Goldendoodles are all the rage nowadays. It seems that everywhere you go, you see a teddy bear faced doodle of some kind. Why is this? Are they good dogs or is it just a trend that people have jumped on?
Why are Goldendoodles so popular?
Goldendoodles are so popular because they are great dogs. Most are hypoallergenic, and can be great for people with allergies. They also make great family pets and are very intelligent. They are good with children, easily trainable, playful and fun to be around.
If you have ever been around one, you might already be aware that they are very fun dogs to be around. They love to play and they are loyal to their owners as well as any friends of the owners. They also draw lots of attention and steal the show when they are around.
It’s difficult to see one and not fall instantly in love. In fact, we are seeing them more than ever now.
- We see them in people’s cars with their heads hanging out the windows enjoying fresh air.
- We see them in stores shopping with their owners.
- We see them in airports and other public transportation areas.
- We see them more and more at dog parks and out on the walking trails.
They are popping up all over the place and every time we see them, we want to pet and love on them.
The Truth About Goldendoodles
We had never heard of a Goldendoodle when we began our search for a dog. We hadn’t really considered any dog breed as we just wanted any dog that would accept us as their pack.
We stumbled upon Goldendoodles by accident and discovered that there was a miniature version. These piqued our interest and we began heavy research into the breed and found our best friend only a couple hours from where we live.
13 years later, we have some stories to tell about our amazing dog and the fun and laughter she has brought to our lives. You probably already know that they are very smart but there are other great things about them that you might not know.
They are great for first time dog owners
We had never owned a dog of our own until our Goldendoodle. I will admit that we were a bit scared going into it. We wondered if we would be up for the challenge or if we would be able to raise her properly.
She put that to ease when she showed us how easy she was going to make it. She was so darn smart and well-behaved from the beginning that we really just had to show her what we wanted, and she learned and did it.
We never had a lot of the problems that many people talk about when raising a puppy. She never chewed up things in the house, most always minded us and only used the potty on the carpet a handful of times.
This doesn’t mean that all Goldendoodles will be this way but ours made our lives easy. We were able to focus on teaching her good behaviors instead of focusing on overcoming bad ones.
If you are a first time dog owner, a Goldendoodle can make a great choice.
They can learn nearly anything you want to teach them
There are many smart dog breeds. Whether it’s a Border Collie, German Shepard or a Labrador Retriever, you will always find intelligence in dogs. However, the Goldendoodle comes from two of the smartest breeds combined; the Poodle and the Golden Retriever.
They definitely take on traits from both breeds and their intelligence level and willingness to please is what allows them to learn nearly anything you want teach them.
They will patiently learn new commands and tricks as long as you are willing to teach them. In fact, We are still teaching our senior dog new things each day.
It’s amazing to watch her trying to figure out exactly what we want. We know from being with her over the years when she is truly trying to learn something. She will cock her head and look at us and do some of the tricks she already knows, hoping that she picks the right one.
You can almost see the gears spinning in her head wondering how to please us.
However, sometimes she is only trying to please us so that we will leave her alone and give her a treat already.
They are often used as therapy or service dogs
With their gentle, loving and attentive nature, it’s no wonder that they are often used for therapy and service to others. Being hypoallergenic also makes them great for use in these situations.
Some of the following are what they may be used for:
- Visiting nursing homes to help lift the spirits and give love to the residents
- Visiting hospitals to help spread cheer and bring comfort to those who are sick
- Visiting jails or rehabilitation centers to help bring joy and hope to those who are working to change their lives.
They can also be used as service dogs and can serve as guide dogs for the blind or assistants for the physically disabled.
Goldendoodles have the qualities that it takes to be a dog who works for the service of others.
Our dog has shown us these abilities in our own lives. As we have gone through our own challenges, she has been there for us without us even asking.
She has brightened our days and showed us hope when times were tough. She has been an angel to us and has truly made our lives better.
They are healthy and athletic
Most people like to know that the dog they adopt is going to be healthy and have a long life free from pain and suffering. Goldendoodles have proven to be a healthy cross breed and are often touted for their athletic ability.
They excel at activities such as:
- Walking / Hiking – they will be by your side as you walk or hike off into the sunset. Just make sure you aren’t doing it in the mid day heat and to bring along enough water.
- Jogging – need a jogging partner? They have lots of energy and can jog by your side. However, they are also able to turn it off and cuddle by your side.
- Agility courses – their high intelligence level combined with their athletic ability makes them perfect for running and training for agility courses.
- Swimming – they are natural swimmers since they are bred from two breeds that love the water. Poodles were naturally bred as water retrievers so they are no stranger around the water.
We have been very happy with the health of our doodle. She has been running and playing with lots of energy since we brought her home 13 years ago.
We still take her walking and often have spurts of running with her. She can walk for miles with us with no problem.
We have been lucky and she has never had any health issues either. The only thing she has been plagued with are lipomas that are starting to show up more and more on her body.
We have had these tested and they are nothing to worry about. They are simply benign fatty tumors that will continue to grow shouldn’t cause any issues.
Do Goldendoodles Shed?
One of the main reasons Goldendoodles and poodle mix dogs in general have become popular is because they are low or non-shedding. They are considered hypoallergenic.
This term refers to something that won’t likely cause an allergic reaction.
Poodles are among those dog breeds that are considered to be hypoallergenic. They don’t shed or shed very little and they have less dander that is likely to cause allergies to flair up in those who have allergy issues.
Since Poodles are hypoallergic, Goldendoodles inherit this trait and are less likely to be a problem for allergy sufferers than other popular dog breeds.
Are Goldendoodles Protective?
They can show signs of being protective but this is because they are super loyal. Speaking from personal experience with our dog, she has a tendency to be protective at times.
She will sometimes growl or bark when we are too close to strangers. However, when this happens, we put her in her place and let her know that it is not ok. She usually responds the way we want but it really depends upon the situation.
She is more protective when we are at home rather than when we are out in public with her.
Conclusion
The popularity of non-shedding mixed breed dogs will only continue to grow. The Goldendoodle is a perfect example of a dog that is hypoallergenic, great with family, faithful, loyal, loving and so much fun to own.
There is a reason that you are seeing them pop up all over the place. They are worthy cross breed dogs that are being noticed for the good that they bring into the world and into the lives of others.