Choosing the Best Food for your Dood

***Disclaimer: I am not a licensed veterinarian and this information is meant to supplement, not take the place of seeking out your local veterinarian's opinion for your unique situation. Always consult your vet before making changes to your dog’s routine. I am an affiliate and receive a commission for certain pet products/services when qualifying purchases are made. However, I only recommend products and services that I believe have integrity. I do recommend many products that I receive nothing for, besides the joy of helping fellow dog-lovers out.

You want to invest in your dog’s health because it’s a gift that lasts a lifetime. You may be here because your best friend is a picky eater, has food sensitivities, or you may just be looking to find the best quality dog food. In this article, I'll share the pros and cons with links for you to find the best option for you and your fur baby.

Choosing a high-quality food is one of the most important things you'll ever do for your new family member.

Nothing compares to the convenience of dry kibble and the ability to easily measure and apportion it out. If you prefer to use a dry dog food that you can trust never uses cheap fillers. The dry food I recommend is by Pawtree (linked here). They have wonderful food toppers that help picky eaters finish their meals and spice it up if they are getting bored. Many goldendoodles have chicken allergies and vets recommend staying away from that. If you’re curious how other dog food brands compare, you can see how they measure up on Dog Food Advisor.

Puppy multivitamins

NuVet Plus Wafers have human-grade vitamins that are phenomenal additions to a healthy diet. Click here to learn more.

Managing Loose Stools

From time to time, every puppy gets an upset tummy. Whether the cause is stress-induced, due to consuming too many treats, ingesting pieces of toys, or eating something unusual outside, loose stools are no fun for puppy parents who are trying to potty train. I recommend keeping some natural remedies on hand because once you need them waiting for them to ship feels like forever and during that time your pup can get dehydrated which can be dangerous. For prevention, you can give them a daily supplement called Gastro Pro Plus (linked here), which contains probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzyme support. If your puppy already has diarrhea you can give them 5ml of pectin (linked here) to soothe the tummy and stop the loose stools. While your puppy's tummy is upset, you can feed them homemade dog food of 50% rice and 50% ground beef. Don't add any spices or veggies to this recipe, as it is intentionally bland. To help your puppy reset their gut flora, you can support their digestive system with pumpkin puree and a pro-biotic (linked here). If the diarrhea is pervasive, you can request a stool sample/fecal at your vet and they can test for parasites and bacterial infections. To learn more about the importance of parasite prevention and management click here. If you went to your vet and your dog doesn't have parasites, you can check if your dog has food intolerances or environmental allergies with a mail-in hair test like 5Strands, linked here. Some families have found this information helpful to make specific lifestyle and diet changes and the issue was completely resolved without spending thousands of dollars on advanced testing at the vet. Dog foods are not regulated to the same standards that human food is, so some additives can create inflammation and digestive issues.

What about treats?

I’m sure you’re already puppy-proofing your home and thinking about ways to make them comfortable. Your puppy will likely be teething and of course, if they nibble on your hands or an off-limits object you can tell them no. However, it is important to give them something they should be chewing on. You don’t want to give dog toys that will crack or splinter into small pieces like rawhide, so we recommend Yak chews, cow hooves, and large elk antlers. Your new puppy has razor-sharp teeth and I wouldn’t recommend giving them plush bedding or anything that has small pieces they can break off and potentially choke on. Some doodles are allergic to chicken, so we recommend treats like these freeze-dried fish and CBD treats here.