Are Labradoodles hyper? English Goldendoodles less so?

[Sheila]

Hi Everyone

I am looking for a puppy and felt sure I wanted a Labradoodle, probably an Australian, but a friend says she knows several and that they are hyper.  I don't want a nutty dog and so am sadly having second thoughts.  She also said that an English Goldendoodle is going to be more mellow.  Now I am completely confused.  If I do go with the English Goldenddoodle, can anyone recommend a good breeder.  I live in Northern California, but am willing to travel.  I am very committed to finding a responsible breeder, not a puppy mill.

Thanks!

Sheila

[Jen and Annie]

Labradors, golden retrievers and Poodles are all typically pretty high energy dogs. They were bred as retrievers, which means that over the few hundred years they have been breeds, they were designed to 'go for hours'. Now, this doesnt necessarily mean the dog will be hyper, but I would say it will definitely need an energy outlet, like long walks each day or an hour or so of fetch or frisbee. I really think that any dog is going to need an energy outlet, especially if they are young puppies. Maybe you could consider adopting an older doodle, maybe 5 or 6 years old, so that they will be in their 'slow down' period. Other than that, you MIGHT be able to find a doodle pup that is 'calmer' than it's litter mates. I would say even a calm doodle (be it labradoodle, goldendoodle, etc) is going to need a commitment to regular daily exercise. I hope this helps. I love my doodle girl, but if I don't give her an outlet for her energy, she does become 'hyper'. Rainy days are the hardest!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I don't mean to be rude but who is your friend? Is she a qualified pet behaviorist who has special qualifications in Doodles in particular? I'm guessing not. The answer is that all dogs who are not trained and socialized from an early age (training is throughout life) are potentially badly behaved. Doodle are often mis-advertised as the dog who comes non-shedding, good with children and very easy to train...the perfect family dog. You only need to scan some of the groups here to know we are all passionate about our doodles and no, they are not all perfect. Then you have to ask yourself what you are looking for.  There are so many variables among both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles. There are Goldendoodles who are very high energy and Labradoodles who are couch potatoes and vice versa. They do need regular exercise and I don't mean a short walk once a day. My two ( I have one of each)  need at least an hours walk and some off leash time every day.  One days when I can't do this they go to day care and come back happy and exhausted. Please check out 'what to look for in a breeder  here, and look through some of the posts in the groups, for example the Puppy Madness group, the Grooming Group, and  the Training group to start and you will find more information about these dogs than any single person anywhere could possibly know. Then think abut whether one of these dogs is right for your family.

[Adina P]

Hyper isn't always 'nutty' and whether YOUR doodle (whatever kind) is 'hyper' or 'nutty' depends on its parents and which genes it gets.  I have two labradoodles.  One is hyper and occasionally nutty.  The other is quite mellow and always has been (except when he had his JAWS moments and he tried to eat me the first year of his life).  But it varies in goldendoodles too--even in the same litter.  My mellow pup was born in a litter of four.  One girl was hyper, one was very shy and the other boy was about average.

English golden retrievers have a reputation for being mellow, but that doesn't mean they all are or that the poodle father might not be hyper...or that some of the pups might not be higher in energy.  The most important thing is to find a reputable breeder that breeds what you generally want and communicate properly with that breeder about what you are looking for.  Here is our guide on finding a reputable breeder--Nicky linked you to it above.

[Lindsay n Archie]

AH! Sounds like Archie. He is pretty awesome, but I do feel that he just wants to eat me. Yes, I think he is part shark/ part lion. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

My Australian Labradoodle is very mellow by nature-but he is also taken for a 2 mile walk (more on weekends) every morning, played fetch with for 1/2 hour or so mid day and more in the evening. That is probably not even enough exercise for some dogs.  The prior comments are spot on- some of the dog behavior just depends on the dog, lots depends on giving the dog the opportunity to burn off energy "productively".  Good luck!  

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I have 2 ALD's and both can calmly nap on the couch but also frequently race through my house. I think it just depends on the individual dog, but whether you go with a labradoodle or goldendoodle be prepared to exercise your dog well each day.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

OK, I am definitely not an expert on Doodles, but we have a two year old Multi Generation Australian Labradoodle and she is about as laid back as they get!  She is gentle, loving, calm and the best family dog we have ever HAD. We have six granddaughters that are in our home all the time and she is their best friend and playmate, never once getting crazy with them while they play together. She has her activiites like playing fetch, likes to play soccer with the kids, loves her walks and yes, the famous Zoomies, but never has she ever been hyper!  Not even a word to describe her.  Even when we walk and we stop to talk to people, which is a lot with a Doodle, she just sits quietly or even lays down until we finish our visit.  Everyone always comments on how laid back and gentle she is.  Not all Doodles are the same and I am sure there are some who are hyper and very active, but some of that could be due to lack of training.  I would not classify all Austrailian Labradooles as hyper.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I have an australian labradoodle. she needs lots of exercise when she was young (she would hapily play fetch for hours). Now she will either be mellow and lazy if I want to stay in, or bouncy and energetic if i want to go for a hike. The perfect mix of both :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

My two ALDs are not what I consider hyper nor high energy. They can and do run around the yard but also relax out there. They get excited initially with company. They love walks but we don't always do them and they usually are not long. I consider them to be fine dogs and great company for not young me.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri is a goldendoodle and is 4. My neighbor recently asked us if she was 1 or 2.  When I told her 4, she said "wow she's high energy for being 4".  I love her, but she's nutty when she doesn't get exercise and attention.  And she has had lots of training....

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

I agree with what people have answered so far.  There are several important factors, genetics, early socialization, consistant training and here is a big one Plenty of exercise.

I am a breeder and take great pains to breed only the best temperament dogs.  My parent dogs are therapy dogs.  That would be a good thing to look for when looking for a good tempered dog.  I also do temperament testing on all my pups to better match them with the appropriate family.  So talk to people and get recommendations for a good breeder. Go to local dog parks and find golden or labradoodle owners there.  Ask them where they got theirs. Ask your breeder about temperament testing.  Any breeder that you want to buy a puppy from should be available for all of your questions and concerns about the puppy, previous litters and the parents.  Take your time. And yes do check out, What to look for in a breeder.

After all this, be prepared for "doodle zooms" big sloppy kisses and the love of your life.  There is nothing like a goldendoodle, labradoodle. 

 

[Lisa Turner]

I have a one year old goldendoodle who is so very mellow and has been since the beginning. Then I added a second goldendoodle to liven the first one up. It worked. The six month old is crazy! However, they get lots of walk. The most important one being an hour long first thing in the morning. They also know which rooms they can let loose in and which to be calm in due to being leashed in the rooms they are not allowed to play in.