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Goldendoodle: Good, Bad or Perfect for your Home?

Goldendoodles are well-known for their golden curly hair and friendly demeanor. They are loyal, intelligent, and social dogs. In general, they are great dogs to add to your family and are loving companions. Like any dog breed, there are some Goldendoodle good bad and in the middle traits. 

A quick Google search will bring up articles about Goldendoodles being expensive and high-maintenance dogs to have. Goldendoodles have a lot of energy and there is a chance that they may have conflicting personalities with their owners.

There is no such thing as bad dogs. Only bad owners and bad fits. If a dog doesn’t fit its owner’s lifestyle, then they will have a tumultuous relationship. It’s best to know everything you can about a dog breed before purchasing or adopting them.

Read below to find out if a Goldendoodle is a good or bad fit for you according to your lifestyle.

tan godlendoodle

What is a Goldendoodle?

In short, a Goldendoodle is a crossbreed between a Golden Retriever and a standard Poodle. Its origin can be traced back to North America and Australia. According to the folks down under, they go by many names including, ‘Curly Poos’ and ‘Groodles.’

Origins of the Goldendoodle

The exact date of conception is unknown, but Groodles are estimated to have been initially bred in the late 1960s to be used as guide dogs. By the late 1990s, these hybrid dogs rose in popularity as a “designer breed.”

Groodles were possibly bred to be a larger version of the Cockapoo, which was very popular at the time. A Cockapoo is a mix between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. They are great companion dogs to have, and so are Goldendoodles.

The Goldendoodle Parent Breeds

Goldendoodles are half Golden Retriever and half Poodle. Let’s find out what makes these two breeds of dog so unique.

Golden Retrievers

A Golden Retriever is a prevalent and fluffy big dog breed loved all over the world. Despite the breed originating from Scotland, it has been a favorite dog of North Americans for years. In 2018, California received the record for having the most Golden Retrievers in the world.

Golden Retrievers are a popular dog breed because of their kind temperament and willingness to please their owners. Because of these traits, they are easy to train. They are retriever dogs by nature and were initially used to retrieve birds and prey hunted by their owners. Their instinctive intelligence is very high, and you might find them loving a game of fetch because of it.

Poodles

Poodles originated in Germany and France from water dogs. They are incredibly smart and athletic dogs. Like their Golden Retriever counterparts, they too are retriever dogs. These pups love splashing in the water and playing fetch like they were instinctively taught to do back in the day.

Poodles are the world’s seventh most popular dog breed and the second most intelligent dog. As a result, they are often used as show dogs in competitions to show off their tricks. They also make excellent watchdogs as they were first used as hunting dogs.

shaggy goldendoodle good bad

They are popular breeds to cross breed with other breeds like the Golden Mountain Doodle. This is because of their high intelligence, size variations, and hypoallergenic coats.

Characteristics of Standard Goldendoodles

You can recognize this designer breed by its tell-tale wavy or curly coat. Their hair is slightly longer around their ears, tail, body, and legs. Their most common coat color, golden, is inherited from their Golden Retriever parent breed. While gold is their most common coat color, it can also be copper, cream, gray, and red. A black Goldendoodle is the rarest coat color.

4 Types of Goldendoodle

Being a mix of both a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, their size can vary. Height variations depend on the size of the latter breed, but they are usually medium to large-sized dogs. As demand grew, breeders complied, and today there are four categories of size- petite, mini, medium, and standard.

1. Petite Golden doodle

A petite Goldendoodle weighs 25lbs or less, and is a hybrid mix of three types of breeds. These breeds are usually a Golden Retriever, Toy Poodle, and a Cocker Spaniel. This smaller dog measures just below 14 inches. Some Petite Groodles can be even shorter than that.

2. Miniature Goldendoodle

A miniature Goldendoodle, weighing 26-35 lbs, is a crossbreed of a Golden Retriever and a miniature or small Poodle. This small dog is a good companion for tenants of small apartments. This small breed measures about 14 to 17 inches tall and thus makes great travel companions as well.

pale coloured goldendoodle

3. Medium Goldendoodle

A medium Goldendoodle weighs 36-50 lbs and grows to be about 17 to 21 inches tall measured shoulder to paw. These dogs are suitably sized for apartment living. They are not too small or too big and make great working dogs.

4. Standard Goldendoodle

A standard Goldendoodle weighs more than 50lbs in adulthood. It is the largest size Goldendoodle, so owners should be ready to accommodate a little more energy and the extra love they’ll need. Expect them to measure around 22 inches from their feet to their upper shoulders.

7 Things You Need to Know Before Owning a Goldendoodle

Before you decide to get a Goldendoodle, there are a few relevant things you need to know. These points will help you make an informed decision about whether a Groodle is the kind of dog you can take care of.

1. Lifespan

The average lifespan of a Golden Retriever is 10-12 years, whereas the lifespan of a poodle is 10-15 years. A Goldendoodle’s lifespan is the average of the two breeds, so you can expect your Groodle to live between 10 and 15 years. More petite Goldendoodles have a slightly longer life expectancy. Of course, health issues could shorten the length of their lifespan.

goldendoodle with american flag kerchief

2. Health Issues

Because of the cross-breeding done to make a Goldendoodle, the breed’s hereditary health problems come from both sides. However, this also means that Goldendoodles tend to have fewer breed-specific illnesses than their parents.

