The 21st century has seen crossbreed dogs – those carefully bred by respected breeders- become as popular, if not more, than pedigree animals. There are a number of reasons for this. First, the idea behind the crossbreed is to breed a dog that does not shed hair like a standard dog. This is great for people with allergies, although it should be said that some do still shed. Also, by combining the characteristics of two known breeds in a careful breeding procedure, the result is a friendly, lovable dog that makes a great family pet.
If you want a good-sized dog, one that will be great for walking and will get on with all the family, we recommend the Goldendoodle. Easily confused with the standard Goldendoodle, this dog is a cross between a standard poodle and a golden retriever, both of which are wonderful pets. It is placid yet fun, easy going yet energetic, and will make an excellent pet for all the family. Let’s have a look at what you are getting in more detail.
Origins
The cross-breed dog is not a new idea and has been around for several decades. As one of the most popular it became the standard bearer for hybrid dogs, and is now one of the most popular recognised breeds across the world. A friendly, lovable and very loyal animal, it makes an excellent family pet.
The same can be said for the Goldendoodle; a cross between a Golden Retriever – rather than a standard Labrador – and a Poodle, it resembles the Goldendoodle in many ways, and comes with the added bonus of its beautiful low-shedding coat in a fantastic colour. One of the more recent breeds, the Goldendoodle is a perfect choice of family pet, but given its
Such is the love and loyalty you may find that it follows you absolutely everywhere! It makes a great family pet, will play for a long time and is intelligent, and if trained from an early age, will also integrate happily with other dogs and pets. For this reason, socialising the dog at an early stage is a strongly recommended part of its training.
We can’t stress how important it is that you buy your puppy from a reputable breeder; this gives you the advantage of knowing that the parents have been carefully selected not just for looks, but for health reasons. Never buy from a pet shop, and if you do choose to look at rescue dogs, make sure you have all the information you can on the dog’s past.
What is it like living with one? Here’s some more detail about this wonderful dog.
Breed Characteristics
For many people, larger dogs are the only way! A small dog makes a wonderful pet, but there is nothing quite like taking an energetic, full of fun big dog out for a walk, and enjoying the company that comes with it.
The popularity of the breed also means there are many breeders you can talk to about buying and owning a one. We advise that you do so, as talking to a breeder will get you the assurances you need about the breeding history of the dog, and you may even be able to meet the parent animals. The breeder chooses the parents very carefully, and in time, breeding two Goldendoodles results in a more stable appearance and breed. We also recommend that you be prepared to travel to find the right breeder, as this gives you more choice.
As this cross breed is bred from a Golden Retriever and a Poodle it will naturally inherit the breed characteristics of these dogs, and that is a good thing. In short, a well-bred and trained dog will be a fun, playful and obedient animal that is perfect with children, and that makes an almost unsurpassable choice of family dog.
Here are a fre pro’s and cons to owning one:
Pros:
- Is bred to be a non-shedding dog, but be aware that some will still shed hair, although not as much as some other dogs
- It is a friendly and loyal breed, and makes a wonderful family pet
- They are easy to train and receptive to instruction and learning, so you will find your dog soon understands you.
- You will find your dog loves to play, so be prepared to put the time in!
- It is a sociable dog, so walks with other dog owners will be a pleasure rather than a chore.
- This is also a great choice for single people or first-time owners, thanks to the amazing loyalty shown towards its owner.
Cons:
- This is a large breed with a lot of energy, and one that you really need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to. If you can’t spend a couple of hours to take it on regular walks, then it is not for you.
- It has a coat that is high-maintenance, so will require grooming on a regular basis and professional attention every now and then
- As with all breeds, there are certain hereditary diseases and ailments that the Cavachon can suffer from, so talk to your breeder for reassurance
- They will enjoy being in water; if you take it on a walk, be aware around rivers and streams that it will want to be in there!
There is so much to recommend the beautiful, charming and very loyal dogs, so let’s have a little more insight into this cross breed.
General Appearance
There is no doubt at all that the Goldendoodle is a very attractive dog indeed. It inherits the cheeky and personable traits of both the Poodle and the Golden Retriever, with a pretty face, large eyes and an endearing smile, and it is a well-proportioned dog that generally follows the stance of the Retriever.
