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| Goldendoodle | |||||||
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 A male Goldendoodle. |
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| Other names | Groodle Curly Golden Goldenoodle Goldenpoo Goldoodle Goldendoodle Gopoo Goldipoo |
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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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Purpose
Goldendoodles are often favoured by individuals who suffer from allergies to hair and/or dander. However, not all Goldendoodles will exhibit the low shedding coat type of the Poodle. They are a hybrid dog, and therefore while most Goldendoodles will shed less than a Golden Retriever, the degree of shedding can vary. While some breeders claim that the Goldendoodle is a hypoallergenic dog, many allergists believe that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic animal, and there have been no studies to date verifying whether any canine is completely hypoallergenic. Goldendoodles also make excellent bird dogs.
A Goldendoodle's size is generally somewhere between a Standard Poodle and Golden Retriever, and usually ranges from 40 to 60 pounds for females, and 60 to 70 pounds for a male . However, weight in excess 100 pounds have been reported. Goldendoodles also have different coat types, and can be curly, wavy or straight. Coat colours can also vary, and may be white, blond, tan, cafe, chocolate, red, black, silver, parti-coloured, phantom coloured, or a mix, and variety of different colors can come from the same litter.
Temperament
The Goldendoodle is a loving, loyal dog and has a keen sense of smell. They generally enjoy swimming, like both their parent breeds. 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. Goldendoodles should not be trained as watchdogs as it is highly unlikely that he will respond correctly in an aggressive situation. 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 content just curling up in your lap and taking a nap. Goldendoodles are naturally social dogs, and require socialization throughout their life. Goldendoodles aren't as independent as a lot of other dogs, and without love and affection can become restless. They need attention and interaction, or their restlessness can lead to destructive tendencies.
Breed status
The Goldendoodle is not a purebred; rather, it is a hybrid: 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.
There is no universal consensus as to whether breeders should aim to have Goldendoodles recognized as a breed. Some breeders prefer to restrict breeding to first generation (F1) dogs (i.e. bred from a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle) in order to maximise genetic diversity, and thus avoid the inherited health problems that have plagued some dog breeds. Other breeders maintain that a Backcross (F1B) Goldendoodle (i.e. bred from a Goldendoodle backcrossed with a purebred Poodle) is less likely to shed, and may therefore be more suitable for people with allergies to fur and/or dander.
There are also 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
Health
Both the Poodle and Golden Retrievers breeds can suffer from hip dysplasia, and an OFA or PennHIP exam is required to check for this problem before dogs are bred. Both breeds can also suffer from a number of inheritable eye disorders, so it's important that a CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) exam is also performed before breeding.
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