Goldendoodle Breed Information (click here for Cockapoo Breed Information)
Click on a link below to be taken to that section of this page or just scroll down:
Some pure
bred dog breeders are attacking the Goldendoodle and the breeders who
breed them, saying that the breeders who breed them are just money
hungry, and why should anyone pay money for a mutt when you can go to
the shelter for one. They're also trying to discredit the "hybrid vigor"
theory, the quality of the breeding stock in the Goldendoodle breeding
programs, and stating that Goldendoodles are ending up in rescues and
shelters everywhere.
So I am going to ask you to do your own homework on the Goldendoodle,
read what the real experts have to say about them, the veterinarians and
the geneticists. Talk to the people who own Goldendoodles, the breeders
who actually breed Goldendoodles, and the trainers that train them. I
think that most of these pure bred dog breeders have an agenda of their
own. The Goldendoodle has become so popular that families are buying
Goldendoodles over Poodles and Golden Retrievers. I know this for fact,
because I was a Golden Retriever breeder for over 15 years!
Here are some web sites written by actual experts on the subject, click on a link:
Kate's family Pets/Vet & Geneticist
Solutions To Welfare Problems In Dog Breeding
Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs
The Genetic Cul-de-sac Dogs as an endangered species Part 1
Goldendoodle
Description
The Goldendoodle is a Golden Retriever and a Poodle cross. The
Goldendoodle gets it's name from it's mixed heritage. The
Goldendoodle is a hybrid cross, and as such they exhibit "hybrid
vigor", this is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the
fact that the first cross between two unrelated pure bred lines is
healthier and grows better than either parent line. The puppies take
on the best traits of both parent breeds. The need for dogs that are
good with children and other pets, but that are also healthy and
shed less, has inspired breeders to cross breed two of the most
intelligent and popular breeds of our time. The Goldendoodle's
ancestry along "both" parents lines are water dogs and hunters, so
the Goldendoodle naturally loves the water and retrieving.
Everyone
knows that Golden Retrievers were bred for hunting-retrieving and
love water, but what most people don't know is that Standard Poodles
were also water dogs used for retrieving. Their conformation and the
texture and pattern of their coats to this day reflect the purposes
for which they were bred. Miniatures and Toys have been bred down
from the larger Poodles and they exhibit the same general
characteristics.
The appearance of the Goldendoodle looks anywhere from a shaggy
looking Golden Retriever to a curl relaxed Poodle, but usually falls
somewhere in between. The color of their coat can be white to cream,
different shades of golden and blondes, apricot to red, and brown or
black. Like many Poodle crosses most Goldendoodles don't shed, or
shed only slightly, and could be
hypoallergenic.
Golden Retriever x Poodle = F1 (50% Golden Retriever & 50% Poodle)
F1 x F1 = F2 (50% Golden Retriever & 50% Poodle)
F1 x Poodle = F1B (25% Golden Retriever & 75% Poodle)
F1 x F1B = F2B (37.50% Golden Retriever & 62.50% Poodle)
F2 x F1B = F2B (37.50% Golden Retriever & 62.50% Poodle)
F1B x F1B = F1B (25% Golden Retriever & 75% Poodle)
F2 x F2 = F3 (50% Golden Retriever & 50% Poodle)
F3 x F3 = Multi-generation (50% Golden Retriever & 50% Poodle)
Goldendoodle Coat Types: Shedding/Allergies
The more percent of Poodle the better for non-shedding and allergies. F1's have been known to shed, some even shed a lot. The Goldendoodles with more Poodle in them like the F1B are excellent for people with severe allergies, and normally they shouldn't shed at all. For someone looking for more Golden Retriever than Poodle, but trying to avoid shedding and maybe they have mild allergies, the F2 or F2B is a good choice. The F2 is basically just like the F1, because it's 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle just like the F1. However because both parents are Goldendoodles instead of one of them being a Golden Retriever, they normally don't shed.
Coat types can vary in any of the combinations, some will be straighter, some wavier, and some might even be curly. But just because the dog is an F1B does not mean it will be curly, we have produced many F1B's with coats that are straighter looking, but because they are an F1B they are non-shedding and great for allergies, even when they have straighter coats. A good breeder who has been breeding Goldendoodles for a while, should be able to determine coat types in their litters and recommend the type of Goldendoodle that would best suit your needs.
