large breed

Best dog food for a Golden Retriever

Every food below is scored against a Golden Retriever specifically, not against dogs in general. Breed changes how much each factor counts, which is why the same food can rank very differently from one breed to the next.

25–34kgTypical weight
10–13Years
1116kcal/day at 29.5kg

What matters most for this breed

Protein fit20
Fat ceiling20
Joint support20
Skin and coat10
Filler content15
Ingredient transparency15

Target protein for a Golden Retriever sits between 24% and 30%, with fat ideally under 14%.

Daily calories by weight

Resting requirement scaled for activity, for a neutered adult. Divide by the kcal per 100g on the pack to get grams.

WeightLowModerateActive
25kg8459861268
29.5kg95711161435
34kg106412421597

A growing puppy or a senior needs a different figure again, which is where the app does the work for you.

Top ten foods for a Golden Retriever

1. Canagan Light/Senior ChickenA · 100
2. Carnilove Fresh Carp & TroutA · 100
3. Fish4Dogs Finest Salmon CompleteA · 100
4. Fish4Dogs Superior SalmonA · 100
5. Lily's Kitchen Senior Chicken & TurkeyA · 100
6. Millies Wolfheart Tracker MixA · 100
7. Natures Variety Senior SalmonA · 100
8. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets JMA · 100
9. Fish4Dogs Senior SalmonA · 98
10. Scrumbles Senior SalmonA · 98
Lowest scoring for this breed
Hills Prescription Diet k/d KidneyD · 16
Eukanuba Veterinary RenalD · 16
Bakers As Good As Looks WetD · 17
Purina WinalotD · 19
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Purina HepaticD · 22

Common questions

How much should I feed a Golden Retriever?

A neutered adult Golden Retriever at the middle of the breed weight range, around 29.5kg, needs roughly 1116 kcal a day at moderate activity. Convert that to grams using the kcal per 100g on the pack. Your own dog's actual weight matters more than the breed average, which is what the app uses.

What is the best dog food for a Golden Retriever?

Against the Golden Retriever profile, Canagan Light/Senior Chicken scores highest at 100 out of 100. The ranking below covers all 568 foods we hold.

How much does a Golden Retriever weigh?

Typically 25 to 34kg, classed as a large breed, with a usual lifespan of 10 to 13 years.

What should I look for in food for a Golden Retriever?

For this breed the two heaviest weighted factors are protein fit and fat ceiling. Target protein sits between 24% and 30%, with fat ideally under 14%.

Get this for your own Golden Retriever

Scan the pack and PawsePal scores it against your dog's actual weight, age and any health conditions, then gives you the portion in grams.

Open PawsePal

Calorie figures use the same resting energy calculation as the PawsePal app and assume a neutered adult. Weight ranges are breed typicals, not targets for an individual dog. This page is information, not veterinary advice.