Goldendoodles are a very popular choice among designer dog breeds. Goldendoodle minis are smaller than the standard goldendoodle, which can weigh between 50 and 100 pounds. Minis average around 35 pounds.
When people picture a goldendoodle, they often think of the standard apricot color goldendoodle with wavy fur. However, goldendoodle puppies come in many colors. Their fur can be curly, wavy, or straight. Many people like the wavy fur as it gives the goldendoodle a “teddy bear” look.
If you are interested in getting a goldendoodle puppy, go to a reputable breeder or a shelter. Stay away from breeders whose reputation can’t be confirmed or from pet stores, which are often knowingly or unknowingly supplied by puppy mills.
As a designer dog, goldendoodles can’t be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) like other dog breeds. However, either the AKC or the Goldendoodle Association of North America can help you find a reputable goldendoodle breeder to get a goldendoodle puppy.
A Little Background
Goldendoodles, with their adorable teddy bear looks, started becoming popular in the 1990s. Goldendoodles were bred after the successes of the cockapoos (a cocker spaniel and poodle crossbreed) and the labradoodle (labrador retriever and poodle crossbreed). Like the goldendoodle, labradoodles and cockapoos are both are designer breeds.
The goldendoodle is a first generation (called an F1) cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. Since both parent breeds are purebred, the goldendoodle is considered to be a designer dog. The lifespan of a goldendoodle is somewhere between 10 and 15 years.
Like their parent breeds, this crossbreed has a reputation for being friendly, intelligent, and social. They do need plenty of exercise, and they enjoy spending time with people. Goldendoodles are considered to be good family dogs and patient with children; however, given that their friendly nature extends to strangers, they don’t make good guard dogs.
Many goldendoodles love swimming, which is not surprising since both parent breeds are water-loving dogs. They generally are very attached to their families. In addition to being good family dogs, they often make excellent guide dogs or therapy dogs.
Some people chose groodles because, like their poodle parent, they tend to be hypoallergenic. This is not to say goldendoodles are completely hypoallergenic (no dog is), but the ones with a curly coat are more likely to be low shedding (but not completely non-shedding).
Some breeders breed an F1 goldendoodle with a purebred standard poodle, so instead of being 50% standard poodle and 50% golden retriever, the offspring is 75% poodle and 25% golden retriever. This is called backcross. Puppies are referred to as F1b goldendoodles.
They are popular because, like any poodle mix, they are more likely to be hypoallergenic and be low-shedding, and they are more likely to have a wavy or curly coat.
Training Your Goldendoodle
Once you have your new puppy, you’ll need to start training the little fluff ball. Frequency and consistency are key! Be patient and generous with your praise. Positive reinforcement is key.
Training a goldendoodle puppy takes time and consistency. Remember, the more effort you put into training and socializing your puppy, the better results you will have.
Crate Training
Crate training can be a useful way to keep your puppy from messing in the house. To crate train your goldendoodle puppy, you will need a crate of the right size. As your puppy grows, you’ll have to upgrade the crate. Put a blanket or towel in it to make it comfortable.
Most puppies are motivated by food and toys, so use them to get your puppy used to the crate. Making crate training fun will get better and faster results. Soon your goldendoodle puppy will think of the crate as their safe space.
Potty Training
Crate training can be a good aid to potty training because your goldendoodle won’t want to soil its bed. Since dogs like a routine for food and potty breaks, a regular schedule is crucial. Eventually, your goldendoodle puppy will be able to stay in the crate without an accident.
Some people also use potty pads to train their puppies. This gives the pup an approved location to do their business. Be patient with your new pet and remember to positively reinforce with praise or treats when your goldendoodle goes in the appropriate place.
Behavioral Training
Whether you have a standard goldendoodle puppy or a mini goldendoodle puppy, caring for your new puppy means teaching them good manners. Begin training right away with simple commands so your new puppy knows what is expected of them. Use plenty of positive reinforcement for good behavior.
Be patient with leash training. Don’t let your puppy pull or go crazy over the leash. If your puppy pulls on the leash, stop walking. Good leash manners are important, especially as your puppy grows bigger and stronger.
By rewarding good behavior and being consistent, your goldendoodle will be trained before you know it. Remember, goldendoodles are smart dogs and they like to please!
Socialization
Early socialization is critical for any dog, especially for family dogs like goldendoodles. Lack of socialization has been linked to nervousness and inappropriate behavior in all dog breeds.
Because of their easy-going temperament, many goldendoodle dogs make good therapy dogs or guide dogs; however, good socialization is important for all goldendoodles, not just future service dogs.
Socialization is exposing your new puppy to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, people, and places as you can while they are young. Exposing your goldendoodle puppy to other dogs is also good socialization. When you take your goldendoodle out, because they are adorable, especially if they have a curly coat, people will likely want to touch them. You want your dog to react well.
Socialization will help your goldendoodle dog learn to be calm and confident in public settings and to know what you expect. Start as soon as possible. You don’t want your puppy to be overwhelmed, so do your best to make sure the experiences are positive.
Vet Visits
Vet visits throughout your goldendoodle’s lifespan are important. Find a good, trustworthy vet that will take care of your goldendoodle dog.
Vet visits are important as your goldendoodle puppy grows. A vet can check for health conditions such as hip dysplasia, which sometimes can occur in the parent breeds of goldendoodles. Your vet can make sure your goldendoodle dog remains up to date on vaccines and can advise you on your pet’s diet and exercise needs.