Goldendoodle Height and Weight
Goldendoodles can come in many different sizes, because they are not a pure breed there is no recognized standard. The best thing to do is ask your breeder what sizes the parent dogs are, and ask for feed back about previous puppies produced by the same parents your getting your puppy from. There are many combinations possible when breeding Goldendoodles, that's why there are so many different sizes. If you breed an F1 Standard Goldendoodle with a Mini Poodle, you can call them F1B Mini Goldendoodles, however you will get a much smaller dog by breeding an F1 Mini Goldendoodle with a Mini Poodle, and those are also called F1B Mini Goldendoodles. Just because a breeder refers to their puppies as "minis", they may still get to be 50 pounds as an adult, so when it comes to sizes of minis you need to be very careful and make sure to discuss sizes with your breeder. The safest thing to do is base the size of the puppies on the size of it's parents. Two smaller parents will produce smaller offspring than one small and one large parent, and when you combine one small and one large parent, the size of their puppies can vary from puppy to puppy in each litter. Breeding dogs of the same size or close in size will produce a much more uniformed litter. Unfortunately we have come across many web sites that we know are not being truthful about the size of their puppies, and we know this by the size of their parent dogs. We are happy to answer questions for you if you need our help determining if the breeder is being honest about the size of their puppies.
How to Calculate Adult Dog Weight During Puppyhood - click here: calculate-dog-weight-during-puppyhood
Below is information taken from the AKC web site:
Golden Retriever:
Size, Proportion, Substance
Males 23-24 inches in height at withers; females 21-22 inches.
Dogs up to one inch above or below standard size should be
proportionately penalized. Deviation in height of more than one
inch from the standard shall disqualify. Length from breastbone
to point of buttocks slightly greater than height at withers in
ratio of 12:11. Weight for dogs 65-75 pounds; bitches 55-65
pounds.
Poodle: Size, Proportion,
Substance
The Standard Poodle: is over 15 inches at the highest
point of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is 15 inches or less in
height shall be disqualified from competition as a Standard
Poodle. <As you can see here, there is no height limit
for the Poodle like there is for the Golden Retriever. This is
why there are some very large Poodles that breeders refer to as
"Royals".>
The Miniature Poodle: is 15 inches or under at the
highest point of the shoulders, with a minimum height in excess
of 10 inches. Any Poodle which is over 15 inches or is 10 inches
or less at the highest point of the shoulders shall be
disqualified from competition as a Miniature Poodle.
The Toy Poodle: is 10 inches or under at the highest point
of the shoulders. Any Poodle which is more than 10 inches at the
highest point of the shoulders shall be disqualified from
competition as a Toy Poodle.
Goldendoodle
Temperament
A Goldendoodle is an intelligent and obedient family companion. Like
the Golden Retriever the Goldendoodle is everybody's friend. They
are good with children, other dogs and pets, and are easy going with
strangers. The Goldendoodle's intelligence and eagerness to please
also makes them very easy to train. The Goldendoodle is a very
social dog and could become mischievous and destructive if they are
left to spend most of their lives alone. Like the Golden Retriever
the Goldendoodle is happiest when with people or other dogs.
Goldendoodle Health
Issues
As a hybrid cross the Goldendoodle grows healthier and lives longer
than either parent line. The only genetic diseases the Goldendoodle
can be prone to would be those shared by "both" the Golden Retriever
and the Poodle. There are no known "major" concerns at this time.
Minor concerns for the Goldendoodle would be - cataract, SAS (heart
disease), and CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia), but CHD is far more
commonin the Standard Goldendoodles, and not very common for
Goldendoodles that will be 45 pounds or less when full grown.
We frequently get asked if there are more health problems with the Mini Goldendoodle, because of the father being a Mini or Toy Poodle. People often wonder if that can cause health problems in the offspring, we have heard all kinds of odd things people think can go wrong with mini's, but the truth of the matter is they're actually healthier! What most people don't know is that all small and toy breeds originally were bred down in size from larger dogs. The smaller Goldendoodles actually have less health problems and live longer. The smaller Goldendoodles have less health problems, because they share less of the same bad genetic traits, and they live longer because they are smaller, smaller dogs generally live longer than larger dogs. The breeders that tell buyer's that Mini Goldendoodles have health problems, and that their organs are too big for their bodies, those breeders obviously do not breed them! And no they do not come out disproportioned, I've heard that one too!
Goldendoodle Living
Conditions
Goldendoodles do well in the city or the country. The smaller
versions do well in Apt and condos.
Goldendoodle Exercise
Requirements
Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of daily exercise. This can
be in the form of walks or retrieving games. They also love
swimming!
Goldendoodle Life
Expectancy
Standard Goldendoodle:
10-14 years, depending on size and condition.
Mini Goldendoodle:
10-17 years, depending on size and condition.
Smaller dogs generally live longer than larger dogs.
Goldendoodle Grooming
& Maintenance
Most Goldendoodles shed very little or not at all, and Goldendoodles
may not cause allergies. Daily brushing is required to prevent
matting. Some people like to keep their Goldendoodle in a puppy cut,
which makes them virtually maintenance free.
Goldendoodle Group
Hunting Dogs, Flushing Dogs, Sporting Dogs
Goldendoodle
Recognition
Click on a Link:
ACHC American Canine Hybrid Club
CKC
Continental Kennel Club
Goldendoodles are not recognized by the AKC, the AKC only recognizes pure breeds