Goldendoodle: Golden Retriever Poodle Mix

GoldendoodleA Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog breed, also known as “designer Dog”. This dog breed is a result of breeding a Poodle and a Golden Retriever together. 

The Goldendoodle is not a breed of its own, but it is a crossbreed. In this case, this crossbreed is growing with more and more popularity.

The Goldendoodle was first developed in the 1990s, and it’s still a young crossbreed, but most of today’s litters are the results of first-generation breeding between Poodles and Golden Retrievers.

They have become popular quickly, and their popularity is still growing! It was originally bred as a larger alternative to the already popular designer breed known as the Cockapoo.

People have found that they prefer the Goldendoodle more because it has been proven to be better with children.

They make excellent family dogs and provide gentle and intelligent companionship throughout their lifetime and yours.Goldendoodle Infographic

Golden Retriever Poodle Mix History

The Goldendoodle is a relatively new designer mixed breed. In the early 1990s, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle were first bred together, creating the first Goldendoodle.

To learn more about the Goldendoodle, we must first look at the history of the parent breeds. 

The Golden Retriever dates back to the early 19th century. This dog breed was used for hunting game, mostly duck and other small animals. This breed rose in popularity over many years and has won in the category of the most popular dog for many years.

Almost everyone knows what a Golden Retriever looks like. Now let’s move on and learn about the Poodles history. 

The Poodle has also been around for centuries and was founded in France. This breed had very many roles, from hunting game to even entertaining in the circus. Eventually, nobles and royals became very fond of this breed, and it was sought after. 

Now the Poodle is extremely popular in the United States and can be found in a few different sizes!

Goldendoodle Puppy

Goldendoodle’s Appearance

The Appearance of your Goldendoodle will really depend on the size of the Poodle that was bred with the Golden Retriever. In General, your Goldendoodle should have a round small head and a long muzzle. 

Eyes will be round and come in either brown or blue, and sometimes your dog can have the rare color of green. Most likely, your Goldendoodle will have a coat that is curly. People usually refer this dog to the look of a teddy bear. 

You can find a list below of the different colors that your Goldendoodle can come in.

Goldendoodle’s Size

Dogs come in all different shapes and sizes, from the smallest Chihuahua to the big towering Great Dane! How much space a dog takes up is a big factor when deciding what dog is compatible with you.

The Goldendoodle ranges in size from small to large. This all depends on the variant of Poodle that the Golden Retriever is crossbreed with.

The Goldendoodle tends to come in three different sizes: Miniature, Small Standard, and Large Standard.

The Miniature Goldendoodle is the result of a Toy Poodle crossed with a Golden Retriever. They range in size from 13 to 20 inches in height and 15 to 35 pounds in weight.

The Small Standard Goldendoodle is 17 to 20 inches; the weight is about 40 to 50 pounds.

The Large Standard Goldendoodle averages 20 to 24 inches in height and weighs about 50 to 90 pounds.

Golden Retriever Poodle Mix

Golden Retriever Poodle Mix Personality

The Goldendoodle has not become popular for lack of reason that’s for sure! Goldendoodle’s positive personality traits are numerous.

The Goldendoodle is highly affectionate, gentle, and patient and makes a wonderful family companion, especially since he enjoys human company.

Goldendoodles do have a playful side and can be mischievous if the mood hits. The breed isn’t the only factor that goes into affection levels with dogs; dogs who were raised inside a home with people around feel more comfortable with humans, and they will bond more easily.

Goldendoodle Temperament

Temperament is usually affected by a number of factors, including heredity, training, and socialization. Like every dog, the Goldendoodle needs early socialization, this means early exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences at a young puppy age.

Puppies with nice temperaments are curious and playful; they will also want to be held by them. Socialization helps ensure that your puppy grows up to be a well-rounded adult dog!

The same thing goes with your dog, meeting family members, and strangers. You will have to socialize your dog the way you want him to be trained!

Overall the Goldendoodle is a very affectionate, loveable, and caring dog towards family members and other dogs!

Goldendoodle Coat

The Goldendoodle should have a wavy to curly coat about two to three inches in length. The coat can be black, copper, white, cream, gray, golden, apricot, or red.

Golden seems to be the common coat color in Goldendoodles; hence the name.

The Goldendoodle is considered to be a non- to light shedder but the dog still requires some grooming to have his coat in the best possible shape.

What colors do they come in?

Below you will find a few colors that this breed can come in:

  • Gold
  • Brown
  • Cream
  • Black
  • Silver
  • Red Hues
  • Blue Hues

You will most likely have a Goldendoodle with either a black or brown nose as well as either brown or blue eyes. 

Goldendoodle Grooming

You do not necessarily need to clip the Goldendoodle’s coat but you will need to brush it about once a week. This will keep the coat looking smooth and well kept.

