Unpacking The Golden Doodle Breed

If you are researching the Golden Doodle dog breed, you are a Cynophilist (dog lover). Notably, when a dog looks at you, there is an instant generation of the feel-good hormone called oxytocin. So that is why you stare at Groodle puppies.

If you want to see your Groodle dog develop to its full potential, gather as much information as possible about it. So what do you need to know about Golden Doodles?

What is a Golden Doodle? 

If you crossbreed a Poodle with a Golden Retriever, you get a Golden Doodle. You can also call the hybrid dog a Groodle. This designer dog is famous for its charming personality and fun-loving nature. A Groodle is a family pet that is always open for a bond with anyone it meets.

The Characteristics of the Golden Doodle at a Glance

  • Height: 17-21+ inches (43.17-53.34 centimeters)
  • Weight: 50-90 pounds (22.5-40.5 kilograms)
  • Lifespan: 10-15 years
  • Breed Size: Large – 61-100 pounds (27.45-45 kilograms)
  • Good With: Families, children, cats, and dogs
  • Temperament: Calm, outgoing, playful, friendly
  • Intelligence: High
  • Shedding Frequency: Occasional
  • Need for Exercises: Medium
  • Energy Level: Active
  • Barking Level: When necessary
  • Drool Potential: Low
  • Breed Group: Hybrid
  • Coat Length and Texture: Medium and curly
  • Colors: Grey, red, black fawn, cream, white, golden (yellow, chocolate, brown, liver)
  • Popularity: Common
Golden Doodle Sitting in Forest

The Appearance of the Golden Doodle

Notably, Poodles vary in size, unlike Golden Retrievers. So, the height and weight of a Golden Doodle depend on its Poodle lineage. For example, a Standard Poodle produces a full-size Groodle. However, breeding a mini Golden Doodle with a Retriever produces a Groodle that looks like a fully-grown pup.

When a Standard Doodle stands, it measures 21+ inches (53.34 centimeters) tall. Also, its weight is up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms). On the other hand, a Golden Doodle mini measures 14-17 inches (35.56-43.18 centimeters) tall. Also, it weighs up to 35 pounds (15.75 kilograms).

A Poodle can have a coat that varies in several colors. However, a Golden Retriever has a coat with a golden or wheat color range. Given that a Groodle gets its color from its Poodle lineage, it obtains a similar coat color variation to the Poodles.

The most popular Groodle color is the teddy bear gold shade. However, a Groodle can be brown, black, white, red, or cream. In rare cases, a Groodle can have a blue or gray color. Also, it can be multicolored. However, the popular eye color of a Groodle is brown.

Often, people love Golden Doodles for their hypoallergenic coats. So, Poodles and s are ideal pets for people that itch or sneeze when around dogs. The large Golden Doodles are 75% Standard Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever. If you get a large breed of Groodle with a curly coat, you will have a large dog that does not shed.

Sometimes, a Groodle can inherit a wavy mane from its Retriever parent. It can also have a double coat with a dense short-haired undercoat and a long-haired top coat. A  with a double coat requires regular brushing.

The Temperament of Golden Doodles

A Groodle inherits its temperament from its Retriever parent. Groodles have a gentle nature that makes them an ideal pet for small children. A Groodle is always careful when around toddlers and infants. It also tolerates the behaviors of young children when they are growing up. So, it is patient with growing children.

However, you have to supervise a Groodle when it is around young children. Also, you should teach your children how to interact with pets.

A Golden Doodle is highly affectionate. It forms a social bond quickly after meeting any person. It is also accommodative to other pets, such as cats. Instead of chasing other pets around, a Groodle is bashful or timid.

However, it is not easy to predict the behaviors of a Groodle. Given that it is a crossbreed, it can borrow a behavior from either of its parents. Generally, Groodles borrow their friendliness, affection, trustworthiness, and enthusiasm from their Golden Retriever parent. They also borrow intelligence, trainability, and sociability from their Poodle parent.

You will find a Groodle highly trainable. So, it is easy to bring up a GoldenDoodle rescue dog. Notably, Poodles and Golden Retrievers rank among the top-five out of 150 most-intelligent dog breeds in the world. Despite being playful, Groodles will obey your instructions during a training exercise. You can also train them as circus dogs.

According to expert Groodle breeders, Groodles are never happy when away from people they know. The dogs deem themselves as fully-fledged members of their family. Such an observation tells about the level of affection that Groodles develop towards the people they live with as a family pet.

Experts also assert that Groodles exhibit a high level of dog-rivalry, dog-directed fear, and hostility, and stranger-related fear than their purebred parents.

A Look Inside the Needs of a Golden Doodle

You need to give your Groodle some exercises and daily play. You can opt to take it for a morning walk or play the fetching game in your backyard. If you can manage to give it both, you can improve the overall quality of its health.