Food Allergies

Ten percent of all allergic reactions in dogs are food allergies. While Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic, it doesn’t mean that they can’t have an allergic reaction to anything. Common food allergies in Groodles are dairy, wheat, and certain types of protein.

Symptoms of food allergies are usually itchy skin and sneezing. In severe cases, symptoms include seizures, weight loss, and gastrointestinal complications. If you suspect your dog may have food allergies, you should switch out their diet to get the best dog foods for allergies. Undiagnosed food allergies can massively affect your dog’s quality of life, depending on the seriousness of the allergy.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a common hip ailment that mainly affects large dogs like Golden Retrievers. It can happen at any age in a dog’s life but is more common in senior dogs. It occurs when a dog’s hip joints are malformed and can cause osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and lameness.

If detected early enough, surgery can be performed to relieve pain and further damage to the hip joints. The Goldendoodle owner can also assist in preventing hip dysplasia by keeping dogs at a healthy weight and taking their pup for regular vet screenings. Hip dysplasia doesn’t necessarily affect a dog’s life expectancy, but it can affect its quality of life.

goldendoodle reclining on the grass

Sebaceous Adenitis

This skin disease is an inflammatory disease that affects dogs’ coats. Although it is an uncommon disease, it is more common in some dog breeds than in others. These breeds include Standard Poodles, Akitas, the Vizsla, and Shih Tzus.

Symptoms vary due to hair length but always start the same. Dandruff starts forming on the head and moves down to the rest of the body. The coat becomes brittle and eventually leads to bald spots. The disease isn’t life-threatening but will need lifelong maintenance.

The disease destroys the sebaceous glands, in turn restricting sebum creation. If sebum or skin oil isn’t made, the oil has to be replaced. You can try these oral omega three supplements, in addition to vet-grade medication for discomfort alleviation.

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

Most dogs with subvalvular aortic stenosis are born with common heart disease. The defect is caused when a narrowing below the aortic valve constricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. The condition is genetic and is noticed as early as birth, but that isn’t always the case. Other cases may only be detected several months or years later.

Luckily, many dogs do not need treatment when diagnosed. On the off chance that your dog needs treatment, it will be in the form of medication or surgery. In many cases, dogs do not show any symptoms of the heart defect, but in severe cases, you may notice lethargy, open mouth breathing, and fainting.

Addison’s Disease

Addison’s disease is the deficiency of adrenocortical hormones, an essential factor in regulating the body’s functions. This lack of adrenocortical hormones can be caused by damage to the adrenal glands due to infection, trauma, or cancer. The disease is more commonly found in young to middle-aged female dogs but isn’t specific to any gender or breed.

If left untreated, it can significantly affect your dog’s life expectancy. Early detection and adequate treatment can greatly affect your dog’s quality of life. Symptoms to look out for include bloody stools, lethargy, and lack of appetite.

Eye Disease

Doodle mixed breeds are highly prone to developing eye diseases. Common eye diseases in Goldendoodles include cataracts, retinal atrophy, and glaucoma. In most cases, eye infections start with red eyes and discharge in the tear ducts. If you notice this, you might be able to prevent further infection by cleaning your canine’s eyes with eyewash pads.

If the problem persists or a dog’s eye gets cloudy, it’s best to call the vet. Untreated cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy can cause vision loss. Unfortunately, there isn’t much a dog owner can do if their pup is diagnosed with any of these eye diseases. Medication can slow down the development of cataracts and glaucoma, but there is currently no treatment for retinal atrophy. 

NB: Goldendoodles also have a propensity for ear infections.

goldendoodle puppy

Cancer

Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers are more likely to lose their lives due to cancer than any other illness. The cancer rate in Golden Retrievers is one of the highest among dogs, with a 60% chance of developing the illness during the course of their lives. For this reason, Goldendoodles are more prone to developing cancer, too. It is still unclear why so many Golden Retrievers get cancer, but more studies and research are being done daily to find out.

3. Maintenance

Golden Poodles are considered high-maintenance dogs because of the special care they need. You might need to look out for these expenses when you own this designer dog.

Grooming

This designer breed is so sought-after for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps the most popular reason is that they are big dogs that don’t shed. Their low-shedding coats are thanks to the Poodle’s beautiful curls and coils. Regrettably, curly hair tends to develop knots and matting.

Regular visits to the grooming parlor will have to become part of your schedule. You’ll also need a dog brush specifically made to tackle matting and knots for at-home upkeep. The size of your dog and the length of their hair will play a big part in parlor visit costs every eight or so weeks.

Healthcare

Goldendoodles have a few possible medical issues and thus need to have regular checkups. The checkup costs are frequent maintenance costs that any dog owner would have to pay. However, if they have serious issues, they might need medication or surgery.

