Are Goldendoodles Good with Kids?

Goldendoodles are increasingly popular, but is this breed developed to be service dogs a good option for children? From coat types to separation anxiety, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Goldendoodles as family pets so you can decide whether a Goldendoodle puppy should be in your future.

Concerned about shedding? Wondering whether purebred have a more predictable temperament as a companion for your kids than this hybrid? Here’s what you need to know.

• Goldendoodles are a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle and are popular designer dog breeds.
• Goldendoodles are great pets for kids and families, and they have a wonderful hypoallergenic quality.
• Goldendoodles are active, friendly, playful, energetic, and loyal, making them a great breed to have around kids.
• Goldendoodles come in different sizes and colors, ranging from 40 to 80 pounds, making them a suitable breed for small or large living spaces.
• Goldendoodles do not shed or shed very little, making them hypoallergenic and great for kids with allergies.
• Goldendoodles are easy to train and have wonderful traits that make them great service animals, such as leading the blind and alerting people when their owner is in trouble.
• Miniature Goldendoodles are suitable for small kids as they are robust enough not to hurt them accidentally, while larger dogs can support small kids when walking.

Not only are these dogs very energetic and great with kids, but they also have many other wonderful qualities that make these excellent family dogs.

What is a Goldendoodle?

A Goldendoodle is a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle.  This has become a very popular designer dog breed that many people have grown to love and enjoy. 

This dog breed was first invented in the early 1990s and has grown in popularity ever since.  This dog was bred to have the wonderful hypoallergenic quality of the poodle with the great temperament of the golden retriever. 

The great genes that have been introduced with this crossbreeding have made these wonderful dogs for many different uses.  Goldendoodles have been pets, agility dogs, seeing-eye dogs, therapy dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

What Qualities Does a Dog Need to Have to be Great with Kids?

When looking for a dog to have around kids, you will want one with these wonderful qualities

• Active
• Friendly
• Playful
• Energetic
• Loyal

All of these are qualities that you will find in a Goldendoodle, making this one of the best breeds to get for your kids.

Benefits of Having a Golden Doodle with Your Kids

Goldendoodles Come in Different Sizes and Colors

Goldendoodles come in many different sizes.  Since poodles come in different sizes, so do Goldendoodles.  If a miniature poodle were bred with a golden retriever, you would have a very cute and small dog.  Since poodles come in just about every color, cream, apricot, red, or even black Goldendoodles are available.

A Miniature Goldendoodle is perfect for kids because they’re big enough to be robust but not so big as to accidentally hurt the kids. This is a huge advantage over a larger breed like a labradoodle.

This is great if you are living in an apartment and do not have space for a large dog.  Goldendoodles can range in weight from 40 pounds to 80 pounds. 

If you have small kids, it may be better to have a larger dog.  Large dogs can help small kids who are not always steady on their feet with support when walking. 

Many of these large dog’s kids will use to pull up on and help steady themselves before taking off walking.  Larger Goldendoodles are not as fragile as the smaller version of this breed.

If you have older kids, any size Goldendoodle will be great.  Smaller dogs can easily cuddle on the couch, where larger dogs will want to run and play more.  The size of the dog you get will all depend on what your needs are. 

Small dogs are great for apartments or small houses where a larger dog will love the room of a large back yard or even farmland.  Small dogs can easily get stepped on or accidentally dropped cause major medical problems such as a broken leg or dislocated hip.

Goldendoodles Have a Low-shed/No-Shed Coat

Goldendoodles do not shed or shed just a little.  This makes this breed of dog great for kids who suffer from allergies. Most allergies to dogs are to the dander that they could shed around the house.  Since this dog does not shed or rarely sheds, you will not have to worry about all the extra pet hair.

Goldendoodles are considered hypoallergenic dogs because they shed less than other breeds and produce less dander. However, Goldendoodles do shed to some extent depending on the generation of the puppy you buy and its coat type.

As with any breed, Goldendoodle shedding can trigger allergies because of a protein often found in dog secretions such as their saliva and oils found in the skin. However, those with low shedding don’t trigger a reaction in most kids if they’re groomed properly.

Goldendoodles are Energetic, Smart, and Easy to Train

Poodles and Golden Retrievers are very smart and very easy to train.  This makes the Goldendoodle a very easy dog to train.  They love to do tricks and please their owners. 

These dogs love to run agility courses or participate in other training events.  This is a great activity for your pup and kids to do together.  Many kids love teaching their dogs a trick.  These dogs can easily learn a fun new trick that your kids can show off to their friends when they are over visiting.

Goldendoodles have wonderful traits that make the great to be a service animal.  These dogs are very easy to train to do certain tasks such as leading the blind, opening doors, and alerting people that their owner is in trouble.  This breed is growing in popularity as a service animal.  A Goldendoodle would be a great breed to consider to be a service animal for kids.

Goldendoodles are very active dogs.  These dogs love going for a jog, playing catch, or swimming in the pool.  This makes them a great family dog to keep up with the kid’s many activities.

Very Social

Goldendoodles are very social and love to be around people.  This makes them a great family dog.  They are very easy-going temperament makes meeting new people with your dog easy. 

These dogs are not aggressive towards non-family members, which is a great trait to look for in a dog around kids.  Having a Goldendoodle for your kids to grow up with is a built-in best friend.  Most kids love snuggling on the couch, watching TV with the dog.  This gives them a friend to help keep them entertained during the day.  

