Goldendoodle Breed Guide

Dog Breed:

Goldendoodle

Breed Group:

Designer dog, mixed breed, hybrid

Characteristics:

Sociable, affectionate, playful, intelligent, exuberant

Height:

Miniature=13 to 20 inches; Small Standard=17 to 20 inches; Large Standard=20 to 24 inches

Weight:

Miniature=15 to 35 pounds; Medium=40 to 50 pounds; Standard=50 to 90 pounds

Life Span:

10-15 years

Coat Colors:

Black, copper, white, cream, grey, golden, apricot, or red

Area of Origin:

United States

Best For:

First time dog owners

Adult Food:

Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles

Puppy Food:

Best Puppy Food for Goldendoodles

Friendliness

Intelligence

Good for First-Time Owners

Good with Children

Easy to Train

Exercise Requirements

Ease of Grooming

Amount of Shedding

Amount of Drooling

Tendency to Bark

The happy Goldendoodle is a breed that is well-renowned for its sunny disposition and affectionate ways. A breed sometimes referred to as a Groodle, the Goldendoodle is available in three different size variations, making it possible to select a size that is suited to nearly any type of living condition. However, most Goldendoodles do not thrive in an apartment setting due to their high activity needs.

The Goldendoodle is the resulting offspring of breeding a Golden Retriever to a Poodle. The various sizes are attributed to the parentage of the dogs; whether the Poodle portion of the pedigree was a toy, miniature, or standard.

When the Cockapoo gained in popularity, there was interest in a designer dog breed that was similar to the Cockapoo but larger in size. Thus, the Goldendoodle was born. Like the Cockapoo, the Goldendoodle’s main purpose is to serve as a cherished family companion, a role at which this dog type excels.

Though bred primarily for human companionship, Goldendoodles have also enjoyed some success as working dogs. Their innate intelligence makes them well-suited to work as guide dogs, service dogs, or therapy dogs. A dog breed in possession of an excellent sense of smell, the Goldendoodle also excels at scent detection.

For those looking for their next performance dog, the Goldendoodle possesses the drive and the desire to do well at such events as agility, obedience, and Rally. A versatile pooch, the Goldendoodle has high activity requirements and is always game for an adventure with its family.

The Goldendoodle traces its roots to the United States in the 1990s. A dog breed that is immensely popular with families, the Goldendoodle is loving, friendly, and deeply affectionate. Goldendoodles enjoy the company of all people; whether family, friends, or strangers. They also get along exceptionally well with other animals, making them an excellent choice for a multi-pet home.

Goldendoodles bond deeply to their people, and thus, should be housed indoors. They do well outside in moderately cold or hot weather but prefer being inside their home nestled next to those they love the most. If left alone for too long a time, the Goldendoodle can be prone to developing separation anxiety.

A breed that is easy to train, the Goldendoodle is eager to learn. However, this breed often doesn’t understand its own size or overwhelming exuberance, so care must be taken to teach the Goldendoodle good canine manners. The breed is excellent with children, but all interactions should be supervised for safety.

As a mixed breed, the Goldendoodle lacks consistency in appearance and size. This will come in time as the breed develops.

The Goldendoodle is a designer dog that was created in the United States in the 1990s. This dog breed was envisioned following the great popularity of two earlier hybrids: the Cockapoo and the Labradoodle.

The original purpose behind the Goldendoodle was to breed a larger designer dog that possessed a coat type that was low-shedding. The Golden Retriever was selected as one of the parents in the cross breed for its natural intelligence and friendly disposition.

The Goldendoodle is still in the infancy of its development, meaning a lot of inconsistency still remains in the size and appearance of this dog type.

The Goldendoodle is an immensely popular dog type particularly in Australia. However, to date, there is no registry simply for the Goldendoodle.

The Goldendoodle is available in three different size variations: the Miniature, the Small Standard, and the Large Standard. Since the Goldendoodle is a young breed that it is still developing, there is a wide disparity of sizes and appearances at this time.

The Miniature Goldendoodle stands from 13 inches to 20 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 15 to 35 pounds. By comparison, the Small Standard Goldendoodle is between 17 to 20 inches in height and can weigh from 40 to 50 pounds.

The biggest of the three is the Large Standard Goldendoodle who can rank from 20 to 24 inches at the highest of its height range and whose weight measures from 50 to 90 pounds.

Potential owners of this delightful, happy breed must be prepared for this dog type’s high energy level. The breed is not suited to families that live a largely sedentary lifestyle and can fall to nuisance behaviors if not kept productively engaged.

