Is your Golden Retriever overweight and you’re looking to make a change to their diet?
Golden Retrievers are much-loved pets that enrich the lives of British families with their affectionate, charming and playful personalities.
However, the popular dog breed are prone to begging for food from the dinner table or searching for scraps outside on the pavement.
While Golden Retrievers are a relatively healthy dog breed, they’re prone to weight gain so Golden Retrievers owners will need to be wary of potential obesity.
You may be surprised to learn that some traditional dry food dog brands produce kibble that is calorie-dense filled with additives and nasties.
The good news is Golden Retriever owners have no shortage of options if they want to switch their glorious Golden onto fresh dog meals and ditch the kibble.
In this article we’re going to take a look at the best dog food for Golden Retrievers in the UK who need to lose some weight, have a sensitive tummy or just want fresh food!
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
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Golden Retriever Obesity
Golden Retriever (Photo: Adobe Stock)
When you think of a Golden Retriever, you’ll probably picture an active dog that loves to go for walks or play in the garden.
While that’s certainly true of the breed, Golden Retrievers can be prone to weight issues so Golden Retriever owners will need to be disciplined with their diet.
You might be surprised to learn that the Golden Retriever is one of the breeds that is most susceptible to weight gain.
In fact, The Association For Pet Obesity Prevention revealed in a 2016 study that 63% of Golden Retrievers are obese. So it’s a real issue facing this much-loved breed.
The Royal Veterinarian College carried out a study in 2020 that examined over 200,000 dogs that were seen by vets in the UK.
Based upon these case studies, they found that 1 in 14 dogs are overweight in the UK and there are 18 breeds that more commonly struggle with obesity. The Golden Retriever was one of the 18 breeds.
Therefore, Golden Retriever owners need to be careful about what dog food they’re feeding their pet and avoid giving their Golden any food or scraps from the table.
How Fresh Dog Food Companies Can Help Golden Retrievers
Golden Retriever (Photo: Adobe Stock)
If you’re looking to change your Golden Retriever’s diet, here are some potential benefits of switching your Golden Retriever onto fresh dog food meals.
Human-quality ingredients – You can feel good about feeding your Golden Retriever a diet that is comprised of high-quality ingredients that have been responsibly sourced. Your Golden will get a diet of human-grade meat and fresh fruit and vegetables. There are no nasties or preservatives in their food.
Customized to your Golden’s needs – One of the benefits of the all the dog food brands listed in this article is that they’ll take the time to get to know your Golden Retriever through their sign-up questionnaire. By completing all the sections, they can tailor your Golden’s food to meet their specific needs whether they need to lose weight or add some pounds.
Big selection of recipes – If you’ve got a picky eater, these dog food delivery companies are an excellent option because of the range of recipes. They’ll have low-fat meals on offer if your Golden Retriever does need to shed some pounds. For instance, you can pick chicken or turkey recipes that are less indulgent.
Pre-portioned meals – You won’t have to worry about overfeeding your Golden Retriever because their meals will be portioned out based upon their daily requirements (this information will be gleamed from your answers in the sign-up questionnaire.
Delivered to your door – You can permanently remove dog food from your shopping list because these fresh dog food companies will ship your Golden Retriever’s meals direct to your door.
Sustainable approach – We’ve highlighted dog food delivery companies that have a sustainable approach so you can protect your Golden Retriever’s weight and the planet’s health.
Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers UK
Now that we’ve highlighted the risk of Golden Retriever obesity and why fresh dog food companies can help, let’s take a look at our top picks for the best dog food for Golden Retrievers in the UK right now.
1) Butternut Box
Website: butternutbox.com
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Butternut Box are our number one pick for Golden Retrievers in the UK. They’re leading the fresh dog food revolution in the UK with their balanced and complete meals. They only use human-quality meat and fresh vegetables with lentils mixed in. Butternut Box have 10 different recipes for Golden Retrievers owners to pick from for their dog, including some low-fat recipes. They’ll use the information provided by pet owners to tailor their meals to meet your Golden Retriever’s specific needs. Cooked at low temperatures and frozen for freshness, your Golden’s Butternut Box meals will be shipped direct to your door. We believe Butternut Box represent the best overall value for Golden Retriever owners. You can read our full Butternut Box review here.
We have an exclusive offer for helloBARK! readers who are thinking about signing up to Butternut Box. You can get 50% off your first Butternut Box order and 50% off your second Butternut Box order by clicking here.
2) Different Dog
Website: differentdog.com
Skye and Different Dog’s Health+ range (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
For Golden Retriever owners who are prepared to pay whatever it takes to ensure their Golden gets the best possible food, Different Dog are premium fresh dog food brand. Their recipes are top notch. Different Dog use human-grade ingredients sourced in the UK, cook their meals at low temperatures in their dedicated kitchen before freezing and shipping your Golden’s meals to your home. They’ve got a wide range of recipes, including a Health+ range. They’re one of the more expensive dog food brands but worth every penny. You can read our full Different Dog review here.
If you would like to purchase Different Dog, you can get a 35% discount off your first 2 boxes by entering the HELLOBARKCC35 coupon code at checkout. To place your first order, click here.
3) Pure Pet Food
Website: purepetfood.com
Pure Pet Food scooper and air-dried food (Photo: www.hellobark.com)
Not sure if you and your Golden are ready to take the plunge with fresh dog meals? Well we’ve got an alternative that doesn’t take up fridge and freezer space. Pure Pet Food have created air-dried dog food that is combined with water to create tasty meals for your Golden. They use high-quality ingredients that are used in recipes created by vets. While you’ll have to prepare your Golden Retriever’s meals, it’s hassle free and you can store your Pure bag in the cupboard. You can read our full Pure review here.
4) Bella & Duke
Website: www.bellaandduke.com
Copper with his Bella and Duke delivery (Photo: lifewithkleekai)
Are you convinced that a raw-fed diet is the best fit for your Golden Retriever? While I personally find raw dog food a bit of a hassle, some dog owners swear by it. Bella & Duke are the best option for Golden Retriever owners who want to feed raw. They use human-grade ingredients sourced within the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Your Golden’s raw food will be shipped direct to your door. They’ve got a good range of protein sources so hopefully they’ll be a recipe that gets your Golden excited. You can read our full Bella & Duke review here.
5) Tails
Website: Tails.com
Copper and Tails dog food (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
For Golden Retriever owners who prefer to stick with kibble but want something healthier than store-bought kibble that could have nasties, we recommend Tails. They offer balanced and complete meals thanks to their customized kibble. They only use high-quality ingredients and Tails will tailor their meals based upon your answers in their sign-up questionnaire. You can read our full Tails review here.
Our readers can get 75% off their first order of Tails when they click this link.
Anything Else To Consider?
Golden Retriever (Photo: Adobe Stock)
It’s a good idea to speak to your regular vet before you decide to make a change to your Golden Retriever’s diet.
If you’re worried about your Golden’s weight, they can offer help and guidance on how to tackle this issue.
The dog food companies listed in this article can also offer customer service to help Golden Retriever owners successfully transition their dog onto their new meals.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
Golden Retriever (Photo: Adobe Stock)
We’ve reached the end of our article on the best dog food for Golden Retrievers in the UK at the moment.
Our top pick would be Butternut Box based upon their success feeding over 170,000 dogs in the UK.
Butternut Box customize their meals and they offer some low-fat recipes to cater to dogs who need to lose weight or have sensitive tummies.
However, the other four dog food brands in this feature offer balanced and complete meals that can also promote a happy and healthy life for your Golden Retriever.