The Disadvantage of Having a Goldendoodle With Kids

1. Grooming Appointments: Goldendoodles will need frequent haircuts. This means that you will have to take them to a groomer or learn to groom your dog at home.  While this is not that big of a disadvantage, this is something else that you will have to schedule in with your kid’s already busy schedules. You’ll have to get used to brushing as a daily part of your routine.

• Medical Problems: All dogs will need a visit to the vet for routine vaccines. Goldendoodles are predisposed to certain medical problems.  Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer and heart problems, while Standard Poodles are known for Addison’s disease and Willebrand’s disease.  Both of these breeds can carry these traits over to their offspring. 
• Smart. Having a smart dog can be a great thing for kids because they can learn tricks and commands more easily, which means kids are less likely to get frustrated. However, it’s important to keep in mind that smart dogs can also get bored easily and may become destructive or nippy if they don’t have enough stimulation. Having a smart dog is like two kids – they’re always into something and will get into trouble if they’re bored.

How to Have a Happy Family Home With Kids and Goldendoodle

Care and maintenance for a Goldendoodle can take a little work.  Most of these tasks are great for you to assign your older kids.  This not only teaches them how to care for the dog but also helps them bond with their dog.

Make Grooming a Daily Activity for Kids

Goldendoodle’s fur can greatly vary.  If your Goldendoodle takes after the poodle, they will have tight curls. 

If their hair is more like their golden retriever parent, then they will have shaggy straight hair.  They can even have a mixture of the two furs and be wavier.  This wavy fur is the most common type of hair seen on the Goldendoodle.

Poodles come in almost any color, even a mixture of colors.  This allows you to have a Goldendoodle in almost any fur color.  The different fur color and fur types give you endless possibilities on the look of your puppy.

Even though your Goldendoodle will not shed a lot, they still need to be brushed to remove loose hair and keep them from becoming matted.  To keep their fur clean, they will also need regular baths. 

Kids can help with daily brushing and eye cleaning. They can also bathe your Goldendoodle and help file their nails and brush their teeth.

Goldendoodle’s also need their hair cut to keep it from growing over their eyes.  This is best left to a parent or professional.

Exercise for Doodles is Fun for Kids

Goldendoodles need to be taken for exercise each day.  They have very high energy levels and love to go on long walks, for a run, a hike in the woods, or for a swim at the beach.  This also makes these a great dog to have with your kids’ high energy levels. 

These dogs will spend all day running and playing fetch with the kids and have the energy level to keep up with all kids.  You should plan to at least spend about 30 minutes each day exercising your Goldendoodle.  This is a great task to assign your older kids to do each day.  

If you live in a house, it is best to have a fenced-in yard for your Goldendoodles to run around in. However, you should also take them in the house and on outings for proper socialization.  They should not be left in the backyard all day as they love to spend time with the family. 

Your Goldendoodle should spend a lot of its time inside with the family as they are very social animals.  

Teach Your Child to be Confident by Socializing Your Doodle

Goldendoodles are very social and love to meet new people.  They do great when introducing them to your kids’ friends and family. With their floppy ears, sweet eyes, and adorable demeanor, people tend to love meeting them too.

These would never make a great guard dog but will alert you when something does not seem right in their environment.  These would make a great kid-friendly pet to have.  

You will need to make sure that you include your Goldendoodle in family events as they love to be the center of attention and always around their family. This is a great way for your children to learn how to appropriately interact with strangers, and make friends with other kids too.

Teach Your Kid to Train Your Doodle

Goldendoodles will need regular training for them to behave properly.  They are very obedient, athletic, and smart making training a breeze for this breed. Most Goldendoodles are very eager to please their owners.  They are also very agile, which makes them great for agility training or other dog competitions.

However, they can be too crazy for small children if not well-trained, so training is not optional with these highly intelligent dogs. Make sure your kids spend time every day training your doodle.

Agility courses are a great way for kids to bond with your Goldendoodle and a way for them to burn energy.  This is a great activity that your kids and Goldendoodle can participate in and build confidence together.  This helps create a strong bond between your kid and your Goldendoodle.

These dogs are not hard to train since Goldendoodles are very intelligent. Goldendoodles are very motivated and will do anything for a tasty treat. 

When training your dog, let your kids help when teaching your dog basic commands. This is a way that you can show them the proper way to train their dog and things not to do.

How to Teach Your Kids About Dogs

Younger kids or kids that have never been around a dog will need to be taught how to take care of their pet.  Kids need to learn:

• Do not yell at the dog: Dogs cannot fully understand what people are telling them. 
• Do not take the dog’s toys or food:   Many dogs can become possessive of their food and toy and may quickly become annoyed with your kid.  This could eventually lead to your dog biting your kid. 
• Do not play rough: Kids need to learn to play gently with dogs.  You will need to teach your dog how to handle and pet your Goldendoodle gently.
• Feed and water: you will need to show your kid how much to feed your Goldendoodle each day and to make sure that it has clean and fresh water. This is a great task to assign one of your kids to do each day.

Goldendoodles are usually very gentle with kids, but teaching your kids how to interact with the Goldendoodle will help make sure that no one gets hurt.

Final Thoughts

When looking for a dog for your kids, a Goldendoodle is a great choice.  This breed of dog is usually very healthy and does great with kids. 

Since they come in many different fur types and colors, you can find almost any color dog you want.  There are very little health problems that you must worry about. 

These dogs are very high energy and love to be around people, making this a great choice for a pet for your kids.

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