What is a "goldendoodle" ?
A goldendoodle is a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. A golden doodle is not a purebred and they are not a registered breed.
Goldendoodles make amazing pets and they are great family dogs. Mix breed dogs are known to be healthier and more genetically sound then purebreds. Goldendoodles are fun, goofy, family dogs that are great with kids and love to participate in family activities. The best way to describe a goldendoodle is “little people in fur coats!!!”
What are the goldendoodles temperament’s like?
Goldendoodles are very intelligent family dogs. Retrievers and poodles are ranked in the top 5 smartest dogs in the world. Goldendoodles love everyone and are very in tune and loyal family dogs! They are great with children, other animals and all people in general. They love being with the family and aren’t a dog to be left on a chain all day outside by themselves. They need human companionship. When golden doodles are taken to obedience class and trained properly they learn very fast and I’ve heard time and time again that they are always in the top of the class. They are such goofy, fun loving, clown like dogs that make everyone laugh. They are so full of Carisma and character.
They will bark to warn you that someone is at the door but they are NOT excessive barkers.
If you are a goofy person that loves to have fun and be able to look at your dog and laugh then the goldendoodle is the dog for you!
What are the different generations of goldendoodles?
There are different generations of goldendoodles and terms used to describe these
F1 golden doodle- golden retriever crossed with a poodle (50:50)
F1b golden doodle- golden doodle bred back to a poodle (25:75)
F2 golden doodle- golden doodle bred to a golden doodle
F3 golden doodle - F2 golden doodle bred to a F2 golden doodle
In order to make the goldendoodle into a purebred dog you would have to breed goldendoodles together for 7 generations so an (F7) goldendoodle.
The f1 goldendoodles is the healthiest because they display what is known as a Hybrid vigour. The more you inbreed and more gene’s goldendoodles will have in common and the more health issues they will be prone to. This is why mix breed dogs are healthier and prone to less health issues then purebred dogs. Traits that both parents don’t have in common the puppies can’t get as the puppies get one gene from each parents and genetic traits are recessive so the puppies might carry the trait but will not display certain disease if they only carry one gene for that disease.
This being said there are many diseases that poodles and retrievers DON’T have in common but also many they do and this is why it is so important to find a breed who is doing all the health testing!!!!!
What is the difference between males and females?
There isn't a night and day difference between males and females. The slight differences are as follows:
Males: tend to be bigger, more affectionate, goofy, but a little more stubborn.
Females: tend to be smaller, more independent but easier to train and not as stubborn.
These are very slight differences and both males and females make amazing pets. I think the basis of choosing a pup should be looking at temperament first more so then gender.
What is the difference between an English goldendoodle and a regular goldendoodle?
English goldendoodles are usually light in color, more laid back and have a stockier build. All of the parents of my English goldendoodles have been imported straight from Europe. I have flown all over Europe visiting many kennels and have some of the nicest breeding stock out of Europe in my breeding program. My male Monty is from Spain. His father was the top dog in Europe in 2004 and Monty is a Canadian Champion. He is stunning! I waited over 2 years just to get Monty!
Please note that many breeders in the states use field retrievers to produce their goldendoodles. These retrievers are bred for field work and are usually very lanky and very hyper. They tend to produce hyper, lanky goldendoodles as well. I DO NOT USE these retrievers in my breeding program. I strive to produce beauty, character and health within my program so it doesn't matter if you get a English goldendoodle or normal goldendoodle from me I will temperament test all the pups and do my best to get you a solid pup that has a temperament that will suit your family.
What genetic diseases should goldendoodle breeders be testing for in the parents?
Goldendoodles are such a popular breed that there are many careless breeders out there who are doing little to no testing. Please do your research and make sure breeders are performing the testing below. It’s better to wait for a good quality pup from a great breeder then to support careless breeders who are just out to breed as many pups as possible without caring about the breed as a whole.
If you buy your golden doodle puppy from an unrepeatable breeder you may end up with many health problems and expensive vet bills.
The website www.goldendoodle-labradoodle.org has some of the top goldendoodle breeders in the world.
Tests required for Breeding of Golden Retrievers
1. Hips (HD) OFA or Pennhip or OVC
2. eyes (CERF) Required Yearly
3. Hearts......tested and certified by OFA
4. Elbows (OFA)
Elbows have become a recent problem in the breed. Due to this, you may find many of the older tested dogs will not have elbow clearances. In order to continue to keep up with the research and the recommendations of the breed Assoc. we will require elbows on all Golden Retrievers to be cleared on all new certifications. WE will not require elbows on the older certifications.
Tests required for the Breeding of Standard Poodles
1. Hips (HD) OFA or Pennhip or OVC
2. elbows OFA
3. Eyes (CERF) Required Yearly
4. Von Willebrands (vWd) (bleeding disorder) DNA or Blood screen
5. Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) Skin Disorder
* Thyroid malfunctions - Not Required but a highly recommended test for all breeding dogs.
Tests required for breeding of Miniature and Toy Poodles.
1. Hips for HD and Legg-Perves Disease OFA, Penn hip or OVC
2. Stifles for Luxating Patella's
3. Eyes (CERF) Required Yearly
4. Von Willebrands Disease (vWd) DNA or Blood screen
* Thyroid malfunctions - Not Required but a highly recommended test for all breeding dogs.
How should I choose a goldendoodle breeder and what should I look for?
- a good breeder will perform all clearances listed above and will share with potential clients all health certificates. If a breeder says they give a health guarantee and they say they know there dogs are healthy but are unwilling to chow you health clearances of the parents then this is a red flag!!! Ask to see the certificates!!!
