12 Incredible & Fun Facts About Goldendoodles
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The Goldendoodle is a designer dog breed that combines the Golden Retriever with the Poodle. It has the obedience and friendliness of the Retriever coupled with the intelligence of the Poodle, as well as its more hypoallergenic coat. Although initially developed to work as a service dog or guide dog, the breed makes an excellent family pet that will get along with all human members and will usually integrate well with other dogs and even cats in the house.
Below, you can find 12 incredible facts about this hybrid breed that might help determine whether it is the right choice of dog for you or just give you a little more information about Goldendoodles.
The 12 Goldendoodle Facts
1. They Became Popular in the 1990s
The hybrid Goldendoodle is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Accidental mating may well have produced these dogs over time, and it is believed that they were bred in the 1960s. However, they became popular in the 1990s after Australian, Wally Conron, crossed the two breeds to create a guide dog that would be suitable for a handler whose partner was allergic to dogs.
Having initially tried Poodles, for their low-shedding coats, Conron determined that the Poodle breed was not obedient enough despite being very intelligent. So, he crossed the Poodle with a Golden Retriever, and the modern Goldendoodle was born.
2. Barack Obama Nearly Got One
While they first saw success as guide dogs, especially thanks to their Golden Retriever heritage, the breed soon became popular with pet owners and families. The likes of Jennifer Aniston and Henry Winkler have owned them, and before he was gifted a Portuguese Water Dog, Barack Obama was said to be considering getting a Goldendoodle himself.
3. They Are Better for Allergy Sufferers
The breed is sometimes said to be hypoallergenic. All dogs, no matter their breed or how heavily they shed, produce the proteins that cause allergic reactions in people, so sufferers are likely to still endure some reactions even with a Goldendoodle, but because they usually inherit the low-shedding coat of the Poodle, they can cause less of a reaction. In fact, Goldendoodle coats can come in three styles so one might have the coat of a Poodle, the coat of a Golden Retriever, or something that combines the two.
4. Goldendoodles Come in Different Sizes
Poodles come in a variety of sizes from tiny miniatures to large standards. Any of these Poodle sizes may be found in the genetics of the Goldendoodle, and depending on which size Poodle was used to create the hybrid breed, it will determine the size of the Goldendoodle. This means that whatever your dog size preference there is almost certainly a Goldendoodle to match.
5. Their Coats Are Relatively Low Maintenance
In most cases, the Goldendoodle coat is surprisingly low maintenance. Because the dog appears somewhat shaggy and because many people associate Poodles with the show cuts that take a lot of work and regular cutting, they expect Goldendoodle coats to take a lot of work, too. Your Doodle will benefit from being brushed twice a week, and many owners opt to take theirs to professional groomers for a cut or trim every few months.
6. They Were Developed as Service Dogs
The hybrid breed was initially developed as a service dog. Specifically, it was bred to be used as a guide dog by a lady whose husband was allergic to dogs. The Golden Retriever is the most common breed of dog used as a guide dog, but its beautiful long coat is prone to heavy shedding, and this can cause mayhem with allergy sufferers.
Although the Goldendoodle does not eliminate the possibility of allergic reactions, it does reduce that likelihood. The breed is still used as a service dog, as well as a therapy dog, but has also become a very popular pet dog breed.
7. Goldendoodles Are Energetic
Golden Retrievers and Poodles are known for needing plenty of exercise, so it should come as no surprise that the hybrid Goldendoodle, which combines both of these breeds, is also a high-energy dog. You will need to provide an absolute minimum of 60 minutes of exercise a day, but most experts agree that 90 minutes to 2 hours a day is beneficial for the breed. The breed benefits from more intensive forms of exercise, as well as walks.
8. They Tend to Be Sociable Dogs
The Goldendoodle is a sociable breed that does not make a good guard dog or watchdog. It is more likely to approach and love strangers than it is to bark or warn them off. The breed is good with family members of all ages, as well as strangers, and it will usually get along with other dogs and even cats.
9. Goldendoodles Love Water
Poodles and Golden Retrievers tend to love the water. Retrievers were bred to retrieve downed birds from marshes and rivers. Poodles are also excellent retrievers, and they have the coat and other physical features that enable them to dry off quickly. The hybrid of these two breeds also tends to be a water-loving dog, although this can depend on the individual dog. Some Goldendoodles will strongly dislike the water, others might take some time to get used to it.
10. They Come in a Variety of Colors
With a name like Goldendoodle, you might expect all dogs of this breed to be golden in color, but they actually come in an array of hues from gold to black. This likely stems from its Poodle ancestry, so the Doodle will come in any color of the Poodle.
11. These Designer Dogs Are Expensive for Crossbreeds
Goldendoodles are crossbred dogs and, as such, they aren’t usually as expensive as purebreds. This means that the Goldendoodle will cost less than either the Golden Retriever or the Poodle, but it is actually more expensive than most cross breeds, because of its popularity and its beneficial features and characteristics. You can pay as much as $2,000 for a Doodle with puppies typically coming in at around $1,000 each.
12. Goldendoodles Aren’t Recognized by Kennel Clubs
Because the Goldendoodle is a crossbreed and not a purebred, kennel clubs do not officially recognize the breed. For a new breed to be accepted by kennel clubs, it must usually be the fifth generation of purebred, with documented and DNA-proven lineage. The AKC and other kennel clubs may eventually recognize the Goldendoodle, but kennel Clubs do accept new breeds regularly. In 2022, the AKC formally recognized the Bracco Italiano, Mudi, and the Russian Toy breed, for example.
Conclusion
The Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed or crossbreed, but it is a very popular one that lists celebrities as well as families among its owners. It is bred from the Golden Retriever and Poodle and is commonly chosen as a pet or service dog for its hypoallergenic properties combined with the obedience of the Golden Retriever. Because of the variance in sizes of Poodles, as well as the different colors of this breed, Goldendoodles do come in various sizes and shades. And because of the variance in coats between Poodles and Golden Retrievers, there are also different coat types.
But in almost all cases, the Doodle is considered a friendly and sociable dog that is intelligent and quick to learn.
Featured Image Credit: Rena Schild, Shutterstock
