NUTRITION & DIET FOR THE GOLDENDOODLE #BLOGGING FROM A-Z

Nutrition & diet for the Goldendoodle is vital to a long healthy life…

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We all want to serve quality sustenance.

TRANSLATION? –

We want their food to have more meat protein than grain protein.

Harley came home eating kibble from a big bag. Two days later when his vet asked about food, she said she would prefer I change to one of five that she listed on a post-it.

I remember asking her, if Harley were her dog, which one of the 5 would she choose? The one she chose was the food I purchased.

Harley’s first year was a poop-a-pa-looza challenge because of his intestinal struggles. I learned not to deviate with what worked.

Even though Harley was eating what the industry viewed as a “high quality” dog food, I was distraught when it was recalled.

I was forced to change his food!

Which forced me to educated myself!

I LEARNED TO READ LABELS –

Huge eye opener when I realized –

  • Meat should be the first ingredient listed
  • Animal by-products are not a desirable source of protein, they usually include parts of an animal other than the meat #useyourimagination

Over time, I’ve read, questioned and listened to innovative ways (through trial and error) to give healthy, natural food, treats, and supplements.

GROOVY GOLDENDOODLES DIET –

Only because some readers have asked, here’s what the “Charleston Boys” eat –

food

  • The Honest Kitchen (EMBARK) dehydrated turkey
  • Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (in the morning)
  • Puree Pumpkin
  • Bonnie & Clyde Omega 3 Oil (in the evening)
  • Cheddar Cheese (in the morning)
  • Dried Seaweed (in the evening) natural plaque remover
  • Dandelion/Milk Thistle Oil (in the morning)
  • All Natural Bee Pollen (in the morning) helps w/allergens
  • Sardines, ground chicken, or other meats a few times a week (in the evening)
  • *Variety of fresh fruits and/or veggies in each meal

*Yogurt, cottage cheese, green beans, blueberries, apples, bananas, peanut butter, carrots, and more are either added into their food or given as treats during the course of the day. 

I believe everyone wants to feed their doods the best foods they can. And I am a firm believer that knowledge is power. Here’s an interesting caloric chart based on age, size and activity…

Screen-Shot-2016-04-15-at-7.31.55-PM

DON’T KNOW? ASK –

I feel extremely blessed to have a vet who supports and approves my choices and listens to me babble about my new “findings” each and every visit.

There are constant changes and new findings when it comes to pet nutrition and diet, it can be overwhelming at times. But there is also a network of knowledge out there to help us all.

I follow two bloggers who share invaluable sources of information about nutrition –

  • Keep the Tail Wagging even though Kimberly writes about raw feeding, she’s taught me so much about foods and supplements that enhance my Boys health.
  • Slim Doggythey call themselves a team of experienced techies and dog and fitness fanatics. I call them my “go-to” team about dog nutrition, exercise and weight control. 

ONE MORE THING –

A Goldendoodle should be fed several small meals per day instead of one large one, since the Golden Retriever can suffer from gastric torsion, or bloat, a trait that can be easily passed on to any Goldendoodle offspring.

Because of this, regardless to their age, I continue to feed the Boys twice a day.

*I am not a breeder nor a veterinarian. I am a Doodle Mom searching and sharing a better understanding about everything Goldendoodle.

Reference:

Here Pup

Everything Doodle

The Whole Dog Journal

DogTime.com

This year over 500 bloggers from across the world will participate in the A-Z blogging challenge.

We will attempt to blog everyday during the month of April (minus Sundays) completing the entire alphabet in one month.

Our Theme? – “Everything Goldendoodle” ❤️

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14 Comments
  • Claudette pope
    April 16, 2016

    Thank you so much for this information. This has been a true learning experience. I appreciate it. Harley and Jaxson are Blessed to have you as a Mom.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 16, 2016

      As Ziggy is blessed to have you Claudette. We love our doods don’t we?

  • Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom
    April 17, 2016

    I’ve always fed my girls twice a day, even though I grew up with miniature poodles who were only fed once a day. I just felt like it was too much food for one meal. I couldn’t eat all the food I need to keep healthy in one meal, so why assume that a dog could?

    Just one question: how tall/long is a “small standard Goldendoodle” and what would be it’s ideal weight range? I’m just curious.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 17, 2016

      I agree with you! I can’t imagine only having one meal either. The average height for a Small Standard Goldendoodle is 17 to 20 inches; the weight is 40 to 50 pounds. I’m covering “size” for the letter S – so come back okay? Take care.

  • Emma
    April 17, 2016

    Our diet keeps getting better too, the more Mom learns. It is so easy and tasty to eat healthy! Getting the junk food out of our diet a few years back was a wonderful thing for us.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 17, 2016

      Oh Emma – I agree. Learning so much about diet and exercise for the Boys has also helped me adjust what I eat as well. You all help keep us humans health conscience too!

  • The Daily Pip
    April 17, 2016

    Wow, they eat very well. I didn’t know dried seaweed helps with plaque. Do you just mix it in with food? Any particular kind or any I kind at the health food store.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 18, 2016

      I use – ProDen PlaqueOff Animal – it comes with it’s own tiny spoon and I give the Boys one spoonful in their food each day. There are measurements according to weight on the bottle. I believe you can order it from Amazon – I get mine here locally at the holistic store I hang out at.

  • Kimberly Gauthier
    April 17, 2016

    Figuring out what was right for our dogs wasn’t easy, but it’s been interesting. Today, I finally have everyone’s diet down and I’m always learning something new. What I love about taking control of what they eat is that I can make adjustments quickly if something isn’t working for one of my dogs.

    I also feed twice a day. I feed three times a day sometimes in the summer with one of their meals being raw meaty bones and their evening meal being smaller to account for the earlier calories.

    Thanks for the mention.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 18, 2016

      You’re welcome for the mention! Meant every word 🙂

  • Tenacious Little Terrier
    April 18, 2016

    How do you keep track of all their supplements? We just ran out of the joint supplement so his meals are plain for the time being.

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 20, 2016

      Great question Mr. N. – I when I reach for my back-up bottle of anything, I immediately order more. That way I am ahead of the game. Most of what I use I can get online and also locally, so if I run short – I just drive to the holistic store. The one thing I haven’t started Harley on is joint supplements yet. What are you using?

  • Jan K
    April 21, 2016

    I am impressed with what you feed your boys! That is a healthy diet. You don’t feed any dry kibble now? We feed many of the same things, added to their kibble, but you’ve also given me a couple new things to look into.
    My vet is not really into things “out of the norm”, but he is the one that always advised us to feed two meals per day which has worked very well.
    I also do a lot of my research with Kimberly and SlimDoggy!

    • Cathy Bennett
      April 21, 2016

      I’m about to start adding sardines a few nights a week in the evening. Looking for natural oils in their diet. I enjoy learning information about human and natural foods for them.