Goldendoodle
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| Goldendoodle | |||||||
 A male Goldendoodle. |
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| Other names | Groodle Curly Golden Goldenoodle Goldenpoo Goldoodle Goldendoodle Gopoo Goldipoo |
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| Country of origin | Australia | ||||||
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A Goldendoodle is a mixed-breed dog, crossbred between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Poodle hybrids have become increasingly popular and it is likely that the combination of Golden Retriever and Poodle has been duplicated by breeders in various countries.
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[edit] Purpose
The Goldendoodle, like the Labradoodle and many other Poodle cross breeds such as the Aussiedoodle, was bred to be a very low shedding assistance dog for individuals who need such a dog, but who suffer from allergies to shedding hair or have other problems with excessive shedding. However, not all Goldendoodles will exhibit the "hypoallergenic" coat style of the poodle; as a mixed breed dog, the traits of puppies cannot be accurately predicted. While some Goldendoodles are low-shedding, many others shed a small amount and still others shed as much as a Golden Retriever. While some breeders claim that the Goldendoodle is a hypoallergenic canine, allergists believe that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic animal. There have been no studies to date verifying whether any canine is completely hypoallergenic. Goldendoodles also make excellent bird dogs.
A Goldendoodles average size is somewhere between a Standard Poodle and Golden Retriever, usually 40 to 60 pounds for females and 60 to 70 pounds for a male (due to the unpredictability of physical traits in hybrid dogs, an extreme size well in excess of 100 pounds is possible). Goldendoodles also have different coat types. They can range from curly, wavy, or straight depending on its genes. Goldendoodles can have different colors, depending on the Poodle genes passed onto the pup. However, Goldendoodles can be white, blond, tan, cafe, chocolate, red, black, silver, parti, phantom, or a mix. A mix of colors can come from the same litter.A goldendoodle's head is pretty short. Goldendoodles can have thick, curly fur, smooth and wavy, or even soft and straight, depending on what genes the dog has more of. Usually dogs with more Golden have straighter fur, with curls on the ears or head.
[edit] Temperament
The Goldendoodle is a loving, loyal dog and has a keen sense of smell. They can be taught to enjoy swimming, as both the retriever and Poodle elements of their heritage normally enjoy water. Goldendoodles are usually intelligent, friendly, and great with kids, just like their Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle parents. They are generally easy to train, highly social, and by nature are easy with strangers and other dogs. They often love to play, and commonly retain the strong retrieving instincts of the Golden Retriever. The Goldendoodles should not be trained as a watchdog as it is highly unlikely that he will respond correctly in an aggressive situation. Care should also be taken to keep your dog leashed and under your control at all times, as Goldendoodles are very keen on following their nose, and will often turn a deaf ear to your commands. Any dog can be aggressive without warning, and due to their size and buoyant nature, Goldendoodles can easily hurt someone even in play. Goldendoodles need lots of care during puppyhood, as they are extremely high-energy, enthusiastic dogs. This breed is a great family dog and it is also good for someone that lives alone. Goldendoodle puppies are usually calm and mellow and are contempt just curling up in your lap and taking a nap.
[edit] Breed status
The Goldendoodle is not a purebred; rather, it is a specific type of mixed-breed dog or crossbreed. As such, it is not accepted for registration by mainstream registries of purebred dogs such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. The Goldendoodle is considered a mutt in some peoples' eyes, but the Doodle is a hybrid and not exactly a purebred
Some breeders allege that the Goldendoodlestandard is a first generation (F1) pairing between purebred Poodle and Golden Retriever parents. Others maintain a looser definition and include under the classification what is known as an F1-backcross Goldendoodle, or F1-B. This dog results from a union of Goldendoodle plus Poodle or Goldendoodle plus Golden Retriever parents. Those marketing F1-B puppies resulting from an F1 paired with a Poodle typically maintain that such animals achieve the same hypoallergenic qualities as the purebred Poodle. An F2 Goldendoodle is bred from two goldendoodle parents.
There are currently several breeders attempting to develop the Goldendoodle as an actual breed. This requires formation of a sufficiently large breeding stock as identified by previous breeding history, number of animals, geographic dispersion, etc. and accepted by the registration entity. After breed formation, only offspring from pairings of animals within this locked set are considered to represent the breed. The risk of future genetic problems from such selective breeding is best answered by early establishment of a varied, original, gene pool. Even with these precautions by the registry, the subsequent, aggressive, breeding practices that are often pursued amongst the most popular breeds can produce problems that might only reveal themselves as the dogs mature. On the other hand, all modern breeds have been developed in exactly this way--by limiting the parental pool in order to isolate targeted characteristics of structure, color, and aptitude. To date, no all-breed registry recognises the Goldendoodle as an official breed.
See also: Selective Breeding
[edit] Health
- Further information: Golden retriever, and Poodle
The Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds are sometimes prone to several detrimental traits. Therefore, it is important that responsible breeders certify their parent dogs are free from hip dysplasia (such as by having them OFA or PennHIP evaluated), cataracts, and other potentially inheritable problems including intestinal issues.
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