The coat can be in many forms: most have a loose and wavy coat, which is very attractive and needs little maintenance. Others may have a coat that is curly, and these are the dogs that shed the lowest amount. You may also find some that have straight hair, and again this is a low maintenance look that is very popular.
As the dog is a cross-breed there is no guarantee as to what the breeder will end up with, but a reputable breeder will be able to get repeat results as they will know and understand the parent animals. As for colours, there’s a wealth of choice!
Goldendoodle Colours
Thanks to the different colours of Poodles in particular, a Goldendoodle may not be – as its name suggests – entirely golden! In fact, there are perhaps more potential colour combinations than with most other crossbreeds, so you may find that your dog has a coat in any of the following:
- Black
- Cream
- Champagne
- Copper
- Grey
- Gold
- Apricot
- Chocolate
- White
- Red
These are the general colours for Goldendoodles, and each is very attractive, plus you may find some dogs that have two or more of the colours, for added interest and attractiveness.
Although there is no guarantee, if you desire a particular colour don’t hesitate to talk to your breeder, and they will be able to help you find the dog you want.
How to Groom a Goldendoodle
As we have already said, the coat can be in many forms from straight and smooth to long and loose. The curly-haired varieties need the most attention, grooming wise, while those with straight or loose hair tend to require less maintenance.
It is always best to groom a dog’s hair regularly, even if it is just for a few minutes each day, and if you want your dog to look perfect, a professional bath and grooming session once in a while is also a good idea.
The Temperament of a Goldendoodle
It is very easy to recommend as a perfect family dog, but you do need space and a willingness to take long walks and make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. The Goldendoodle, by its breeding, is a very friendly and easy-going dog – although a large one in need of regular exercise – so will make an ideal choice.
Of course, the temperament of an individual dog cannot be guaranteed. The simple fact remains, however, that in general the Golden Retriever and Poodle – the parent breeds – are good-natured and non-aggressive breeds that produce offspring with very amiable temperament.
There are many good reasons why it has become not only one of the most popular cross breeds, but also one of the most popular dogs of all. This is an intelligent dog that, if well-trained and treated, will reward the owner with many years of genuinely pleasurable companionship. It is a dog that will quickly form an unbreakable bond with the owner, too, so be prepared to have a Goldendoodle follow you wherever you go!
This makes an excellent family dog for many reasons: it is a playful animal that will be great with children – and even protective in some cases – and one that can be easily trained to get on with other pets, including dogs and cats. There is an element of loyalty in these dogs that goes far and beyond that you may find in some other breeds, so you need to be prepared to accept your new puppy as one of the family.
One possible downside of owning one is its size; this is by no means a small dog – think Labrador size or bigger – and may not be suitable for a very small home. If you have the time to spend a couple of hours a day with your dog, however, the rewards will be beyond enjoyable. Bear in mind that these are very playful dogs, and require a great deal of mental exercise as well as physical, so you need to be prepared to play with your dog and keep it occupied for long periods.
As with all dogs, leaving one at home alone for long periods is not a good idea, so if you are out at work all day and leave an empty house, this is not the dog for you. If there is someone in for most of the day, the dog will be more than happy. A Goldendoodle left on its own will bark for attention, although they are not by nature noisy dogs, so you need to be able to give it the company it needs and deserves.
In short, it is just about the perfect family dog, is easy to train and will soon learn who is in charge, and get to know its place in the home. If you follow our tips on training – read on for those – and select a well-bred dog from a reputable breeder, you cannot go wrong with one, and you will enjoy what is one of the most charming and attractive of all the breeds available.
Living with a Goldendoodle
If you are thinking of getting a Goldendoodle – or any dog – as an addition to your family, it is worth talking not just to breeders, but also to other owners about life with their dog. This can be a great help, especially if you are a first-time dog owner with no experience of what it takes to train and own a dog.
It is essential that you know that the Goldendoodle, being a larger dog, is an animal that does require a lot more exercise than some other breeds – in particular the smaller hybrids – so you need to be ready to set aside a great deal of time to take it for walks, to play with it at home, and to keep it entertained. This is one reason why it is a great breed if you have children around who are happy to play with it!
