When you mix Poodle and Golden Retriever, the resulting hybrid is an adorable, affectionate pooch with a kind heart that makes an outstanding family pet or companion.
This crossbreed is popular mainly due to its fluffy and stunning looks, and they get along with strangers. The Poodle Golden Retriever mix is very loyal and dependable as well as trainable. That makes it an ideal choice as a rescue dog, therapy dog, and guide dog for the blind. This pup will do almost anything you task them with, but their friendliness makes them bad guard dogs.
Does it match the hybrid you have been looking to add to your home? We are sure you find this mix worth considering and you are not alone. After all, you can’t resist the charm it showers its owners with.
When you are getting a hybrid, it is good to know what living with it will be like. This article contains an exhaustive guide on everything you need to know about the Poodle mix with Golden Retriever. From personality to appearance, life expectancy, health issues, and how to care for them, you will find this guide very helpful.
Table of Contents
What are a Golden Retriever and Poodle mix called?
The mix Poodle and Golden Retriever is frequently known as the Goldendoodle. This cute name was created in 1992 and the hybrid is still in the first generation since it is relatively new.
Because the Goldendoodle is a designer dog, the American Kennel Club doe does not identify it as a breed. It can, however, be registered with other dog registries such as the DRA and IDCR.
Why mix with Poodle?
Breeders have a tendency of using the Poodle when creating designer dogs and it is primarily due to their enviable personalities. The Poodle dog breed is among the top smartest dogs known to man and they are also very trainable. They have a high dog IQ in terms of obedience and work, and their sweet disposition makes them adorable family pooches.
Poodles also have attractive coats that are hypoallergenic and individuals that are sensitive or allergic to puppy fur find this comforting. As you would expect, most doodles will inherit these traits which make Poodle mixes very popular.
Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | 13 to 24 inches |
| Weight | 50 to 90 lbs. |
| Lifespan | 10 to 15 years |
| Grooming | Depends on the type of coat they inherit |
| Temperament | Sweet-tempered, loyal, affectionate, kind & patient with kids |
| Coat | Can be straight, curly, or wavy; low-shedding |
| Color varieties | Cream, orange, black, gray, or dark brown |
History of the Breed
The first documented cases to mix Poodle and Golden Retriever intentionally is said to be around the late 60s. However, the Goldendoodle was recognized as a hybrid officially in the 1990s when designer dogs started becoming popular among breeders. Successful efforts of creating a Poodle and Labrador Retriever mix (Labradoodle) sparked the beginning of the Goldendoodle.
The Goldendoodle was predominantly developed to create a hybrid that does not shed much with the friendly disposition of a Golden Retriever. A brief review of the mixed parents will shine more light on this crossbreed.
Parents
The Poodle – Native to Germany, the Poodle was created with the purpose of helping hunters of wildfowl retrieve birds and ducks. History shows that Poodles made their way to France and grew into a unique dog breed that is now the national dog of France. This dog breed was also used to entertain people in a circus during its time in France before becoming a companion dog. Today, Poodles are among the most popular family dogs.
Poodles are very smart with a remarkable dog IQ rating that places them in the 2nd position of the most intelligent dogs when it comes to obedience and work. This dog learns from past events which indicates it also has high adaptive intelligence. This breed is very trainable and has been recognized as a dog breed by the AKC since 1887.
There are 4 types of Poodles including the Toy, Miniature, Standard, and Medium variety but the first three are the standard breeds universally. The size differs significantly ranging from 9.4 to 24 inches, respectively. Poodles have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years but are predisposed to some health conditions that affect their life expectancy.
Common health concerns in Poodles include hip dysplasia, bloat, cancer, skin problems, PRA, eyelid problems, and Addison’s disease. Cataracts, ear infections, and epilepsy are common.
The Golden Retriever – This famous dog breed came from the Scottish Highlands in the 1880s and was purposely created for hunting. As the name suggests, hunters used this doggie to retrieve birds on land or water since their hunting grounds were filled with marshes and lots of ponds. They are a hard-working breed with great personalities that makes them top-notch therapy dogs.
Golden Retrievers are described by their gentle and loving personality with a beautiful golden coat that melts the hearts of many. They were recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1925 and rank in the 4th place of the smartest dog breeds when it comes to work and obedience. They can learn commands in fewer than 5 repetitions.
This medium size pooch boasts a lifespan of 10 to 13 years. Some common health problems are hip & elbow dysplasia, cancer, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and eye problems. Others include skin conditions, mast cell tumors, aortic stenosis, seizures, and panosteitis.
Appearance
What does a Golden Retriever Poodle mix look like?
Like most hybrids, no one can predict exactly what your mix Poodle and Golden Retriever will look like. The Goldendoodle can take after both parents while one can dominate more than the other. It also depends on the size of the Poodle parent that was used in crossing the breed. Therefore, the best way to tell this is when they are fully grown.
Your mix can be a miniature Goldendoodle, a small Goldendoodle, or a standard Goldendoodle. That being said, Goldendoodles stand 13 to 24 inches tall at the shoulders on average with a weight of between 15 and 90 lbs. depending on the size of the Poodle parent.
The Goldendoodles’ coat can be straight, curly, or wavy depending on the genes that your pup inherits most. These coat types have different grooming needs that we shall discuss on the grooming section. These mixes can have quite colorful coats that come in striking colors such as cream, orange, black, gray, or dark brown.
