Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs? [The Real Truth]

Are Goldendoodles good dogs? Let’s take a look at their origin, appearance, personality and health.

Find out if a Goldendoodle is a good family dog, and how to take care of them.

Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs?

Goldendoodles are great dogs to have at home or anywhere. They are affectionate and gentle dogs that are loyal to their owners.

While not a pure breed, Goldendoodles tend to exhibit the best traits of both their parent breeds. That means they can have the intelligence and playfulness of a Golden Retriever while also having the alertness and loyalty of a Poodle.

Origin

Goldendoodles are a newer type of dog breed. It first appeared in the U.S. during the 1990s and quickly gained popularity. 

These dogs are considered “designer breeds.” This means that their parents are purebreds but are different from each other.

The term “Goldendoodle” is a portmanteau of its parent’s breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. It was a street term before becoming an official name in 1992.

While they may appear fuzzy, most Poodles do not shed. They are intelligent, athletic, active, and sociable.

On the other hand, Golden Retrievers are playful and lovable dogs. These qualities make them great for families and hunting.

This combination makes the Goldendoodle excellent lifelong pets. However, since they are a mixed breed, it can be difficult to tell which traits from each parent they will inherit.

Appearance

Goldendoodles are medium-sized dogs with a thick, low-shedding coat. Since they’re not pure breeds, the appearance of Goldendoodles can vary, depending on which parent has the more dominant genes.

Their shaggy coat can either be straight like a Golden Retriever or curly like a Poodle. However, most of the time, it’s somewhere in between, which appears bushy and wavy.

Goldendoodles go through different stages of growth before their coat takes on its final appearance. Color-wise, the fur appears to be yellowish-brown, which is similar to that of a Golden Retriever. 

However, it can also be of any color that you would find in a Poodle. Colors include amber, black, gray, or white. Goldendoodles can even appear multicolored due to their hybrid nature.

Size also varies depending on the type of Poodle parent. To breed larger Goldendoodles, Golden Retrievers are usually bred with standard-sized Poodles. 

Goldendoodle puppies weigh anywhere between 15 to 100 pounds. Miniature Goldendoodles are also becoming more and more popular. It is a cross between a standard-sized Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle.

Want to get a better idea of what size and weight your Goldendoodle puppy will grow up to be? You can ask the breeder what type of Poodle the parent was to determine their potential size.

Personality

Similar to their appearance, the dominant personality of a Goldendoodle will either be from the Golden Retriever or the Poodle parent.

It can also be a balance of both temperaments. However, some traits are common in all Goldendoodles.

Goldendoodles are smart, loyal, and lovable dogs. They love being around people, and they also get along well with other pets.

Similar to Golden Retrievers, Goldendoodles can be great service dogs. However, they do have their limitations as their strengths do not equal that of a Golden Retriever’s.

They also excel as guide dogs because of their obedience and intelligence. Their gentleness and affection are also qualities that make them great therapy dogs.

Health

Goldendoodles are usually born healthy. However, like most breeds, they are also prone to certain health conditions. 

You need to be aware of these conditions if you have a Goldendoodle or are considering it as your next pet. Here is a shortlist of common diseases that Goldendoodles tend to get.

Allergies

Like most dogs, Goldendoodles can have allergies. There are three types of allergies that they can get: 

• Food allergies caused by consuming certain foods.
• Contact allergies caused by a reaction to topical substances like dog shampoos, flea powder, and other foreign chemicals.
• Inhalant allergies caused by airborne allergens such as dust, dirt, mildew, and pollen.

Ear Infections

Just like a Poodle, Goldendoodles tend to have floppy ears, which traps moisture that can lead to ear infections. To prevent this, make sure to clean your Goldendoodle’s ears regularly.

Elbow Dysplasia

This inherent and degenerative condition is caused by abdominal growth and development that results in weak and deformed joints. Elbow Dysplasia varies in level of severity. The Goldendoodle could either become lame or develop arthritis.

Treatment will involve surgery to fix the deformed joints and strengthen the dog’s overall bone structure. Follow-up treatments include anti-inflammatory medication, medical and weight management.

Bloating

This disease is also called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, which is a life-threatening disease that affects large-chested dogs. It’s when gases are trapped inside the dog’s stomach.

This condition can also be triggered if you feed your Goldendoodle one large meal a day instead of separating it into two to three meal times. Drinking too much water can also cause bloating. 

When suffering from the condition, the Goldendoodle cannot vomit or belch to eliminate the excess air in their stomach. As a result, the normal return of blood to the heart is blocked.

Without immediate medical attention, the Goldendoodle will go into a shock and die within a couple of hours. That’s why you need to know the symptoms to determine if your dog is bloating.

Some essential indications include excessive salivation and showing a distended abdomen. Your dog may also appear restless, weak, and depressed, to go along with a rapid heart rate.

Once you’ve confirmed these symptoms, take your dog to the vet right away for immediate medication. 

Hip dysplasia

Similar to Elbow Dysplasia, this condition is also inherent and degenerative. However, it can also be triggered by malnutrition. Hip Dysplasia involves the thighbones not fitting perfectly into the hip joint. Some Goldendoodles display lameness and pain on either one or both rear legs.

