Ultimate Guide To Goldendoodles
In this handy guide to Goldendoodles, we will give you an overview of what to expect when owning a Goldendoodle as a pet.
These pets have become one of the most popular dog breeds ever since the name was coined in the 1990’s for their beautiful coats and amazing temperaments. This breed is a cross between poodles and golden retrievers.
Goldendoodles have the intelligence of a poodle, and the curly coat, but also have the family-friendly temperament of a golden retriever.
They grow up to be medium-sized dogs and make adorable fluffy puppies. A variation of the Goldendoodle is also the mini Goldendoodle, a smaller sized Goldendoodle.
Goldendoodles are a pricey dog to buy from a breeder, with some puppies costing more than $2,000. You can also adopt a Goldendoodle from a shelter for as little as $200. They have an average lifespan of between 10 and 15 years.
While they are usually medium-sized dogs, mini Goldendoodles are much smaller even as adults. They are great temperaments and are designed to inherit the best features of both parents, even though there is no telling what percentage of golden retriever and poodle you will get.
One of the perks of having a Goldendoodle as a pet is that they do not shed as much as most dogs.
Although they are not 100% hypoallergenic, they are better for people with allergies than other types of dogs that shed a lot. These are just a few of the reasons why people LOVE Goldendoodles as pets.
What is a Goldendoodle?
A Goldendoodle is a crossbreed in between a poodle and a golden retriever.
Both poodles and golden retrievers are popular dogs for their own distinct features, and the goal of breeding them together is to combine their positive qualities into a dog that is beautiful, smart, and playful.
Goldendoodles make great family dogs and are a top choice for families with people with allergies because Goldendoodles are more hypoallergenic than most other dogs because they shed a lot less.
The term Goldendoodle was first coined in the 1990’s when they were officially designated as a “designer dog”, although it is possible these dogs had bred naturally before the breed rose in popularity.
What Does a Goldendoodle Look Like?
The most distinct feature of the Goldendoodle is it’s beautiful long and curly coat. This coat also sheds less than most dogs which makes them a great dog for people with allergies.
In this section of the guide to Goldendoodles, we will give you an overview of the main physical attributes of Goldendoodles. This can help you get a better idea of what to expect when you are looking to buy or adopt a Goldendoodle.
What Does a Goldendoodle Coat Look Like?
Goldendoodles have a curly or wavy coat that is usually between two and three inches long. The coat sheds a lot less than most dog breeds so they are a good choice for people with allergies.
The texture of the coat can vary between being very curly and being a light wave depending on the dog, because no two Goldendoodles are the exact same.
Goldendoodles have longer hair on their bodies and slightly shorter hair on their heads/face.
A lot of owners choose to groom the coat and trim it a little shorter than natural to make maintenance easier, but the coat of a Goldendoodle is not exceptionally hard to care for.
It does require brushing to keep it healthy and without mattes if the hair is very curly or dense.
Curly Goldendoodles
When shopping for goldendoodles you will probably see the puppies listed as being either curly or loose wavy.
The curly-coated dogs take after the poodle side of the family more and have a denser and curlier coat which is super cute and fluffy, but may be harder to care for.
Caring for a curly haired goldendoodle may be slightly more difficult than caring for a loose wavy haired goldendoodle because the dense curls require rigorous brushing to prevent matting.
Curly coat goldendoodles are typically more hypoallergenic than other coat types and shed less because they are curlier.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic
- Sheds less
Cons:
- Harder to maintain
- Prone to shedding
Loose Wavy Goldendoodles
The other kind of coat that you can expect from a goldendoodle is a loose wavy texture. A loose texture is easier to maintain because the waves can be brushed out easier than very dense curls.
Loose wavy-haired golden retrievers take after the golden retriever side more when it comes to their fur and have only a loose wave compared to Goldendoodles that take more after the poodle side for a super curly coat.
Both dogs are beautiful and majestic so which one you prefer is up to you.
Pros:
- Easier to maintain
- Sheds less than average dogs
Cons:
- May shed more than a curly-haired Goldendoodle
What Size Are Goldendoodles?
Goldendoodles can come in different sizes, small, medium, and large, just like poodles! The size of the Goldendoodle will depend on the size of the parents.
There are pros and cons to a smaller and a larger dog. Larger dogs are more protective, but a medium-sized dog may be better with kids. Here is a list of the Goldendoodle sizes.
