History And Original Purpose
This hybrid dog breed first appeared in the United States in the 1990s.
Produced from mixing a Golden Retriever with a standard Poodle, the Goldendoodle rose to fame during a time when so-called designer or hybrid dogs were all the rage.
Hybrid breeds are actually not new in the canine world, although having an official name for them is quite new. In fact, every single purebred dog breed we know today began as some form of hybrid dog breed. This includes the Golden Retriever and Poodle.
This makes sense once you realize that hybrid means a dog bred from mixed parentage .
Every purebred dog today came from the same original ancestor: the gray wolf .
In fact, the scientific name for the domestic canine is Canis lupus familiaris .
So why are some people, and in particular certain dog breeders, upset about the introduction of hybrid dog breeds?
The Goldendoodle Golden Retriever & Poodle Cross
The Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. A cross breed of two of the most popular dogs in the United States, its no wonder the Goldendoodle is one of the most sought-after mixes, right next to their cousins the Labradoodle and the Maltipoo.
While their crossbreed origin means that it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact characteristics of a Goldendoodle, this teddy bear pup is known for being an excellent family dog as well as being incredibly smart. If youre interested in learning more about this interesting mixed breed, read on below!
Goldendoodle Vs Golden Retriever Training: Can They Be Easily Trained
As both the Golden Retriever and Goldendoodle are known for being agreeable and friendly. Thus, they are eager to please when it comes to training. Whether through obedience training or other instructions, both the Golden Retriever and the Goldendoodle will be receptive toward training. Their high levels of intelligence make them less stubborn and more willing to be trained and try new things.
Golden Retrievers especially have also been known to be trained for rescue operations and other social services. In whatever setting theyre in, they most often are intent on being friendly and supportive of the mission at hand. Goldendoodles can be slightly more stubborn than a Golden Retriever. Sometimes they will listen and understand a command, but they wont choose not to obey.
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Children And Other Pets
The Goldendoodle makes a wonderful family pet, especially if his nature takes after the Golden Retriever parent. He’s likely to be highly patient and gentle and to get along well with children of all ages.
As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he’s eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child.
He does well in homes with other dogs and pets and doesn’t actively show aggression toward other animals. Of course, as with all dogs, it’s important to properly socialize your Goldendoodle from puppyhood.
Choosing A Golden Retriever Or Goldendoodle
Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles arent very different in their needs in terms of exercise. They both need a lot of outside playtime. While having your yard might be more convenient, theyll be just as happy to go to the dog park and play if you live somewhere without a yard.
Both dogs can thrive in apartments, as long as they get plenty of roaming time outside. Leaving them cooped up inside too long is not suitable for them. It might lead to overeating, lethargy, and depression. With that in mind, if you know you cant take the time out of your day to play, then neither of these dogs is right for you.
The most significant factor to consider when trying to choose between the breeds is the amount of maintenance they need. Goldendoodles need to be brushed every day, or otherwise, theyll have matting. Golden Retrievers dont need to be brushed so often only about twice a week. Whenever you notice a Goldendoodles coat getting a little less smooth, you should brush it, while a Golden Retrievers coat is less prone to tangles.
If youre not prepared to either maintain their coat yourself or hire someone to do it, you should not own a Goldendoodle. Matted fur can be extremely painful and unsanitary for the animal. Shaving them is usually the only option once theyve matted and may damage their coat.
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Characteristics Of The Goldendoodle
As with many crossbreeds, it can be difficult to know the exact characteristics and temperament the Goldendoodle is going to have. There are different genetic mixes of Goldendoodle F1 Goldendoodle, F1B Goldendoodle, F2 Goldendoodle which can be the result of breeding a Golden Retriever with a Poodle, or breeding a Poodle with a Goldendoodle, breeding a Goldendoodle with a Golden Retriever, or breeding two Goldendoodles together! Therefore, you can get quite an assortment of features in your pup!
As a puppy, they are normally born in litters of between three to eight pups. These Goldendoodle puppies can cost you anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000, although you should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Appearance
The Goldendoodle is often described as an oversized teddy bear. Super soft and cuddly, these pups are large dogs and, on average, a standard sized Goldendoodle is between 22 and 26 inches tall and weighs between 45 and 100lbs. This can vary greatly depending on their parents, of course.
The Goldendoodle normally has a curly coat and wears a happy smile! Super cute, these pups have long noses, round faces and brown eyes. Their tails are long and their chest is muscular. Their bodies can be quite tall but they are well proportioned.
Coat
While the Goldendoodle is hypoallergenic, they were bred to be low-shedding. If you are worried about your allergies, spend some time with the puppy before you buy to see whether you have a reaction.
Color
I Grcas Position On Goldendoodles
The Golden Retriever Club of America is dedicated to the health and welfare of the Golden Retriever breed while conserving the original breed function that of a working retriever. A purebred dog offers to his owner the likelihood that he will be a specific size, shape, color and temperament.
