wet food that is on top and leave the rest of the dry kibble if you do not mix the wet and dry food together.
Switching Diets Or Protein Sources
There might be a component of the diet you are feeding them that they dislike. A change in diet or protein source could be beneficial. Try switching to a lamb and rice protein or a duck protein if you are currently feeding chicken and rice.
See Your Vet
It might be time to visit the vet if your Goldendoodle suddenly stopped eating. Your dog may refuse to eat due to certain illnesses. Your veterinarian can examine your Goldendoodle to make sure nothing is wrong and prevent them from wanting to eat.
Switching from Goldendoodle Puppy Food to Adult Food
Your Goldendoodle puppy needs to transition from puppy food to adult food around the age of a year. When compared to puppy food, adult food contains fewer calories, so if you continue to feed your dog puppy food, he will probably gain weight.
You must gradually transition your dog to adult dog food by gradually introducing more adult food while gradually reducing puppy food over the course of a week. Before the age of one, avoid doing this.
FAQs
Should You Feed a Goldendoodle Puppy Supplements?
It is a common belief that we should only provide the best nutrition for our dogs, including supplements. However, it is crucial that you consult your veterinarian before deciding whether to give your puppy supplements.
Giving your puppy unnecessary supplements can give him too much of something and make him sick. His food should already contain all the nutrients your puppy needs to be healthy. Your veterinarian will be able to help you if you are concerned about a deficiency.
How Much Water Should a Goldendoodle Puppy Drink?
The puppy must have unlimited access to water, even though it shouldn’t have free access to food all day. Every two hours, your Goldendoodle puppy should consume about half a cup of water.
The puppy should drink one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day as he gets older. Your puppy will need to drink more water each day the hotter it is outside, of course.
Final Thoughts
There are numerous factors to think about when determining what foods your Goldendoodle can eat. The items on the prohibited list can harm your dog, so be sure to avoid them. A healthy dog depends on the diet that you feed your Goldendoodle. Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure about the food you are feeding your Goldendoodle.