The easy-going attitude of a Golden Doodle makes their play with other dogs or pets fun. You will also enjoy playing because your Groodle will respond to your playing moves. Better still, you can take your Groodle for a swim because it loves playing with water.

If you have a standard-size Doodle, you should opt for outdoor playtime. However, mini Groodles can enjoy playing indoors. Never worry about your easily-irritable neighbors because Groodles do not back excessively. However, you need to train and socialize when it is young.

golden doodle puppy

How to Properly Care for Golden Doodles

Consistent grooming is a priority when caring for Golden Doodles. Even though their coat does not shed often, regular grooming keeps the coat and skin of your Doodle healthy. If you do not have time for grooming or you are unsure about how to groom your Doodle, take it to a professional groomer after every six to eight weeks.

After a good grooming session, you should not bathe your Groodle again. According to experts, washing your Groodle often causes dry skin. So, bath your Golden Doodle when it becomes smelly or dirty.

Notably, the grooming of your Doodle depends on the curliness of its coat. If it is curlier, it needs more frequent grooming than a less curly Doodle. However, you should brush your Groodle every day to prevent matting. Also, straight-haired Doodles or the ones with short hair require weekly brushing.

Regarding playing time, your Groodle should have half-an-hour exercises or play every day. If you have a fenced yard, you can let it off the leash to roam around. Alternatively, you can take it for a walk around the neighborhood. So, even though you watch your Doodle enjoying being a couch potato, you should take it for a hike because it will enjoy the walk too.

Never leave your Doodle at home alone for long. The dogs have an interactive nature, and they can feel so lonely whenever their owners are not around. If you leave them alone often, they develop separation anxiety. So, they will tend to dig or bark excessively, among other undesirable behaviors. Throughout Doodle’s life, it should get proper socialization and attention.

As a first-time dog-owner, you will find Golden Doodles accommodative. However, you reinforce it positively and reward its positive behavior with treats. Getting a puppy Groodle that has already started a training program is advisable.

Management of Groodles

Having a Groodle in your home is having your to-do list overwhelming. Their boundless energy makes it less focused. So, you can have it become mischievous and naughty. A Groodle can change from chewing things to mouthing them on short notice. No wonder you need to train it.

Notably, dogs learn from other dogs after birth. So, they learn from their parents and siblings. Dog breeders call such behavior a pack mentality. So, when you take your dog home, you start communicating it in an alien language. However, dogs can talk using shock and prong collars or treats.

Expert trainers advise that you should learn their natural language. So, try to understand their body language and voice tones. Experts call the act speaking dog.

If you want to train your dog effectively, do it when it is a puppy. Also, be consistent during the training session. So, training calls for your patience. Sometimes, a dog can understand your instructions but gets distracted easily.

Puppies between eight to ten weeks old respond well to training instructions. Such a tender age helps you to train your Doodle effectively. However, you can also train your full grown Golden Doodle, especially when it has behavioral issues.

When training your Groodle, you should act as the leader of the pack. However, you should expect minimal violation of the rules because your Doodle can splint once you get distracted. It will also question your authority and struggle to overthrow you from the leadership position. So, you should stand firm.

Groodles require a lot of physical and mental stimulation because of their high energy levels. So, besides giving them playtime and walks, you should provide them with interactive toys. Such toys come in handy when you leave your Doodles alone. Instead of sinking into destructive behaviors, the toys will keep your Doodle busy until you return.

Myths About Golden Doodles

As with other dog breeds, some people hold onto some myths about Golden Doodles. Such myths can affect the expectations that you have from the dog. Also, the myths can lead to mismanagement of your Doodle. So, what are some of the myths that require debunking?

All Curly-Coat Doodles Non-Shedding

This ancient-old myth is incorrect. According to DNA research, shedding relates to the furnishing gene responsible for facial beard among dogs. From the research, dogs without a beard are heavy shedders. Such dogs include German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. On the other hand, dogs with a facial beard are not heavy shedders, including Poodles and Yorkies.

So, from the research, shedding is not related to the hair coat. Even if most Doodles do not shed, the characteristic is not due to their curly coat.

All GoldenDoodles Are Hypoallergenic

To become hypoallergenic, a dog should have two copies of the furnishing gene. Such a dog does not shed hair at all. However, Groodles have 0, 1, or 2 furnishings. So, you can find some Doodles shedding a few strands of fur.

To know whether your Doodle has two furnishings, liaise with your dog breeder for testing. If each Doodle’s parents have two furnishings, the resultant youngling will have a similar number of gene furnishings. So, it will be completely hypoallergenic. 