The predictability of a breed comes from selection for traits that are desirable and away from traits that are undesirable. When a breed standard or type is set, the animals within that breed have less heterozygosity than do animals in a random population. The Goldendoodle is nothing more than an expensive mongrel. Because the genetic makeup is diverse from the Poodle genes and the Golden Retriever genes, the resultant first generation offspring is a complete genetic gamble. The dog may be any size, color, coat texture and temperament. Indeed Goldendoodles do shed. Their coat may be wiry or silky and may mat. Body shape varies with parentage but tends to be lanky and narrow. Behavior varies with the dog and within a litter with some puppies poodle-like in attitude and others somewhat like the Golden Retriever.
Permission to amend the Labrador Retriever Club statement to Golden Retrievers given by:
Frances S. Smith DVM, Ph.D.LRC, Inc. Board of DirectorsDiplomate American College of TheriogenologyOriginal Author of Labradoodle statement
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Where To Buy A Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles Puppies
So, now that you know a lot about Goldendoodles, whats left is to find one yourself. Whether youre getting your Groodle from a breeder or from a rescue or shelter, the next few points should be useful.
First off, Groodle puppies are cute and adorable, I mean, its the reason for their increased popularity. Its also the reason greedy breeders and puppy mills love them. Adorable puppies sell.
But you might not need to break the bank for an adorable Groodle. Your local rescue or shelter might have a Goldendoodle just for you.
But if you do plan on purchasing a Goldendoodle, Do pick a breeder that prioritizes health and has done the necessary health test which ensures that their Groodles are free from any possible genetic diseases that are common with Golden Retrievers and Poodles.
On average, a Goldendoodle ranges from $700 to $3000, so do ensure you get your moneys worth when purchasing from a breeder.
Also, try avoiding breeders that seem in a hurry to unload their Goldendoodle on you. You should also be mindful of purchasing a puppy from a website that offers to quickly ship your pup to you.
Take out time to research the puppy you want, so as to not get disappointed or heartbroken.
So how do you know which breeder is reputable, they all have websites? Well, there are a couple of red flags that you should be aware of. Some of the red flags include:
These might all seem convenient but they are risky.
Goldendoodle Vs Golden Retriever Price
Golden retrievers are generally more expensive than Goldendoodles, especially if the dog has an excellent pedigree. English Cream Golden Retrievers are pretty unusual in the US, so their price is consequently quite high. On average, you can expect to pay around $3,500 for a Golden retriever puppy.
Goldendoodles arent as expensive, starting at around $2,000 for a well-bred puppy.
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Amazing Facts About Goldendoodles
A Goldendoodle is a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. Goldendoodles are friendly, intelligent dogs that train easily, and theyre often recommended for allergy sufferers. For these reasons and others, theyve grown more popular in recent years.
Both of the Goldendoodles parent breeds are among the AKCs top 10 most popular breeds. However, because theyre produced by crossbreeding, the AKC considers the Goldendoodle a hybrid or designer breed.
Theyre hard to beat as family pets or service dogs. What makes this designer breed so appealing? Here are some amazing facts you might not know about the Goldendoodle.
1. Origins of the Goldendoodle
In the 1960s, the Labradoodle and Cockapoo gained popularity as guide dogs for people with visual impairment. Later on, service dog trainers requested a larger dog, and Breeders answered the call by combining the Golden Retrievers sunny disposition with the Poodles intelligence and propensity for low shedding. The dogs they produced are kind, intelligent, allergy-friendly, and larger than both of their predecessors.
Sometimes called a Groodle, the Goldendoodle was first bred in 1989 by Wally Conron of the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia. They made their first appearance in the United States in the early to mid-1990s. Although theyre a newer hybrid, they quickly earned a following of devoted pet parents.
2. Hybrid and designer dog mean the same thing
3. Goldendoodles come in three sizes
Controversy Surrounding Hybrid Breeds
Some people believe that hybrid dog breeds dilute the purebred dog lines. Breeders work very hard to create and maintain these lines.
However, many purebred dogs can suffer from health issues caused by a less-diverse genetic pool.
Enter the hybrid dog breed. Those in favor of hybrid breeds believe that bringing diversity back into the gene pool is healthy and necessary.
This is called hybrid vigor and, as its name suggests, refers to how diversifying the gene pool for future generations can help guard against known health issues.
But before committing to a pup of your own, you should start with learning about each parent dog: the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
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The 2nd Generation Backcross F2b
You get an F2b when you cross an F1 Groodle with an F1B. Being a first-generation Groodle, the F1 parent has a combination of predictable coat characteristics . However, the first-generation backcross remains a mystery.
If the F1b parent is not genetically tested, the litter may be an F1b litter or an F2 litter similar to the F2 litter .
Genetic health screening is also increasingly important when mixing two parents of the same ancestry.
- Shedding: The F2b pup can lie anywhere from non-shedding , low high shedding , or shed just as high as a full retriever . it all depends on the coat gene carried by the parent F1b.
- Potential for Allergy: Working with breeders to coat test pups and parents is the safest way for families with allergies to adopt F2b pups. Otherwise, the possibility of taking a hypoallergenic pet home does not favor you.
- The Coat: The coat might be wavy, curly, or straight.
- The Grooming: Requires average to high maintenance.
