Description Of Goldendoodles And Labradoodles
goldendoodle Characteristics and history
Goldendoodles vary greatly in their coat of hair. The reason for this is that there are numerous variations of cross breeding with the Goldendoodle breed.
F1 breed = First generation cross of a pure bred Golden Retriever and a pure bred Standard Poodle. This is like getting a very smart Golden Retriever that sheds less. This is what we sell.
F1 medium = First generation cross of a pure bred Golden Retriever and and a pure bred miniature Poodle.
F2 breed= The breeding of 2, F1 parents. Making a second generation of the cross.
F1b breed= This is taking a parent who is F1 and breeding her back with either a pure bred Poodle or a pure bred Golden Retriever. Thus the large variation in the coat of hair.
You will notice that the F1 breed has very fluffy wavy hair. The F1b if it is crossed back over with a Poodle will have the very curly Poodle hair.
Training
Training the Goldendoodle puppy is a must. They thrive on love, attention, routine and discipline. If you don’t train them, they will train you as they are very smart and will have you figured out as a push-over quickly. Start their training as soon as you get them home. They love toys and things to chew on. Overall, they are friendly, fun loving, quiet and calm. They make wonderful pets.
Exercise
A good rule of thumb for a puppy’s exercise need is the “5 minute rule”. This rule basically states:
A puppy needs no more than 5 minutes exercise for each month it has been alive.
So a 3 month old puppy needs only 15 minutes exercise per day, a 5 month old needs 25 minutes. This exercise is proper, structured exercise. Meaning a brisk walk on leash, gentle games of fetch. It’s in addition to and not instead of general play.
A puppy can play as much as they wish though you do need to be careful that they don’t exercise too much. Puppies are growing fast and their bones and joints can be easily damaged by over-exercising. So take it easy until they’re more mature. Follow the 5 minute rule and encourage very little jumping or vigorous exercise! Continue the 5 minute rule until your Goldendoodle is nearing one year old.
As a general rule to follow, a healthy adult Doodle will need a good hour of exercise every day. But the genetics of your Doodle could mean you need to increase or decrease this.
There’s no hard and fast rule, but an hour+ per day is a good place to start and then ramp it up if necessary.
Even More…
Country of Origin: Goldendoodle is a cross between the Golden Retriever and Standard or Miniature Poodle. It was first bred in Australia in the early 1980s. This was done to create a dog with the Golden’s characteristic obedience and versatility and the Poodle’s hypoallergenic coat. As a designer breed, the Goldendoodle is not eligible for registration with purebred registries such as the American Kennel Club, but it can be registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club. Some breeders produce Goldendoodles by crossing a purebred Poodle with a purebred Golden Retriever (called a first generation cross), but others allow crossing Goldendoodles with Poodles or Golden Retrievers (called a backcross), or other Goldendoodles (called a multi-generation cross).
Different crosses can result in different characteristics. Australian Goldendoodles are considered a purebred by some as they have been bred for sufficient generations with sufficient stock (some also contain Cocker Spaniel or Irish Water Spaniel ancestry) to produce a suitably consistent offspring (called ‘breeding true’). Like other ‘designer breeds’, the Goldendoodle has seen a recent surge in popularity. These lovable dogs have become popular with many individuals, celebrity and every man alike.
Size: The Goldendoodle has an average shoulder height of a 20-25 in. for males and 18-24 in. for females. A male weighs 55-70 lbs and a female weighs 45-60 lbs. Goldendoodles resulting from crosses with miniature Poodle are 25-50 lbs. are also called miniature or medium Goldendoodles. As a crossbreed, the Goldendoodle ancestry along with both parent lines are hunters and water dogs.
Coat: The physical features of the Goldendoodle, runs anywhere from a shaggy looking retriever to a curly relaxed poodle but often it falls somewhere in between. If you leave them un-clipped their coat will grow to be 4-6 in. long. The color of coat can be cream, gold, apricot, chocolate, gray, or black. Most Goldendoodles are light to non-shedding, and most live well with families with mild allergies.
Temperment: Goldendoodles are obedient and intelligent family companion. They are everyone’s friend and devoted to you their family. They get along well with children, other dogs and pets, and strangers. They are social dogs and happier when with people. They are likely to get into mischief and develop behavioral problems if they spend a lot of time alone. Their intelligence, eargerness to please, and love of learning makes them very easy to train. They are a medium to large sized family dogs with easy disposition.
Care: The Goldendoodle requires weekly brushing to keep the coat free of tangles. They also will need to be groomed several times a year.
Health Concerns: The Goldendoodle has a lifespan of 15 years. As a hybrid cross they grow healthier and live longer then either parent. The only genetic diseases they are prone to would be those shared by both parents. No major concerns. Some minor concerns would be: CHD, PRA, VoneWillebrand’s, Elbow, and Patella disorders.
Activity: Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of exercise such as a daily walk or playtime in a fenced-in yard. There coats are generally low maintenance. They can live in the city or on a farm. They are social dogs and are happiest when surrounded by people.