The History and Origin of Goldendoodle Dogs

Goldendoodles are kind, affectionate, athletic, and intelligent dogs that make great working dogs or pets. What should people know about Goldendoodle history? 

I adopted a few Goldendoodle puppies many years ago and they turned out to be great dogs. I recommend the breed. 

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Goldendoodle History

Goldendoodles were created in part to make an alternative to the Golden Retriever that is better for people with allergies. The poodle has a coat that doesn’t shed, making it relatively hypoallergenic. 

The Labradoodle (half Labrador Retriever and half Poodle) appeared before the Goldendoodle and inspired its creation. Labradoodles were reasonably similar to Labradors, but with non-shedding coats. 

Goldendoodle Traits

Goldendoodles vary a lot in size because their parent breeds do. Not all poodles are very small. Goldendoodles are athletic, loyal, and intelligent. 

They are often used as pets, plus as service dogs in occupations other than helping the blind. Being relatively safe for people with allergies improves their popularity further. 

Increasing Popularity in the 1990s

While there were some Goldendoodles in the 1960s, not a lot of breeders had them for another few decades. Monica Dickens deliberately created a Goldendoodle in 1969, and Ryan Harvey made the breed more popular in the 1990s. 

Amy Lane, who created a litter of Goldendoodles in 2002, set up the Goldendoodle Association of North America. This is still the only kennel club for Goldendoodles. 

It is a non-profit organization that aims to look after and improve the breed. The Goldendoodle Association also has a registration service to keep track of Goldendoodle lineages. 

Types of Goldendoodles

There are three main types of Goldendoodles – Standard Goldendoodles, Medium Goldendoodles, and Mini Goldendoodles. The type depends on the parent dog’s genes.

The size and weight are quite different:

• Standard Goldendoodles: 20 to 24 inches high, 51 to 80 pounds
• Medium: 17 to 20 inches high, 36 to 50 pounds
• Mini: Under 20 inches, 15 to 35 pounds

Type of Goldendoodle	Height	Weight
Standard	20 to 24 inches	51 to 80 pounds
Medium	17 to 20 inches	36 to 50 pounds
Mini	Under 20 inches	15 to 35 pounds

About Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers were created originally for bird hunters. When a hunter shoots a bird, it can be hard for them to find where the bird fell.

Golden Retrievers go out and get the bird without biting it too hard and damaging it. They are still used as hunting dogs, plus pets and other working dogs. 

Golden Retriever Genes

Golden Retriever genes make the Goldendoodle intelligent, devoted, and friendly. Golden Retrievers are medium-sized and not vastly larger than bigger poodles. 

What Are Companion Dogs?

Companion dogs are pets, as opposed to working dogs. They provide companionship for humans instead of taking on other roles. 

Goldendoodles and Allergies

Thankfully, Goldendoodles are often fine for allergy sufferers. They do not shed hair the way Golden Retrievers do, which makes them reasonably safe. 

However, there are no completely hypoallergenic dogs. If someone you live with has an allergy to dog hair, they might have allergic reactions to your Goldendoodle. 

Some Goldendoodles are less allergenic than others. It depends on what genes the Goldendoodle inherits. At best, a Goldendoodle can be fine even for people that are allergic to dogs that don’t shed hair. 

Food for Goldendoodles

Responsible pet owners always make sure their pet dogs, service dogs, or therapy dogs eat a good diet. For Goldendoodles, dry kibble is fine as long as it’s high in protein and high in fat. 

Dry kibble can be better than wet dog food because it removes plaque from the teeth and maintains the dog’s dental health. You can also feed them vitamins for increased health benefits. 

Goldendoodle Training and Activity

Goldendoodles respond well to positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement involves giving a dog rewards when it behaves the right way. You can teach your dog commands like sit, lie down, or follow me immediately rewarding the dog for obeying the command. 

Goldendoodles also need a lot of physical activity. They need to go on long walks and should have a fenced yard to walk around in daily. 

Play games with your dog and spend time outside with them. A short walk a few times a day won’t be enough physical activity. 

