Goldendoodle
Temperament:
The cheerful and child-loving Goldendoodle is the ideal companion for the family. But seniors and singles will also enjoy the cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. After all, the bright mongrel is both obedient and affectionate. He also loves to make new acquaintances.
Characteristics
The Goldendoodle is the result of crossing a Golden Retriever with a purebred Poodle. It combines the characteristics of both breeds. Depending on whether a small poodle, a miniature poodle or a king poodle has been crossed, the Goldendoodle comes in mini, medium and standard sizes. An adult Golden Doodle can weigh between 10 and 45 kg. Mini and Midi Golden Doodles reach between 30 and 50 cm shoulder height, while the standard representatives can grow up to 70 cm.
The wavy to curly coat has all colors from creamy white to classic golden blond to black. The word "Golden" in the name simply refers to the descent from the Golden Retriever. So you don't have to limit yourself because of the coat color. Big plus compared to the classic Goldie: Like his ancestor, the Poodle, the Goldendoodle loses very little hair. Its coat also has no distinctive inherent odor. This makes him especially suitable for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive noses.
In terms of character, the Goldendoodle is the ideal family dog. He combines in himself the eagerness to learn of the poodle with the serenity of the retriever. These dogs are cheerful and affectionate companions. They are easy to train and are affectionate and good-natured with children. They are never aggressive. The Goldendoodle is always friendly and open-minded towards other dogs.
Many Goldendoodles love to play fetch, and will happily jump into the cool water to do so.
The Golden Doodle likes to romp around, but doesn't necessarily need a huge garden or daily forced marches. He simply adapts to the current conditions. Goldendoodles can live just as well in the country as in a city apartment. The main thing is that his favorite person is there.
Since these mixed breeds are quite intelligent, you should also challenge your Goldendoodle mentally. Agility or search games are suitable for this. If this does not happen, boredom quickly arises. The Goldendoodle will then look for something to do. Therefore, do not leave your Golden Doodle alone for too long. He likes to come with you to the office.
The cheerful character and the "will to please" inherited from the Golden Retriever make the Goldendoodle also ideal for newcomers. Even those who have never had a dog before will get along fine with the Golden Doodle. He just wants to please his family so much.
Praise and recognition spur him on even more. The Golden Doodle is also appreciated as a school and therapy dog. Thanks to his good-natured nature, he can adapt well to people and situations.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The Goldendoodle has similar dietary requirements as most other dog breeds. You should adjust the daily amount of food to your Golden Doodle's size and activity level. Growing puppies require three to four smaller meals a day. An adult Golden Doodle can get by with two feedings a day.
A balanced food with a high meat content ensures that your Golden Doodle feels good and stays healthy and fit for a long time. Watch out for unnecessary additions such as grains and especially sugar in the list of ingredients. They do nothing to contribute to your Doodle's healthy diet. Rather, they damage his health and especially his teeth.
Goldendoodles occasionally inherit a tendency to gluttony from their Golden Retriever parents. Especially the mini and midi variants can then quickly put on unhealthy excess weight. Fortunately, the Goldendoodle is not lazy and likes to exercise. Make sure that nothing edible is lying around openly. Otherwise, the Goldendoodle is sure to find it and immediately snack on it. When walking, you should watch out if the dog takes something in its snout.
Therefore, treats should also be used sparingly. Fortunately, these dogs are very happy about praise in the form of petting or games. Even simple praise already rewards them. Therefore, it does not always need the extra feeding to bribe the Goldendoodle. If it may be a treat, healthy dental care snacks or dried meat are suitable. This also ensures that the dog automatically removes plaque when chewing.
Goldendoodle care
Who doesn't immediately think of a dressed-up fashion dog when they hear the word "poodle"? Fortunately, the Goldendoodle is less demanding. The fine, woolly coat should only be brushed once a week to prevent matting.
Like the Poodle, the Goldendoodle does not go through a proper shedding process. So he loses hardly any hair. Therefore, the coat should be trimmed and cut back regularly. So no knots and ugly felt mats are formed. You can do this yourself with special fur scissors or go to the groomer.
In the face, the curly fur provides the funny teddy bear look of the Goldendoodle. You should act if the fur hairs hang in the field of vision or even irritate the eyes. Then the hair must be cut or a scrunchie creates remedy. Funny hairstyle included.
Also keep an eye on your Goldendoodle's ears and check regularly to make sure everything is okay. As with all dogs with drooping or tight ears, ear infections can occur in the Goldendoodle. The warm and humid climate under the ear favors infections or the growth of mites. Therefore, clean the ears regularly and watch for signs of illness. These include redness, swelling, discharge, blackish coatings or frequent scratching of the ear.
Suitable accessories
Both Poodles and Golden Retrievers were originally bred for hunting. They were supposed to track down the game they killed in the undergrowth and carry it back to their masters, the hunters. The Goldendoodle has this heritage in his blood. He loves to run after a thrown toy, find it in the bushes and bring it back.
Since the Goldendoodle belongs to the smarter dogs, he is also for intelligence toys. This should challenge all of his senses. Toys like a sniffing carpet or a hat game train the Goldendoodle's memory, sense of smell and fine motor skills. In this way, they ensure that you have an all-around balanced dog.
Origin & History
Goldendoodles have been bred since about the end of the 1990s, initially in the USA and Canada. They belong to the so-called "designer dogs". So they are hybrids of two established breeds. These crosses have always aimed to combine the best features of both breeds in one dog.
The idea of crossing poodles with other dog breeds originally came from Australia. An employee of the Australian Guide Dog Association was contacted by a Hawaiian couple in 1988. The couple was looking for a guide dog that would also be suitable for people allergic to animal hair. Initially, a poodle was crossed with a Labrador for this purpose. Why? The poodle was already known at that time as a breed that hardly ever shed. In addition, its coat rarely triggers animal hair allergies. The Labrador Retriever, on the other hand, which is eager to learn and friendly, is particularly suitable as a guide dog for the blind. Thus the Labradoodle was born.
Quickly, other crosses with poodles were tried. The Labrador was followed by Cocker Spaniels and even Dachshunds. Also with Maltese and Collies was already bred. The Goldendoodle has prevailed here as the most popular crossbreed.
No wonder, one would like to say. Hardly any other poodle mix is so suitable for the most diverse dog owners. And with his teddy face and cheerful nature, the Goldendoodle wraps everyone around his paw.
More breeds to discover
