Although there are variations in different types of Goldendoodles, in general, they are a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. This type of dog has gained a lot of popularity in recent years and it’s no wonder why.
As a Goldendoodle owner myself, I can say that owning a Doodle has been one of the best things I have ever experienced in life.
In fact, I would say that being the parent of a Goldendoodle has changed my life for the better. She has taught me so much over the years and I have learned to love and appreciate all animals even more as a result of my day to day interactions with her.
I didn’t grow up as an animal lover. I learned from a young age that animals are less than us and don’t deserve the same amount of respect as humans do. However, my Goldendoodle has taught me different. She has opened my heart to love animals and has taught me that we are all the same; we only look different.
I can proudly call myself an animal lover and she has been responsible for making that change in me.
If you are wondering if this type of dog is right for you, perhaps the list below will help you make a decision.
1) They are highly intelligent
Yep, Goldendoodles are super smart. I’ve always said that my doodle is just a little human hiding behind fur. It’s the way she acts and the things she does that just make you think she is an actual human.
There are many times I have sat and watched my dog and said to myself, “how can she be so smart?” Of course, everyone will say that their dog is smart but any Goldendoodle owner will tell you that theirs are among the smartest.
I’ve been able to teach her things that I would’ve never imagined a dog could learn. Things like ringing a bell when she needs to go outside. Any dog can probably learn something like this but I’m super proud at how quick my doodle picked it up.
Her intelligence can often be a negative because she knows exactly how to push our buttons. She knows how to get what she wants and how to get attention.
2) They are hypoallergenic
I grew up with debilitating allergies and was allergic to nearly everything in sight. Especially cats and dogs. It wasn’t until our family got a miniature poodle that I finally had a companion that didn’t make me sneeze constantly.
When I became an adult, got married and built a life of my own, we began having talks about getting a dog. I had learned to manage my allergies through various ways and wasn’t sure if a dog would trigger them as I remembered from my childhood.
Our research led us to Goldendoodles. It was love at first sight when we saw the Teddy bear face but their hypoallergenic properties enticed me even more.
As someone with allergies in the past, I can say that my hypoallergenic dog has no effect on me. I have never once felt any type of allergic reaction around her. She doesn’t shed and you will only see the occasional hair lying around just as you would see the occasional human hair lying around the house.
If you want a dog that doesn’t get hair all over you when they jump in your lap, you may be in the market for a Goldendoodle.
If you have allergies, I would strongly suggest that you look into hypoallergenic dogs.
3) They make great companions
Need a best friend? Had a rough day at work? A Goldendoodle is what you need. There’s nothing like coming home at the end of a long day and having a big Teddy bear jump into your lap. Of course, in the case of a full size dog that could be 100 pounds or more, that might not be possible.
Our mini doodle loves to lay near us especially during the winter months when seeking warmth. However, summertime is a different story. She loves to be close to us but her long curly hair makes it too hot to lay on or beside us.
She loves being with us no matter what we are doing. Whether we are taking her walking or having a lazy day on the couch, she is usually right there beside us.
4) They are just so darn cute
Goldendoodles are like living Teddy bears. There have been so many times that we have looked at our dog and said, “are you even real?”
It’s really hard to believe that a dog can look so close to a stuffed animal.
Of course, please remember that they are real, breathing living beings and no matter how cute they are, they still require lots of attention and patience.
They may look like Teddy bears but don’t let that fool you. They are like any other pet and will only thrive if you give them lots of attention and love.
5) Their gentle temperament
Don’t expect your Goldendoodle to be a guard dog. However, if you are looking for a gentle dog that can be a part of your family, good with strangers and other animals, this type of dog may be a good choice for you.
Although some can be protective, in general I have found that they are more bark than bite.
They will look to you for their instructions in life and they aim to please. This is one of the reasons they are so easy to train. Combine this gentle temperament with their high intelligence level and you have the potential for a very well-behaved dog.
6) They are hilarious
Our Goldendoodle does the funniest things and keeps us laughing each and every day. She definitely has a personality of her own. She has gone through many different phases throughout her life so it is always something new with her.
When she was younger, she would get the zoomies quite often and take a running spell around the yard or even inside the house.
In case you aren’t aware, the zoomies are when a dog runs around in circles or does some other kind of repetitive behavior. In the case of our dog, she will run circles around us and then she’ll stop and put her butt in the air as if to say “chase me,” in which case we usually do.
Beyond this, they also do funny things that show their true intelligence. If we are ignoring her, she will go and grab something she knows she shouldn’t have like a sock or underwear. She makes a lot of noise to let us know she has something, then we have to play chase with her in order to get it back.
There is always something going on with her that truly brightens our day and makes us laugh.
7) Loyalty
A loyal friend is hard to come by but you won’t have to look far when you have a doodle by your side. Their loyalty is unending.
Like most people, I’ve had others do me wrong in life. I’ve been stabbed in the back, talked bad about when I wasn’t present and I’ve even been let down by people who are closest to me.
However, my doodle has never let me down. She is a rock and her loyalty and love are steady. She is the one who stands by my side without any concern of my negative traits. She is loyal to me and loves me just for being me.
If I need a friend to cuddle with, she’s there for me. She’ll lick my face when she senses that I’m feeling down or she’ll bring me a toy to play with when I’m not in the best of moods.
8) Bigger isn’t always better
For those who don’t want big dogs, Goldendoodles come in different sizes and colors. There are miniature ones that range from 15 pounds to 35 pounds. Then there are medium size ones that may be upwards of 50 pounds. The large, full-size doods may weigh up to a hundred pounds or more.
Our miniature weighs around 18 pounds and she is the perfect size for a lap dog. We prefer a dog of her size. However, some people prefer a dog much larger.
The point is that you can have the same characteristics, look and personality in whatever size you choose.
9) Easy to train
We had a super easy time training our dog. She learned to pick up commands very easy when she was just a young puppy. We did spend a lot of time working with her but the training process went very smoothly.
There were only a handful of bad habits that she had that we had to break.
One of those bad habits was chewing on things. This is a normal bad habit for any puppy. We easily broke her from this by using sour apple spray and reprimanding her when we caught her chewing something she wasn’t supposed to like chair legs or shoes.
It only lasted a short while and she has never chewed on anything again as far as I know.
Potty training was easy and teaching tricks was a breeze. This type of dog seems to be able to learn nearly anything in only a short period of time.
10) Family Friendly
If you are worried about having a dog that will be family friendly, you won’t have to worry with a Goldendoodle. They are very much family friendly and are generally gentle with everyone including small children.
Of course, this always depends on the specific dog and the training methods employed. The environment that the dog grows up in could also have an affect on the way he or she interacts with people in your family.
Goldendoodles are known to be very friendly and loving and usually do very well with anyone they come in contact with. We don’t have other pets of our own but our dog does well when around other animals.
Our dog is usually indifferent towards other dogs. She would rather just be left alone. She subscribes to the “live and let live” way of life. She won’t bother you if you don’t bother her.
Conclusion
A Goldendoodle makes a great pet for those willing to put in the work with proper training. It isn’t always easy but the same can be said for any dog you may bring into your home.
These 10 reasons are only a few of the many reasons to make this type of dog a part of your family. As a long time Goldendoodle owner, I know that they have the potential to bring you many years of love, companionship and pure joy.