Goldendoodle

Depending on a Goldendoodles pedigree, puppies can grow in size from miniature to standard and have one of three different coats; straight, wavy or curly. Goldendoodles are affectionate, highly social, and intelligent.

They learn quickly and are relatively easy to train, which makes them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners. Doodles are terrific companions and able service dogs. If a Goldendoodle isn't loyally serving as a family's favorite pet, it is most likely working diligently as a therapy dog, guide dog or sniffer dog.

Goldendoodles are hardly considered the best watchdogs due to their abundance of affection and incredibly friendly temperament. Doodles are full of energy and require at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. They are very social and should not be away from their family for too long.

Many Goldendoodles are prone to separation anxiety and may chew furniture if left alone and not adequately exercised. Doodles are also considered generally healthy and free of many inheritable disorders.

The Goldendoodle is a “hybrid” breed, which means it is not considered an official breed by breed associations like the [AKC], the [UKC], and the [CKC], but that hasn’t stopped breed enthusiast.

Goldendoodle puppies are a lovely addition to any family and projected to surpass many dog breeds on its way to becoming one of the world's most popular pets. Incredible friendliness and an overabundance of affection are defining characteristics of adult Goldendoodles.

Doodle puppies, like doodle adults, are also friendly and affectionate but practically vibrate with energy. Doodle puppies tend to “kill” their stuffed toys, nip at fingers and zoom from room to room like an animal possessed.

Nipping, growling, and jumping are common, but not to worry. Doodle puppies, though energetic are no more destructive than other puppies and are relatively easy to train.

Housebreaking a puppy requires patience, praise, and consistency. Goldendoodle puppy parents should spend as much time as possible with their doodle puppy, especially for the first three weeks.

Positive training techniques are the most effective when obedience training a Goldendoodle puppy. Agility courses and the dog park are also great places to socialize new Goldendoodle puppies and to burn off their abundance of puppy energy.

The Goldendoodle is a hybrid, or designer dog, which is a crossbreed between two purebred parents, as such the Goldendoodle does not belong to any breed group. However, much about the Goldendoodle can be determined by examining the breed group of its parents, a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.

Poodles are generally considered “Non-sporting” dogs with beautiful hypoallergenic coats. Golden Retrievers, on the other hand, are classified as “Sporting” dogs and are bred to excel as guide dogs and sniffer dogs.

Doodles were initially bred as guide dogs and a hypoallergenic alternative for the vision impaired who also suffer from dog allergies. Because the Goldendoodle is a crossbreed it is not recognized by the prominent breed associations such as the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC.

Depending on its ancestry, a Goldendoodle may exhibit features that are more like the Standard Poodle, or the Golden Retriever.

First generation Goldendoodles, known as F1 are the direct offspring of a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever. F1 Goldendoodles may be hypoallergenic and often exhibit what is known as “hybrid vigor,” which makes them generally healthier than either parent.

Goldendoodles referred to as F1B (first-generation backcross) are the offspring of a Goldendoodle and a Standard Poodle and generally exhibit an abundance of Standard Poodle traits like a curly, hypoallergenic coat.

Goldendoodles are a hybrid breed, which means their physical appearance can vary dramatically, even within the same litter.

F1 Goldendoodles (first generation) exhibit a range of colors and sizes based on their parentage. In general, Goldendoodles are considered medium-sized, between 17 and 21 inches tall with incredibly soft, wavy fur that covers their entire body.

Head

Goldendoodles possess a large head compared to other medium-sized dogs. The Goldendoodle’s skull is broad, slightly arched and may exhibit the "golden retriever bump" on top of their head.

The muzzle is medium length, straight and free of fleshy jowls. Doodles exhibit the large teeth and floppy ears of their parents. (Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle)

They have large, friendly eyes that reveal a keen intelligence, and a face that is often hilariously expressive for a canine.

Body

Goldendoodles range from small and slender, to stocky and muscular depending on their parentage. One method for estimating the future size of a Goldendoodle puppy is to divide the combined weights of its parents and divide by two.

Legs and Feet

Goldendoodles have muscular, well-coordinated forequarters with medium paws and thick pads.

Tail and Hindquarters

The hindquarters of the Goldendoodle consist of straight, muscular legs when viewed from the rear, medium-sized, compact paws.

Coat and Colors

The Goldendoodle coat is a defining feature of the breed, even though it can vary dramatically from doodle to doodle. The appearance of a doodles coat depends significantly on the dog's genetics, and parentage.

Goldendoodles who exhibit an abundance of dominant poodle genes may inherit a curly hypoallergenic coat. Doodles who exhibit an abundance of dominant Golden Retriever genes are likely to inherit a straight coat that is not hypoallergenic.

Goldendoodles are generally born with one of three coat types: shaggy, curly and straight. Coats also vary by color including black, copper, white, cream, gray, golden, apricot, and red.

Shaggy - The shaggy Goldendoodle coat is a combination of the curly Poodle coat and the straight coat of a Golden Retriever. Shaggy Goldendoodles have soft waves of thick, potentially hypoallergenic fur that requires frequent brushing.

