The Golden Doodle dog, popularly known as a designer dog, is a hybrid, meaning it does not belong to any breed of dog. Instead, it is a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. The lovable personality of golden retrievers, along with the high intelligence traits of poodles, makes them friendly and lovable dogs. Due to their parent characteristics, they are very easy to train and make amazing friendly home pets.
The size and appearance of the golden doodle depend on the dominant trait of their parents. Some can have a straight coat, while others can have a curly appearance. The same goes for the color; it can be golden, white, amber, grey, brown, or even multi-colored. Rest assured, you will have a wonderful companion by your side in the form of a Golden Doodle if you praise them every day, play with them and give them food rewards.
They are easier to maintain and train. Many pet parents clip their coats which makes them fairly short, and they require brushing only once or twice a week. They are also easier to train because of their intelligence and athleticism. Golden Doodles can be trained for guide dogs due to their gentle and loving nature. They learn almost anything very quickly and require very little time to train.
History of the Golden Doodle
Golden Doodles first appeared in the 1990s, but they were not very popular back then. They were introduced to provide an alternative to the cockapoo breed, a hybrid of a poodle and a cocker spaniel. Golden Poodles garnered a lot of attention through social media when Mark Zuckerberg showed his designer dog via Facebook posts. Since then, many people started posting about Golden Doodles, and many dog parents also trended their Golden Doodle parents shirts on Instagram.
The name Golden Doodle is a combination of golden retriever and poodle. The original creator of this breed has shown concerns for initiating the breeding because it has led to irresponsible breeding and unpredictable dogs getting involved in the mix. Although they are still not recognized by AKC or any other dog registry, they are just promoted through dogs and breeding groups, so people should be vigilant before buying from any breeder and must not ignore the red flags, such as meeting at a fishy place rather than a public place or elsewhere.
Types of Golden Doodle
The generation and ancestral lineage of Golden Doodles influence their health, personality, and physical characteristics. Some of the Golden Doodle generations are mentioned below:
- F1 Golden Doodle and F1 Labradoodles – They are the first generation of Golden Doodles and Labradoodles, obtained by breeding pure retrievers and poodles.
- F1B Golden Doodle and F1B Labradoodle – They are the product of crossbreed between F1 Golden Doodle and Poodle.
- F2 Golden Doodle – As evident by the name, it is the second generation of Golden Doodles, which means that the parents are both F1 Golden Doodles.
- F2B Golden Doodle – It is a mixed generation, and parents can be of any generation of Golden Doodles.
Characteristics of Golden Doodle
Golden Doodles are usually bred to attain the characteristics of golden retrievers and poodles. Hence, the Golden Doodle dog possesses extraordinary characteristics that should be cared for because it is an amalgamation of very friendly and sincere dogs.
They are very social dogs who love spending time with family and going out. They also make friends with family members very easily, and they love good company. However, they won’t make good guard dogs because they would rather be friends with strangers instead of warding them off. Leaving such high social dogs alone at the house would cause separation anxiety, and they will start experiencing all anxiety-related symptoms.
Breed Characteristics of Golden Doodle
Here are some of the breed characteristics of a Golden Doodle that make it a very elegant and happy-go-lucky dog. The friendly nature of this breed makes it the best option for first-time dog owners. Other characteristics include:
- Adaptability – High
- Affection level – High
- Good with dogs – Yes
- Good with children – Yes
- Good with cats – Yes
- Intelligence – High
- Shedding – Low
- Social Needs – High
- Grooming – Difficult
- Guard dog ability – Very low
- Life span – 10 to 15 years
- Height – 13 to 24 inches
Conclusion
Golden Doodles are very smart and intelligent dogs who are born by breeding two different breeds of dogs (golden retriever and poodle). Golden Doodles possess very fine characteristics of both their parents. They are highly social and friendly, which makes them a perfect pet dog for any household. They always have very high energy, and they can be friends with almost anyone, even a stranger.
The designer dog is very good among children, and they enjoy playing with them due to their high energy and extra playful nature kids also love their company. Being extremely social, they get depressed very easily if there is no one to cater to their needs, and they experience separation anxiety in case any of the housing members goes missing. They are the most popular dogs in the USA and are also very expensive. Most of the time, Golden Doodles are trending on social media with their cute poses and lavish appearance.
They are hypoallergic dogs who shed very little, which makes them good for those who are allergic or asthmatic to the dog’s fur. They are also a good choice for first-time dog owners because they go along very well with anyone, even with strangers. Before buying a Golden Doodle, make sure to buy it from a reliable seller who has obtained a health clearance certificate before breeding the parents. Puppies should also be vetted and dewormed to give them a fresh new start and a new life.
Like other animals, Golden Doodles also suffer from health issues that should be checked for even before buying. While nursing them, some common health issues include hip dysplasia, allergies, hypothyroidism, gastric issues, elbow dysplasia, Retina atrophy, and others. Make sure to check with a vet if any of the symptoms from the above diseases are noted in a Golden Doodle.