I am very interested in getting a goldendoodle...

[Jaime Eason]

I just happened upon this website and thought what better way to research goldendoodles than with owners of them? I have been a golden retriever owner my whole life. I just painfully lost my second golden retriever last year to cancer (at the tender age of 3 years old). my fiance was also allergic to him but did his best to tolerate because Bodhi was an angel. can anyone help me decide if this is a good dog for me and my fiance? i have read so much about the breed and honestly cannot find many faults...i mean they even made the front page of a magazine with the title "best breed ever" so i am 99% convinced. can anyone tell me pros and cons please? i have never had anything but goldens because they are the most adorable, they love to swim, run, fetch, they are brilliant (BUT THEY SHED UNCONTROLLABLY)...i just want to know that i am making the right decision with a goldendoodle and do they shed very much?

thanks, Jaime

[Lynn D.]

I am sure others will tell you this however, some goldendoodles shed and aren't totally hypoallergenic.

Your best bet is to adopt a non-puppy so that you KNOW if he/she is a shedder and produces allergens that your fiance can't handle.

Good Luck

[Jaime Eason]

thanks lynn..can you tell me this, when they shed do they shed profusely or is it a fairly easy clean up? other than that do you recommend the breed?

[HeatherA]

Goldendoodles go through a major coat change between 6months and 12 months old... so it makes it hard to say as a puppy what will happen later. Some more experienced breeders have a pretty good eye for which coats will be low/non-shedding. I would look at an F1b Goldendoodle. That is a Half Golden/Poodle bred back with a Poodle. The poodle IS hypoallergenic, so the more poodle you have in there - the better your chances of non-shedding.

We also have some wonderful ladies and men that work with Doodle rescues on this board. Doodles are rescued and kept in foster homes until an applicant is found that is a good match. That could be a winning situation for you -- you get to save a wonderful Doodle, and the foster parents/rescue can help you find a no/low shed Doodle. They get doodles of all ages from a few weeks old to years old. Definitely worth a look. (My parents just recently adopted a Labradoodle through the DRC that is 18m old and it's the best choice they've ever made. They are completely smitten.)

http://doodlerescueinc.ning.com/ -- Is the DRC, Doodle Rescue Collective

http://idog.biz/IDOGRescue.html -- Is IDOG... International Doodle Owners Group

Good luck! Feel free to ask any questions - there is a wealth of knowledge here :)

[Jaime Eason]

Heather,
thanks so much!!! that is a great idea...i will look into that. plus we might get a chance to adopt a doodle that is housebroken already, but i would miss the "baby" stage; however my fiance could do without the housebreaking phase...lol. i live in jacksonville florida so i hope there are rescues close. im going to check out those websites now. goldendoodles just seem like a great dog. i miss my golden everyday.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I echo what others are saying with regard to pros and cons, however I had two things that I wanted to add. Don't get too focused on missing the puppy stage! Go to the Puppy Madness group and read some of the comments made by those with puppies and you just might change your mind. While there is nothing like a cute little puppy, there are those that have some very trying times. :o)

Also, since you are in FL, I would recommend a lighter colored Doodle. I have both an apricot/cream doodle and a black/silver doodle and the black one has a tough time with the heat. It really gets warm from the sun. She would have a really difficult time living in FL.

FYI ..... good luck with your search.

[HeatherA]

CONS: (From my experience and from what I've read)

There are a lot of breeders just out there to make a buck that charge middle range prices to attract buyers but don't breed responsibly. They don't test for hip/joint issues, etc. They attract people with lower prices and you can end up paying a lot for saving a little at the beginning.

They have high maintenance coats if you keep them longer. Plan on grooming, not just at the grooming salon - but some time of yours in the evening brushing through the coat to keep your Doodle matt free. That or plan on keeping them cut short, your choice.

They are dogs. They don't come fully trained out of the package. They require training to be the best they can be. Good owners get good Doods. :)

They are VERY intelligent. This is a pro and a con. Intelligence means they can become bored. They are larger breed and very smart -- they like their walks, exercise and training. (Not enough exercise in any breed can lead to behavioral issues.)

They love their humans. Another pro and con. They really care about your attention - they aren't the cat of the dog world. They will miss you when you're not around, they like a lot of attention, they enjoy a lot of human interaction. (Not enough human interaction can lead to anxiety, depression, destructive behaviors)

Standard Goldendoodles run the risk of Hip displasia (like Poodles/Goldens) if you do buy from a breeder look for a breeder that tests extensively on their Dam and Sire for genetic predispositions to these problems.

They are SO easy to spoil... and once you get one you may find yourself wanting a houseful. Just saying.... I have two now. ;)


PROS: (My personal experience and what I've read and seen, again)

They are intelligent, friendly and easy to train. Both Poodles and Goldens are in the top 10 most intelligent breeds and easiest to train breeds.. so they have it from both sides.

They are biddable - meaning they WANT to please you. They love the attention of training and pick up new things quickly.

Typically, they are water dogs. Again, Standard Poodles and Goldens are both water dogs.

They are loving and care deeply about their humans. They cuddle and snuggle. They take excellent care of their humans.

They are family friendly. Typically the temperament desired and bred is an easy going, lovable dog that is intelligent and eager to please. It's an amazing combination.

They aren't SUPER high maintenance beyond the coat and walking or running at the park. They don't have boundless energy like some breeds, my girls both love sitting up on the sofa snuggling after a day of good playing.

Because they are a mix - they get the benefit of "hybrid vigor" -- which is less chance of problems common from inbred dogs.