Most Goldendoodles are non-shedders, and some have a hypoallergenic coat which makes them ideal even for families with members that are allergic to pet fur. This makes caring for them a lot easier compared to hybrids that tend to shed a lot.
Temperament and Characteristics
The Golden Retriever Poodle mix will inherit the great temperaments of either or both parents that make them sweet-tempered. They are loyal and affectionate, obedient, and very smart which makes training them easy, especially if introduced in the pup stage. This mix is also known to be kind and patient with kids which is why make great family pets.
Goldendoodles are good with other pets and will be very welcoming and social to strangers. That, however, means that they are not a good choice if you are looking for a mix that barks when strangers approach your home. That being said, they are good choices for first-time dog owners due to this gentle nature inherited from the Golden Retriever parent.
What we love most about this hybrid is that it suits the needs of all dog enthusiasts due to the variety in sizes. For instance, apartment dwellers can pick the small Goldendoodle while the other two are suitable for people with yards or large homes. Their tendency to bark is very low.
Ease of Training
The Poodle Golden Retriever mix is very smart which means they have the capacity to pick up commands very fast making training them easy. Due to their love for human companionship and fun, they will want to spend time with you which is an effective training advantage. Like all dogs, they will respond better to positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods.
Both parents have no problems with playing in the water and the same goes for a Goldendoodle, but you must train them from a young age. Although this mixed breed is good with strangers, we recommend that you begin socializing with them early to build their confidence and remove fear. Let them experience new environments and let them enjoy interacting with new people and pooches.
Crate and potty training are also things you should introduce when they are young if you want to have a well-behaved Goldendoodle. Obedience training is paramount to raising your crossbreed.
Exercise
Goldendoodles are high energetic dogs because both parents were bred as working dogs. This means that they need to be mentally and physically engaged all the time. Your mixed breed requires at least 1 to 2 hours of ample exercise each day. You should also incorporate walks into your daily exercise routine.
Just like both parents, these hybrids love to swim which is very beneficial to them if you are not able to walk them a lot. They love to play, so spend time with them on games like fetch or frisbees to keep them mentally stimulated. And did we mention making sure that they have puzzle toys? These handy items will prevent boredom that could prompt them to engage in destructive behaviors. Goldendoodles would also appreciate it if you take them to your local dog parks where they can walk and interact with other doggies.
Nutritional Requirements
The Poodle and Golden Retriever mix is considered a fairly high-energy pooch. You will need to feed them an appropriate diet that meets their age needs. For instance, Goldendoodles grow fast during their first year of life. That means they will need a premium puppy diet for growing pups.
Goldendoodles need 1 to 4 cups of high-quality dog food per day served in 2 small portions. This will help reduce the probability of bloat and gastric torsion. Make sure the diet is made with premium ingredients formulated for their specific age, weight, and activity level.
We always recommend that you consult with your vet if you are uncertain about the amount of food you should feed your Goldendoodle.
Health Issues
Typically, crossbreeding helps minimize the health issues that both purebred parents have which makes your mix healthier. However, they are still prone to some health issues that parents have. Serious health problems in Goldendoodles are epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and cancer, while eye and skin disorders are just minor health issues.
To maintain optimal health of your Goldendoodle, take them to the vet for regular checkups.
Life Expectancy
A well-fed and healthy mix Poodle and Golden Retriever has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.
How to Care for them
Caring for your Goldendoodle means feeding them the appropriate diet, exercising them amply, taking them for regular vet visits, and grooming them accordingly. In addition, do not leave them alone for too long or they will develop separation anxiety. Spend as much time as possible with them.
Below is a video with pros and cons of keeping a Gooldendoodle puppy or full-grown dog;
Grooming
As mentioned earlier on the appearance section, the amount of grooming your Golden Retriever Poodle mix requires depends on the type of coat they inherit. Regardless of the coat type, these pups either shed lightly or do not shed at all. This makes grooming them easy.
Goldendoodles with a straight coat are the easiest to groom with occasional brushing. But if your Goldendoodle has a wavy or curly coat, it will need daily brushing to prevent it from matting and tangling. They do well with an occasional bath and their coats should be trimmed regularly to keep them looking great and attractive.
You will need to trim their nails and if you have no idea how to do it, take them to a professional groomer. Make sure you also brush their teeth daily to help promote optimal dental health.
Cost
The Poodle Golden Retriever mix is one of the hybrids that come with a higher price tag than many designer dogs on the market. On average, a medium-to-large Goldendoodle puppy is priced between $2,000 and $2,300 while the miniature Goldendoodle type is about $2,600. If you opt for a petite Goldendoodle, expect to spend up to $3,500.
Where to Adopt
Adopting pooches is one of the best ways to rescue a Goldendoodle. You can start by checking from your local shelter or the rescue organizations of the respective parent breeds.
FAQs
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Hi there! My name is Alex Landy, one of the co-founders here at Our Pets HQ and a parent to a small-breed Yorkie. I am a published author of two books on dog breeding and currently write on various pet-related blogs about caring for dogs. I am a parent of two daughters and live outside Boston where I spend a lot of time with family and serve in different breeding clubs. You can reach me at alex@ourpetshq.com
