Why the Golden Retriever Poodle mix is a popular dog with many people.
The Goldendoodle is the result of a Golden Retriever and Poodle mix. Though the first crossbreeding of this pair occurred in the late 1960s, it wasn’t until the 1990s that this dog really began to gain popularity.
If you’re considering making a Goldendoodle part of your life, here are 14 facts about this super dog that you’ll be glad to know.
1. It’s not a registered breed
The Goldendoodle is not a bonafide registered dog breed but who cares about that!
Referred to as a “designer dog,” the Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog breed resulting from a deliberate mixing of a Poodle with a Golden Retriever to produce a good-natured, good-looking, low-shedding pet suitable for anyone.
2. The mother can be the Poodle or the Golden Retriever
When it comes to breeding Goldendoodles, either breed can be the mother. The Goldendoodle puppies produced will have a mix of both dogs’ traits but they do tend to behave more like their mother.
3. They are not hypoallergenic
Poodles are not shedders but Golden Retrievers are. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a Goldendoodle will not shed so it can’t be classified as a hypoallergenic dog. It’s more often dander, urine, and saliva that contains the proteins that trigger many people’s allergies and all dogs produce these.
If you were thinking of buying one of these dogs because you have an allergy to dog fur, many Goldendoodles don’t shed a great deal. The best way to find out if one is OK for you is to spend time up close and personal with the Goldendoodle puppy or adult you are planning to take home.
4. Goldendoodles can vary in size
If the size of dog is important to you then you’ll be interested in how big a Goldendoodle can get.
There are several factors that can affect the size of a Goldendoodle. Which dog breed is the mother can have a bearing and whether the poodle parent is a Toy or Standard size.
Here are the possible combinations:
- Female Toy Poodle and male Golden Retriever
- Female Standard Poodle and male Golden Retriever
- Female Golden Retriever and male Toy Poodle
- Female Golden Retriever and male Standard Poodle
Goldendoodle puppies where one parent is a Toy Poodle are generally much smaller than when one parent is a Standard Poodle.
The size of a Goldendoodle can vary from the miniature size of a Toy Poodle to the larger size of a Golden Retriever, so anywhere from under 30 lb to over 90 lb.
5. The Goldendoodle coat type can vary
Goldendoodles don’t all have the same fur. They may be curly like a Poodle, straighter like a Golden Retriever, or a wavy mix of the two. This means Goldendoodle maintenance can vary wildly.
Some may be straightforward to groom and some may need regular baths and trimming.
6. Goldendoodles are energetic
If you are an active person who likes long dog walks, the Goldendoodle will be happy to join you! That said, you don’t have to be an avid hiker to own one. Half an hour of walking each day will be fine for the average Goldendoodle.
Goldendoodles are fun for children as they love to play and enjoy plenty of attention such as cuddles. They are a tolerant dog, but it is still wise to supervise young children around them and teach them how to behave safely around dogs.
7. F1, F1B, F2, F2B – What’s that all about?
The F numbers applied to Goldendoo18dles are generation numbers. Here’s what they mean:
| Generation number | Meaning |
| F1 Goldendoodle | First-generation puppy of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever |
| F1B Goldendoodle | The puppy of an F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle or F1 Goldendoodle and Golden Retriever |
| F2 Goldendoodle | The puppy of two F1 Goldendoodles |
| F2B Goldendoodle | Second-generation cross. It can be an F1B bred with an F1B, an F1B bred with an F2, or an F2 bred with an F2 |
8. Goldendoodle lifespan
The Goldendoodle usually lives anything from 10 to 15 years. This is the average for Golden Retrievers and Poodles too.
There are many things you can do to keep your dog healthy such as keeping its vaccinations up to date, feeding it a healthy diet, and ensuring it is well-exercised and stimulated.
However, there isn’t always a lot you can do if it inherits a genetically transmitted disease.
9. Goldendoodle health problems
Like all dogs, the Goldendoodle can develop health issues, some of them genetic and some not. Whereas purebred dogs are generally screened before breeding, this isn’t always the case for crossbreeds.
The most common are:
- Addison’s Disease. This is fairly uncommon in dogs whereby the outer layer of the adrenal glands (on top of each kidney) is destroyed. As it can affect Golden Retrievers and Poodles, it can also affect Goldendoodles. It can be treated with drug therapy and hormone replacement therapy.
- Hip Dysplasia. This is a genetic disease, very common in large dogs, and relatively common in smaller dogs. It manifests as mild to severe changes to the inner workings of the hip joint.whereby the ball portion of the thigh bone and the hip socket do not alight correctly meaning movement is not smooth. It is not treatable and limits activity.
- Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis. Affected dogs are born with a narrow heart or aorta meaning the heart has to work harder. The severity can vary and it is not easily treatable.
- Cataracts. This can be genetic but can also develop for other reasons such as poor diet or exposure to toxins. The obvious symptom is a cloudy eye. It is possible to remove the damaged lens and replace it with an artifiCial one – at a cost!
10. Other names for Goldendoodles
Goldendoodles are known by a variety of other names. Goldenpoo is just one and is more apt in my opinion. I’ve often thought the ‘d’ in doodle was carried over from another poodle cross, the Labradoodle. You might also hear Goldendoodles referred to as Groodles or Doodles.
11. Goldendoodle coat colors
You can be forgiven for assuming a Goldendoodle is always a golden color. They can in fact be any color that a Poodle can be, or a combination of these colors.
This means you may well be calling a brown, black, grey, cream or multicolored dog a Goldendoodle. Remember the Golden part of this dogs name comes from the breed of one of its parents and is not a reflection of its color.
12. Water and the Goldendoodle
If you’ve ever been friends with a Golden Retriever, you’ll know how much they love water. This is a trait that has not bypassed the Goldendoodle. Any sort of water is irresistible, and for some reason, the smellier it is the more they seem to like it.
13. The personality of the Goldendoodle
A Goldendoodle’s temperament depends on the nature of its mother, and its father to an extent. How well it is socialized as a puppy also has a huge bearing. As a rule, Goldendoodles are friendly and loyal to their families. They love company. A well-reared Goldendoodle shouldn’t be timid or aggressive. They are known to be gentle with babies and toddlers and ideal playmates for older children.
14. Goldendoodles as companions
Goldendoodles are smart and trainable. They like to learn and work well with people. Like the Golden Retriever, they are perfect as companion pets for hospital patients and elderly people.