About Goldendoodles
How it all started
Labradoodles were first deliberately bred in Victoria, Australia, in an attempt to produce a “hypoallergenic” guide dog. Wally Conren of the Australian Guide Dogs Association was approached in the early 1980s by a blind woman living in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to dogs. This first cross of a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle resulted in a litter of 3 pups, of which one was hypoallergenic to her husband. It was trained successfully as a guide dog.
In Hawaii and elsewhere, Labradoodles became very popular amongst blind people. Since the 1980s, the breed has escalated throughout Australia, the United States, and Canada.
Awesome Crossbreeds
Golden Retrievers are:
- active, loving and outstanding family dogs
- known to enjoy pleasing their masters
- friendly with people and other dogs
- unlikely to attack people but make excellent watchdogs
- top performers in obedience competitions
- known to have congenital problems, which include hip and eye disorders
- known to have skin allergies commonly
- rated 4th in intelligence
Poodles are:
- highly intelligent, rated second to the Border Collie
- committed to their owners
- early maturing
- small fussy eaters
- prone to congenital problems, which include eye and knee disorders and hip disorders for Standard Poodles
- non-shedders
The most significant advantage to crossbreeding between unrelated breeds of the canine family is what is known as heterosis, or hybrid vigour, a term used to describe the increased fertility, growth, mental stability and good health which result when the progeny of two unrelated breeds are mated.
A cross between a Miniature Poodle and a Golden Retriever will tend to result in Goldendoodle pups with only an eye problem in common with their parents. The larger Standard Poodle cross may additionally have hip problems. Our breeding dogs at Hearty K9s are eye and hip-screened, which decreases the incidence of these problems in our Goldendoodle pups. We do selective first cross and backcross breeding to maintain a heterozygous gene pool, which results in healthier and happier pups. Backcross breeding is limited to unrelated progeny.
The Goldendoodle crossbreed is an excellent combination of two desirable breeds. What you end up with is a versatile, easily trainable family dog. They do not mature too late and do not as quickly become overweight. From the Poodle’s side, they also possess an outstanding quality that lessens their doggy odour. A significant advantage is the potential to have a low to non-shedding dog.
Understanding Generational terminology
*F1 = Golden Retriever X Poodle
*F1B = F1 X back to one of the original breeds (Poodle or Golden). Most breeders cross back to a poodle to attain less shedding qualities, as do we at Hearty K9s.
F2 = F1 X F1
Multigenerational = Any other Goldendoodle (i.e./ F1B or F2) Crossed with a poodle, golden or Goldendoodle.
*Hearty K9s only Breeds F1s and F1Bs.
Shedding or Non-shedding, Don't be Misled
Not every Goldendoodle will shed the same. A few will be non-shedders, and a few will be heavy shedders. Many are in the category of moderate to light shedders. Most Doodle breeders will admit that it is challenging to determine precisely how much a dog will shed until it is one year old.
If you are an allergy sufferer, ask about our bath test.
There is a large variety in each category below. I have found that when folks choose pups at 8 weeks, the softer and longer the coat is, the less likely they are to shed. But being a crossbreed, there is always room for surprises!
Curly coats:
- Tight curls like a poodle
- It feels like a poodle coat
- High maintenance if kept at a longer length
- Mostly non-shedding and usually more allergy-friendly
Wavy coats:
- Coat has a soft feel with loose curls
- Easy to care for as a puppy, but as an adult, this coat can be high maintenance
- Often low to non-shedders if their coats are softer.
Straight Coats:
- The coat is straight, has a soft feel, and has fewer waves
- The coat care can be moderate or high, depending on the thickness of the coat.
- Often low to non-shedders if the coat is softer.
Flat Coats:
- Low maintenance brushing
- Coats may vary in thickness
- Hair is generally straight or has a minimal wave
- They have a flat, retriever-like coat on their face.
- Often moderate or heavy shedders.
- If the poodle parent is fully furnished, these coats are less likely to happen in a litter.