Golden Retriever Vs Goldendoodle Life Span: Whats Their Life Expectancy
Both the Golden Retriever and the Goldendoodle have similar life spans. While Golden Retrievers characteristically have a life span between 10-12 years, Goldendoodles may live up to 15 years.
Lifestyle factors and other hereditary characteristics may play a factor in how long the dog will live. Ensuring the dog gets enough exercise, eats well, and receives regular preventative care and treatments can help extend the life expectancy to its fullest.
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They Tend To Be Very Clingy
Goldendoodles have long been known as the friendly types. It doesnt matter where they are or who they are with, they are easily affectionate and outgoing. This makes them an ideal choice for a family dog.
These breeds are very sociable so sociable that they tend to crumble if not given enough time and attention. When this happens, there is a possibility for them to develop behavioral problems that might affect the way they interact with people.
Goldendoodle Vs Golden Retriever History
The Goldendoodle was first bred in 1969 by a breeder named Monica Dickens.
At the time, the Poodle was being used in many different crosses to try and create a breed that could reliably be used as a hypoallergenic guide dog.
While this effort did succeed and the Goldendoodle can be used as a guide dog, many simply fell in love with them at first sight, leading to them steadily becoming a popular companion dog.
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Goldendoodles Vary In Size
Not ready for the responsibility of a big dog? Luckily, there are miniature Goldendoodles, too. Instead of being bred with a Standard Poodle, Golden Retrievers are bred with a Toy Poodle to create a pint-sized pup. These mini Doodles may possibly be the cutest thing you’ll ever see.
The Poodles intelligence and Golden Retrievers obedience makes this breed wonderful service animals. If youre in need of a guide dog or therapy dog, look no further. Theyre also great companion pets for hospital patients or people in nursing homes. For anyone needing a little cheering up, their happy demeanor will bring an instant smile to anyone’s face.
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What Makes A Good Breeder That Would Breed A Goldendoodle With A Retriever
What makes a good breeder breed a Goldendoodle with a Retriever, or any dog for that matter, is knowledge, skill, planning, and research.
While every dog has redeeming qualities that make them outstanding in one way or another, a good breeder will be able to separate their love of dogs from facts about an individual dog. A good breeder always seeks to improve on what is already existing.
They spend greats of time becoming experts on the breeds or cross-breeds they handle. They learn about genetics, health, appearance, and temperament. When breeding any dogs, a good quality breeder will improve with the new litter.
They will know or learn the flaws of one dog parent and pair it with another dog parent to reduce or eliminate those negative qualities or flaws. This is for the health and future of this cross bred dog.
When breeding a Goldendoodle with a Retriever, these skills are essential because the Goldendoodle is a cross-bred dog. Being a cross-bred dog means there is no breed standard to compare. Pure bred dogs have a set breed standard that proves quality breeding practice and integrity of the ancestoral line, cross bred dogs have not set standard.
The only reliable step is to choose a skilled breeder and knowledge, one that has the dogs best interests at heart. This is true when selecting a Goldendoodle, whether it is mostly Retriever, mostly Poodle, or a fifty-fifty mix.
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Letter To Grca From A Goldendoodle Breeder:
I am shocked and insulted by your information on the Golden Retriever Club of America web site concerning Golden Doodles. We breed these dogs with every caution and 2 years of research and have had wonderful results.
In my opinion your bias and negative comments are uncalled for, perhaps you should purchase one and find out for yourself before you make such bold statements.
Nancy ________________
Are They Good With Other Dogs
Golden retrievers:
Golden retrievers are usually great with other dogs, but youll still need to properly socialize them with other puppies and adult dogs.
Goldendoodles:
Goldendoodles also get along well with other dogs.
Both of these breeds are known for being good with other dogs, but youll want to socialize them properly to ensure they grow up to be good doggy playmates.
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Goldendoodle Vs Golden Retriever Grooming: How Much Do They Require
With such drastically different coats, it comes as no surprise that the Goldendoodle and Golden Retriever have vastly different grooming needs. Both dog types have long hair, so both of them require at least a little bit of maintenance.
Golden Retrievers benefit from regular brushing , though they do best with brushing every other day. This gets rid of shedding fur which keeps them looking beautiful and feeling comfortable.
Golden Retrievers fur doesnt get matted as easily as you might expect, either. Although we brushed Maggie often in the summer , we hardly had to brush her at all during the winter.
The longer you wait between brushing them, the more your Golden Retriever will shedbut if you skip brushing for a couple weeks it shouldnt do any damage to their fur.
And while taking your Golden Retriever to a groomer may make your life easier, from experience you can easily give the occasional bath and brush as needed yourself.
Goldendoodles are a different story entirely. Their curls demand regular haircuts, thanks to their indeterminate hair growth, and they should be taken to a groomer every six weeks.
They also should be brushed daily, or at least every other day.
If you neglect to groom or brush a Goldendoodle even for a short period, their fur can become matted, long, and messy.
Their fur naturally attracts a wide variety of objectstwigs, nettles, leaves, bugs, and many other things can get stuck in the tight curls.