This article is contributed by guest writer, Garrett Y. (Founder of We Love Doodles).

What Are Goldendoodles?

The Goldendoodle is a crossbreed dog between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever to serve primarily as a companion pet. However, due to their easygoing temperaments and high intelligence, you’ll see Goldendoodles as a therapy and guide dog. The Goldendoodle is not officially acknowledged by the American Kennel Club as a dog breed, a factor that contributes to the species being tagged a ‘designer dog.’

Origin

The Goldendoodle’s origin can be traced to the United States, where it was first sired in 1969 by a woman named Monica Dickens. Subsequently, this practice spread to Australia, and recently, the United Kingdom. The Goldendoodle was an initial match between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle to create a hypoallergenic and nonshedding guide dog. The term ‘Goldendoodle’ was first used in 1974, a derivative from its parent breed. Other names referred to as the Goldendoodle are Groodle and Doodles.

Photo Credit: Jayden Burdick via Pexels

Features

Goldendoodles have a very furry body, and they shed moderately depending on the genetic makeup. Some Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic like the Poodle and so they don’t shed fur at all. They have a long-haired coat that comes in shades of gold, red, black, brown, and even white. Their fur shade depends mostly on pedigree genes and may not always be gold regarding the general breed name. Groodles weigh around 15 to 80 pounds, and they have a ranged height that stands between 17 to 24 inches. Breeding of the Goldendoodle happened in first and second generations crosses, which is evident in their respective body features.

Another essential component of the Goldendoodle is the wide range in height and weight classes dictated by the Poodles’ sizes during breeding. You’ll see miniature, medium, and standard sized Goldendoodles. Also, their long coats vary considerably from straight, wavy, to curly. It shouldn’t be a surprise if you have Groodles of different fur textures in the same litter.

Shedding

As stated earlier, Goldendoodles have a very long coat of fur, and like every dog breed with long fur, they shed hair. However, Goldendoodles shed far more moderately, unlike most other dog breeds, but the downside to its shedding is that it is inconsistent. Sometimes, Goldendoodles shed quickly and other times, it might shed at a much slower rate. Because they shed moderately, you will need to groom your Goldendoodle every 6 to 12 weeks.

Personality and traits

Goldendoodles are known to be affectionate, intelligent, and generally playful. Being a peculiar crossbreed, they have quite an edge over other hybrids as they inherited an unusual number of good traits from their pedigree. They also adapt well to apartment life and have a high sensitivity level. Goldendoodles make good companions for kids due to their extreme friendliness and playfulness. As a Goldendoodle owner, you need to be careful about the dog’s weight since they have a likely tendency to gain weight without control. That shouldn’t be an arduous task, considering how relatively easy it is to train Doodles who are very obedient to their owners.

Photo Credit: April Walker via Unsplash

Breeding

Thanks to its parent’s lovable qualities, the Goldendoodle grows to become an ultimate companion dog. The crossbreed is suitable for novice dog owners or seasoned families. They may be very playful animals, but they are just fine for your kids as long as they are training-compliant. Training the dog involves giving it a notable amount of attention since they are empathy dogs and get very affectionate. They could also get very docile and even wander off if left alone without care. So be sure to have enough time for these dogs.

Additionally, Goldendoodles are mostly hypoallergenic if they obtain a significant amount of Poodle genetics. This is typically why you’ll see breeders backcross breed Goldendoodles to a Poodle. The Goldendoodle loves to socialize, move outdoors, and feel very comfortable around other dogs. Most importantly, they are good swimmers and will spend a lot of time in the water if they get the chance.

Purpose

The primary purpose for breeding these dogs was to serve as a companion dog that doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic. Since the breed was observed to be very friendly and active, broader purposes were drawn for the dog to serve in different situations. One such is being a guide dog, an assistance dog, and even a therapy dog for patients in hospitals and nursing homes, which makes them quite invaluable and highly sought after.

Photo Credit: Chris Maldonado via Unsplash

Lifespan and size

A Goldendoodle’s lifespan lasts between 10 to 15 years, which is quite a long age for a dog. On the issue of size, it’s based on their ancestors’ weight category. If the parent breed is a large one, the offspring will be large and vice versa. Typically, smaller sized Goldendoodles will live longer than larger sized Goldendoodles.

Cost of adoption and breeding

The Goldendoodle’s price is a bit expensive due to the current high demand for the dog. Adopting the Goldendoodle could cost around $2,000 to $3,000 while buying a well-bred one goes in the range of $3,000 to $5,000+.

Conclusion

Goldendoodles are hybrid dogs with admirable features from their parent’s lineage. They work well and are also very playful. Additionally, they make the perfect companion for kids and would be safe with kids in the house. Their price may be eye-catching, but when you consider the warmth and liveliness they bring to your home, you’ll be getting a mostly hypoallergenic and nonshedding teddy bear dog!