I’ve had dogs with grade 4 dysplasia who are healthy, happy and jumping around. There is no way I would’ve known they had HD if I didn’t get them tested. Imagine if I was a unreputable breeder and didn’t get these dogs tested and sold you a pup out of one of these parents!!!! ASK TO SEE CERTIFICATIONS!!!!!
- a responsible breeder will be able to provide you with references
- a responsible breeder will be honest with you and have high moral standards and integrity to provide their clients with a quality puppy.
They should be willing to work with you even after your pup goes home and should want to be kept up to date on how the pup is growing and maturing and their temperament. This is how a responsible breeder helps improve there breeding program. By knowing what there breeding stock and certain parents produce I’m better able to breed the best goldendoodles out there and pair my breeding stock appropriately!
- a reasonable breeder will provide you with a health guarantee, make sure the pups are vaccinated, micro chipped and dewormed!
- a responsible breeder will have some type of adoption form!
-a responsible breeder will ask you questions about what you are looking for in a dog to determine if this is the right dog for you and this will also help the breeder place the right pup with you that suits what your family is looking for temperament and coat type wise!
- a responsible breeder will allow clients to visit their
kennel. But remember pups are very prone to many disease so each breeder has different rules when it comes to visiting. At Swiss ridge kennels we only allow people who have purchased a pup to view the kennel at the time of pickup and this cuts down on traffic and reduces the chance of many different disease like parvo, canine distemper, canine herpes, kennel cough, canine flu ect being spread to out dogs.
- a responsible breeder will provide you with references from clients, other breeders, veterinarians, ect.
- a responsible breeder will ask questions to help determine if you will provide a great home to there pups. They will care about there pups and care about where they are going!
Coat type of goldendoodles?
Remember every goldendoodle has a different coat type! There is NO guarantee this will be a hypoallergenic or non-shedding dog although I’ve sold many goldendoodles to people with allergies with much success.
If you have allergies then it’s best to get a goldendoodle with a wavy to curly coat. The curlier the coat the less you goldendoodle will shed. The straighter the coat the more your goldendoodle will shed
We can tell coat type when they are 6-7 weeks old and will help put the right goldendoodle puppy with you!
There are 2 different types of allergies. Most people are allergic to canine dander and are fine with poodles BUT if you’re allergic to saliva (if you break out in hives and can’t be around poodles) then you will be allergic to doodles as well.
Different sizes of doodles?
We breed 3 different sizes:
Standard goldendoodles: These are medium to large dogs and a standard poodle and a golden retriever is used in this mix.
Height: Males 21-29 inches. Females 20-25 inches.
Weight: Males 55-90lbs Females 50-65lbs
Mini golden doodles: these are small to medium sized dogs. They are usually the size of a cocker spaniel. A mini or toy poodle is mixed with a golden retriever to produce a mini goldendoodle
Height: 13" - 21" tall
Weight: 25 - 50 lbs
Tiny f1b golden doodles- A mini golden doodle bred to a mini or toy poodle is used in this mix!
Weight 10-30lbs
Height 10-15”
Temperament between mini and standard goldendoodles?
Many people ask me what the temperament differences between the mini and standard goldendoodles.
I find as pups mini’s are more outgoing and take a little more work but as adults they seem to calm down. The nice thing about the mini’s is they are a great size and you can take them almost anywhere. They are great city/condo dogs.
Other then that both mini and standard golden doodles love to play fetch, love to swim and are great family dogs and awesome with kids……………. I hear it time and time again my doodle owners couldn’t be happier with there dogs (see my references to see rave reviews)!!!! Goldendoodles are one of a kind!!!
How much exercise does my goldendoodle need?
Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of exercise. Taken for at least 3 walks a day for 15-30mins is best. They love being with people and if you’re active they will participate and if you’re chilling just lying on the couch so will they. They are happiest being with people! They love to fetch and swim and will go for run ect. You can take these dogs almost anywhere and they acclimatize great to all situations!
How do I groom my goldendoodle?
The curlier your goldendoodles coat the harder it is to take care of. If your goldendoodle is very low to non-shedding you will need to brush it at least every 2 days to prevent them from matting and take your golden doodle to the groomer every 4-5 months. Make sure to be very specific with the groomer as to how you want your goldendoodle groomed because I’ve seen some groomers groom goldendoodles like poodles or totally shave them and owners have been horrified. Be specific and bring a picture in to show the groomer how you want your goldendoodle groomed.
The first time your pup is at the groomer (at 6 month or so) just get the groomer to give them a bath, clean the ears and cut the nails. You don’t want them to do the whole 9 yards/clip them as it might scare you goldendoodle pup. The next time your goldendoodle pup is at the groomer you can get the groomer to clip them (so around 9 months).
You should only bath your goldendoodle every 3-4 months as this strips all the essential oils out of the fur and isn’t good for them.
What is the life expectancy of a goldendoodle?
About 15 years!
What colors do goldendoodles come in?
Goldendoodles come in many colors including apricot, golden, red, black, silver, party (2 colors), blue, chocolate, white and blonde (see my gallery and reference page for many different golden doodles in many different colors).
What is an English goldendoodle?
Our English or European goldendoodles are a cross between an English/European golden retriever and a poodle. We import all our English style retrievers straight from Europe. English retrievers tend to be stockier, more laid back and lighter in color. We see these characteristics displayed in the English goldendoodles as well.
