My goldendoodle won’t eat
So your Goldendoodle doesn’t eat as much as the kibble bag says she should? You’re not alone! Generally, goldendoodles tend to be leaner like their poodle ancestors and aren’t crazy about food like some dog breeds. Here are a four steps you can take to help your Goldendoodle achieve a healthy weight.
First, take a minute to assess whether there are any obvious reasons why your goldendoodle isn’t eating enough. Mini goldendoodles do the majority of their growing by 6 months of age, so it’s normal for their appetite to taper off around 6 months old. It’s also normal for a brand new puppy not to eat a lot the first few days when she initially joins your family. Additionally, it’s wise to take a stool sample to your veterinarian to ensure that your goldendoodle doesn’t have any “friends” living in her intestines that could be impacting her appetite or causing her to be skinny.
Four tricks to encourage your goldendoodle to eat
1. Try free feeding
Goldendoodles often do better grazing rather than having set mealtimes. Leaving food out continuously works best if you don’t have other pets that will help themselves to your dog’s food dish. Generally, goldendoodles tend to be leaner like their poodle ancestors so having continual access to food is beneficial.
2. Allow late night eating
Many goldendoodles aren’t big morning eaters, just as some humans tend to skip breakfast routinely. Observe whether your doodle seems to eat more certain times of the day. Some goldendoodes even like to eat overnight. If your dog can eat a midnight snack without needing an overnight trip to the bathroom, leaving food down for her at bedtime is a great option.
3. Make mealtimes a game
Sometimes eating food out of a dish is a bit boring. Slow feeders and doggie puzzles are a great way to liven up dinner. Pick up a snuffle mat, slow feeder bowl or ball, and a fun mental stimulation puzzle to see what your pup likes best. It’s also good to do a short training session each day with your furry friend, and kibble can be a great treat option. Free kibble in a dish doesn’t taste quite as good as kibble that was earned by a sit, down or paw shake.
4. Moisten kibble
Sometimes simply moistening food with a little bit of water can make it more appealing. You can also use a few tablespoons of fresh, raw goat milk (not cow milk) to make food a little extra irresistible. You can experiment by leaving out some dry kibble as well to see which you dog prefers. Chances are she’ll be drawn to the moistened food. If you live in the Cincinnati area, D&L Meadows is a local dairy goat farm where you can buy fresh milk. Be sure to only use fresh goat milk or frozen milk that’s recently thawed. Feeding your beloved doodle goat milk that’s been sitting in the back of your fridge for a month could result in a sick puppy.
Many goat farmers sell milk in 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon containers. Since your goldendoodle will only use a small amount each day, divide the milk into pint or quart glass canning jars and store on the freezer until your pup is ready to use it.
If you don’t have access to raw goat milk directly from a farmer, some pet boutiques and pet food stores sell fermented raw goat milk. In the Cincinnati and Dayton areas, Pet People, Earthwise Pet Supply, and Bona-a-Fido Bakery all have 1 pint containers of A+ Answers raw fermented goat milk available for purchase (usually in the freezer section). Again, goat milk is a tasty supplement, not your dog’s entire meal, so sprinkle it over your dog’s kibble to make it extra enticing. 1/4 cup of goat milk per day is plenty for a mini goldendoodle and 1/2 cup of goat milk is about right for a medium.
Will changing dog foods help my goldendoodle eat better?
Switching to a new kibble will probably help your goldendoodle eat more for about 3-4 days. Soon the luster of the new food will wear off and your goldendoodle will return to her normal eating habits. Most goldendoodles don’t have small appetites because of a distaste for their current kibble but rather because they just naturally have a small appetite.
What food should goldendoodles eat?
If you’re wondering what kibble to feed your goldendoodle, try TLC Dog Food. That’s what we feed our dogs and puppies, and they all do well with it. Whatever dog food you select, it is important to read the ingredients and select a kibble that contains no more than one legume ingredient (i.e. peas, soy), as regularly eating legumes has been linked to cardiac and endocrine problems in dogs.
When do I switch my goldendoodle puppy to adult dog food?
Your mini Goldendoodle puppy will finish the majority of her growing by about 6 months of age, so it’s normal for her appetite to slow down around then. She may hit a short growth spurt around 8 months old, but she probably won’t get any taller after that point, although she may fill out a bit. You can switch your puppy to adult food between 9-12 months of age – whenever in that timeframe that it comes time for a new bag of food, go ahead and order adult instead of puppy.
How much should I feed my goldendoodle? Is my goldendoodle too skinny?
Consults your dog food bag for a guide of how much your goldendoodle should be eating of that particular kibble. Each dog kibble should have feeding recommendations on the bag of how much your dog should be eating based on her age and weight. Try free feeding, moistening kibble, and using the other tricks we shared above to encourage your goldendoodle to eat if she’s a finicky eater, but don’t stress yourself too much if she eats a little less than the amount dictated by the dog food bag.
If you have any questions about whether your goldendoodle is too skinny, consult your veterinarian. Not every doodle wants to weigh as much as humans think she should. It’s important to assess the dog herself and not just the number on the scale.
- Have you brought a stool sample to the vet to ensure there aren’t any intestinal parasites causing a problem?
- Is your doodle peeing and pooping normally?
- Does your dog have a normal energy level? Is she playful and happy?
- If your doodle is a puppy who is 6 months or younger, is she gaining weight each week?
If your dog doesn’t have any parasites, she’s eliminating normally, and she has a normal energy level, she’s may be an okay weight for her, even if it seems a bit skinny. Certainly consult your vet if you have any concerns, but don’t stress yourself out too much about your goldendoodle being a “poor eater.” Remember, it’s common for goldendoodles to have small appetites. Try the tricks shared about to encourage eating, and allow your pup to eat the amount she wants.
Disclaimer: this information is not intended as veterinarian advice. Please consult a licensed practicing veterinarian.