Curly - The curly Goldendoodle coat exhibits tighter curls and resembles the coat of the Standard Poodle. The length of a Goldendoodle’s curly coat can vary depending on parentage; however, owners can expect tight curls that require regular brushing and grooming to prevent matting.

Straight - Straight coat Goldendoodles have inherited the straight coat of their Golden Retriever parent. Straight coats are very common and the easiest to groom and maintain. Straight coats are not typically hypoallergenic and moderately shed.

Height and Weight

Goldendoodles are born in a range of sizes including petite, miniature, medium and standard.

Petite and Miniature Goldendoodles are born of a Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle and are generally no between 14 and 17 inches in height and not more than 35 pounds.

Medium Goldendoodles typically range from 17 and 21 inches tall and weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Standard Goldendoodles are the largest, and most popular variation of Goldendoodle. Standard Goldendoodles are at least 21 inches tall and weigh more than 50 pounds.

The Goldendoodle’s personality is the reason the breed is one of the world's most popular dog breeds. Goldendoodles have many positive personality traits that contribute to its success as a service dog and a family pet. Goldendoodles are affectionate, friendly and exude an abundance of happy energy for their family and any task given to them.

Children & Other Pets - All children should be taught how to approach and pet their new doodle; however, doodles are generally gentle and very patient with children and other pets and actively seek out the company of their family.

Intelligence - The Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle are regularly counted amongst the world's smartest dog breeds. As a hybrid of the Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle, the Goldendoodle is keenly intelligent, and eagerly obeys the commands of its owners when adequately trained.

The Goldendoodle’s intelligence makes it an extremely capable breed, with the ability to carry out a number of different service rolls from guiding the visually impaired, to sniffing for drugs and search & rescue.

Athleticism - Goldendoodles are very active, highly energetic dogs that take well to a wide variety of athletic activities. Though a Goldendoodle is unlikely to turn down any outdoor activity, they are not as proficient at hunting and retrieving as their hunting dog parentage might suggest.

Doodles are loving, affectionate, intelligent and remarkably athletic. Doodles love to romp and play and enjoy a good swim. Goldendoodles can be swift and may run when presented with the opportunity. Owners should invest in a big, enclosed area like a fenced in yard where a Goldendoodle can safely romp and play.

Doodles are full of energy so need daily exercise. They are very social and prone to separation anxiety so shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time.

 

In general, Goldendoodles are low maintenance, friendly, easy to train, and non-shedding.

Nutrition

Feeding your Goldendoodle high-quality dog food is essential. High-quality dog foods are made from beef, chicken or venison and are free of grains, potatoes, and wheat.

Feeding your Goldendoodle dog foods free of artificial ingredients and rich in healthy proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins produce a more luxurious coat, healthier skin and greater quality of life. The nutrition your Goldendoodle needs depends on its stage of life.

Puppies - Goldendoodle puppies require extra protein to develop into a healthy adult. Puppy formula and dog foods designed for growing puppies are the best choices in your puppies the first year.

Puppies should be fed twice a day, at regular intervals, the more active your puppy, the more food they require.

Adolescent - Goldendoodles older than 6 months need less food than younger puppies. Doodles that have reached 75% of their full size need no more than three meals per day.

Adult & Senior - Goldendoodles over 7 years of age are considered senior. Senior dogs benefit from a well-formulated consisting of lower calories, sodium and carbohydrates and rich in high-quality protein. Senior Goldendoodles also benefit from dog foods containing prebiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and glucosamine to promote healthy bodily function and a longer life expectancy.

Grooming

The Goldendoodle’s luxurious coat is a hallmark of the dog's appearance. Doodle coats are often hypoallergenic, meaning they don’t shed to a large degree. Along with regular baths, brushing and combing your Goldendoodle’s coat keeps it soft and healthy.

Regular grooming also removes dead skin cells and prevents hair from tangling and matting. Luckily, properly grooming your Goldendoodle is easier than it looks.

• Brush - Goldendoodles should be brushed at least once per day to free them of clumps of fur and prevent matting. Start near the bottom of the coat and gently brush downward using a slicker brush. You should not see any skin. Brush everywhere, including your doodle’s armpits and belly.
• Shave - Use clippers to shave away matted areas. Be careful not to nick your doodle’s skin.
• Bath - Draw a bath to clean to your doodle’s fur and remove loose skin and hair. Be sure to use dog-friendly soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. Never bathe a doodle with a matted or tangled coat as it will exacerbate the issue.
• Comb - Dry your doodle and comb out any tangles that may have occurred in the bathing process.
• Trim - Using trimmers, trim away any bits of the coat you may have missed.

Exercise

Goldendoodles possess an abundance of energy, which means they require regular, daily exercise to remain healthy, at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Walks, fetch and trips to the dog park are fantastic ways for your doodle to strengthen muscles, maintain a healthy weight and improve mood and mobility.