Goldendoodles also have a high chance of having food allergies, so buying special foods can become pricey after a while. If you plan well, then the unexpected costs of medical bills shouldn’t be too big of a factor.

4. Groodle Temperament

Goldendoodle dogs all have kind personalities and wouldn’t hurt a fly. Their energy levels may be high but can easily be managed.

Personality

Goldendoodles are people-oriented dogs. They like social interaction and make excellent service and therapy dogs. You might notice your dog following you everywhere in the house, but that’s just because they want your company. They are naturally affectionate and grow a strong attachment to the humans in their lives.

As highly social dogs, they won’t fare well as guard or watchdogs. They are far too friendly to ward off strangers. These highly sociable breeds also won’t do well sleeping outside or being left alone for long periods. More than a few hours of separation a day can cause separation anxiety.

goldendoodle puppy barking

Energy levels

Groodles are very energetic and need physical and mental stimulation to fight off boredom. To avoid separation anxiety while you’re away from home, take a walk with them to burn off some energy. Make sure they have toys and ample space to play and burn off energy.

Unfortunately, this need for big spaces to burn energy means that standard to medium-sized Groodles aren’t suitable for apartment living. If you live in an apartment, you’ll need to take them on walks or to the dog park more often. Petite or Mini Groodles are best suited for apartment spaces.

5. Training

Golden Retrievers and Poodles are some of the best-behaved dog breeds. Naturally, Goldendoodles would follow suit. Due to this, they are highly trainable and eager to please their owners. Groodles are made up of two working breeds with very high instinctive, adaptive and working intelligence.

They pick up commands very quickly but don’t respond well to harsh criticism or shouting. Something to keep in mind is that Golden Retrievers and Poodles are both retriever dogs. Consequently, Goldendoodles will do well in that area of training as well.

Goldendoodles might need to be potty and crate trained. Training should start at a young age and be consistent for the best results. These clever pups should pick up the rules and commands quickly for this.

6. Fitness

As Goldendoodles age, the amount of exercise they need increases. As puppies, these poodle mixes need around 15 to 30 minutes of exercise two or three times a day. As a general rule, experts suggest 5 minutes of exercise for every month of age. For example, if your puppy is ten months old, they need 50 minutes of exercise two times a day.

Mature Groodles don’t need as much exercise per day but still require a few minutes outside. The amount of activity they need depends on their age, size, and weight. After the two-year mark, their exercise regime changes from high-energy games to strolling around the block.

However, they can get bored of this and want to play. They are the product of two retriever dogs, so games like ‘fetch’ are a favorite. They also need mental stimulation, so don’t forget to buy toys to keep them busy.

goldendoodle on the run

7. Expenses

Purebred dogs of any kind are expensive. Add in the mix of a purebred Golden Retriever and a Poodle and it becomes double the expenses. Goldendoodles are also high in demand, so they can afford to be priced a bit higher.

The average price of a standard Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder is about $2000. Smaller-sized Goldendoodles like miniature and petite-sized will cost more because they are more challenging to breed. A petite Goldendoodle can cost anywhere from $3000 upwards. However, prices vary from breeder to breeder, of course.

Shop or Adopt?

Buying a Goldendoodle puppy directly from a reputable breeder ensures that you know it is a purebred pup. However, if you adopt your Goldendoodle, prices will be significantly lower. Adoption is an excellent option if you do not want to pay thousands of dollars. It can be as low as $300 or $500. It is still much cheaper, even with the additional shots and grooming you need to get done before taking your pup home.

You can go to your nearest Goldendoodle Rescue facilitation to find your new best friend. It is rare to find a Goldendoodle at an adoption facility, and if you do, they probably won’t be a puppy. If that doesn’t phase you, then adoption might be for you.

What influences costs?

When you’re buying a purebred Groodle, there are a few factors that will affect the price. Before you can have a purebred Goldendoodle, the breeder needs to have purebred Golden Retrievers and Purebred Poodles. This process can take years to achieve.

Moreso, breeders, and buyers have to keep in mind where they are buying and selling their Goldendoodle puppies from. Some countries or even some areas in some countries buy and sell Goldendoodles at higher prices because of the cost of living and maintenance costs.

Right now, the Goldendoodle and the mini goldendoodle are in high demand. Higher demands also mean that breeders can afford to ask for higher prices. That is why these designer dogs are sold at designer prices.

goldendoodle face

In Summary: Is a Goldendoodle Good Bad or the Perfect Fit for Your Family?

Goldendoodles come in various colors and sizes. There is a Goldendoodle size for you regardless of whether you live on a farm with a big backyard or a tiny apartment in the city. They make excellent companions and love showing affection towards their owners and children.

Like their breed parents, the Golden Retriever and Poodle, they are highly intelligent dogs that make great family pets. They may have a bad reputation for being high-maintenance, but don’t let that deter you from finding a Goldendoodle that fits you.

While there are a few pros and cons to weigh up before buying or adopting any dog, it seems that the pros may outweigh the cons with this particular breed. All you need to do is find out if the Goldendoodle is the right fit for your family.

black and white goldendoodle

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