~~A Goldendoodle is a Golden Retriever and Poodle cross. Goldendoodles, also called Golden Poos, Goldie Poos, or Dudes, have been bred in North America and Australia since the early to mid- 1990's.
~~ Goldendoodles exhibit hybrid vigour. This is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the fact that the cross between two unrelated purebred lines is healthier and grows better than either parent line. The hybrid cross between these two parent breeds are terrific family dogs, friendly, intelligent, affectionate and easy to train.
~~The Goldendoodle's ancestry along both parent lines is as hunters and water dogs. The physical appearance of the Goldendoodle runs anywhere from a shaggy-looking retriever to a curl-relaxed poodle, but usually it falls somewhere inbetween. The length when left unclipped grows to about 4-8 inches. The color of the coat can be red, cream, gold, apricot, chocolate, gray, black, parti or phantom. They are light to non-shedding and most live easily with families with allergies. Families with moderate to severe allergies often find that Goldendoodle backcrosses can work well.
(F1) First generation - (The "F" standing for purebred) is the offspring of a purebred Poodle crossed with a purebred Golden Retriever. Most first generation Goldendoodles either don't shed or shed lightly and are compatible for most families with mild allergies.
(F1b) Second generation backcross - is produced by crossing an F1 Goldendoodle with a purebred Poodle. These dogs will have a higher success rate for non-shedding and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies.
(F2) Goldendoodle crossed with another Goldendoodle.
~~The size of the Goldendoodle depends on its parentage. A general rule of thumb is to add both the parents weights together and divide by 2 to get an average adult weight on the puppies. Within any litter there may be puppies that fall above or below the projected adult weights.
Standard - A Goldendoodle that is predicted to be 45 lbs or more at adulthood. Some standard Goldendoodles have grown to more than 100 pounds.
Medium - A Goldendoodle that is predicted to be 30-45 lbs at adulthood.
Miniature - A Goldendoodle that is predicted to be 15-30 lbs at adulthood.
~~Goldendoodles are an intelligent and obedient family companions. They are everybody's friend and devoted to their family. Very friendly towards children, other pets and strangers. Don't count on them to be a guard dog, they would probably carry the flashlight for the intruder! They are social dogs and happiest when with people. Their intelligence, eagerness to please, and love of learning make them very easy to train. The life expectancy is around 10 - 15 years.