Goldendoodle Sizes (Averages)
- Standard
- Height: 21 - 24
- Weight: 45-80 lbs
- Medium
- Height: 18 - 23
- Weight: 40 - 55 lbs
- Miniature
- Height: 17 - 20
- Weight: 26 - 55 lbs
The Colours of the Goldendoodles
- Black
- Blonde/Cream
- Red
- Golden/Apricot
- Chocolate
- Bi-coloured in various ways.
- Parti
- Abstract
- Phantom
- Merle
At Hearty K9s, our focus is health and temperament. If opportunity leads us to less usual colours, we may try them, but we will not compromise our health and temperament for colours. Currently, most of our pups are blonde/cream, apricot/golden to red, and many of those have some white markings.
We do not guarantee the pup’s colour. It is common for pups to lighten over the years, but others darken in colour, and some stay the same.
At Hearty K9s most often get cream, golden, various shades of apricot to red and bicolours on occasion.
Quality Checklist from Hearty K9s
- Breeding dogs tested for hip dysplasia and genetic health
- First cross and backcross breeding of pups to retain a heterozygous gene pool
- Breeding dogs are selected for their fantastic personalities and sound temperaments
- Early neurological stimulation and early scent introduction
- Detailed and timely puppy program based on years of experience.
- Introduction to companionship and safe play with children and adults
- Spacious exercise and play areas
- 2-year health, eye and hip guarantee
- Qualifies prospective owners for companionship match to Goldendoodles
- Puppy evaluations are done to help learn more about the pup’s potential and are used to match puppies with their new prospective families
Allergies and Goldendoodles
Sonia has the heart to work with those with allergies and asthma and give them a chance to have a dog-blessed life. It varies, but typically, about 60-70% of Hearty K9 applicants have allergies of varying degrees.
If a dog does not shed, it does not mean that it is hypoallergenic. Allergies can be complex. Shedding is only one factor that folks can be allergic to. Dander, saliva, proteins or environmental allergens can be carried on the dog’s coat.
I have 20+ years of stories of matching people with allergies to dogs with about a 90% success rate. Asthma is trickier, but I am willing to work with those wanting to try!
The Bath Test
The family stays in their vehicle the whole time they are here with windows closed (just to lessen exposure to other allergens on the farm like horses, cats, pollens, dust, etc.)
The chosen pup is brought to their vehicle freshly washed (and dried) and stays with family, usually for an hour.
We encourage the allergy sufferer/ asthmatic to put their face into the pup’s coat. Allow the pup to lick their neck and inside their forearms, which are often the most sensitive. Because it is an enclosed environment and close handling, most people will react in this amount of time. Some will have delayed reactions hours later, up to the next day. Many people often know how quickly they will react or what their tendencies have been in the past.
I encourage people to take the shirt they wore or something they rubbed on the pup and put it on their pillow at night.
Most people can only test one pup a day because if there is a delayed reaction, you don’t know which pup it came from.
Please Note:
The bath test is an option for anyone who has allergies /asthma and is concerned about having a potential reaction to a pup. If you want to choose a pup in person from several pups, you must come two separate times: one to choose and the next time for the bath test. Most people will come once, as they choose a pup remotely along with me and the videos/photos and evaluation info we have attained.
When it depends on the allergy sufferer/asthmatic whether the family will get a pup or not, this is very hard on them. Especially children, but sometimes adults will not admit that there was a slight reaction during the bath test and feel it will be okay. Sometimes it is okay, and sometimes it only gets worse. Adult allergy sufferers often know what they can handle and what their body has adjusted to in the past. It is essential to prepare children to express any reactions they are feeling. (It is far worse to bring a pup back that you have lived with for a while than not to bring it home in the first place.)
What if we bring the pup home, and after a while, we realize that my allergies are being irritated by the pup?
If you think there may be a problem, please contact us promptly. We’ll suggest a few things to try, and if nothing works, we’ll take the pup back. Then you can either try a different pup that is available, wait until there’s an appropriate one available, or we’ll discuss a refund (determined by circumstances, i.e./ how long you have had the dog).
