Goldendoodles
Origin: The Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog breed resulting from the mixture of golden retriever with a poodle, which originated in the early-mid 1990s in North America. The idea of this hybrid was inspired by the successful breeding of Labradoodle – a crossbreed of Labrador retriever and poodle.
Goldendoodles were first bred in 1969, later they gained popularity during the 1990s. The mixture was bred to combine the poodle’s signature non-shedding coat with the desirable temperament of golden retrievers. The Goldendoodle was first bred as a guide dog for the visually impaired with
allergies, later gained popularity, and became one of the most adorable ones.
Size: The Goldendoodle generally varies in size because of the multi-general breeding. This breed of dogs comes in three different sizes: miniature, small standard, and large standard. Miniature Goldendoodle is a crossbreed of Golden Retriever with a Miniature or a Toy Poodle. Their average height is from 13-20 inches, and they weigh between 15-35 pounds. The Small Standard Goldendoodle has an average height of 17-20 inches, and weight is 40-50 pounds. The Large Standard Goldendoodle’s average height is 20-24 inches and weighs 50-90 pounds.
Coat: The non-shedding coat is one of the major reasons for the cross between the golden retriever and poodle. The Goldendoodle coat is a mix of its parents. It has quite fine hairs which appear thick. It has a wavy and curly coat approximately two to three inches long, most of which fall somewhere in the middle. The Goldendoodle coat should not be clipped less than 2 inches, as the coat protects from heat and cold. Its legs are slightly feathered, and it has long hairs on the tail, ears, and body. Though golden seems to be the common coat color, the coat can be of any color in general, like black, white, cream, grey, copper, or red. Like the parent breeds, the Goldendoodle may shed moderately like a golden retriever or shed little to none as a poodle. Most Poodle crosses undergo various coat phases in their initial years.
Characteristics: The Goldendoodle is full of love, joy, and devotion, the perfect combination of the poodle’s work ethic and golden retriever’s vitality. It is a low-allergen service dog, so it is a perfect choice for those who are first-time pet owners. Goldendoodles are great with children, family-oriented, and friendly by nature. Goldendoodles show a liking for water and are great swimmers. Goldendoodles are also friendly with other pets and even strangers. They do not bark frequently and their friendly nature with strangers makes them a poor watchdog. The Goldendoodle life span is 12 to 14 years. The Goldendoodles are suitable for pet-owners with allergies as they come with a hypoallergenic coat.
Temperament: There is a reason that Goldendoodles have become so popular. The Goldendoodles love to be around their family, relatives, and siblings. Their gentle nature comes from golden retrievers, making them a great option for families with kids. They actively enjoy human company and crave being around people. They are naturally inclined to be more careful towards infants and toddlers and prove to be a great companion of children as they grow up. Temperament is affected due to several factors like training, socialization, and hereditary. Puppies with good temperaments are play and moody, willing to approach people and held by them. Always make sure to keep them around so that they have a nice temperament. They can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a longer time. Goldendoodle are social dogs are like to socialize and being around people. Socializing ensures that your pup grows up to be a well-mannered dog.
Care: Though Goldendoodles do not shed much still they also need to be groomed to keep their coat healthy. They are quite easy to train but ensure that harsh reinforcements might damage his confidence. Goldendoodles have an average energy level, so a 20-30 minutes daily exercise or walk will be more than enough to keep them entertained and healthy. Goldendoodles are not an ideal dog for kennel living or dog house life, since they like to be around people all the time craving
attention. They need good mental and physical stimulation, or else they can become destructive.
This breed of dog requires grooming including ear cleaning, nail cleaning every few weeks. Brush your dog’s coat once or twice a week to keep them healthy. Make sure to measure the meals and feed 1-2.5 cups of dry pet food, if possible, divide the meal rather than just leaving the food.
Health Concerns: Goldendoodles, in general, are very healthy dogs, but like every other breed, they are susceptible to certain health issues. If you are planning to buy a new puppy, it’s essential to ask for health clearance from the breeder. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia is a major health issue Goldendoodles are prone to as golden retrievers and poodles both are prone to it. There are many other minor health issues like ear infections, allergies, diabetes, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). Patellar Luxation or dislocation of the knee joint is also a common problem in dogs that have a smaller body.
Conclusion
Generally, Goldendoodles aren’t difficult to train due to their intelligence. They happily show off their tricks and respond to reward-based training. So, this was all about Goldendoodles. They are lovely, affectionate, family-oriented, great with children, other pets, visitors, and overall a perfect choice for first-time pet owners.
Goldendoodles are often purchased without any understanding of what all responsibility goes into keeping one. A piece of knowledge about the choice of breed you want to own is very important. If you are ready to pet your own Goldendoodle, find a responsible breeder and a healthy pet.