On the other hand, others don’t show any outward signs of discomfort. To diagnose the problem, you will need to bring your dog to the vet for x-ray screening.

If untreated, your Goldendoodle will develop arthritis as he ages. So make sure you treat the condition as soon as your dog is diagnosed with it. Again, hip dysplasia is inherent. Before you buy a Goldendoodle puppy, ask the breeder for proof that the parents are free of the condition.

Hypothyroidism

This disorder involves your dog’s thyroid glands. As humans, it’s the disease responsible for conditions such as epilepsy, obesity, hair loss, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma, lethargy, and several other skin conditions.

Fortunately, it can be treated easily with the right diet and medication.

Patellar Luxation

This disease is common among small to medium-sized dogs. It happens when the knee joint slides out of place, causing severe pain. This disease has crippled a lot of dogs. However, many have also lived normal lives despite having this condition.

Are Goldendoodles Family Dogs?

As mentioned earlier, Goldendoodles love to be around people while also getting along with other pets. Their patience, gentleness, and loyalty make them excellent family dogs.

Goldendoodles are also too friendly to be made as guard dogs. They tend to befriend strangers rather than harm them. 

Goldendoodles are also highly sociable dogs that need to be in a group setting. They will not do well on their own for long periods as it causes them to develop anxiety and depression.

Due to their friendliness, Goldendoodles are also great around children. They can also become friends with cats, other dog breeds, and different types of pets that you may have at home.

People who prefer peace and quiet will love them as they don’t bark as often as other breeds. Goldendoodles are quiet and calm; however, they can also get playful if you want to play with them.

Care

Goldendoodles are very trainable. Their intelligence gives them leverage over other dogs as they can acquire skills pretty easily. 

These dogs are also very eager to please their trainers. However, they need to be trained with positive reinforcement as harsh criticisms can affect their confidence.

Goldendoodles tend to be pretty shy and timid at a young age. But with regular training and socialization, they can develop into the friendliest pet that everyone will love.

While they are energetic for their size, Goldendoodles only possess average energy levels. That means they get tired very quickly.

Fortunately, that can be improved with daily exercise through walking and running. 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day will be enough to keep your Goldendoodle from growing up lazy and reserved.

Goldendoodles also love water – a trait which they took from their golden retriever parent. That also means swimming is another viable exercise option for this dog.

Goldendoodles are active and playful, which means they need some room to move around. That means they’re not ideal pets if you’re living in cramped-up places like an apartment.

Goldendoodles love being around other pets or people. That’s why you need to take them for walks or let them run around in your yard with your kids.

If left for longer periods, Goldendoodles can also become destructive. They tend to suffer from separation anxiety, so always make sure that you don’t leave them alone on their own.

Grooming

Depending on which dominant genes they pick up, Goldendoodles could have a straight or curly coat type. However, there are also times when they pick up both genes, making their coat thick and wavy.

The variety that Goldendoodles have with their coat implies that there is no one way to groom them. Some have easy-to-maintain coats, while others need some more attention like daily brushing and weekly bathing.

Having a Goldendoodle requires regular appointments at the veterinary clinic. Your vet can help identify your Goldendoodle’s fur and give the best advice for grooming and care.

Feeding

Since Goldendoodles are medium-sized dogs, they require no more than one to four cups of high-quality dry food a day. This amount should also be divided into multiple meals throughout the day.

How much your Goldendoodle eats will depend on his age, size, build, activity level, and metabolism. Like people, dogs don’t need the same amount of food.

The type and quality of dog food your purchase will also play an important factor in your dog’s diet and eating habits. Essentially, the better the dog food, the more effective it will be at nourishing your dog.

For a balanced nutrition, you can try the Pedigree Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food from Amazon.

To keep your Goldendoodle in great shape, measure his food and feed him at least twice a day. Avoid leaving food out all the time as it will let your Goldendoodle overeat, which results in them getting overweight.

Here are some of the things that you can do if you want to know if your dog is overweight or not:

• Give him an eye and hands-on test. You can consult a vet if you are not that sure about this.
• Visually check your Goldendoodle and pay attention to their waist.
• Place your hands on the dog’s back and position your thumbs directly on the spine. Then, spread your fingers downward. Doing so enables you to feel your dog’s ribs gently. There’s a good chance that the dog is overweight if you don’t feel the ribs.

Tendencies

While they may have a pretty reserved nature, Goldendoodles are playful and full of energy. They love to exercise and move around, making them great for family activities like picnics and strolls at the park.

Goldendoodles are agile and active. They love going on runs, hikes, and long walks with their owners. 

If you have an active lifestyle and love to have a companion with you on your treks, consider the Goldendoodle an ideal pet.

Goldendoodles also love lying around the sofa on a lazy day. This makes them ideal for cuddling. 

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I hope you enjoyed this post: “Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs? [The Real Truth]”

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Thanks for reading! You can get many more tips and tricks for your Goldendoodle here.