Golden doodle or Groodle is a cross-bred dog obtained by breeding a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. This breed has many other names such as a Golden Poo or Goldie Poo. Primarily bred to be family pets, the Golden Poos make great service dogs as well. They are highly intelligent, friendly and people-oriented.
Golden Doodle Dog Breed Overview
| Group: | Hybrid |
| Size: | Medium (30-44 pounds) |
| Lifespan: | 10-14 years |
| Best Suited For: | Families |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, Energetic, Friendly |
| Exercise Needs: | Moderate |
| Drooling Potential: | Low |
| Grooming Needs: | Low |
| Similar Breeds: | Labradoodle, Poodle, Cockapoo |
1. Basic Features
The Golden doodles may have straight or straight wavy hair. They may also have tightly coiled curls similar to a Poodle. Thanks to their Poodle parents, they generally have a low shedding coat. The common colors are white, cream, apricot, gold, red or gray and black.
The Golden doodles are known for their soulful, mischievous-looking eyes. They are adorable looking and very endearing.
2. Golden Doodle Origin
The origin of this breed is said to be done in 1969. However, the breed became highly popular in the 90s. They were first developed as guide dogs for the visually impaired. Since their coats do not shed they are considered to be hypoallergenic and thus were suitable for people with allergies.
Soon after, the dog was given the name of a designer dog. The dog was mostly admired for its low shedding coat inherited from the poodle and the temperament of a Golden Retriever.
3. The Personality of Golden Doodle
Golden Doodles are known to be great with people. This is a breed which is called friends of everyone due to their friendly behavior. This makes them an ideal choice for families.
They are excellent companions for disabled people due to their outgoing and trustworthy personality. However, a Golden Doodle is not much of a guard dog.
The dog is not shy and loves making new friends. It is important to start his training as soon as you get him home.
4. Golden Doodle Behavior
Golden Doodles are cheerful, gentle and very affectionate. They have a keen desire to please and are thus highly trainable. On proper socialization, the breed does well with children and other companions.
These dogs need to be around people and don’t do particularly well when not given enough time and attention. They may even develop behavioral problems when left alone for longer periods of time.
However, the behavior may vary on several factors like its parents, socialization, and genes.
5. Exercise Requirements
As both Golden Retrievers and Poodles are water dogs, Golden Doodles love swimming. They love water and it is a great idea to take them for a swim often.
Golden Doodles require a good amount of exercise. They may not do very well in an apartment living as they require good room for running around.
They love playing games. Golden doodles will play all kinds of sports such as flyball, hide-and-seek, etc. These kinds of activities along with plenty of exercises will keep a Golden doodle happy and healthy.
6. Diet Needs
Golden doodles may gain weight as they grow older. So it is very important to Monter the amount of food they are consuming.
1-4 cups of dry food per day are the recommended amount. This, of course, should be split into several meals.
The amount of food to be fed also depends on their general built, metabolism, their activity level, age, and their current weight. They are also at risk of having bloat so a large amount of food should not be fed at a time. A check should be kept that your golden doodle does not drink plenty of water right after meals. Any physical activity just after the meals should also be restricted to avoid bloating.
7. Trainability
Golden Doodles are easy to train as they are very intelligent. They are willing to learn new tricks and impress their owners. Training should begin at the puppy stage itself. Harsh training methods should be avoided as they aren’t very helpful with Golden Doodles.
Socialization should be a part of their training since puppyhood. They must be exposed to different places and circumstances. Training your puppy to be around various people will help him become more well-behaved and a well-rounded dog.
8. Common Health Problems
The Golden doodle is fairly a healthy breed. However, like all dog breeds, they too may have some genetic health conditions.
Hip dysplasia is the most common of them all. Since both Poodles and Golden Retrievers are susceptible to this condition, the Golden doodle is at a risk. Just like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is also a common condition in golden doodles. The Golden Doodle may also develop certain eye conditions. Groodles may develop ear and yeast infections from swimming. General skin disorders like dryness, roughness, and scaling are very common.
A poor lifestyle can also lead to hypothyroidism in these dogs. It is a serious condition since it can trigger various other conditions like epilepsy, hair loss, and obesity. Golden doodles love their humans and suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long hours.
9. Who should adopt a Golden Doodle?
A Golden Doodle is for people who have plenty of time to spend with their dogs. It is not for people who are away for long hours and are traveling most of the time.
He is not recommended for an apartment living since he requires room to move and plenty of exercises. Golden doodles thrive well in homes with fenced yards. Though he may grow large, a golden doodle likes living with the family and is not meant to live outside.
Thus, a Golden Doodle is a great choice for people who are looking for a loving dog they can spend time with.
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