The Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. A cross breed of two of the most popular dogs in the United States, it’s no wonder the Goldendoodle is one of the most sought-after mixes, right next to their cousins the Labradoodle and the Maltipoo.
While their crossbreed origin means that it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact characteristics of a Goldendoodle, this teddy bear pup is known for being an excellent family dog as well as being incredibly smart. If you’re interested in learning more about this interesting mixed breed, read on below!
History Of The Goldendoodle
The Goldendoodle is the result of mating a Golden Retriever with a Standard Poodle. They are incredibly smart dogs and have been used as working dogs for many years, including as search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, medical assistance dogs and therapy dogs.
There is also a smaller version of the Goldendoodle, the Miniature Goldendoodle, which was created by breeding a male Miniature Poodle with a female Golden Retriever.
Breed Origin
The Goldendoodle turned 50 years old in 2019 and was first recorded in 1969. This breed was bred by Monica Dinkins who wanted to create a dog with a Poodle’s non-shedding coat that could be used as a guide dog for those with allergies. The popularity of this breed began to pick up in the 1990s.
Because they are a crossbreed, the Goldendoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, they are recognized by the Continental Kennel Club and the Goldendoodle Association of North America.
Characteristics Of The Goldendoodle
As with many crossbreeds, it can be difficult to know the exact characteristics and temperament the Goldendoodle is going to have. There are different genetic mixes of Goldendoodle — F1 Goldendoodle, F1B Goldendoodle, F2 Goldendoodle — which can be the result of breeding a Golden Retriever with a Poodle, or breeding a Poodle with a Goldendoodle, breeding a Goldendoodle with a Golden Retriever, or breeding two Goldendoodle’s together! Therefore, you can get quite an assortment of features in your pup!
As a puppy, they are normally born in litters of between three to eight pups. These Goldendoodle puppies can cost you anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000, although you should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Appearance
The Goldendoodle is often described as an oversized teddy bear. Super soft and cuddly, these pups are large dogs and, on average, a standard sized Goldendoodle is between 22 and 26 inches tall and weighs between 45 and 100lbs. This can vary greatly depending on their parents, of course.
The Goldendoodle normally has a curly coat and wears a happy smile! Super cute, these pups have long noses, round faces and brown eyes. Their tails are long and their chest is muscular. Their bodies can be quite tall but they are well proportioned.
Coat
It is very common for the Goldendoodle to have a curly coat just like their Poodle parent, although not all of these dogs will have them. Fortunately, most of these pups will likely be low-shedding dogs, great for those with allergies and those who don’t want dog fur all over their house!
Sometimes, these dogs can have long and straight fur like their Golden Retriever parent, instead of a curly coat. No matter which coat they have, it is a double coat which means they have a dense under-layer and a thinner over-layer.
While the Goldendoodle is hypoallergenic, they were bred to be low-shedding. If you are worried about your allergies, spend some time with the puppy before you buy to see whether you have a reaction.
Color
Of course, the Golden Retriever only comes in one color, but the Poodle can come in many! This means that the Goldendoodle can also come in a variety of colors. These include black, brown, cream, gold, red, sable, silver and white. There can also be multiple different colors of pups in one litter, which is especially common in first generation Goldendoodles.
Temperament
The Goldendoodle is a friendly and loving dog that gets on with everyone. An excellent family dog, the Goldendoodle just wants to spend time with you and give you love! These pups do not have any kind of an aggressive streak in their body and will happily curl up next to anyone for a cuddle.
Goldendoodles are very patient and loyal, which is what makes them great working dogs, such as guide dogs. Their intelligence means they are easy to train and their friendliness puts you right at ease. They are also known for being playful and active, loving to chase a frisbee in the park, and love to be outside with you.
Lifespan
The life expectancy of a Goldendoodle is relatively long. These dogs can live to between 10 to 15 years old!
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, as with all dogs, the Goldendoodle is prone to some health problems. The two biggest issues they face, hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, are due to the fact they are a large breed.
Hip dysplasia is when the thigh bone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. It can be managed via pain medication, or surgery can be used in more serious cases.
Patellar luxation is caused when the patella is not properly aligned. This can cause lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, sort of like a skip or a hop. Again, it can be managed via pain medication, or surgery can be used in more serious cases.
The Goldendoodle is also predisposed to eye issues such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts. PRA is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye.
Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.
Daily Life
Now we have covered what the temperament and characteristics of the Goldendoodle are, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these doggies is really like. This includes their food and diet, their exercise needs and their grooming needs.
Food And Diet
The Goldendoodle is a large dog breed, which means their appetite is quite large too! These pups need around three cups of dry dog food a day, which is around 1,200 calories. Of course, you should always double check the back of the food packet to see the exact amount you should be feeding your dog based on their weight.
