Goldendoodle

The Goldendoodle was first bred in the 1990s as a cross between the Golden Retriever and Poodle. The Golden Retriever was first bred by the British aristocracy. Lord Tweedmouth loved the yellow color of Retrievers and created a breed that was more golden in hue to help with retrieving on hunts. They were called Golden Flat Coats until 1913. 

The Standard Poodle originated in Germany as a water-retrieving dog, specifically bred for the purpose of hunting waterfowl. This breed is commonly depicted donning haircuts which are thought to be all about fashion, but their unusual style is far more than that. The haircut was developed to prevent the dogs from getting waterlogged and too heavy to swim, so they trimmed off as much hair as possible. The remaining hair was left to keep their vital organs and joints protected. 

Goldendoodle owners need to be prepared for just about anything: You may get a workaholic and driven Doodle, or you might get a more laid-back one. Their coats will also vary, and not all will be hypoallergenic. However your furry friend turns out, they’ll want a lot of time spent outside walking, training, and playing.

Both the breeds that make up the Goldendoodle are active and enjoy exercise. They will also enjoy games, training, interactive toys, and being involved in all family activities.

The goofy, lovable Goldendoodle is a large, active dog that needs a good-sized living space for all the playing and romping they will do. They will also need to have access to the outdoors, preferably a large, fenced-in space, for exploring and long walks.

A Goldendoodle mix can have a Poodle coat, a Golden Retriever coat, or some mixture of the two. They could shed, or might not. Either way, their coats will be prone to matting if they become unruly and aren’t frequently brushed. Ear care is also important as Poodles suffer from ear conditions.

Intelligent and very busy, Goldendoodles need lots of training to get them to settle. They enjoy training and love working with their owners, but they can pick up bad habits as easily as good ones. Reward-based training should start as early as possible. They can be sensitive, more so than the Labrador Poodle mix, and any rough handling won’t go well. They should be trained to enjoy or at least tolerate grooming. 

If the Goldendoodle is well-trained they will make fabulous family dogs. However, an untrained or bored Goldendoodle can easily pick up bad habits.

The cost of a Goldendoodle from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.