It is awesome how the same dog breed can be both 15 pounds or 100 pounds, but that is the case with these adorable family designer dogs.
Small Goldendoodles
Small goldendoodles, otherwise known as mini goldendoodles, can weigh as little as 15 pounds or up to about 30 pounds. A small goldendoodle is produced by breeding a golden retriever with a miniature poodle.
Medium Goldendoodles
There are goldendoodles that come out as an average size at around 30 to 50 lbs. Like with the mini goldendoodles, medium goldendoodles are bred by crossing a golden retriever with smaller poodles to create a variety of different size dogs.
Large Goldendoodles
The largest goldendoodles can be very big, weighing over one hundred pounds. A large goldendoodle is a cross in between a standard poodle and a golden retriever.
Both of those dog breeds are very large, and when crossed they can create very large puppies that grow up to be large dogs. Large goldendoodles are majestic big dogs that weigh between 50 and 100 lbs.
What Colors Do Goldendoodles Come In?
Now that you have learned about what sizes goldendoodles come in and what kind of coats they have, you may also be wondering, “What colors do goldendoodles come in?”.
Goldendoodles actually come in a variety of beautiful colors in addition to the traditional golden color of a golden retriever. Here is a list of the different color coats that goldendoodles come in!
Colors of Goldendoodles Coats
- Lightest: Ultra cream
- Lighter: Champagne
- Light: Golden
- Medium: Copper
- Medium: Red
- Medium/Dark: Grey
- Dark: Black
- Multi Colored: Red and white, black and white, etc.
What is a Goldendoodles Life Expectancy?
The average life expectancy for goldendoodles is between 10 and 15 years, although understandably their owners probably wish that they could live forever.
Taking good care of your goldendoodle including feeding it the right food, giving it adequate amounts of attention and exercise, and taking it to regular vet visits for the appropriate care is the best way to extend the lifespan of your goldendoodle.
Goldendoodles are energetic and playful dogs and for them to have the happiest and longest life they will need lots of stimulation in the form of toys, walks, and lots of love.
How Long Do Goldendoodles Live?
Goldendoodles can live to be up to fifteen years old, but the best way to extend their lifespan is to take good care of them.
Your goldendoodle should be like a member of your family and that includes taking it to regular vet appointments for all the appropriate care, as well as feeding it healthy food and making sure that the goldendoodle gets plenty of exercise.
Do Goldendoodles Have Health Problems?
All dogs can have different kinds of health problems, and certain breeds are more prone to health problems than others.
In this section of the goldendoodle guide we will give an overview of the kind of health problems that you should look out for in goldendoodles. These dogs are a healthy breed with a long lifespan for dogs, but they do have a few health problems that can occur.
Knowing about what health problems are common in goldendoodles will help you look out for symptoms in your goldendoodle, or help you decide if a goldendoodle is right for you.
Common Health Problems For Goldendoodles
- Patellar Luxation: A Patellar Luxation is where the dog’s hip or knee cap becomes dislocated. Both large and small Goldendoodles are susceptible to this condition. You can notice if your dog is suffering from this because they will limp and be in visible discomfort if they have a dislocated joint.
- Epilepsy: Just like in humans, dogs can also suffer from a seizure condition known as epilepsy. Depending on how often the seizures occur and how serious they are, you may not need to provide any medication or treatment. The seizures may manifest as a series of muscle spasms or it could be worse. Symptoms can manifest in old and young dogs alike.
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
This is another knee related injury that is common in goldendoodles that you should look out for especially if the goldendoodle is showing signs that it has an injured knee such as limping. When the back legs of the goldendoodle start to fail this is a common reason.
The rupture of the ligament is usually from degeneration from age over time and there is not much treatment to be done. This is common in older goldendoodles and does not usually manifest earlier in their life.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
This condition is more common in goldendoodles than other dogs and is a serious cause for concern in severe cases. VonWillebrand’s disease is a condition that causes the dogs to bleed more than usual even for small injuries.
This is why it is important to monitor this disease and prevent the dog from getting injured if it has this condition. If your goldendoodle seems to bleed more than usual it could be that it has this common disease for goldendoodles.
