How to Feed a Golden Retriever

The golden retriever is a large breed of dog with a shiny, golden coat. According to the American Kennel Club, this active breed was developed as a hunting dog during the late 1800s in the Scottish Highlands. Today, golden retrievers are popular family pets. When they are full grown, they weigh 55 to 75 lbs. and measure 21.5 to 24 inches in height. Take special care when feeding golden retrievers, because if they eat too much, they may end up overweight and inactive.

Things You'll Need

  • Food bowls
  • Measuring cups
  • Dry puppy food
  • Dry adult food
  • Rock
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Instructions

  1. Puppies

    • 1

      Feed the puppy three times a day. Feed it once in the morning, once in the afternoon and again in the evening.

    • 2

      Start out with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of puppy food at each feeding time. This will total 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food a day. Check the weight chart on your puppy food.

    • 3

      Let the puppy eat the food undisturbed for about 25 minutes. If it is eating too quickly, place a rock in the center of the food bowl so it has to eat around it. Check to see if the puppy has eaten all of the food after 25 minutes. If it has not, pour the excess food back into the food bag and feed it the same amount at the next feeding.

    • 4

      Check after each feeding, and if the puppy has finished two out of three meals during a day, give it a bit more the next day. If the dog eats all its food, no matter the portion size, stop increasing the portion and closely monitor your dog's weight.

    • 5

      Check your puppy frequently to make sure it is at an ideal weight. You should be able to feel its ribs through a small layer of fat, but not see them. You should also be able to see a waistline when looking at the dog from above. When looking at the dog from the side, its stomach should be slightly higher than its rib cage. If your dog is skinnier than this, increase its portions slightly. If your dog is larger than this, lower its portions slightly.

    • 6

      Start the puppy on a twice-a-day feeding schedule when it gets to be about 11 or 12 weeks old. Give it the same amount of food as it was receiving before, divided into half instead of thirds.

    Adults

    • 7

      Start the golden retriever on adult food when your vet recommends it.

    • 8

      Feed female golden retrievers about 3 or 4 cups of food a day and males about 3 1/2 to 5 cups of food a day. Look at the food package's weight chart for more specific feeding amounts.

    • 9

      Feed your dog twice a day to help prevent gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV. This is bloating in the stomach of larger dogs and can cause the stomach to twist or distend, trapping gas in the stomach that can't escape.

    • 10

      Place a rock in the middle of the bowl as you did when the dog was a puppy to slow the eating process if necessary. This may also help prevent GDV.