However, a puppy can inherit two furnishings even if one of the parents had one furnishing. However, confirmation can only come from testing.

All Goldendoodles Are AKC-Recognized

Notably, AKC recognizes pure breeds. Given that Golden Doodles are hybrid dogs, AKC deems them as multigenerational. So, the club does not recognize them.

The Generation of Golden Doodles Matter

Some people think that the generation of Doodles determines their quality. The truth is that the generation of a Doodle determines its shedding propensity. Notably, Groodles that are beyond the F1 generation shed minimal hair.

However, the generational status of a Groodle does not determine its quality. Instead, the health status of the parent dogs determines the quality of a Doodle. So, instead of focusing on the generational level, ask about the health testing certifications of the parent dogs from your preferred Doodle breeder.

The Golden Doodle and Health Care

Golden Doodles are generally healthy dogs. They live up to 15 years. However, they are vulnerable to various health conditions similar to other dog breeds. Some of the health conditions are:

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Ruptured cranial cruciate knee ligaments
  • Seizures
  • Hip dysplasia,
  • Patella luxation
  • Willebrand disease (blood clotting disorder)
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (eye condition)
  • Various types of cancer related to the Golden Retriever breed

When getting a Groodle, always insist on having its health certificate. Alternatively, you can consult your veterinarian on the disease signs to check from the Groodle before becoming its owner.

Notably, the water-loving nature of Doodles makes them more susceptible to ear infections than other dog breeds. The Doodle’s floppy ears trap a lot of moisture after a swim. So, you should clean the ears after your Groodle’s playtime with water.  

The popularity of Golden Doodles makes them available. For this reason, it is easy to get them from poor breeders. To ensure that you get a Groodle with a high quality of health, you should avoid breeders with the following characteristics:

  1. Breeders that sell several breeds of dogs
  2. Breeders that ship dogs
  3. Breeders that are not easy to contact
  4. Breeders that prevent you from meeting the parents of your selected Doodle

It is crucial to research the available Groodle breeders. Any available breeder has a history, and you can check their customer reviews to confirm their credibility. Alternatively, you should collect vast information about Golden Doodles to ensure that you know what to look for in a Groodle.

The History of the Golden Doodle

It is not possible to tell about the exact origin of the Golden Doodle dog breed. However, Groodles started showing in the market in the 1990s. Their popularity came after the popularity of Labra Doodles (a hybrid from the Poodle and Labrador Retriever) during that time. The two hybrids share a wide range of similarities.

However, we can explore the history of its parents: the Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The move can help us understand the origin of the characteristic that Groodles have.

The History of Golden Retriever

The origin of the breed spans back to the early nineteenth century in England. No wonder there is an English Golden Doodle. Legend says that the Retriever dog belonged to a man with means, but he had no title. That man was Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks. He was a son of a successful Scottish banker, and he had a passion for dog breeding.

As Marjoribanks bred dogs, he kept records for over half a century. You can find the leather-bound book that has the records in England’s Kennel Club library.

At one point, Marjoribanks has acquired a pack of circus dogs from Russia. He started breeding them with other dog breeds that he had reared. Legend has it that when Marjoribanks was walking in the company of his son, he met a golden wavy-coated dog, Nous. Nous belonged to a local cobbler. 

However, Nous had black parents. During that time, people considered black dogs as the best pets. So, the owner of Nous had given it away instead of letting it stray. 

Three years later, Marjoribanks acquired Nous and bred him with a Tweed-Water Spaniel. Tweeds are now extinct, but the fishermen from River Tweed Valley owned them. The result was a Golden Retriever that could navigate both water bodies and land. The first Golden Retriever puppies were born in 1868, and they had a florally-monikered coat.

The History of Poodle

The earliest Poodles lived in Europe between 14th and 15th centuries. The name Poodle comes from the German word Pudel meaning splash in the water. In France, the name Poodle originated from the name Cane, which means a female duck. The French used the name because they used the dog to retrieve ducks after a hunt.

Poodles were exceptional swimmers, and they played the role of water hunters. Notably, their famous Golden Doodle cut was not out of whim. It enabled Poodles to swim fast in the water but remain warm.

A popular belief holds that Poodles were from Germany even though they are national dogs in France. The Poodles got recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1887. However, Poodles started becoming famous around the world in the 17th century.

The Standard Poodles were the most popular breed. The royalty and upper-class men bred the standard Poodles in the 1400s as water Retrievers. In France, people kept Poodles as pets. Poodles were also famous in Spain in the 18th century because Francisco Goya highlights them in his several illustrations.

Golden doodle playing fetch

Interesting Facts About Golden Doodles

Golden Doodles Are Designer Dogs 

The Doodles are designer dogs because they are from purebred parents. So, they do not stand as an independent dog breed. In America, the Doodles are relatively new because they become popular in the 1990s. They got their name in 1992.

