A Goldendoodle is a Golden Retriever and Poodle cross.  Goldendoodles, are also called Golden Poos, Goldie Poos, or Groodles.  As the smaller poodle hybrids had been such a success in filling the niche for small, allergy friendly family pets, Golden Retriever breeders decided to breed a standard poodle for a larger family pet.  The quick rise of the popularity of Goldendoodles is due to the dogs themselves.  They are a most marvelous hybrid.

 

The majority of the Goldendoodles we breed are a first generation cross, and as such they exhibit hybrid vigour.  This is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the fact that the first cross between two unrelated purebred lines is healthier and grows better than either parent line.  The hybrid cross between these two parent breeds are terrific family dogs, friendly, intelligent, affectionate and easy to train.   With each successive generation, vigour is lost.

 

The Goldendoodle's ancestry along both parent lines is as hunters and water dogs. The physical appearance of the Goldendoodle runs anywhere from a shaggy-looking retriever to a curl-relaxed poodle, but usually it falls somewhere in-between.  Most Goldendoodles have a Standard Poodle as a parent, and are standard sized.    Like many poodle crosses, most Goldendoodles are light to non-shedding, and most live easily with families with MILD allergies. Families with moderate to severe allergies often find that Goldendoodle backcrosses can work well.

 

Goldendoodles are an intelligent and obedient family companion. They are everybody's friend and devoted to their family. They are friendly towards children, other dogs and pets, and easy with strangers.  They are social dogs, happiest when with people. Goldendoodles are likely to get into mischief and develop behavior problems if they spend most of their lives alone. Their intelligence, eagerness to please, and love of learning make them very easy to train.  They are medium-to large sized family dogs with easy dispositions.

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Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of exercise and their coats are generally low maintenance. They can live in the city or on a farm. Health concerns, as a hybrid cross they grow healthier and live longer than either parent line. The average lifespan is 15-18 years.  The only genetic diseases they can be prone to would be those shared by both the Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle. No Major Concerns. Minor Concerns - CHD, PRA, VonWillebrand's, Elbow and patella disorders. Suggested tests - hip, eye and vWD.  Grooming as a hybrid cross, Goldendoodles will inherit fur that looks retriever-like, or poodle-like, but usually something in-between. Unclipped Goldendoodles will have hair about 4-7 inches long, shorter on the face and longer on the body, tail and legs.  They require combing every few weeks.  Depending on how often the dog is groomed, clipped Goldendoodles are groomed several times a year.