There’s a Good Reason People Love Goldendoodles
Goldendoodles are relatively new, in terms of breeds. Granted, there’s a high likelihood some sort of Goldendoodle was born and considered a “mutt” in decades past, though this isn’t extremely likely—usually, you only get a Goldendoodle through a pure-bred lineage. A poodle and a golden retriever are combined in a healthy way.
The result is a surprisingly awesome canine. Goldendoodles have many advantages, and we’re going to cover five briefly in this writing.
1. They’re Usually Pretty Smart Pups
Poodles are smart, golden retrievers are smart, Goldendoodles are downright brilliant as far as dogs go. So also are Labradoodles, which are basically the same dog but a bit “off-brand”, if you will. Think of a Goldendoodle like a Coke and a labradoodle like a Pepsi. They’re not the same, but they’re not that different. Golden retrievers are “gundogs” like labradors, after all.
Now a poodle is a “water” retriever; the name derives from European words for “puddle”, indicating the noise a pup makes in the water. So golden retrievers are dogs bred to retrieve things, as are poodles. Mix the two together and you get a very smart, very stylish, aesthetically-pleasing all-terrain retrieval dog.
2. Goldendoodles Are Hypoallergenic
So because of the way poodle fur is, it tends to be less of a problem for those with allergies to dogs. Mix that hypoallergenic quality with the kindness and sociability of a golden retriever, and suddenly you’ve got a pup that isn’t just smart and fine at retrieving practically anything, the animal is literally nothing to sneeze at, as the expression goes.
Now keep in mind, no animal can be 100% hypoallergenic. Since Goldendoodles aren’t the type that vastly shed, their dander is low. You can read more here. In a nutshell, Goldendoodles are much more hypoallergenic dogs than most.
3. The Size of Your Goldendoodle
A Goldendoodle is going to be about two-thirds the size of a traditional golden retriever. If you’re going to put it in pounds, you’ll find they’re between 30 and 45 pounds, while retrievers are between 65 and 75 pounds. So they’re a bit more “manageable” without being a lapdog. For more info, Pride & Prejudoodles talks more about Goldendoodle size.
4. This is a Designer Breed Rooted in the Nineties
These are a relatively new breed of dog, the name wasn’t coined until 1992, and there were only a few Goldendoodles doodling around back then.
However, it’s perfectly conceivable that a golden and a poodle would have procreated prior to the nineties; golden retrievers have been around since the mid-1800s, and poodles since the 1400s. So there may have been some unrecognized Goldendoodles in the last 150 years or so.
5. They Don’t Shed, and They’re Quite Athletic
This was alluded to earlier in the hypoallergenic section: part of the reason Goldendoodles are so popular is they’re not only nothing to sneeze at, but you don’t have to follow them around with a vacuum to keep your house from being a mess. Also, both poodles and golden retrievers are generally known to be athletic. It’s no surprise Goldendoodles are as well.
Determining if a Goldendoodle is Right for You
There are thousands of facts about Goldendoodles, and studying varying new breeds is an interesting thing to do, especially if you’re considering bringing one into your life.
Five important things to know about these dogs are that they’re athletic, don’t shed, they’re a newer breed, they’re two-thirds the size of golden retrievers, they’re hypoallergenic, and they’re usually quite intelligent. If you’re thinking about a new dog that’s polite and likes to have fun, you might want to find a Goldendoodle.