By spending time outdoors with your Goldendoodle, you provide them with the exercise they need to remain healthy and live a long happy life.

Training

The best way to train a Goldendoodle is to spend as much time as you can with them, especially for the first three weeks. The more time and effort you invest in your Goldendoodle, the more successful your training efforts will be.

Crating - It’s recommended that your Goldendoodle puppy sleep and spend its downtime in a crate large enough for it to sleep comfortably. Crating is vitally important to potty-training your Goldendoodle, as they are initially inclined to avoid soiling their sleeping area.

Housebreaking

Patience, and consistency are the keys to successfully housebreaking a Goldendoodle puppy.

Use the same words and phrases to indicate when, where and how you want your puppy to do its business.

It can take up to 6 months to fully housebreak a Goldendoodle puppy. The size of your doodle can affect the ease of housebreaking. Smaller doodles such as the miniature Goldendoodle have smaller bladders and may not have the ability to “hold it” as long as the bigger doodles.

Socialization

The optimum time to socialize a Goldendoodle puppy is between 1 and 2 months. The best way to socialize a Goldendoodle puppy is with daily walks.

Walks allow your puppy to explore their surroundings, including other dogs and people while feeling secure in your presence, but keep your doodle on a short leash at first.

Goldendoodles are extremely affectionate, social and friendly, and puppies respond to calm confidence. So, stay calm and firm in your commands with your Goldendoodle, and they will be socializing in no time.

Obedience Training

A Goldendoodle’s intelligence and eagerness to please means they are relatively easy to obedience train.

Use basic reward-based training principles like “sit” and “stay.” Every time your Goldendoodle properly executed a command, reward them with a treat to reinforce the behavior.

Try and avoid using punishment as a training method. You want your dog to behave because they want to please you, not because they fear you.

Train your Goldendoodle with brief, but frequent sessions and never forget to end a training session on a positive note. “Good Boy!”

Do Goldendoodles shed? Most Goldendoodles have an allergy-friendly, non-shedding coat. However, the specific shedding amount can vary.

Are Goldendoodles a good family dog? Yes! Goldendoodles are excellent dogs for children and families.

Are Goldendoodles loyal? Yes, they are very loyal to their families.

First created in the late 1990s, Goldendoodles are one of the youngest and most popular breeds around today. The Goldendoodle owes much of its popularity to its parents, the Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle.

The Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed, initially bred to combine the features of the hypoallergenic Standard Poodle with the loyal intelligence and temperament of the Golden Retriever.

The Standard Poodle and the Golden Retriever are not only two of the smartest dog breeds, but they are also two of the most loyal. What’s more, the coats of both breeds are luxurious and easily distinguishable from the coats of every other breed in the world.

The result of breeding to beautiful and capable canines is the wonderfully affectionate and wildly popular Goldendoodle. F1 Goldendoodles are the direct offspring of a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever and are the most common of the breed.

In the years since the late 1990’s variations on the Goldendoodle have emerged including:

• F1B - Offspring of a Standard Poodle and an F1 Goldendoodle
• F2 - Offspring of an F1 and another F1 Goldendoodle
• F2B - Offspring of an F1 and an F1B Goldendoodle
• Variations in breeding result in a wide variety of Goldendoodle shapes, sizes, and colors.

However, the same variations also exclude the Goldendoodle breed from official “breed” recognition by breed associations like the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC.

Most Goldendoodle owners could care less about the official breed status of their Goldendoodle. Instead, most are overjoyed by their doodles highly affectionate and friendly temperament.

The Goldendoodle temperament comes from its Golden Retriever parentage and contributes to the dog's friendly personality and its ability as a service dog.

In fact, the original intent of breeding the Goldendoodle was to combine the service dog ability of the Golden Retriever with the hypoallergenic coat of the Standard Poodle for the visually impaired who are sensitive to dog allergies.

Goldendoodles are regularly trained as therapy and guide dogs to assist the disabled and visually impaired. They are also utilized by the military and law enforcement to sniff for narcotics and rescue those in need.

Goldendoodle may have a short history, but they have filled those years with loyal companionship and millions of hours of service that has bettered the lives of human beings.

As a cross of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle, Goldendoodles are considered healthier compared to their purebred parentage and have an estimated life expectancy of 10-15 years. However, they can still be susceptible to the same health conditions as the breeds they derive from. While most Goldendoodles will not encounter these health conditions it is important to monitor your dog for any physical or behavioral changes.  

Potential Health Conditions:
• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation
• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Elbow Dysplasia (ED)

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

• Enlarged Heart, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

• Bloat, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)
• Allergies
• Overweight, Obesity 
• Ear infections, Otitis

 

Suggested Screenings:
• Eye Exam
• Hip & Elbow X-rays
• Knee Exam
• Cardiac Exam

Routine care:
• Neuter or Spay
• Regular Dental Exams
• Weight Management
• Eye Care
• Controlled Exercise

 

Life Expectancy

With annual trips to the vet, a healthy diet and plenty of exercises the average life expectancy of a Goldendoodle is between 10 and 15 years.