Are Goldendoodles Aggressive? Temperament & Personality Traits

Goldendoodles are very popular dogs and are a breed that is on a meteoric rise. Many people choose Goldendoodles for their friendly personalities and reputation for being kid and family-friendly. But are Goldendoodles aggressive? Few people want to get an aggressive dog breed, especially if they have young kids or hectic social life.

For people looking for a friendly dog with little signs of aggression, they will be happy to learn that Goldendoodles are not considered to be an aggressive breed. That being said, all individual dogs have the potential to be aggressive or bite in the wrong situation, and a dog’s overall temperament can be linked to its upbringing, socialization, training, and past experiences.

Here is everything you need to know about Goldendoodles and aggressive behavior, including what types of aggression are most common and an overall profile of a Goldendoodle’s typical temperament.

Goldendoodles Are Not Considered to Be Aggressive

The consensus about Goldendoodles is that they are not considered to be aggressive dogs. But that is not the whole story. While the vast majority of Goldendoodles are not aggressive, that does not mean that every Goldendoodle is friendly. Goldendoodles tend to be very warm toward other people, even strangers, but they can be aggressive toward other dogs. Even the friendliest dog breeds have the potential to include individual dogs that are abnormally aggressive or mean. That is true of Goldendoodles as well. Goldendoodles still have a chance to be skittish, aggressive, and even bite.

One of the best ways to avoid potentially aggressive behavior is to vigorously socialize your dog from a young age. A well-socialized dog is typically better adjusted and less likely to bite and act aggressively than a dog with poor socialization. Socializing a dog introduces them to a variety of different situations which helps them learn, grow, and reduce anxiety which in turn reduces the likelihood of aggressive behavior down the line. That is true for any dog and also applies to Goldendoodles, which typically take very well to socialization in general.

People Aggression vs. Dog Aggression

Very few Goldendoodles are aggressive toward people (in fact, some Goldendoodles are considered to be too friendly to strangers), but some Goldendoodles are aggressive toward other dogs. There is a difference between people aggression and dog aggression. Some dogs are aggressive towards people and fine with other dogs and vice versa. Both are a form of aggression, and some people are more sensitive to one type or another.

There are a number of Goldendoodle owners who report that their Goldendoodles are dog aggressive, meaning that they are aggressive towards other dogs. This is often a result of the Goldendoodle being protective and loyal towards their owners. Since Goldendoodles form such strong bonds with people, those bonds can make them feel protective of their owners, especially against other dogs. Despite that, hardly any Goldendoodles are ever reported as being aggressive towards people, even strangers.

Do Goldendoodles Bite?

Any dog has the potential to bite in the wrong situation. Dogs that are scared, cornered, anxious, or feeling protective can potentially bite. That is true for Goldendoodles as well. Since Goldendoodles are rarely anxious or scared around strangers, their potential to bite is typically lower than some other dogs, but that does not mean that it is zero. All dog owners should acknowledge that any dog can bite, and they should also learn their dog’s personality and tells so that they know when their dog is starting to feel edgy.

Reminder: Any Dog Can Be Aggressive

It is important to remember that any dog can be aggressive in the right (or wrong) situation. Anyone who says that their dog would “never bite anyone” is simply mistaken. Any dog can bite if the conditions are right. Those conditions, however, are different for every dog, and some dogs have a very, very high threshold for aggression. That includes Goldendoodles as well. Goldendoodles are much easier to manage and keep calm than some other breeds considered to be “more aggressive,” but even Goldendoodles can show signs of aggression in the right situation.

Conclusion

Goldendoodles are not considered to be an aggressive breed. However, that does not mean that all Goldendoodles are not aggressive or have the potential to be aggressive. If Goldendoodles show signs of aggression, it is typically aimed at other dogs rather than people. If you are worried about getting an aggressive breed, you should be pretty safe getting a Goldendoodle.

---

Featured Image Credit: Josh Fields, Pexels