If you are looking for a mixed breed dog that is a fantastic family pet, and is fairly easy to train, then a Goldendoodle is a fantastic option to consider. Not only are they a beautiful breed, they have great personalities too.
Deciding on a breed of dog to choose as a pet is no easy decision. Not only do you need to ensure that you are choosing the best dog for your lifestyle, but you need to be the correct fit for the dog as an owner too. This is why carrying out sufficient research on a breed is so important.
To help you with this, we have compiled the ultimate guide to Goldendoodles. We have included everything you need to know about this breed in this article, from the overall costs to temperament.
Key Facts
The Goldendoodle is a fairly new type of mixed breed, being bred in the mid 1990s. However, their gentle nature and good temperament quickly grew in popularity.
While they are more commonly known as Goldendoodles, they can also be nicknamed as the groodle. They were bred to be a larger version of the cockapoo. However, a golden retriever was used instead instead of breeding a Cocker Spaniel with a poodle.
It is easy to see why this is a popular breed of dog. Not only is it a great family pet, but it is also easy to train, groom, and gets on well with children and other animals.
The Goldendoodle can be bred using a standard, large, toy or miniature poodle, depending on the size of the puppies required.
Average lifespan
The average lifespan of a Goldendoodle is fairly average, and this is based on both breeds of dog. Typically, these dogs will live anywhere from 10 to 15 years. However, the lifespan will vary depending on illnesses, and the individual dog.
Minimum exercise (per day)
This breed will need to be exercised daily, for around 30 minutes. We would recommend daily walks, and other exercises such as agility, fetch, and even swimming. While they are not the most active breed, they still need some form of exercise daily.
Coat length
Their coat length is typically between two and three inches in length, but it can grow longer than this if they are not groomed correctly.
Minimum cost (per month)
The minimum cost of a Goldendoodle will vary. However, when taking into consideration food, general upkeep, grooming, health, and toys, this can be anywhere from around $100 — $200. Some months will be more expensive than others.
Appearance
A Goldendoodle is a beautiful breed of dog that can be many colors, such as white, cream, tan, and black. They typically have a wavy coat, and a medium to large in their size. They have floppy ears, and have longer hair on their face, tail and legs,
Size
Considering that this breed is a mixture of a poodle and a golden retriever, they are a fair size. They will typically fall between the medium and large size categories.
However, their size will depend on their overall height and weight, which can vary fairly significantly.
Average Height
The average height of a Goldendoodle will vary because it is a mixed breed. Given this, you will need to take into consideration the height of the mother and father to have a better idea of a more accurate height.
However, on average, they will stand around 17 to 20 inches (ca. 51 cm) at the shoulders, which is a reasonable height. This is based on a golden retriever being bred with a standard poodle.
If you are breeding a golden retriever with a minute or toy poodle, the size of the puppies will be significantly smaller. These will be around 13 to 20 inches (ca. 51 cm) in height.
If a large standard poodle is used, the puppies can reach up to 24 inches (ca. 61 cm) when they are fully grown. As a result of this, it is difficult to determine the exact size.
Average Weight
In the same vein as the height, the weight of a Goldendoodle can vary significantly. The weight of the dog will depend on its overall height. The larger the Goldendoodle is, the more it will typically weigh.
On average, a standard Goldendoodle will weigh between 40 and 50 pounds (ca. 23 kg). However, a large Goldendoodle can weigh up to 90 pounds (ca. 41 kg), whereas a toy or miniature Goldendoodle will be between 15 and 35 pounds (ca. 16 kg).
Other factors will impact how much the poodle will weigh, such as the size of the parents, their diet, and the amount of exercise they have.
Temperament
A Goldendoodle has a fantastic temperament. They are quick to please, loving and are great family pets. They are approachable, not aggressive, and fun.
Apartment living
If you live in an apartment, a Goldendoodle is not the best option to consider, especially if the apartment does not have a yard or access to the outdoors. This is because they need a significant amount of space, not just due to their size but also their energy.
They are far better suited to a good-sized home that has a yard in which they are free to run around and enjoy themselves.
Good for novice owners
A Goldendoodle is a fairly good breed of dog to have as a novice owner. This is because they are fairly easy to train, and are great family pets. They enjoy being obedient, and are quick to please. They are not an overly difficult breed to own, and while they have a lot of energy, they are not overly strong-willed.
Being sociable, they enjoy being around their families, and they make fantastic companions. Being gentle, they are not overly boisterous, even though they are very playful. Their grooming needs are not too difficult to stay on top of, and while they require daily exercise, it is a manageable amount.
Sensitivity level
These dogs are not overly accepting, though they can experience separation anxiety from their owners if they are not trained correctly.
Tolerated being alone
While Goldendoodles can be left alone, they can have separation anxiety, which needs to be addressed early to help prevent any further problems. It is not recommended to leave them for longer than 4 hours at a time.
Tolerates Cold Weather
Due to their coat, Goldendoodles are fairly good in the cold weather, though care needs to be taken if it is particularly cold.
Tolerates Hot Weather
Care needs to be taken in the warmer weather to ensure that this breed does not suffer from heat stroke. Their fur is thick, which can cause them to become warmer in the heat, though it can be clipped back in the warmer months.
Affectionate With Family
As discussed, Goldendoodles are a fantastic family pet. This is because they love to be around people and enjoy this kind of attention. They tend to settle into a family quickly and easily, and will become attached to their owners.
Because they are overly affectionate, you will need to keep in mind that they can suffer from separation anxiety due to this, which requires training and addressing.
Kid-Friendly
As to be expected, Goldendoodles are generally great with children. This is because they are excitable, patient, and enjoy the interactions. Even so, care needs to be taken to ensure the children are interacting with the dog correctly.