The Goldendoodle requires a bath only when it’s absolutely necessary, or his coat and skin lose necessary oils and moisture, making the skin dry.

Brush your Goldendoodle’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath for your dog. This is so important with any dog breed!

Trim nails once or twice a month; If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long, and it’s time to trim them. Start grooming your dog as a puppy so they can get accustomed to it.

Make sure you make the experience as positive as possible for them with lots of praise afterward. If your dog has a bad experience with grooming, that’s it from there on out they will hate it.

Make sure as you groom; check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet.

Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle Health Issues

Goldendoodles are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they can be prone to certain health conditions. Not all Goldendoodles will get any of these health problems, but it’s good to be aware of them.

In no way are we saying your dog has this or will have these. If you’re buying a puppy, find a good breeder who will show you the health clearances for both your puppy’s parents. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for certain diseases.

Patellar Luxation: the patellar is the knee cap, and luxation means dislocation. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slide out of place, causing pain. Most dogs have this condition, but it doesn’t come out until much later in life or not at all.

Ear Infections: this can be a problem for Goldendoodles due to their floppy ears. Make sure you keep their ears clean and check in them often.

Hip Dysplasia: this is an inherited condition where the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip bone. You will notice this on the health clearances from your breeder.

Allergies: Allergies are a common ailment in dogs, and the Goldendoodle is no exception. There are three types of allergies food, contact, and inhalant allergies. Treatment varies according to the cause and may include dietary restrictions, medications, and environmental changes.

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Also called bloat, this is a life-threatening condition that can affect large, deep-chested dogs such as large Goldendoodles. GDV occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air. The dog is unable to belch or vomit to rid himself of the excess air in the stomach. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die.

Life Expectancy of a Goldendoodle

Both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle both have a life span of around 12 years. Some more than likely, your Goldendoodle will live to be around 12 years.

Depending on the overall health of your dog will impact the life span. Make sure you are keeping up on your dogs yearly checkups with their veterinarian. 

If you are ever concerned about the health of your dog, make sure you get your dog’s health checked as soon as possible.

Golden Poodle

Goldendoodle Exercise

High-energy dogs are always ready and waiting for action, this means they need a good amount of exercise a day. They’re more likely to spend time jumping, playing, and investigating any new sights and smells.

Without enough exercise, this breed may put on weight and vent their pent-up energy in ways you don’t like, such as barking, chewing, and digging. Most Goldendoodles have a moderate level of energy.

They enjoy a good walk every day to help keep them from getting overweight. The best type of exercise for these dogs is a good play session outside in the backyard.

20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise will be enough to keep a Goldendoodle from becoming bored.

Goldendoodle Living Conditions

Goldendoodles do come in different sizes, but most are a medium to large size, so they would not be most suited to live in an apartment. They should have a home with some type of fenced yard.

He’s not an ideal pet for outdoor or kennel living, since he thrives when he’s with his family. So owners should expect to keep him primarily in the house.

They are bred to be campaign dogs, so if they are living inside, they can suffer from separation anxiety when left for long periods of time.

The Goldendoodle adapts well to all weather situations due to his coat; he can be okay cold or hot.

Golden Retriever Poodle Mix Feeding

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of food.

The quality of your dog food also makes a big difference. The better the food, the more nourishment it will give your dog.

Keep your Goldendoodle in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time.

A Goldendoodle should also be fed several small meals per day instead of one large one, since the Golden Retriever can suffer from gastric torsion, or bloat. 

This trait can be easily passed on to any Goldendoodle offspring. The average Goldendoodle eats 1 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day divided into smaller meals throughout the day.

Goldendoodle Training

The Goldendoodle can be easy to train. He should be trained with positive reinforcement since harsh corrections could damage his confidence.

The Goldendoodle is a very highly intelligent breed, and when training him, they will pick up cues and move easily.

Obedience training and interactive dog toys are good ways to give a dog a brain workout.

Goldendoodle Puppy Sitting

Goldendoodle Puppies

The price of a Goldendoodle puppy will depend on if you get a first-generation Goldendoodle or if you get second. The first generation means that the parents of the puppy are a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. If you have a second-generation it means one of the parents is already a Goldendoodle. 

If someone is selling a puppy from a second-generation, then it will most likely be slightly higher in price than the first generation. This is because the genes are already very established, and you will get more of the Goldendoodle look.

You can expect to pay around $2,000 to maybe even $3,000 on a higher end. This is one of the more expensive mixed breeds on the market. 

Goldendoodle Litter Size

A Goldendoodle litter can often yield around three and eight puppies. Sometimes you can get a few more puppies, but that is usually rare. 

Remember the puppy will have to stay with the mom until eight weeks of age. Then it will be old enough to leave and go home with its new family. 

Close relatives of the Goldendoodle

You will find a few breeds below that are very similar to this mixed breed, they are:



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