The food you feed your Goldendoodle should be high-quality and nutritious. You should try to split their food into at least two meals a day. This will help to prevent gastric torsion (bloat) in your pup, which is a common health issue in their Golden Retriever parent.
Best Dog Food For The Goldendoodle
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For the Goldendoodle, we recommend the Large Breed dry dog food from Iams. This food is specially formulated for bigger breeds of dogs and gives them all the nutrients they need to live a healthy and happy life.
This food includes real chicken as the number one ingredient, ensuring your Goldendoodle gets protein to main healthy and lean muscles. Also included in this formula is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are both included to promote healthy bones and joints and prevent health issues within the joints that larger breeds are more prone to.
Even better, your pup will maintain a healthy digestive system and immunity with the blend of fiber and prebiotics in this recipe.
Exercise
Goldendoodles are a large breed of dog that have fairly high exercise needs. A dog of this size and activity level should be exercising for around 60 minutes a day, which equates to around 12 miles of exercise a week.
These pups love to play games too, so mental stimulation and obedience training is advised. This will help keep them entertained and loving life. They also like to swim and, despite reports that it is not, this is a safe activity for this dog. The Goldendoodle can adapt to many different spaces and environments, as long as they have enough space to exercise properly.
Family Compatibility
We have mentioned above that the Goldendoodle is the perfect family dog. This is because they love people and are extremely friendly to everyone they meet. Their intelligence and happy-go-lucky nature makes training a breeze, making the Goldendoodle a great first pet.
The Goldendoodle likes to be outside and loves to play, so will therefore be best suited to an active family. They will especially love it if they can accompany you on hikes, walks, runs and even swims.
These dogs get on with everyone they meet, including humans and other animals. Of course, they should be socialized from a young age, but this is the same with any dog. These pups make an excellent pet for homes with children because they love to play!
Goldendoodles do not have any kind of aggression in their personality whatsoever, so you do not need to worry about their temperament. These dogs are not known to bark either, which makes them terrible watchdogs and guard dogs! All you need to do is give them lots of love, attention and playtime, and they’ll grow up to be very happy, friendly, loving dogs.
Training
Goldendoodles are the perfect dog for first time pet owners because of their intelligence and trainability. This is also one of the reasons that they are picked as service dogs. These pups love to please their owners and are very easy going, which makes training a breeze.
You should never use physical punishment or correction with a Goldendoodle and always use positive reinforcement techniques. This includes verbal praise and treats as rewards. These methods will ensure your pup stays happy and isn’t nervous around you!
Socializing
We have explained that Goldendoodles are extremely friendly dogs that get on with everyone. For this reason, socializing your Goldendoodle will not be difficult. It should still be done from a young age, but the chances are your Goldendoodle is going to want to be everyone’s friend!
Socialization should especially take place around other animals and children, although your Goldendoodle should not have a problem with either.
Grooming
The amount of grooming that your Goldendoodle will need depends largely on the coat type they inherit from their parent breeds. Both coats will require regular brushing, but if they inherit the Poodle coat, which is more likely, they will need brushing almost everyday to prevent matting.
Your Goldendoodle will need their coat trimming every eight to twelve weeks. Nail clipping is also needed, as is weekly teeth brushing to prevent dental decay and disease. You should also check your Goldendoodle’s ears frequently, especially if they enjoy swimming. This will help you catch signs of ear infections early on.
It is important to start grooming your Goldendoodle from a young age so they get used to it and understand that there is nothing to be scared of.
Goldendoodle FAQ’s
How much does a Goldendoodle cost?
When buying from a breeder, a Goldendoodle puppy can cost you anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000! These dogs are known as designer dogs, which is why they can be quite expensive. If this is a little out of your price range, you can check your local shelter to see whether there are any Goldendoodles who need a home. You can expect to pay around $300 for a Goldendoodle at the shelter.
Are Goldendoodles aggressive?
Goldendoodles are not at all aggressive. These dogs are extremely popular because of their friendly and loving nature and ability to get on with everyone. They love both adults and children, and make excellent playmates for families with young kids. They may need socializing with other pets when they are small, but these dogs just love and want to be loved, so you don’t need to worry about aggressive behavior from them!
Summary
Goldendoodles are loving and friendly dogs who make excellent family pets. With a kind and happy-go-lucky nature, it is no wonder these pups are such a popular breed of dog. An active dog, the Goldendoodle loves to be outside and will thrive when able to go walking, hiking or swimming with you. However, they’ll be just as happy curling up next to you on the couch and giving you a cuddle! Their gentle nature makes them an excellent dog to have around children, yet playful enough to enjoy games or chasing a ball. What do you think — is a Goldendoodle right for you?