Top 7 Facts About Goldendoodles That You Must Know
Goldendoodles are a spunky, fun, and loyal designer dog breed that is immensely popular with families around the world due to their even temperaments. But, did you know that there are dozens of interesting facts about Goldendoodles available that make them even more unique and fun to have.
Seven Facts About Goldendoodles That You Must Know
We’re going to outline the top seven Goldendoodle facts to share a little history about this breed, and they may even encourage you to look into getting one of your very own!
1. Goldendoodles are Hypoallergenic
The first fact that makes this breed so attractive to families all over is the fact that it is a hypoallergenic breed, and this means that they’re safe to have around people with pet allergies without setting them off. It’s important to note that no dog is completely hypoallergenic, but these dogs have a special coat due to the breeds that make up their makeup.
When people are allergic to dogs, they’re allergic to the dander that comes off the dog from their skin and hair, especially when the dog sheds. Since this breed usually has a poodle’s curly coat, they hardly shed at all. This eliminates the amount of dander in and around your dog, and this can help calm down any allergy symptoms.
An allergic reaction is when your immune system overreacts to things that aren’t dangerous to your health like dust, pet dander, and pollen. This can cause a host of issues that range in severity from itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, hives, congestion, and more. If this sounds like you, an air purifier might help.
2. Goldendoodles are a Designer Breed
The term “Goldendoodle” was coined in 1992, and this breed really started to catch on in the mid-1990s with people who wanted to combine the best traits of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever without any of the usual health defects. A designer breed is a mixed breed dog that comes from two purebred parents.
Designer breeds have carefully documented histories that can trace the parent’s lineage back through generations and generations down to the puppy you purchase. Additionally, the American Canine Hybrid Club is the largest registrar of these designer dogs, and you can use it to continue breeding your dog.
Goldendoodles can come with or without papers, but you’d ideally want your dog to have paperwork so you can verify that it is a first-generation mixed breed. You also want to see the parents and find out about the breeder before you purchase your dog, and you can do that by checking the American Kennel Club’s registry.
3. Goldendoodles are Predisposed to Have Great Health
These dogs are usually very strong and lively due to the mix of their parent breeds, and animal breeders call these traits hybrid vigor. These dogs get the best of both breeds because they inherit their parent’s best qualities from two different breeds.
Also, designer dogs tend to be much healthier than the parent dogs because of their genetics, and this can potentially save you thousands in vet bills because you won’t have to take them to the veterinarian as much as you would other breeds. However, Goldendoodles do tend to have problems that both parents do including:
- Elbow Disorders
- Hip Disorders such as Hip Dysplasia
- Von Willebrand’s Disease (trouble with blood clotting)
4. Goldendoodles Have Easily Predictable Sizes
A lot of dogs allow you to get a rough size and weight guess with their puppies based on their parents, but designer dogs like Goldendoodles allow you to get even more precise with their adult weight and size due to their parents.
If you’d like to get an exact height and weight of your Goldendoodle, get both of the parent’s heights and weights. You want to add these things together and divide the result by two in order to get your dog’s height and weight. This makes it easier to plan for your dog as they grow and mature.
Goldendoodles can come in three possible sizes categories including:
- Standard Size: 45 to 100 pounds
- Medium Size: 30 to 45 pounds
- Miniature/Mini Size: 15 to 30 pounds
5. Goldendoodles are Low Maintenance
If you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to constantly grooming your dog to keep their coat healthy, this breed can be a good choice for you because it’s easy to keep them clean. Their coats only require that you wash and comb them out twice a month or so depending on where you live to keep them in shape.
Once every four to six months, you do want to trim the hair around your dog’s stomach and on their tail because it can grow up to eight inches long without intervention. This can be unsanitary and uncomfortable for your dog if you leave it that long, and you also want to trim the hair around your dog’s eyes so they can see.
You can trim your dog’s fur by yourself, or you can take them to the groomer and let them get professionally done. Your groomer will check your dog’s skin and coat condition at the same time, and this can help to ensure that it stays healthy throughout your dog’s life.
6. Goldendoodles Need a High-Protein Diet
These dogs are naturally very athletic and love to be out and about with their favorite people, and Goldendoodles need high-quality food to support their healthy growth. You’ll get the best results by giving your dog a dry kibble with a higher protein and fat content because this can support their skin, coat, muscles, and bones.
This breed is also very susceptible to food allergies, and this means that you should avoid food that contains common allergens like dairy, soy, wheat, and corn. You want meat to be one of the first ingredients with whole vegetables, and it would be free of grains if it’s possible.
Also, you want to get your dog their food from a reputable manufacturer because this can help to ensure the quality of your dog’s food. Finally, the food should also have very low amounts of filler, by-products, or meat meals because these aren’t as healthy for your dog.
7. Goldendoodles Have Four Possible Coat Types
Your dog can come with one of four possible coat types depending on which genetics win out in your puppy between the parents. They can come with curly, wavy, flat, or straight coats, and each different coat type comes with different grooming requirements.
They also have different coat lengths ranging from very short and curly to up to eight inches long. It’s a good idea to talk to your veterinarian because they can help you identify which type of coat your dog has and how to groom it to help keep it healthy and neat.
Bottom Line
Goldendoodles are excellent family dogs that are generally lower maintenance and very athletic. They make great companion dogs for people of all ages, and they continue to grow in popularity as more and more people realize how well these dogs fit in with their family.