Goldendoodles first appeared in the 1990s to provide a larger alternative to the already popular cockapoo: a cross between a Poodle and a cocker spaniel. The Goldendoodle is a fairly recent entry into the designer Poodle crossbreeds but have been steadily gaining in popularity, with a more recent surge in demand. They are a crossbreed between two of the five smartest dogs in the world: the Poodle and the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles encapsulate the intelligence, ease of training, and fun-loving and goofy traits of the Poodle with the outgoing, trustworthy and eager-to-please temperament of the Golden Retriever. Even though these two breeds are fairly different from each other, combined they make one of the perfect all-around pet for families and first time owners.
Goldendoodles are essentially low to non-shedding and produce very little dander. As such they are often the breed of choice for those who suffer from allergies. We do recommend generations that have a greater percentage of poodle which are F1B, F1BB, or F3 puppies for those with allergies. See size and generation section below for more details on this.
Goldendoodles are fairly energetic dogs who need room to romp and play. As such, they may not be a good choice for apartments but would do well in a home with a fenced-in yard. They need about 30 minutes of daily play and exercise to stay fit and entertained.
With their high intelligence, they can get bored easily and need activities to keep them out of trouble. They can also be content curling up on the couch for cuddles. When crate training them, it’s best to provide toys to keep them entertained.
Goldendoodle versus English Teddy Bear Goldendoodle
The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is the product of breeding the Poodle specifically with the English Cream Golden Retriever which are also known as an English Creme Goldendoodle dogs or an English Groodle. The temperament of the Goldendoodle and the English Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is quite similar. The difference between them is in their appearance. The English Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is more muscular, with a boxier head, is typically lighter shades of cream, white and gold and have a more typical ‘teddy bear’ look than the Goldendoodle.
As with their appearance, Goldendoodles’ temperament might take after one parent more than the other. But more often than not, they’re intelligent, obedient and extremely loving dogs. Goldendoodles love people and also get along great with other pets, and they tend to be patient and gentle with young children.
They are far too friendly to make good guard dogs or watchdogs and would more likely try to befriend a stranger than warn them off. As highly social dogs, they need to be with their family and wouldn’t do well as outside dogs or in homes where they’d be left alone for long periods of time.
The appearance of Goldendoodles can vary widely depending on which parent possesses the more dominant genes. Their coat can be straight like a Golden Retriever’s or curly like a Poodle’s, but it often lands somewhere in between, appearing wavy and shaggy. Goldendoodle puppies may go through different stages before their coat takes on its final appearance.
Colour
The Goldendoodles come in a variety of colors, including black, chocolate, red, white, apricot, cream and brown. In addition to the wide variety of colors, Goldendoodles can also be found in a variety of patterns, including merle: a combination of various colours; brindle: stripes throughout the body with the width and colour varying with each dog; phantom: solid background with markings on the side of the chest and muzzle, above the eyes, under the tail, and inside the legs; and parti: a combination of white on at least 50% of the body with solid patches of any other colour.
Size also tends to vary widely, depending on what type of Poodle is used in breeding. As a result, Goldendoodle puppies can weigh anywhere from 8 to 100 pounds. Our doodles come in the following sizes:
Teeny Tiny: Under 20 lbs
Mini: 15-25 lbs
Mini Medium: 25-55 lbs
Medium/Small Standard: 30-60 lbs
Standard: 45-80 lbs
Generations
F1: purebred Poodle crossed with a purebred Golden Retriever. F1’s are low to non-shedding. This generation can be good for those with mild allergies, but we recommend going to an F1b or higher generation for those with allergies.
F1b: Purebred Poodle crossed with an F1 dog. F1b’s are more non-shedding than the F1 cross. This generation is more suitable for those with more severe allergies.
F1bb: F1b crossed with a Poodle. F1bb’s are non-shedding. This generation is also suitable for allergy sufferers.
F3: F2 crossed with an F2 or an F1b crossed with an F1b. These should be non-shedding and good for allergy sufferers.
Multigen: any breeding consisting of two doodles bred together that have an F3 or higher parent. Ex. F3 to F3, F3 to F1b, F2b to multigen, etc…
The average lifespan of a Goldenoodle is roughly 10 to 15 years. This is on par with the average lifespan for both Golden Retrievers and Poodles. Of course, there are many things that contribute to how old they will grow to be. A Goldendoodle lifespan isn’t set in stone. The average lifespan of a Goldendoodle is just that – an average.
While it is impossible to have complete control over how old a Goldendoodle will be, it is possible to ensure that he or she has the longest, healthiest, and happiest life possible.
Ways to increase lifespan
Healthy Weight: Overweight Goldendoodles are at higher risk for a whole host of diseases, including high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Feeding the right food for his age, activity level, breed, and any health conditions can go a long way towards keeping him at his best weight.
Food: There are a lot of options when it comes to dog food and some are better for your dog than others. We recommend Feeding Raw when possible. Raw pet food is made with real, natural ingredients such as meat, fruits and vegetable and other wholesome ingredients that provides a complete and balanced diet which is crucial to a dog’s health.
Exercise: Goldendoodles require about 30 minutes of exercise per day. Walks, hikes or playing fetch in the yard are ways to keep a Goldendoodle active.
Mental Stimulation: Goldendoodles are very intelligent and they like to have problems to solve. Toys that have food in them that require some thought or work on the dog’s part to get the food out can help keep your dog young at heart, sharp, and keep him from being bored.
Regular Wellness Check-Ups: Regular veterinarian visits help with ensuring good health and detecting small health issues before they become bigger issues. Most adult dogs only need to see their vets once a year if they’re healthy. Your vet can let you know if your dog should come in more often.
Love and Attention: There is nothing that gives a Goldendoodle greater joy than when his people spend quality time with him. Daily doses of undivided attention let him know that he is loved. This will help keep him by your side for the longest possible time.
Goldendoodles are very smart and attentive and are usually not hard to train. However, it is important to stay on top of training from the moment they are introduced to their new family and home. They love being with their new family and are eager to please. Training should be fun and rewarding. They love any forms of positive reinforcement such as praise, treats, toys, etc.
Goldendoodles usually do great with both obedience training and agility and tricks as long as it is consistent. It is amazing what they can learn when trained consistently.
Goldendoodles need to be socialized from the very beginning to help shape them into well-rounded, social dogs. They typically already have social, outgoing tendencies, but they do best when given frequent opportunities to learn and explore.
There are many trainers and training classes available for puppies. These can be of great benefit.