HISTORY OF THE BREED
The origion story of the Goldendoodle hybrids starts in America and takes us from Hawaii to Australia. Monica Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, is claimed to be the first to breed Goldendoodles in 1969. Although Goldendoodles were first bred in the 1960s, their popularity did not start to take off until the late 20th century. In the 1980s, a breeder at the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia, received a letter from a woman in Hawaii who needed a hypoallergenic guide dog because her husband was allergic to fur. The breeder knew the standard poodle would have to be part of the mix. He bred a poodle with a solid working dog, a Labrador retriever from Sweden, and the Labradoodle was born. Once the Labradoodle became a favored breed for families, other poodle crossbreeds started popping up including the aussiedoodle, sheepadoodle, cockapoo, bernedoodle, and goldendoodle. These are only a few popular options. While the different parent breeds all offer their own traits, and those traits are expressed differently in every puppy, doodle dogs tend to be fun-loving and affectionate, living happily with other pets and kids. The popularity and purposeful breeding of Goldendoodles was no doubt inspired by the creation of the Labradoodle and its success as a compatible dog for many people who experience mild allergies to dogs. The gorgeous low to no shedding coats were attracting those who loved the temperament of the Golden Retriever, but detested the amount of hair left behind and/or the allergy issues it presented. Thus, the Goldendoodle became a universal hit!
As the breed continued to develop, requests for different sizes became common and breeders answered. The public’s immediate adoration of the standard Goldendoodle (a Standard Poodle crossed with a Golden Retriever) led the breed originators to look at size variations to accommodate different lifestyles. There are now four categories for sizes – petite, mini, medium, and standard. They also come in a variety of colors and coat patterns. Given their wonderful disposition, intelligence, health and low to no shed coats, it’s no wonder why Goldendoodles are ever increasing in popularity.
GOLDENDOODLE SIZES
PETITE/MICRO RANGE: Height: below 14 inches, typically 25 lbs. or less
MINIATURE RANGE: Height: over 14 but under 17 inches (35cm to 42cm) at wither, typically 26-35 lbs.
MEDIUM RANGE: Height: over 17 but under 21 inches (43cm to 52cm) at wither, typically 36-50 lbs.
STANDARD RANGE: Height: over 21 inches (53cm to 63cm) at wither, typically 51 or more lbs.
Final size category of a dog will be determined at adulthood and is measured at the withers. Please be aware that the estimated size of a puppy by a breeder is an educated guess; therefore, a puppy’s final size may vary somewhat from a breeder’s initial calculation.
THE GOLDENDOODLE AS A COMPANION
The Goldendoodle is a wonderful mix of the personalities of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Each individual breed (the Poodle and Golden Retriever) score in the top 4 of the 150 smartest dog breeds. They are very intelligent trainable dogs that inherit a naturally kind-hearted, social, happy-go-lucky attitude from the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles descend from hunting water dogs, so this puts them in the working dog category, and that means they love having jobs to do. For this reason, Goldendoodles make excellent hunting dogs, service or therapy dogs, or even water rescue dogs. As family members, they're constant companions who want to be included in all activities. Goldendoodles are even-tempered, playful, gentle, non-aggressive, loyal, highly affectionate, and friendly dogs. They are eager to please their owners, so training is usually fun and easy, and obedience seems to come naturally. Goldendoodles are energetic and will gladly participate in all kinds of activities and games. They are people-oriented, full of love, and always ready for snuggles. They are affectionate and want to be a full-fledged family member. This breed is very gentle and devoted to their family, including its younger members. With such an easy going attitude, they'll flourish with additional playmates (people and dogs alike). The downside of them being so social and bonded to their family is that they crave attention and generally shouldn't be left home alone for long periods of time on a regular basis. Because Goldendoodles are friendly and social, they make terrible watch dogs as they would rather make friends than defend themselves or anything else. Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of exercise and can live happily in urban environments. Like any dog, their temperament greatly depends on the socialization and training they receive from a young age. Good for novice dog parents, and experienced canine families alike, Goldendoodles make the perfect new family member or a devoted, trustworthy working/service dog.