Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs? The Goldendoodle, an adorable cross between a standard poodle and golden retriever, is the ultimate family pet. Goldendoodles are playful, impossibly cute and smart dogs — what more could you need?
Known as designer dogs, due to being the result of purposeful crossing two purebreds, they encapsulate the best of both worlds.
Because these types of dogs tend to be non-shedding, they can be a good choice for families with allergies. Just make sure the one you adopt is suitable for your needs.
Goldendoodles Look Like Big Teddy Bears
Doodles coats vary quite a lot from pooch to pooch. This means you can choose the coat type that’s most suitable for your needs. If allergies are your primary concern, you should look for a reputable breeder that performs genetic coat testing.
Although a common belief is that the curlier coats are more likely to be non-shedding, genetics is more complicated than that. Ultimately, genetic testing is the only thing that can guarantee a pup’s future ability to shed or not.
All Goldendoodle coats can grow quite long, and the curlier it is, your doggie pal will require regular grooming.
However, if you opt to get their coat clipped short, you minimize the amount of time you (or a groomer) will have to spend primping and preening their fur.
Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs For Those Who Have Allergies?
Some experts argue that no dogs can be truly hypoallergenic, because it’s the dander (the skin that all animals and humans shed) that causes reactions. In extreme cases, this might be true.
However, with less shedding, comes a lower chance of dander exposure. Especially if the dog is bathed on a regular basis.
Previously, it was believed that only curly F1b doodles with a curly coat would be suitable for allergy sufferers, but it’s not always that simple.
Advances in breeding knowledge have led to something known as a shedding test, which enables reputable breeders to cross dogs without shedding alleles. Multigenerational pups, if bred correctly, have the highest odds of producing a non-shedding litter.
Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs For Therapy?
Therapy dogs can be incredibly special for people in need. Whether you have a child with a disability, an elderly relative with limited mobility, or someone in the family who suffers from anxiety or depression, these dogs can change their lives.
As well as being wonderfully bright, these dogs are highly social and loyal to their loved ones. They adore pleasing humans and take well to training; they don’t get overexcited and respond well to positive reinforcement.
So are Goldendoodles good dogs for those who needs therapy? As Goldendoodles were initially bred to be therapy dogs for people suffering from allergies, this role is their calling.
Their personalities and behavior are ideally suited to helping those who need it. Some of the crucial traits for therapy dogs include:
- Ability to focus in chaotic, crowded or unusual situations
- Patience
- Love of children
- Gentle natured
- Loyal
- Social
- Easy to train
- Eager to please
- Intelligent
- Attentive
- Love attention
Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs When It Comes To Size?
One of the features that make these pooches perfectly suited to families is that, as designer dogs, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Proportion can be particularly significant, and requirements vary from family to family. If you’ve got a big house and you all love getting active outdoors, a bigger dog could be precisely what you’re looking for.
If you live in an apartment or can’t cater to the energetic needs of a bigger dog, a medium or miniature Goldendoodle puppy may be the right option for you. These little guys are the result of involving miniature poodles in their ancestry.
Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs For Training?
We’ve touched on how easy these friendly dogs are to train when looking at what makes them great therapy dogs.
So are Goldendoodles good dogs that can easily be trained? With their kind personalities and keen attitudes, they respond extraordinarily well to training, especially if you start when they’re as young as possible.
The first thing to remember is that Goldendoodles tend to be high-energy dogs — and it’s not easy to train a puppy with pent-up energy! You need to make sure you’re exercising them enough before training. Here are five other tips for teaching your doodle:
- There is no place for anger when training this type of dog. It’s so vital that you don’t express negative emotions or get frustrated. These super-clever pups are masters of nonverbal cues and will respond negatively to negative reinforcement.
If they’re not performing as you’d like them to, examine why. The reward may not be compelling enough, it might be time for a nap or you may be presenting the information in a way they can’t understand. - Never try to teach your pooch anything while they’re in a hyper mood. Take them for a nice big walk before you train, and always remember how important it is to set your puppy up for success.
- Teach the dog in the order of your priorities. With passion and drive set into your intentions, you’ve got a much better chance of success. Doodle training programs can be useful but bear in mind that you don’t need to follow the order set out in them.
- Consistency is everything. If you skip days or keep changing the methods you use, your doggie friend is going to get confused and struggle to understand what you want from them.
Plan your training and fix a clear routine for training time. Make sure you use the same cues, and always reward them for good work. - Practice makes perfect. We recommend that you practice how you’re going to perform proper training before you even start working with your Goldendoodle puppy.
This minimizes inconsistency and means you’re confident and focused when it comes to involving your pooch. When the time comes, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, repeat, repeat, and repeat again!
Are Goldendoodles Good Dogs For Kids and Other Pets
When it comes to kids, Goldendoodle puppies are ideal. They look like teddy bears and are just as cuddly. These canines don’t have a strong small prey instinct at all, which means they can do incredibly well with small pets.
Training is still imperative to make sure both parties are comfortable with the situation, but they learn easily. They quickly understand the rules of the home and normally aren’t inclined to pounce, bark or harm.
We’ve found that the answer to the question are Goldendoodles good dogs is an absolute yes!
If you’re ready to choose the perfect pooch for you and your own family, have a look at what we have available on the Pride & Prejudoodles website. If you still have questions, contact us today.