Given their hybrid nature, it is not easy to tell the traits that their young pups can adopt. So, some of the Doodles are not completely hypoallergenic. Nevertheless, the Groodles are ideal family pets because they are gentle and friendly.

Ideal For Allergic Dog Lovers

Do you scratch or sneeze whenever a furry friend walks past? You can still become a dog lover. Get a GoldenDoodle and savor love from a dog. Groodles have a hypoallergenic coat that rarely sheds. So, you will seldom vacuum your rug to remove dog hair. However, dogs have other allergens, such as saliva and urine. So, you should confirm the cause of your allergy before befriending a Groodle.

Groodles Are Natural Athletes

Golden Doodles love to run and exercise. Even though they are also couch potatoes, they thrive in agility. If you have an active family, you will find Groodles as ideal playmates. The dog will also enjoy your company.

Adventurers also find Groodles as the best mates. Their ability to hike and swim makes time go fast when you are out there exploring nature.

Golden Doodles Are Natural Playmates

Whether you are playing fetch or Frisbee, your Doodle stands as your best playmate. They respond fast to your playful prompts, and it makes most outdoor games fun. 

Also, their gentle nature makes them ideal playmates to your infants, toddlers, and young children. Never will a Doodle hurt your child intentionally. However, the dogs require supervision when playing with kids.

Groodles are also playful when around other dogs and cats. They make the best partners in a dog park because they will partner with other dogs seamlessly and make your day out fun. However, you have to keep watch for dogs that are unfriendly in a dog park. You do not want your gentle Groodle to get hurt.  

Groodles Are Highly Sociable 

Groodles are quick to make friends. They do not treat you as a stranger for long. Their sociable nature makes them friendly to everyone, including infants that it considers as strangers. Also, they are highly friendly to other dogs and cats.

The Doodles’ friendly nature makes them unfit to become watchdogs. They do not bark even when there is a knock on the door. They have a calm demeanor that makes them more of pets than watchdogs.

Groodles Have Three Types of Hair Only

Your Golden Doodle white dog or Golden Doodle black dog can only have wavy, straight, or curly hair. The feature makes it impossible to have a standard way of grooming Groodles. Some require occasional grooming, while others require daily bathing and brushing. If unsure about the kind of grooming to give to your Doodle, consult your veterinarian for advice.

GoldenDoodles Are Hydrophilic

Groodles love playing with water. They borrow the characters from their parents. If they see a lake, a pool, or a river, all they think about is making a splash. During summer, Groodles make the best swimming partner. However, they are rough when shaking off water from their coat. So, you have to be watchful.

Groodles Are Colorful Dogs

Golden Doodles can either have one color or multiple colors. Also, some of them have unique colors that most dog breeds do not have. For example, you can find a teacup Golden Doodle from a breeder’s pack. You can also find an orange or blue Groodle.

The colorful nature of Groodles can help you pick a dog that matches some of your households. Such a move can add a striking dash to the color of your house items.

The Sizes of Groodles Can Spoil You

Golden Doodles have varied sizes. If you live in an apartment, you can opt for a mini Golden Doodle to be a toy Golden Doodle that will keep you company and have ample playing space. Having a spacious backyard can enable you to accommodate a Standard Groodle. So, regardless of your living quarters, you can find a Groodle that fits in your space.

Groodles Are Some of The Best Service Dogs

A Golden Doodle has a brain that combines the smartness of a Poodle and the obedience of a Golden Retriever. What you get is a highly trainable dog that can serve as a therapy or a guide dog. For patients and people living in nursing homes, Groodles with always cheer them up.

Groodles Have Many Nicknames

As you have seen while reading this post, Golden Doodles have many nicknames. You can opt to call them Golden Doodles, Groodles, Golden Doodles, Doodles, or Goldenpoos. Having several nicknames denotes that the dog breed is a darling to everyone.

Key Takeaways

  1. A GoldenDoodle is a hybrid between the Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
  2. Groodles live up to 15 years, and they are ideal family pets.
  3. Groodles are intelligent, calm, outgoing, playful, and friendly to children, dogs, and cats.
  4. A standard Doodle measures 21+ inches (53.34+ centimeters) tall and weighs up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms).
  5. A Golden Doodle mini measures 14-17 inches (35.56-43.18 centimeters) tall and weighs up to 35 pounds (15.75 kilograms).
  6. Groodles require half an hour of daily play and exercise. Also, they need interactive toys.
  7. Most Doodles require grooming after every 6-8 weeks.
  8. Groodles love playing with water, and they are exceptional swimmers.
  9. Most Doodles are hypoallergenic.
  10. Golden Doodles make the best service dogs.

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