One good thing about the temperament of the Goldendoodle is that, despite being bred from what are essentially a pair of working dogs, it does not have a strong prey drive; some dogs will instinctively chase other dogs or small animals. If well-trained, will leave your neighbours’ cat alone, but be aware if something moving quickly catches its eye, it may be inclined to go after it. Training should enable you to call your dog back successfully.
It is also important that you remember how much your dog will enjoy water. It is very unusual for this breed not to take to water, so be prepared for it to want to be in the river, lake or pond next to where you are walking!
It is a perfect family pet for someone who is willing to put in the hours to train and exercise it, although it will need plenty of space if it is to be a happy and contended dog.
Training
Training an intelligent dog is hard work, and you will need to put a lot of time and effort into getting it right. However, it should also be fun, and is part of the bonding process between you and your dog. It is essential that you commence training as early as possible using one of the best dog training books, as the puppy has a lot to learn and the more it takes on the first stages, the better. They will soon learn what it needs to, and if you follow our tips, you will both have a great time getting to know each other.
It is important to lay down the ground rules early, as your dog needs to know that you are the one who is in charge. This means letting it know not only when it has not done as required, but also when it has. The usual simple commands – sit, stay, come and so on – should be instilled into the puppy, and you will find a Goldendoodle puppy responds very well and quickly.
Here are a few things you should try not to do when training a Goldendoodle puppy:
- Shout – raise your voice and be firm by all means, but shouting angrily will serve only to upset and frighten the puppy, and may result in it becoming unresponsive to training.
- Use physical reactions – A light tap is all you should ever do to discipline your puppy; hitting it hard will not work in any way.
- Lock it away – Never shut a puppy away on its own for being ‘naughty’; remember, the dog is just young and has a lot to learn and won’t take to being left alone.
And some advice on what can bring the best results:
- Start early – this is an essential in dog training; the earlier you start training your puppy, the sooner it will learn how to behave.
- Socialize – it is very important that you get your Goldendoodle puppy to socialise early in its life, both with people at home, elsewhere, and with other dogs and animals. This will help it know how to handle such occasions in later life.
- Be positive – They are an intelligent animal and soon recognise your tone of voice and attitude, so be prepared to adopt a standard way of talking to your puppy.
- Give it nice treats when it does what you want. A puppy always likes treats!.
If you are happy to put the time and effort into training your new puppy, the result will be a well-behaved, rewarding and very wonderful animal that will bring you years of pleasure and enjoyment.
Goldendoodle Health Care
There are, as with all dogs, certain hereditary conditions that can be found in Goldendoodles. This is yet another reason why you should buy your puppy from an experienced and reputable breeder, who will be able to guarantee that the parent dogs are free from any such illnesses.
You also need to talk to the breeder about the right food for your puppy, and for when it becomes an adult dog. You need to feed your Goldendoodle the right amount, and make sure it is getting the nutrition it needs to be healthy and happy.
Getting Your Own Goldendoodle
There are two ways of getting a Goldendoodle; the recommended method, as we have mentioned many times, is to go to a reputable breeder. This gives you the peace of mind that your dog has been carefully and thoughtfully bred, from parent dogs that are healthy and have been checked. Be aware that a Goldendoodle will cost you around £800 or more, so you are making a large investment, but one that will bring you years of happiness.
The other method is to source a rescue dog. This can be a good way of getting a family pet, but you must make sure you get all the information you need as to the history of the animal, why it needs to be rehomed, and anything you can gather about its parentage.
Breeds Similar to the Goldendoodle
The closest alternative we can recommend is the Labradoodle, which is very similar in appearance to the Goldendoodle and bred from a Labrador and a Poodle. If you want a smaller do, why don’t you take a look at some of the smaller crossbreeds such as the Cavachon and Cockapoo. These dogs have a similar temperament, are equally attractive and will also give you years of pleasure, while not being the size of a Goldendoodle. Follow the same tips above and you will enjoy a wonderful smaller dog for years to come.
Goldendoodle Last Word
There is absolutely no doubt that a Goldendoodle, like all of the cross-breeds, makes an excellent family pet, and that it will bring you years of pleasure and enjoyment. As long as you remain aware of the exercise it needs and the other necessities you must attend to in order to make sure your pet is healthy and happy, you will find that this is an investment that is very much worthwhile.