Doodle Nutrition
Goldendoodles and Irishdoodles require a nutritional, balanced, high protein diet. Here at Ponsonby, we feed Purina Pro Plan to give our dogs all the nutrients they need to thrive.
What makes a good dog food?
A good dog food will always have a source of protein as the first ingredient. We suggest finding a food that's first ingredient is an animal based protein, such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, duck, etc. Be careful to check that this protein source is a meat and not a meal. Chicken meat, for example, is on par with what you buy at the grocery store for human consumption. Chicken meal is whole ground chicken, bones, organs, and all. It is not a bad ingredient to have, but as a less concentrated source of protein, it shouldn't be the first ingredient in the food.
Vegetarian proteins such as peas, legumes, and soy, contain lectins, which are nutrient inhibitors. These inhibitors lower the bio-availability of the protein, making it impossible for the dog to absorb the nutrients in the food. Pea protein as opposed to peas, and soy protein as opposed to soy, are processed to remove the lectins, making them safe and suitable sources of protein.​​​
A good dog food will have at least 350 kcal/cup. This is the minimum to sustain the life of your dog. You may find foods that dip below this amount, but they are usually specialized diets for losing weight. When finding a good puppy food, you will want to find a food with over 400 kcal/cup. These extra calories help the puppy to grow.
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A good dog food will have a complete nutrient profile approved by the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). The AAFCO is an independent organization that sets an international standard for pet food quality and nutritional value.
What do we feed?
Based on the qualities listed above, we choose to feed Purina Pro Plan. All our puppies go home on a diet of Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula. We recommend sticking with this diet for the first year of your puppy's life, then switching to a Purina Pro Plan adult formula.
If you plan to transition your puppy to a different diet, we recommend staying on Purina Pro Plan Puppy for at least the first few weeks after taking your puppy home. When puppies are stressed or go through big life changes, they can experience soft stools and upset stomachs. Keeping the food familiar until they have settled into their new home will minimize gut based symptoms of stress.
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Treats
We recommend finding treats with one or only a few simple, recognizable ingredients, and no preservatives, artificial flavours, sweeteners, or salt. Ensure that your treats are not made in China, as there is no regulatory body to ensure the quality or safety of the ingredients used.
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Feeding too many treats can throw off the balance of a puppy's diet and cause diarrhea. To prevent this when training, use small trainer treats or break larger treats into several smaller pieces.
For long term entertainment, we recommend offering cured bones (femurs, not ribs) or raw hide sticks. If you offer your puppy a raw hide stick, make sure to use a bully stick holder to prevent choking on the last piece.