- Hip Dysplasia
This is a genetic disorder that is passed on from the parents and it is another cause of lameness in the back legs of goldendoodles. If the goldendoodle suffers from hip dysplasia it should not be bred again because it could pass on the condition to the puppies.
Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hips fail to develop correctly. It is a painful condition that causes the dogs not to be able to walk correctly, and it should be corrected with surgery when acciplable.
- Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis occurs when the goldendoodle has a sensitivity to certain allergens. It can be hard to pinpoint what the dog is allergic to which is one of the reasons why this condition can be hard to treat.
When the allergens cause an allergy attack for the dog, they can suffer redness on their skin including rashes and itching.
Topical creams may be applied for atopic dermatitis and it almost always requires medical intervention to treat. It is one of the more common diseases for a lot of different animals, especially with curly or long hair like a goldendoodle.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
One of the problems that occurs because of the breeding of dogs including hybrids like the goldendoodle is that they are more prone to blindness than other dogs.
Goldendoodles are more sensitive to losing their eyesight in their old age and the main cause of that is progressive retinal atrophy, which basically just means that their eyesight degrades slowly over time until they go blind or partially blind in their old age.
It is common for goldendoodles to experience some degree of eyesight degradation in their old age.
Common Health Problems Passed On From Poodles
- Hypoglycemia in Puppies
- Thyroid Issues
- Hyperadrenocorticism
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Bloating
Common Health Problems Passed On From Golden Retrievers
- Ear infections
- Cataracts
- Cancer
- Chest Conditions
- Skin Conditions
What is Owning a Goldendoodle Like?
Ever since they were coined as a designer dog in 1992, this breed of dog has been one of the most popular on the market.
They sell for thousands of dollars and have a reputation for being great family dogs. They are more allergy friendly than a lot of other dogs because they do not shed as much.
Both poodles and golden retrievers have great qualities, and the goal of breeding them together is to produce the goldendoodle: a perfect mix of both breeds.
In this section of the goldendoodle buying guide we will give you an overview of what owning a goldendoodle is like in terms of what their temperament is like and how much money and time it costs to take care of them.
What Kind of Temperament Does a Goldendoodle Have?
Goldendoodles make great family dogs because of their friendly and social temperaments. They generally get along with people and dogs well and are good with smaller animals as long as they are trained properly.
They are gentle and affectionate animals which is why many people trust them around their children and smaller animals.
In this section of the goldendoodle guide we will give you an overview of what to expect from your goldendoodle in terms of its personality and temperament.
While no two dogs are the same, and how the dog acts will depend largely on how you train it, there are distinct differences in the temperaments of different dog breeds which are important to take into consideration when determining which one is right for you or your family.
When you breed a poodle and a golden retriever together, there is a chance that the goldendoodle will be more like one of the breeds, or it could be a perfect mix of both.
Poodles and golden retrievers both have distinct temperaments and personalities, and your goldendoodle may act more like one than the other.
When adopting a goldendoodle you should take into consideration both the temperament of the mother dog and the father dog, as well as the temperaments of both breeds to figure out if this dog is right for you.
Poodles and Golden Retrievers
Here are few of the temperament traits that are attributed to poodles and golden retrievers. A golden doodle may have all of these traits, some of these traits, or a combination.
Poodles Temperament
- Very intelligent
- Lively and energetic
- Bark a lot
- Can be aggressive
- Protective of family
- Hunting background
- Requires lots of exercise
- Easy to train
- Need lots of attention
Golden Retrievers Temperament
- Very loyal
- Smart and easy to train
- Great family dogs
- Playful and energetic
- Obedient
- Has “manners” when fully matured
- Very playful puppy (may jump)
- Friendly! (Not a good “watch dog”)
- Chew on things
Are Goldendoodles Smart Dogs?
Goldendoodles are very smart dogs and rank just below bordie collies when ranked among dog breeds. They are not only gentle and playful, but they are super smart which makes them easy to train.
This is one of the reasons why so many people love goldendoodles, their intelligence and trainability makes them a very desirable pet.
How Much Does a Goldendoodle Cost?
If you are wondering how much a goldendoodle costs, we can help. The prices can range from between $1,000 and $3,000 for a new goldendoodle puppy from a breeder.
Where you get the puppy from will be the main factor that determines how expensive the dog is, in addition to who the puppies parents are, and what physical attributes the dog has that makes it special.