[Jaime Eason]

thanks Jenel and Heather for the great info...I used to take Bodhi on two 30 minute walks daily and then saturday dog park day for swimming..he got his teeth and hair brushed every other day so i think i would do well with this breed but i am leaning towards a possible 1 year old that i can adopt then i might know better what i am getting but I WILL MISS THE BABY STAGE because Bodhi and I bonded so much then because we went to puppy school together for his first 3 months that i had him and he was the best!!!! well i will log onto this site tomorrow....goodnight folks, thanks again!!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

If you love goldens you will adore Goldendoodles. An F1B might be fit your shedding and allergy needs better as the chances are best with that generation. But as for shedding, mine don't but my daughters does and after visiting friends with goldens, I can say it is NOTHING like a goldens shedding. But I guess some can shed a lot, just doesn't seem like that's the norm.

[Camilla and Darwin]

First off, I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved Golden Retriever. As far as doodles go, you came to the right place for information! There is a lot of great stuff to learn here so look around. I will list the pros and cons I have found

Pros:
loving, intelligent, and affectionate. Darwin loves people and wants to be pet and loved on all the time. He's great with other dogs, great with strangers, and great with kids. He's a huge attention getter, every time we go out in public people are stopping us to pet the "polar bear" or "sheep". They comment on how cute and soft he is all the time. He sheds very minimally. The only time I get hair on me is when I am brushing him and I don't even notice unless I'm wearing a black shirt. But no hair on our carpet or furniture. He is very versatile. He can romp and play and fetch when we are outside but he's also calm and mellow indoors during cold weather. This is not standard for all doodles though.

Cons:
- His coat is very high maintenance. I brush him for about 30-45 minutes every night, and if I skip this for a few days, he gets very matted. Many times doodles need to be shaved down or else their hair gets very long, and it's harder to keep tangle free when it is long. That usually means professional grooming.

- It's hard to know what size color and coat type they will end up being, since they are first and second generations, so those things can be unpredictable.

-They need a lot of attention. So if you aren't going to be home very much, they wouldn't be very happy. They need to be around people.

-They are not always hypo-allergenic. Also, even if you aren't allergic to their puppy coat, you may still be to their adult coat. I think you should definitely stick with a f1b rather than an f1 (one doodle parent, one poodle parent) because it's a higher chance that they will not shed or be allergy-inducing.

I am sure there are other cons but I can't think of them... I just love Darwin so much. Honestly, they are a great breed and if you are willing to commit the time to training and grooming I think they would be a great pick.

Good luck!

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

Hi Jaime,

I too turned to a Goldendoodle when my beloved Golden Retriever passed away. It is a story I have heard time and time agin and I have yet to come across such a story without a happy doodle ending! I didn't want another Goldie as I felt no goldie could compare to my last.

You have been provided with great advise re coat types, shedding, grooming ect which I cannot add to.

I really would recommend that you meet some doodles. They are simply unique. They have the goofy yet elegant traits of the Poodle but with a huge desire to please you, like retrievers. They want to be involved in every activity you do, and if you can welcome a dog into most activities you do a doodle is a great fit.

Yes they need firm but fair training - they tend to be slightly more sensitive that a Goldie and very very intelligent.

Yes they need more grooming as they will matt. But find a good grooming salon and you can easily keep their coat managable.

Above all they are not a Goldie. They are not a Poodle. They are simply different to both. They are just magic and I would never be without a Goldendoodle.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I totally agree with all the great advise you are getting Jaime, and especially echo Lesley's as they are just MAGIC! I was the biggest anti-dog person you could imagine until I met our daughter's goldendoodle and it was absolute love at first sight and I now have two! Neither DH or I ever had a dog in our whole lives, and our children were raised without dogs as well, which I now regret.
I agree with looking at the pro's and con's, smart, However, there are pro's and con's to everything in life and I just don't see any con's that outweigh the pro's of a golden. Grooming is the biggest mentioned, but keeping them shorter makes up for a lot of that in my humble opinion. I do my own grooming as I enjoy it and I have a particular look I like and it gives me some time to do some intensive training, (sit, stay,roll-over,stand) give lots of praise and loads of lovin all at the same time. So it's a win-win for us. And he doesn't complain if I mess up!!! Not to mention the $$$$$$$$$ it saves us.

Yes they are an active breed, but I again have found that a win-win as we love being outdoors and are year round, and honestly, it has gotten us off the couch more than we would if we didn't have them. Not a bad thing.

[Holly St Pierre]

Here is my two cents worth:
Pros, well just about everything, however, EVERY doodle is different, Gunner has 3-4 friends local & my sister & her best friend both have doodles & they all have their own personalities. For the most part, they are sweet, intelligent, eager to please. Some are non shedding, some are not. The breeder I got Gunner from (which I would have definitely rescued had I known how many doodles there are out there that need good homes) told me, minimal shedding & approximate weight 70 lbs. Gunner sheds constantly & weighs 92 lbs. You never know what you are going to get, kind of like with a kid. Part of his shedding is also due to the fact that we keep him long, so we understand that & accept it. I think a lot of people get a doodle thinking they will be easy & just lay at your feet like a 5-6 year old golden retriever, this is not usually the case. Obviously since you have had dogs you know the time commitment, I don’t think a lot of people do, which is sometimes why doodles end up in rescues. The one thing I have noticed with most all doodles I have met, they love attention & if they aren’t getting enough, they will find something to get in to, sometimes good, sometimes not! I so wish I had known about this site before getting Gunner, so you are already in the right place to get great & honest feedback. Goodluck in whatever you decide.