Goldendoodles and Inherited Diseases

Goldendoodles sometimes inherit health problems that shorten their lives or reduce their quality of life. While well-bred Goldendoodles often avoid these problems, there are no guarantees. 

The best you can do is look for a dog from a responsible breeder. Responsible Goldendoodle breeders will not breed poodles and golden retrievers that have health problems. Find out a bit about the breeder’s reputation first. 

Most Goldendoodles are healthy, but some of them have hip dysplasia, ear infections, and many other problems. The breeder should do health testing on the two Goldendoodles before they breed them and on the puppies before they sell them. They are not really an unhealthy breed – I bought three puppies long ago, and the Goldendoodles grew up to be very healthy dogs. 

Goldendoodles as Service Dogs

Goldendoodles are a social breed, and they are intelligent and loyal enough to serve as search and rescue dogs. The royal guide dog association helped create the breed in the 1980s as hypoallergenic guide dogs. 

Labrador Retriever and Poodle Mixes

Labradoodles are a mix of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. The two are similar in many ways and make good pets and good service dogs. Some differences include:

• Labradoodles live slightly longer (12 to 15 years instead of 10 to 15)
• While Labradoodles have curly coats, Goldendoodles can have straight, flat, or wavy coats. 
• Labradoodles have a wider range of coat colors.
• Both dogs vary a lot in size, with the larger Goldendoodles weighing about 90 pounds, compared to 60 pounds for Labradoodles.

Both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are high-energy, so they need enough playtime or else they will get restless, bark, and behave badly. An Australian Labradoodle may be a better alternative if you want a somewhat less active dog. 

About the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers were also hunting dogs. They have other roles today, including search and rescue. 

Neither Breed Make Good Guard Dogs

Neither Goldendoodles nor Labradoodles make good guard dogs. They are too friendly and affectionate. They might assume that a burglar is a friendly person and not even bark at them. 

What Are Australian Labradoodles?

Australian Labradoodles are a mix of several different breeds. They are a mix of six different dogs:

• Labrador
• Poodle
• American Cocker Spaniel
• English Cocker Spaniel
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Curly Coat Retriever

Australian Labradoodles are calmer than regular Labradoodles. If you don’t have time to give your Labradoodle or Goldendoodle a lot of physical activity, an Australian Labradoodle is better. They still need some activity, but not as much as a Labradoodle. 

What is a Bernese Mountain Dog?

Bernese Mountain dogs are large, strong, and bred for hard work. They weigh 80-115 pounds for males and 70-95 pounds for females. They are not related to Goldendoodles. 

However, there is such a thing as a Golden Mountain Doodle, which is a mix of a Goldendoodle and a Bernedoodle (a mix of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Goldendoodle). These dogs are often healthier than their parent’s breeds, as long as you breed the right dogs. 

Are Goldendoodles Expensive Dogs?

A Goldendoodle puppy often costs $2500 or $5000, but you can sometimes get one for $500. Designer breeds including the standard Goldendoodle are more expensive than other dogs. 

If you are lucky, you might find someone giving a Goldendoodle away for free. However, it usually costs more than a little money to buy and take care of a dog.

The cheapest way to afford a Goldendoodle is to go to your local animal shelter. You might not be able to find the breed you want, and they might not be healthy, but you can sometimes get a Goldendoodle for free this way. 

What Does a Miniature Goldendoodle Cost?

Miniature Goldendoodles can be even more expensive. Some sell for as much as $10,000, others cost about $1500. Possibly, you could find a cheaper miniature Goldendoodle if you look around, but it might not be easy. 

Miniature Goldendoodles are harder to breed, so they cost more. The average price might be around $2900, compared to $1500 for a standard Goldendoodle. 

How Much Genetic Diversity is There in the Breed?

Goldendoodles are a hybrid breed, which gives them more genetic diversity than purebred Golden Retrievers or their purebred Poodle parents. Hybrid dogs that come from two unrelated breeds are often healthier. 

Key Takeaways

• Goldendoodles are a Golden Retriever/Poodle mix.
• They were created in the 1960s-1990s and used as guide dogs. 
• Irresponsible breeders will breed unhealthy Poodles and Golden Retrievers.
• Goldendoodles are social dogs and need physical activity.