Charlotte Foster
The Goldendoodle breed is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle and is a designer breed. This is due to the fact that the size of dogs can be both large (reaching 20 kg) and small (decorative, not exceeding 3 kg). A dog of this breed is distinguished by high contact and friendliness, its devotion to its owners knows no boundaries, and its patience with small children and other animals gives the breed a special quality – a nurse-dog. But the breed also has some disadvantages: a tendency to certain diseases, indiscipline, the manifestation of which can be minimized by the presence of active games, lessons in training, and obedience.
Brief Information
- Origin: United States of America (USA)
- Life span: 10-15 years
- Group: companion dogs, decorative dogs
- Temperament: active, friendly
- Size: small, medium, standard
- Height: 35 to 65 cm
- Weight: 11 to 34 kg
- Coat: shaggy with curls or shaggy and wavy
- Coat color: solid white, cream, golden, red, copper, brown, black
History of the Breed
The emergence of Goldendoodles was the intention of breeders to breed such a breed, the coat of which would not cause allergies, and the predisposition to genetic abnormalities and shedding would be minimized.
The first generation of the breed was bred in 1990 as a result of mating a Poodle and a Golden Retriever, and the name was borrowed from the Labradoodle breed. To the general regret of the breeders, as a result of such mating, only one of the “parents” prevailed, and the description and characteristics of puppies from the same litter did not match. Subsequent experiments by breeders have revealed the fact that the qualities of puppies born as a result of crossing Goldendoodles with Golden Retrievers or Poodles have better qualities than puppies obtained in the first generation.
As a result of incessant experiments, in 2002, a new miniature species of this breed was bred, obtained as a result of mating the Golden Retriever with the Toy Poodle. But at the moment this breed has not won the status of a “pocket dog”. Also, despite all the efforts of the breeders, this breed is not recognized by kennel clubs today, but the “Goldendoodle Association” founded in North America contributes to its standardization.
Personality
The temperament borrowed from the Golden Retrievers characterizes Goldendoodle as a companion dog, as indicated by her playful, kind, and inquisitive nature. Activity and sociability make this breed a central element in the home. This is evidenced by her desire for communication and attention.
Unfortunately, Goldendoodle’s good-naturedness, as in the case of Golden Retrievers, negatively affected the quality of the guard, making them unimportant “home defenders”. The patience of this breed knows no boundaries, therefore, in families with small children, it is a nanny dog whose kindness will not allow to harm the child. This same quality allows her to coexist peacefully with other pets at home.
The peculiarity of this breed can be considered the expression of “smile” on the face borrowed from the Golden Retrievers. Goldendoodle’s intellect is quite developed, but it requires constant “training”. Active training at a young age and playful “training” for obedience throughout life endow the dog with intelligence and dexterity.
Conditions of Detention
The conditions of keeping for pets of the Goldendoodle breed do not play a big role. But, it is worth considering that the activity and energy of dogs can bring undesirable consequences, such as damaged wallpaper, furniture, interior items, and personal belongings of household members if this energy is not directed in the right direction. Living in a small apartment, the pet must be given enough time for walking and active games outside the home.
As for decorative size dogs, the conditions of a small apartment are quite suitable, but the need for a walk remains at the same level as for standard size breeds. For large dogs, the best option for a living is a house with the possibility of free walking.
Physical Activity
Goldendoodles have a high need for physical activity, so this breed of dog requires more time for walking. The minimum allowable amount of time for such dogs to walk is 2 hours a day, 1 hour in the morning and evening. There is no such need for dogs living in large houses with the possibility of free walking, but frequent walking long distances will have a beneficial effect on the physical condition of the pet.
Goldendoodle, like their ancestors, the Golden Retrievers, is genetically prone to weight gain, so high physical activity will help maintain body weight at an optimal level.
Care
The main care of a pet consists of a set of measures aimed at maintaining a neat, well-groomed appearance and health of the pet.
Goldendoodle’s coat is shaggy with curls. Like the Golden Retriever, this breed has no undercoat, which is reflected in the absence of such a phenomenon as shedding. Despite this, the need for constant combing remains. It is necessary to accustom the puppy to this unpleasant procedure as early as possible, and it is necessary to comb it 2-3 times a week using a comb with rare teeth.
High activity of dogs involves getting dust and dirt in the ears, so ear cleaning should be done at least once every 2 weeks. Cleaning is carried out with a cotton swab dipped in vegetable oil. If the financial situation allows, then cleaning can be done using special solutions designed for these purposes.
Goldendoodle’s eyes also need constant care. Thick hair on the face is prone to accumulation of dust and dirt on it, and getting into the eyes of the growing hair contributes to inflammation of the conjunctiva. Playing outdoors with your pet also exposes your dog’s eyes to external influences, so weekly cleansing of the eye area is important. You can clean the eyeball with a piece of gauze or a cotton pad dipped in boiled water, tea leaves, or a special solution purchased from a veterinary pharmacy. All movements should be light and careful from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner.
In order not to encounter diseases of the pet’s oral cavity, the dog’s teeth must be periodically (at least once a week) cleaned of food debris. An ordinary soft toothbrush is suitable for this procedure, and it is better to use a special “for dogs” toothpaste as a toothpaste. Initially, your pet may resist the brushing process, but, getting used to it over time, will allow you to brush better.
Bathing
It is important to maintain balance and moderation in keeping your pet neat. A dog, like an animal, does not need constant cleanliness and bathing. The desire to see a dog clean is a need for aesthetic pleasure for humans. The best option for taking “bath” procedures is once a quarter, but for overly clean owners, bathing a pet should not be done more often than once a month. The fact is that tap water decreases the dog’s skin, and the use of cosmetics unnecessarily dries out the skin, making it more susceptible to weather conditions. An excellent substitute for the standard bathing procedure is the use of special “dry” shampoos. The choice of such care products is large, there are also budget options in price categories.
Feeding
The development and condition of the body of a dog of any breed depend entirely on the diet consumed. As for Goldendoodle, there is no special menu for them. It is important in the desire to feed the dog to adhere to reasonable limits, not overfeeding, but also not leaving the dog hungry. The choice of the type of feeding depends on the preference of the owner and can be natural or using specialized “dry” dog foods. With natural feeding, it is important to consider a balanced menu to ensure that the body receives the necessary nutrients and vitamins. With “dry” feeding, this issue is irrelevant, since each pack of such food contains all the substances necessary for the body in the right amount. The amount of a portion of food depends on the size of the dog and is 60-450 g per day, divided into 2 daily meals. The dog should have clean water available at all times.
Training
This breed of dog requires constant training and obedience lessons, so walking and active games should include elements of training. By persuading the dog to perform commands or certain “tasks” in games, the tone of the nervous system is maintained, which increases intelligence and quick wits. Such a pet has good character and obedience.
Health 
One of the reasons for the breeding of the breed was the desire to reduce the risks of genetic abnormalities, so the Goldendoodle breed is distinguished by better health, in contrast to its “ancestors”. Typical diseases of the breed include:
- dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints;
- dry skin;
- diseases of the eyes and ears;
- a manifestation of food allergies.