🐾 Feeding Your Puppy or Dog

Nourishing Health from the Inside Out

Feeding your Golden Retriever a proper diet is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for their long-term health and happiness. At Classic Heritage, we believe in a wholesome, natural approach to nutrition—starting with the food they eat every day.  It is VERY VERY important to feed a diet for "large breed dogs" as to much protein is not good for their long term growth and health.  The amount of protein and calories given must be closely managed as rapid growth MUST be avoided.

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We start the puppies on a raw food diet, but since not all customers want to follow our raw food recommendation, we have transitioned them to a kibble prior to going home.  When puppies go home, it is best to have on hand what the puppies are currently eating "Acana, Wholesome Grains Puppy Sea and Farm Recipe" (click underline for link) for them.   This kibble has an ingredients label that appears clean and the puppies do well on it. This food can be purchased at Petco.  We also recommend those not choosing a raw food to look at Open Farm Puppy Salmon and Sweet Potato. It is just a little harder to find in stores, but can be ordered from their website directly.  ​We always recommend switching to a raw or freeze dried diet by the time your puppy is 4 months old or even sooner.

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We recommend moving to a raw food diet around 16 weeks old or sooner. 

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🌿 Why We Recommend a Raw Diet

Raw feeding supports your puppy’s development in the most natural way possible. A balanced raw food diet offers:

• High-quality natural proteins

• Live enzymes for digestion

• Essential vitamins and minerals from real, whole ingredients

Families often notice improvements in their dog’s coat shine, digestion, energy levels, and even temperament when switching to raw. For dogs raised on it from the beginning, the benefits are lifelong.

We’re always happy to guide you through how raw feeding works and why we believe it’s the healthiest start you can give your puppy.

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🛒 What to Order Before Puppy Comes Home

To ensure a smooth transition, we ask all families to order at least one week of food before bringing their puppy home. This helps avoid tummy upset and makes the adjustment easier for everyone.

You'll receive ordering instructions directly from our team during your puppy onboarding process. Ordering ahead means your puppy’s food will be waiting for them when they arrive in your home.

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🐶 Trusted Food Options We Recommend

We understand that not every family is ready to feed raw exclusively, so we’ve provided some alternative options we feel comfortable recommending:

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Other Raw Food Options:

• Smallbatch

• Viva Raw

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Freeze-Dried Alternatives

(for travel or convenience):

• Sunday’s

• Stella & Chewy’s

• Smallbatch

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Feeding Kibble?
If kibble is your only option, we ask that you speak with us directly so we can help guide you to the cleanest, most nutritious choices available. Not all kibbles are created equal, and we want your puppy to thrive—no matter what you feed.

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🍽️ Water & Food Bowls

Your puppy should have their own designated food and water bowls. We recommend:

• Stainless steel bowls – durable, easy to clean, and long-lasting

• Fresh, cool water should be available at all times

• Wash bowls regularly to keep them safe and hygienic

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🧡 A Note About Supplements

With a balanced raw food diet, supplements are typically unnecessary. However, if you’re feeding kibble or a processed diet, we strongly encourage the use of:

• Digestive enzymes

• Omega-3 oils

• Joint support (especially for larger breed puppies)

We’re always happy to provide personalized recommendations based on your feeding choice.