It is also important to note that though the Goldendoodle was intended to have a low-shedding coat this dog breed has very high grooming requirements. Regular daily brushing should be expected. Grooming appointments should be made a minimum of every 8 to 10 weeks to keep the coat mat and knot-free.

The Goldendoodle is a dog breed with personality to spare. A very social creature, this dog type is happiest in the company of people or other animals. A dog that bonds deeply to those it loves, regular time spent with its family is essential for the Goldendoodle to thrive.

The Goldendoodle is highly intelligent, picking up new skills with ease. This makes the breed quite easy and amenable to training.

A dog that easily lavishes affection, the Goldendoodle is soft of heart and a gentle and patient friend. A lover of all children, the Goldendoodle makes an exceptional family pet. However, for the safety of both the dog and the children in question, all interactions should be very carefully supervised.

The Goldendoodle loves to spend time with other animals. When introducing a Goldendoodle into a home of established family pets, it is a good idea for first interactions to take place on neutral ground such as at a public park.

If trained properly, the Goldendoodle can spend time alone at home while its family is away. To set the dog up for success, it is best to leave the dog with something to occupy its brain and its jaws such as a puzzle toy or a meaty bone. Care should be taken not to leave the Goldendoodle alone for too long as it is a breed that does not do well when separated from its family for long periods of time.

The Goldendoodle’s coat makes it suited to spending time in the great outdoors during moderate weather. However, this dog breed should live in the house with its family.

The Goldendoodle is typically a breed that enjoys good health. However, as with all dog types, there are some health conditions the Goldendoodle can be genetically predisposed to. These include patellar luxation, ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, Von Willebrand’s disease, allergies, hypothyroidism, and bloat.

Goldendoodle breeders state that the breed should have a coat that ranges from wavy to curly and that measures between two to three inches in total length. The coat found on the tail, body, ears, and legs should be longer than on the rest of the head and body.

Though the Goldendoodle is considered to be a lightly shedding dog, the breed’s grooming requirements are very high. Owners will need to commit themselves to daily brushing. At a minimum, a Goldendoodle should see a professional groomer every 8 to 12 weeks to keep the coat knot-free and in good condition. Baths should be given only on an as needed basis.

To keep the Goldendoodle’s teeth healthy, it is best to brush them several times a week. This will help prevent tartar buildup.

Nails should be trimmed once a week. Since the breed can be predisposed to ear infections, regular cleaning is a vital part of keeping the Goldendoodle in good health. A veterinarian can demonstrate the safest and most effective way to clean ears.

The Goldendoodle is a highly active dog, and thus, is unlikely to gain weight. However, this breed does enjoy its food, so to prevent overeating, it I a good idea to measure all food and to carefully monitor all intake.

Goldendoodles are not known to be droolers.

A dog breed that is a delight to train, the Goldendoodle thrives when learning new skills. The breed is a natural people pleaser, taking great joy in time spent with its family in training pursuits or out on adventures. The Goldendoodle is sensitive by nature, and thus, should be trained using only positive reinforcement techniques. Aversive training methods will hurt this gentle soul’s spirit.

A playful pooch, the Goldendoodle needs to be taught to use its mouth appropriately. This is easily accomplished by redirecting any attempts to bite or nip to something like a toy or bone. Over time, the dog will learn to limit its mouthing to appropriate items only.

The Goldendoodle does enjoy barking but is not an overly vocal dog. If given opportunity to do so, this breed will roam. However, if taught a solid recall, the dog will return to its owner when called.

The Goldendoodle is a breed that has a lot of energy that will need to be productively expended. Though some owners assert that 30 minutes of vigorous exercise is sufficient to meet the Goldendoodle’s needs, most believe that 60 minutes is preferable to keep this pooch mentally and physically content.

Goldendoodles love water, so swimming is an excellent activity for this playful pooch. They are also quite athletic and excel at many dog performance sports and family activities from hiking to agility and more.

The Goldendoodle is prone to wander if allowed to do so, so it is vitally important that this dog be left outdoors only in a securely fenced yard.

If you are looking for Goldendoodles for adoption near you, we highly recommend the following comprehensive resources:

Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue

https://www.dvgrr.org/education/breed-information/all-about-doodles/

IDOG Rescue—Labradoodle and Goldendoodle Rescue

https://www.facebook.com/IDOGRescue/

Doodles for Rehoming UK

http://doodlesforrehoming.uk/index.html