The goldendoodle is one of the breeds that triumphs among the different hybrids of dog breeds, such as the labradoodle, the maltipoo or the peekapoo. The goldendoodle is a mixture resulting from the cross between the golden retriever and the poodle.
If you like the soft character of the Golden Retriever but prefer a dog that does not release as much hair, the Goldendoodle is your ideal companion. For this reason, it is suitable for all allergy sufferers.
It is generally chosen as a companion dog in homes where there are children, because the Goldendoodle is very affectionate, although it is also suitable for helping people with some type of visual impairment. He is also very intelligent; he learns orders effortlessly.
There are different sizes: large, medium and mini. This variable will largely depend on the weight of their parents, even if we must not be guided solely and exclusively by this criterion.
Goldendoodle photos
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Physical characteristics
A goldendoodle can be of three different sizes: large, between 20 and 45 kilograms and 50 – 60 cm, medium, with a weight that varies between 14 and 20 kilos and 30 – 45 cm, or mini, being the maximum weight of these dogs from 7 – 16 kg. In any case, there is a marked sexual dimorphism, since it is estimated that females are on average about 5 centimeters shorter than their male counterparts, a difference that becomes more noticeable and more pronounced in larger ones.
They are stylized dogs, with a long body, equally elongated and light limbs, which contrast with a proportionally short tail. The head is thin and long, with a prominent muzzle with a dark nose. They have separate dark eyes and large ears and are dropped to the sides of their heads.
The goldendoodle puppy
Something indisputable is that the little goldendoodles are extremely adorable. But do you know that their hairs when they are puppies are very different from what they show in adulthood? At birth, the goldendoodle have stiff and very abundant hairs, but after 6 weeks, these hairs begin to curl little by little. At 3 months, his hair is wavy, but at 6 months, he is completely curly.
Colors
In the absence of an official breed standard, it is not possible to speak of accepted or authorized colors. However, there is a predilection for the colors typical of the two parental breeds, that is to say light colors such as golden gold or the white, brown, black and gray poodle. The most common are gold and cream.
In general, it is a thick, long and curly layer, thus forming a dense and very dense layer. It is thicker and longer in the area of the face, legs and tail. This varies between copies, as some, although less, may have wavy or even stiff hair.
Goldendoodle mini
Goldendoodle mini are the result of crosses between golden retriever and miniature poodle. These dogs differ from the standard goldendoodle because of their much smaller size. While a “normal” goldendoodle weighs between 14 and 20 kilograms, the mini will not exceed 6 kilos of body weight. In addition, in these goldendoodle the energy presented by these half-breeds becomes more noticeable, being a little more active than the average and especially the large.
Character and behavior
The Goldendoodle can be proud of its good character, as it tends to be incredibly sociable, affectionate and very soft and delicate. They get along very well with everyone, dogs, cats, children, seniors, families, singles … Ideal for almost any home and family. Although it is not so much for those who generally spend a lot of time away from home, because they do not support prolonged loneliness. Given their kindness and open nature, they are not suitable as guard dogs or guardians, as they do not reject strangers.
They are very active, so make sure you get enough physical activity every day. If this is not true, there may be cases of gold shells that transform their energies into destruction of various types or excessive barking.
Health
These canine hybrids may show alterations typical of the two parent breeds, as detailed below.
On the part of the golden retriever, the Goldendoodle can inherit its tendency to suffer from hip dysplasia, so it is recommended to carry out veterinary examinations including a thorough verification of trauma, with periodic x-rays. So you can detect if there is a problem early and take the appropriate action as soon as possible.
Poodles inherit the tendency to suffer from hematological diseases, such as von Willebrand disease, which affects the formation of blood platelets. They also inherit the tendency to suffer from eye disorders, such as cataracts or entropion. Something typical of both breeds, as poodles and goldens retriver are prone to eye diseases, both those mentioned and progressive retinal atrophy or glaucoma. Everyone can degenerate into blindness, so it is important that our dog is evaluated periodically to know the state of his eyes and to make sure everything is in order.
In addition, tests, dewormers and vaccinations should be performed if necessary, combining them with oral, auditory and eye cleanings, at home and in the veterinary office. Thus, we can protect our pet from a greater number of diseases. Therefore, we recommend that you visit the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months.
Life expectancy
The life expectancy of the goldendoodle is around 12 to 15 years.
Care
The goldendoodle requires a series of daily care, such as receiving a diet adapted to its nutritional and energy needs. It is important that they are not over-fed, as they will not stop eating even if they are full, they are very greedy, which can lead them too easily to suffer from overweight and obesity. Along with feeding them, we also need to take care of their hydration, which is even more important, so we should always leave fresh, potable water available to you.
These dogs should be exercised daily. For this, we can take long walks or play sports with them such as running or swimming. Games are also recommended, if there are children in the family, both parties can have fun and play together. In addition, we will make a minimum of 3 to 4 walks per day so that they can do their needs.
As for the coat of the goldendoodle, this requires frequent brushing, it is recommended to carry out at least one brushing per day, as this avoids the formation of knots and can easily remove the dirt that has accumulated. The bath can be done every 1 or 2 months, depending on its dirt levels.
Differences between labradoodle and goldendoodle
Frequently, the question arises between what differentiates a labradoodle and a goldendoodle. The difference is based on the crosses, because while the labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a standard poodle, the Goldendoodle crosses a Golden Retriever with a poodle, which can be standard or mini.
Given these differences in the parents of hybrids, it is not surprising that there are differences in aspects such as weight. In both cases, the minimum weight is within 6 kg, but any goldendoodle can weigh 45 kg at most, the Labrador does not exceed 30 kg.
In general, the two have a sociable character, are very intelligent and docile, but labradoodle tends to be more energetic, being able to be more agitated, they are also a little more reserved. As for its appearance, the colors of the Goldendoodle fur are lighter, mainly gold and candies, something which in the labradoodle is more variable, finding many more colors, like black, blue, chocolates or the Red.
Adopt a goldendoodle
When adopting a goldendoodle, be aware that there are different types of crossover, which are:
- First generation or F1: direct crosses between pure poodles and pure goldens.
- Crossing of the middle F1b: one of the pure parents is crossed with a goldendoodle.
- Second generation F2: crossing of two goldendoodles.
Knowing the crossing is important if we want to have a little more security in terms of characteristics and possible general health of the puppy. It is argued that F1 is more robust than F1b, while F2 is more predictable and better guarantees its hypoallergenic characteristics.
History of the breed
Goldendoodle is a mongrel dog born from the cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, generally of medium or standard size. These dogs began to develop in order to have more breeds considered “hypoallergenic”, a virtue possessed by the poodle, which sheds very little hair. In this way, they compensated for the exaggerated hair loss of the golden retriever. On the other hand, the breed is praised for its skills as a guide dog and therapy dog, something that inherits from the golden retriever, famous for performing such tasks traditionally.
But why develop a new breed if you already have one that performs these functions perfectly? And that’s when all the pieces come together, because what if the person to whom the golden retriever must accompany is allergic to dog hair? Well, that’s when the goldendoodle is the perfect dog. The first Goldendoodle puppies were born in 1992, the breed originally from both Australia and the United States. It is currently a breed considered hybrid, so it has no official cynological standard.