Goldendoodle

They are medium-sized and often have a shaggy, low-shedding coat. Since they are a mix of two dogs, they have the sweet and pleasing nature of the golden retriever and the intelligence level and hypoallergenic fur of a poodle. Though they may come at a high price from a breeder, they may also be found in shelters with a low adoption fee.

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Evolution

Goldendoodles were developed in 1969 to be guide dogs for people with allergies. Their popularity grew during the “designer dog” trend of the 1990s – when the non-shedding coat of the poodle and the sweet temperament of the golden retriever were considered to be the perfect mix. Goldendoodles were the next offering after the success of the Labradoodle – another sweet-tempered breed. Both poodles and golden retrievers score high in intelligence – so owners are guaranteed an intelligent, athletic, obedient pet.

Labradoodle vs. Goldendoodle

While both the labradoodle and the Goldendoodle are half-poodle, the major difference between the two is that the former is mixed with a Labrador retriever while the latter involves the genetics of a golden retriever. The breeds tend to have different coat colors, and the texture varies between them. When grooming, they also end up with different haircuts.

Apart from their looks and parent breeds, there are also slight differences in their temperaments. Both of the animals are quite energetic. However, the Goldendoodle has a more unbridled disposition. The Labradoodle, on the other hand, is rather reserved. The same can be said for the Australian Labradoodle vs the Goldendoodle as well.

The Different Colors of Goldendoodles

The Goldendoodles can have a wide variety of coat colors. Their coats can be black, white, copper, cream, apricot, golden, and/or red. As the name suggests, the golden coat is the most popular in Goldendoodles, only getting the other colors from being bred with poodles. Many owners find that the Goldendoodle’s coat lightens with age (much like the lightening of the golden retriever), featuring a white hue along with the feathering of their coats.

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3 Pros and Cons of Owning Goldendoodles

Before you give a home to a Goldendoodle, it would be nice to know what works and what does not work for you. Here are a few pros and cons of Goldendoodles:

Size and Weight

Goldendoodles come in a lot of sizes. They can be standard, mini, and large sizes. The standard average size of a Goldendoodle is about 13 to 20 inches. The standard Goldendoodles are 15 to 35 pounds in weight. However, a mini Goldendoodle is about 17 to 20 inches and a large one is about 20 to 24 inches. The mini weighs about 40 to 50 pounds and the large one weighs 50 to 90 pounds.

Usually, the standard female Goldendoodles are about 21 to 22.5 in size and weigh about 55 to 65 pounds. the male Goldendoodles are 23 to 24 inches tall and weigh around 65 -75 pounds.

Common Health Issues

Like all other living creatures, Goldendoodles suffer from a variety of health issues. Many of the issues they face come from the breeds that make up their DNA.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common conditions. This issue impacts the growth of the hips within the sockets, causing massive pain as the dog walks as they get older.

Cataracts are another typical risk, as they are rather common in poodles. Cataracts cause cloudiness in the eye, presenting as a milky-white circle that blocks the retina. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness.
Goldendoodles are prone to Addison’s disease, sub-valvular aortic stenosis, and sebaceous adenitis.

Overall, the common health issues in Goldendoodles include:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Cataracts
• Addison’s disease
• Sub-valvular aortic stenosis
• Sebaceous adenitis

Temperament

These dogs make great family pets and are sweet in nature. They are intelligent and obedient. They are also known to be extremely loving towards their owners. Luckily, they are nice to other pets as well, and they have incredible patience with children of all age groups.

However, if you’re looking for a guard dog, the Goldendoodle may not be right for the job. They tend to bond easily with strangers. Their desire to be with the family they love results in substantial separation anxiety. They won’t do well if they are left alone, but they travel rather well.

The Best Dog Food for Goldendoodles

These dogs need a high-protein diet to keep up with the high energy that they expend rapidly. They’ll eat dry kibble just as happily as they’ll eat wet food, but high-fat options provide their brain with the omega-3s that they need to nourish their brain as well.

To keep them safe, avoid any foods with corn, soy, dairy, and wheat are usually foods that can cause allergies in these dogs. Also stay away from dog food with legumes, which are connected with heart failure, since this breed is vulnerable to the heart condition sub-valvular aortic stenosis. We compiled a complete list of the best food for all the stages of your Goldendoodle’s life.

At A-Z Animals, we feel the best dog food for Goldendoodles is Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Classic Kibble Dry Dog Food.

This tasty and hearty chicken, duck, and turkey blend kibble is packed with protein, 81% of which comes from animal sources. Real meat is also a source of glucosamine to help prevent hip dysplasia. The amino acid, taurine in this legume-free food is an important part of both heart and eye health.

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Best Overall

Stella & Chewy's Classic Kibble

• Packed full of protein with beef, pork, and lamb
• Crafted without legumes or poultry
• 81% of protein is from actual animal sources
• "Whole prey” ingredients including muscle meat, organ meat, and cartilage
• No fillers, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

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Maintenance and Grooming

Goldendoodles come in different types of fur. They do not need a lot of grooming and are relatively low-maintenance. Like any other dog, they need their fur brushed regularly to prevent tangles and eliminate any hairs that have been shed. Speak with a groomer to discuss the many different haircuts from which you can choose. After all, they are part-poodle!

These dogs also suffer from ear infections, so regular cleaning of the ears is necessary. They also need regular nail trims and teeth cleaning.

Training

Goldendoodles are very easy to train. For anyone that is a first-time dog owner, you’ll be pleasantly pleased that it won’t require much of your time and effort. These dogs are intelligent and can pick up commands quickly. With a good attitude and positive reinforcement, training your dog can be a rewarding experience.

Exercise

These dogs do need regular and consistent exercise for their active personality. They will require a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise daily which will prevent them from becoming bored and lethargic in daily life. Whether they get the workout from a walk or two, or you let them go outside to play, they’ll still be happy.

Puppies

It is important to train puppies from an early age so that they are not socially anxious when they are older. They also need a little more protein as they grow. However, their meals should be divided into smaller installments as their tiny stomachs can’t take a lot at once.

Children and Goldendoodles

These dogs are known to be great family pets and are very sweet in nature. They are energetic and playful around children. They are also known to be very patient as well as gentle with children of all age groups.

Dogs Similar to Goldendoodles

If this dog is not the right match for you, there are a few similar breeds that you might be interested in instead. Here are a few recommendations!

• Golden Retriever: These dogs are one of the parents of the Goldendoodle dogs and are very loving and gentle. They are known to be easy to please and loyal.
• Poodle: These dogs are impressive and elegant and are known to be intelligent. They are one of the parents of the Goldendoodle dogs.
• Labradoodle: Labradoodles have a different coat color and are a little more reserved than Goldendoodles. However, these dogs are also energetic in nature.

Famous Goldendoodles

There are several famous Goldendoodles – some of which you could even follow on Instagram. These include Orbit. @orbidoodle, That Dood Squad. @thatdoodsquad and Indy. @indythegoldendoodle. The breed is still fairly new, so they may not yet be credited for the roles that they’ve had in entertainment.

Popular Names for Goldendoodles

Here are some popular names for these dogs:

• Luna
• Cooper
• Lucy
• Charlie
• Ollie