If the goldendoodle puppy is in excellent health, has high-quality pedigree parents, and has unique, beautiful colors or coats, you can expect it to be a good price.
However, there is no reason why you have to spend $3,000 on a goldendoodle, there are goldendoodles waiting to be adopted for adoption fees as low as $200.
Many people purchase goldendoodles as puppies and decide that they cannot handle them when they get older and end up giving them up for adoption.
Reading guides like this before purchasing any dog can help prevent that from happening by giving you an idea of what to expect from the dog before you get it in terms of the cots and the amount of care required to properly take care of it.
Pros Of Buying a Goldendoodle Puppy From a Breeder
- You know who the dog’s parents are.
- You may be able to select which puppy that you want out of the litter based on the color or physical attributes.
- You can review the health and papers of both parents since Golden Retrievers and Poodles are both breeds that are recognized and registered with the AKC.
Cons of Buying a Goldendoodle Puppy From a Breeder
- If the price of the goldendoodle puppy is too low or they seem to have a lot of puppies it could indicate that the breeder is running a puppy mill. Watch out for puppy mills because they abuse animals and the puppies often have health problems, some even dying after being adopted.
- There are goldendoodles in shelters waiting to be adopted.
- Buying a goldendoodle puppy from a breeder will likely cost you more than $1,000.
How Much Does a Goldendoodle Puppy Cost?
The cost of the goldendoodle can depend on a few different factors. Goldendoodle puppies are incredibly cute, fluffy and adorable. Here are a few of the factors that will affect the price of a goldendoodle puppy.
How Much It Costs To Buy a Goldendoodle From a Breeder or Pet Store
If you buy the puppy at a pet store or from a breeder it could be very expensive. Goldendoodle puppies are considered designer dogs and the most expensive ones are up to $3,000 a puppy.
At a shelter you can adopt a puppy for as little as $200. You can also sometimes find people online looking to rehome their pets with little to no rehoming fees.
Does the Color of the Goldendoodle Puppy Affect the Price?
Yes! The color of the goldendoodle puppy may affect the price. If the puppy is a rare color it will be worth more money. Most goldendoodle puppies are a variety of “golden” from champagne, cream, to a true golden retriever gold color. They also come in beautiful red colors, grey, or black.
They can be a combination of colors including red with white, etc. The price of the goldendoodle puppy may be more if it is a sought after color and is aesthetically beautiful.
Does the Size of the Goldendoodle Puppy Affect the Price?
Yes! The size of the goldendoodle puppy will affect the price. We do not mean the size of the puppy when it is still young, but the size that it will eventually grow to. Miniature dogs are sought after and mini goldendoodles have a super cute “teddy bear” like appearance which is sought after.
You can expect goldendoodle puppies that are miniature puppies or very large puppies to be more expensive than the average sized ones because they are more rare.
Is it Hard to Take Care of a Goldendoodle?
In this section of the guide we will talk about how to take care of a goldendoodle. Are goldendoodles high maintenance dogs? Well, that depends.
They do have a lot of energy and require exercise, attention, and sometimes grooming, but they are also half well-mannered golden retrievers which are very easy to take care of.
They can have health problems with their skin or legs to watch out for. Here is a list of things to consider about taking care of goldendoodles if you are thinking about getting one.
Exercise
Goldendoodles have a ton of energy, especially when they are young. If you are considering getting a goldendoodle you should consider how much room the dog will have to play. Will you take him on walks? Do you have a backyard he can play in? Kids or other dogs to play with?
If you are looking for a dog to leave at home or in an apartment all day, the goldendoodle is not the right dog for you. These intelligent animals have a lot of energy and the bigger the goldendoodle is the more room they will need to play happily.
Training
It is actually really easy to train a Goldendoodle, which is one of the reasons why it is such a popular dog for families. They are naturally very well-mannered and they are smart so they pick up on commands easily. Both poodles and golden retrievers rank high in terms of intelligence, and this makes them very easy to train.
Goldendoodles are amazing dogs that have a lot of potential if you take the time to train them right. They love attention and positive reinforcement during training.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a great family dog you should consider the goldendoodle. This mix of a poodle and a golden retriever is super intelligent, friendly, and affectionate.
They are very, very cute as well which is one of the reasons why they can come with a big price tag as a puppy. Before buying from a breeder, consider adopting a goldendoodle from a local shelter.