Elbow Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD)
Eye Examination, Physical Examination, X-Ray, Blood Test, DNA Test for VWD
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Epilepsy
3 Cups
Adorable, affectionate, and amiable — that’s the Goldendoodle for you. This breed of dog is one of the finest examples of beauty with brains in the canine kingdom. And their increasing popularity in the United States is proof of their undeniable charm as a pet.
But what are Goldendoodles really like? When did they come into being? Are they good pets? Today we take you on a personal tour of their world and being. Read on to discover all about this designer dog breed.
First off, let’s not forget that Goldendoodles are a hybrid dog breed. So, they come from two different parents: a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. These two breeds were first cross-bred in 1969 to create a dog that was hypoallergenic and could double up as a great guide. And the Goldendoodle as we know them today was born.
Goldendoodles succeeded Labradoodles in the milieu of successful cross-breeding experiments in the 1900s. But in spite of inheriting some of the best traits from each parent, these dogs took their own sweet time to become a hit with the masses. So, it was only in the 1990s that Goldendoodles became rather popular, courtesy of breeders who advertised this breed. But soon these unbelievably smart and affectionate dogs would win over everybody’s hearts.
In recent years, Goldendoodles have jumped ranks to cement their place as one of America’s most favorite pets and we’re not surprised. Today they continue to reprise their role as guide and therapy dogs. They are deployed in search and rescue missions, and of course, continue to be companions!
Read moreFun fact: Wally Conron of the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia is credited with breeding the first-ever Goldendoodle.
The single most outstanding feature of every Goldendoodle is its coat of fur. Ranging from wiry to curly and shaggy, their coat of fur can come in a variety of colors. Although golden remains the most common, you can also find Goldendoodles with beige, black, white, gray, and even brown fur!
The best thing about a Goldendoodle’s fur is that it's hypoallergenic and therefore does not cause allergies in people with sensitivities. These dogs shed minimally irrespective of the time of the year and are low on maintenance.
Apart from their fur, most things about Goldendoodles depend upon their immediate parents. That’s why, while some can grow to be medium to large-sized dogs weighing 45-100 pounds, some others can be petit, recording just 15-30 pounds on the weighing scale. This happens because the size of a fully grown Goldendoodle depends upon its Poodle parent.
These dogs can grow up to be anywhere between 13 inches to 26 inches in height and when well taken care of, go on to live for a good 10-15 years.
So, if you ever get yourself a Goldendoodle as a companion, rest assured that you’ll enjoy its company for many years to come.
Goldendoodles are happy dogs and their infectious personalities will be the first thing you notice about them. There are simply no dull moments with one of these dogs around! In fact, they’re such social beings, you’d end up making a lot of new friends when you take them for their walks.
These dogs also love being loved and are known for being extremely affectionate towards their families. Not only are they great with children, but they also fare very well with other pets too, including cats! If you’re keen on a pet that is friendly and easygoing, a Goldendoodle is a match made in heaven for you.
Playful and energetic, Goldendoodles are also smart cookies, courtesy their parentage. They can follow instructions like a pro and are very easy to train — a combination that makes them highly suitable candidates for being support animals, or search and rescue mission helpers.
The only thing you need to be mindful of when you have a Goldendoodle as a pet is their need for attention. Any dearth of it and they might suffer from separation anxiety and show drastic changes in behavior.
Do not leave your Goldendoodle on its own for long stretches of time. They are social dogs and need company.
Like most other active dog breeds, Goldendoodles have high calorie requirements and therefore need to be fed a diet rich in proteins, fats, and good carbohydrates. You can choose from commercially available dry kibble or canned food for your pet, but make sure it contains:
Bear in mind that because Goldendoodles can vary in size, their nutritional requirements too change according to their weight.
Therefore, the best way to go about feeding your pet is consulting your veterinarian and coming up with a diet plan that suits your dog.
Apart from that, you can also feed your Goldendoodle some human foods, including meats, vegetables, and fruits. But steer clear of processed food items and table scraps — these are never a good idea for any dog and can cause severe health complications.
Fun fact: Did you know that Goldendoodles have a voracious appetite and are often called ‘scavenging carnivores’ by vets?
Are Goldendoodles a healthy breed? When bred responsibly, these dogs enjoy a long lifespan and are quite healthy. They do enjoy “hybrid vigor” which improves and enhances their health and fitness. However, a lot depends on the parents they come from and the conditions under which they are bred.
That said, like any other dog breed, Goldendoodles too are susceptible to certain health complications including:
So, to keep your dog in its best health, make sure your breeder is trustworthy and ethical. Do take your pup for regular checkups and consider investing in good dog insurance for unprecedented medical emergencies.
As you are already aware, Goldendoodles do not shed a lot, no matter what time of the year it is. But that does not imply they don’t need grooming. If your Goldendoodle has a curly coat of fur like its Poodle parent, an occasional visit to a professional groomer would bode well for both its appearance and wellbeing.
If your pet takes more after its Golden Retriever parent, then do consider regularly brushing its coat to prevent any kind of matting.
Combing your dog’s fur with a good quality brush will help in evenly distributing natural oils throughout its coat and keep it shiny soft.
Do not go overboard with bathing your Goldendoodle. Once every 45-90 days should do the trick of keeping your pet clean unless it loves rolling around in the dirt.
Last but not least, please take extra care of those big and floppy ears — those qualify as ideal nests for infectious microbes to build their army. Also remember to trim your Groodle’s nails and brush their teeth, as you’d do with any other dog.
On the whole, if you develop a regular grooming schedule, you don’t need to break your back over grooming your Goldendoodle. Just maintain hygiene from the very beginning and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Thanks to their eagerness to please their parents and active dispositions, training Goldendoodles is a breeze. These dogs inherit the smarts from both their parents and therefore have an innate intelligence that makes them understand commands very well. No wonder Goldendoodles excel at agility training and do very well as therapy dogs.
The breed also performs exceptionally well in dog shows if taught well. So, depending on what you want from your dog, you can train your Goldendoodle to become anything! These dogs respond well to any relationship-based mode of training, so do consider going for positive reinforcement training methods.
As far as exercising them is concerned, they are a super playful and highly energetic breed. That’s why you’d need to squeeze in a good 90 minutes of exercise daily. You can take them on walks, runs, jogs, or play fetch with them in your backyard — Goldendoodles simply love to play fetch!
No, they don’t. They’re a fairly friendly and social breed that gels well with everyone, from known faces to strangers and other animals. You do not need to worry about a loud and noisy pet when it comes to a Goldendoodle.
Yes, very much so. They can understand and follow instructions rather well. They’re highly trainable too.
Because they’re such an active breed, Goldendoodle puppies might seem like a handful to you. But their hyperactive nature takes a backseat as they grow up. So, you can expect your Goldendoodle to calm down once its turns a year to 1.5 years old.
Because of their Poodle parent, Goldendoodles can have curly hair and therefore resemble a teddy bear, especially if their fur is groomed in a certain way! But strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a teddy bear dog breed.
