You’ve likely noticed an influx of very cute, friendly, Muppet-like dogs being walked around your neighborhood as of late. Chances are you’ve spotted the Goldendoodle craze. But what’s with the sudden popularity of this dog breed? Actually, this amazing breed has been around for a few decades and there are a lot of reasons why they’ve continued to pick-up in popularity.
First off, it’s important to know what dog breeds make up a Goldendoodle. Goldendoodles are a combination of Golden Retriever and Poodle. The breed initially gained popularity in the 90s as it combined the best qualities of both breeds – the brains and non-shedding coat of a Poodle with the friendly, fun demeanor of a Golden Retriever. This dynamic combo provides the best of both worlds. Here are a few (of many) reasons why so many people have added Goldendoodles to their families. If you’re looking for a Goldendoodle, you can also visit Central Illinois Doodles.
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[ux_products products=”24″ tags=”labrador-retriver-products” orderby=”rand”]1. Goldendoodles Have a Great Temperament
If Goldendoodles were given high school superlatives, they would be voted life of the party AND most likely to succeed. Goldendoodles combine the loving and friendly disposition of a Golden Retriever with the clever and instinctual characteristics that Poodles are known for.
It’s common to hear Goldendoodle owners describe their dog as “goofy and perpetually playful,” while in the same breath calling them “quick, eager learners.” Goldendoodles are naturally curious, friendly dogs and calm around humans and most do well around other dogs. Just like with any dog, and especially one that it is a mix of two breeds, their personalities can vary. It’s important to nurture and train them well to ensure they can exhibit all their best qualities.
2. They Are Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic dogs have continued to increase in popularity given all the pet-lovers who suffer from allergies. For a dog to be considered hypoallergic, they must be very unlikely to trigger an allergic response in the body. So the truth is, no dog is 100% completely hypoallergenic, but a Goldendoodle is more hypoallergenic than most dogs due to their Poodle genes. Strictly speaking, Poodles are considered hypoallergenic and Golden Retrievers are not. So it stands to reason that the more “Poodle” a Goldendoodle has in their genes, the less likely they are to trigger allergies.
3. Goldendoodles Don’t Shed
If you’ve ever owned any furry pet, you know the struggle of keeping your house fur-free. Similarly, to the hypoallergenic dog trait, there is no such thing as a zero-shed dog. The good news is that most Goldendoodles are low-shedding dogs.
To better understand shedding and a dog’s furball creating potential, it’s important to know why and when dogs shed. Simply put, dogs shed because of changes in their hormone levels. Hormonal changes are triggered by changes in the amount of daylight, so it’s considered “seasonal shedding” – like when tree leaves change color in the Fall. This is a healthy and natural process.
For dogs with double layer coats such as the Golden Retriever, shedding will happen twice per year in Spring and Fall. For dogs with single layer coats like the Poodle, shedding will happen once per year in the Spring. The ultimate determinate of how much (or little) a Goldendoodle will shed simply depends on which parent dog (Golden Retriever or Poodle) the puppy most favors.
4. Goldendoodles are Extremely Smart
As mentioned earlier, Goldendoodles have a predisposition to be intelligent due to their parent breed combination. Goldendoodles tend to easily understand requests, respond well to commands and exhibit strong problem-solving skills. Here are some other characteristics and signs of intelligence a Goldendoodle may display:
- They remember commands even when training isn’t consistent
- They initiate play with you by bringing over a toy
- They can tell when you need comforting when you’re upset
- They recognize their surroundings when walking or traveling by spotting familiar landmarks
- They’re able to get your attention by rubbing against your hand to signal they want some love or exposing their belly for a tummy rub
Just remember if the socialization and training process is started early, these innate traits will come through much more easily and clearly.
5. Goldendoodles are a Great Family Dog
Not surprisingly, mini Goldendoodle puppies love people and get along great with other pets. Due to their ability to be both patient and gentle, they are great with young children — making them a perfect choice for families. This combination also makes them a good option for first-time dog owners.
As highly social dogs, they like to be with their family and don’t do well in homes where they’d be left alone for long periods of time – they will simply love you so much they want to spend all of their time with you. While their social nature is great for family time, if you’re looking for a guard dog, the Goldendoodle might not be a good fit. They are more likely try to befriend any stranger rather than warn them off.
6. They Are Adorable
We may be biased, but the Goldendoodle may be the cutest dog out there. Not only are their coats incredibly soft and fluffy, but they also have very sweet, expressive faces and soulful eyes.
Goldendoodles also have a lot of variety when it comes to their looks. They have an array of colors, coats and sizes which makes them a really exciting breed to own. Just like with all their other traits, a Goldendoodle’s looks will really depend on their dog parents, so be sure to do your research and chat with the breeder if you’re looking for something specific. But in our opinion, you can’t go wrong with any Goldendoodle.
There are a myriad of reasons why Goldendoodles are so popular right now – from their temperament to their cute looks, they are a great combination of some of the best dog traits out there. Thinking about adding a Goldendoodle to your family?