Dog Friendly
Goldendoodles are an accepting breed, and are generally great with other dogs and animals, especially if they have been brought up with them. Care will still need to be taken with introducing animals for the first time to ensure their socialization is good.
Friendly Toward Strangers
Goldendoodles are an accepting breed, and are generally great with strangers. They are not overly protective or nervous, and are a friendly and approachable breed.
Health And Grooming
When choosing a dog, you will need to ensure that they are free from as many potential health problems as possible. Furthermore, you will need to know their grooming needs. Some dogs require significant grooming in comparison to other dogs. You will need to be able to keep on top of this grooming.
Shedding
Goldendoodles are not extreme shedders. They typically have a light amount of shedding, which is fairly easy to keep on top of.
Drooling
This breed is not known for being one that drools a lot. While they may drool slightly, this is not extreme in any way, and is not something that is overly noticeable.
Grooming
The grooming needs of a Goldendoodle are fairly easy to keep on top of. They typically have a wavy or curly coat, but can have a straighter coat due to their genetics.
We would recommend brushing them a few times a week, and taking them to the groomer around every 6 weeks, for a bath, brush, and clip. This will help to keep their fur in a good condition, and helps to prevent dirtiness and matting.
General Health
When you compare mixed breeds to pure breeds, on the whole they tend to have less health problems. However, this does not mean that they are fully exempt from any problems as they age.
Even so, their general health is fairly good, and there is typically nothing that needs to be worried about in the majority of cases. Even though their general health is typically good, it is still important to ensure that you are choosing the correct breeder.
You will want to choose a breeder that has the history of the puppies’ family tree, including its parents and grandparents. In addition, the bred dogs should not have issues with their hips or elbows in terms of dysplasia. Another issue you will want to have clearance for is hyperthyroidism, and a general health and eye check too.
This is why it is important to do your research and choose a reputable breeder. If you do not, this is when health problems can be more common. It is worth noting that some dogs will experience health problems as they age, and this cannot always be guaranteed not to happen, even when choosing a reputable breeder.
Common health problems
As discussed, no breeds are completely free of potential health problems, even hybrids. Here are some of the most common Goldendoodle ailments:
- Hip Dysplasia — This is one of the more common problems, and is typically caused by their genes. If a dog is malnourished, this can also trigger this. It occurs as a result of the thigh bone and the hips not sitting correctly, which will cause further problems and discomfort.
- Elbow Dysplasia — This is very similar to hip dysplasia but is featured in the elbows. Again, this can be due to genetics or malnutrition, and is something that will need to be closely monitored.
- Ear Infections — Goldendoodles are slightly more prone to ear infections in comparison to some other breeds of dog, due to the shape and floppiness of their ears.
- Patellar Luxation — This is an issue that will affect smaller Goldendoodles more than larger ones. It causes issues with the kneecaps, which can lead to them sliding out of place and dislocating.
- Hyperthyroidism — While choosing a good breeder can potentially help to prevent hyperthyroidism, this cannot always be avoided. This condition leads to other health issues, such as epilepsy, obesity, and hair loss.
Some other health conditions to be aware of include gastric dilation-volvulus, allergies, Von Willebrand’s disease, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Potential for weight gain
Goldendoodles are not prone to weight gain in general. However, if they are neutered or have hyperthyroidism, this can cause them to gain weight more quickly. To keep on top of their weight, you will need to ensure you are not overfeeding, and are feeding the correct amount of food.
If you are giving treats, you will need to cut back on general food to make room for this. You will also need to ensure you are taking your dog out on daily walks.
Trainability
Given the two breeds this dog is bred from, it is not surprising that a Goldendoodle is easy to train. They are quick to learn and eager to please, making the training easier. They respond well to treats and positive reinforcement.
Easy to train
Yes, this is an easy breed of dog to train. Even so, persistence is needed, and you will need to use positive reinforcement, and train from a young age. In addition to this, you will need to keep their focus and attention when training too.
Intelligence
This is a highly intelligent breed of dog, which makes them easy to train. However, if they are not trained or stimulated enough, this intelligence can potentially cause them to become destructive as they have not had enough stimulation.
Potential to bite
All dogs have too potential to bite, especially if they are treated incorrectly, or not handled correctly. However, when trained and properly socialized, they are not a dog that is particularly prone to biting.
Tendency to bark or howl
While they can bark and growl, they are not known for being overly noisy, aggressive, or vocal.
History
In the late 1990s, these three breeds really gained popularity, due to how easy they are to care for and for their typically “hypoallergenic” fur.
While it is possible for two Goldendoodles to be bred together, this typically does not happen. Instead, a golden retriever will be bred with a specific size of poodle. As they are a mixed breed, they cannot officially be listed as being part of the Kennel club.
Instead, they are seen as a designer breed. Even though they are not purebred, they are still a very popular choice of dog, especially with families that have younger children.
They are popular across the world, but particularly in the USA, Australia, and the UK. While the Labradoodle and cockapoo are still more popular than the Goldendoodle on the whole, the numbers of Goldendoodle puppies being born continues to grow each year.
Costs
The cost to purchase a Goldendoodle will vary depending on the breeder and the state you live in. However, they are typically around $1000 and $2500. However, you will also need to consider neutering and healthcare costs.
Fun Facts
- A Goldendoodle is not technically a true breed, as it is a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. Instead, it is known as a hybrid, which is the name given to designer cross-breed dogs.
- A Goldendoodle is a dog that is great at being a working dog. Surprisingly, they can use their strong sense of smell to detect allergens in foods such as peanuts. In addition to this, they can also be used as therapy dogs, given their gentle and loving nature.