Vaccines
Vaccines are an important part of a healthy goldendoodle’s life. There are some important timelines in the first few months of your goldendoodle puppy’s vaccine schedule.
- 6 weeks: kennel cough and distemper/parvo/parainfluenza vaccines
- 9 weeks: booster vaccine for distemper/parvo/parainfluenza and kennel cough vaccines.
- 12 weeks: distemper/parvo/parainfluenza vaccine along with canine influenza and leptospirosis vaccines.
- 15-16 weeks: distemper/parvo/parainfluenza vaccine and rabies, canine influenza and leptospirosis vaccines.
Depending on at what age you get your goldendoodle puppy from a reputable breeder, some of these shots will likely already have been administered, so get a copy of your puppy’s vaccination records.
Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and neutering are simple operations so that your pet can’t reproduce. For goldendoodle puppies, this procedure is done around six months of age.
Choosing not to spay your pet can leave them vulnerable to infections. Spaying or neutering can help your goldendoodle live a longer, healthier life.
Health Issues
Goldendoodles are prone to certain health issues. Some are passed down through their parent lines, so finding a reputable goldendoodle breeder is so important. Poor breeding practice can result in these genetic conditions being more prevalent.
Through both their parent breeds, F1 goldendoodles can inherit hip dysplasia, skin disease, eye disease, or heart issues. Reputable breeders test their dogs and breed responsibly and offer health guarantees for their puppies, so you know they have bred responsibly and checked the parent lines carefully.
If your goldendoodle breeder doesn’t offer a health guarantee or says testing isn’t necessary, it would be a good idea to find another breeder.
F1b goldendoodles are usually healthy and have less likelihood of health problems than purebreds ; however, they can still suffer from hereditary issues inherited from their purebred parent breed.
F1 goldendoodles are also considered to have more health vigor than f1b goldendoodles, which are considered to be a second-generation crossbreed.
Teething
Most puppies get their sharp little puppy teeth (also called milk teeth) when they are between two and four weeks old. They start to teethe around three to four months and have a full set of adult teeth by six or seven months.
Reputable breeders and rescues don’t adopt puppies out too young (before eight weeks), so your little groodle should already have milk teeth.
Like teething in human babies, the goldendoodle breed puppies can experience pain or discomfort as their new teeth force their way through the gums. During teething, puppies tend to nip or bite. They may still be learning what is appropriate play.
You should take this opportunity to teach your groodle puppy what is appropriate to chew on. Give them plenty of toys to chew.
It is important that puppies chew because it helps them retain healthy teeth. You can also get your puppy used to teeth brushing. Whether purebred or crossbreed, good tooth care is essential for a healthy lifespan.
If you notice abnormalities while your family pet is teething, contact your vet.
Feeding a Goldendoodle Puppy
It is essential for your new puppy to receive the right nutrition to grow into a healthy, strong standard goldendoodle or miniature goldendoodle. The importance of proper nutrition for your young pup can’t be overstated: they require it as their body develops. There are so many choices of puppy and dog food out there, it can be confusing to select the one that is best for your adorable goldendoodle.
Puppies often like wet food because it has a stronger scent; it also has a high water content, which offers hydration. However, wet food is likely to stick to your puppy’s teeth, which can lead to tartar buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay. Wet food is higher in protein but also messy.
Dry food is crunchy so it doesn’t stick to your puppy’s teeth, although it can be more uncomfortable on teething puppies. Dry food doesn’t spoil if your puppy doesn’t eat it all in one sitting. It’s also easier to store.
When selecting a dog food, check the labels to help you find a puppy food without additives such as corn, wheat, soy, potatoes, and other fillers. Good puppy food has protein (at least 22%), fat, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Omega-3 fatty acid can promote that shiny goldendoodle coat, as well as healthy gums and teeth.
Protein (such as chicken, beef, or lamb) should be the first ingredient in the puppy food you select. Whole protein is better than protein meal. Once your puppy is grown (about eight months to a year), switch them to adult dog food.
You can start your puppy out with wet canned food. Give your goldendoodle puppy a mix of dry and wet food once their teeth come in. Once they have all their teeth, switch to dry food. To transition your pup from wet to dry, start out with a mix.
It is important to monitor your goldendoodle’s weight. Your vet can confirm whether your hybrid dog is getting the right amount of food. Miniature goldendoodles obviously need less food than standard goldendoodles, but neither should be overweight.
Summary
Like many poodle mixes, goldendoodles can be hypoallergenic, which can be appealing if you have allergies. With their social, friendly temperament, these teddy bear-like dogs make great family dogs.
Standard goldendoodles can be large. If you are not prepared for that, a mini goldendoodle would be a better choice.
Remember to go to a reputable breeder. Not only are they more knowledgeable about your pup’s parent breeds, but they will also likely give a health guarantee for your puppy. This means your goldendoodle will be less likely to suffer from hip dysplasia and other health conditions.
Start training right away and be patient with your new family member. Though your goldendoodle puppy wants to learn, it is a process. Patience and positive reinforcement will help you get through socialization, potty training, teething, and behavior training.
Make sure your goldendoodle sees the vet regularly. Take care of your goldendoodle, and you will have a loyal, healthy friend.
