Goldendoodle Facts
WHAT IS A GOLDENDOODLE? A Goldendoodle is a first hybrid crossing between a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever. A hybrid crossing, when using sound breeding stock with great ancestry, makes for one of the hardiest family pets anyone could own. Goldendoodles have three distinct coat types. Shaggy. Curly. Smooth. Goldendoodles come in all sizes and DO NOT HAVE SIZE CATEGORIES ASSIGNED TO THIS HYBRID ITSELF....ie...Miniature, Toy, Standard or Giant. The reason for this is because they are recognized as a hybrid in the United States and not a purebred. The second reason is because a hybrid rarely breeds "true". Weights & heights will vary in all hybrid litters.
Breeders, to include ourselves, can only give you an estimated height/weight based on our past data and experience. Breeders who mismatch their breeding stock may be producing Goldendoodles with poor body structure and possibly shortened life spans due to early organ failure. Our many years of experience allows us to give those seeking a Goldendoodle, a pretty good size estimate by the time our Goldendoodles are 6-8 weeks of age, based on past experience. Many breeders claim "Hybrid vigor" for the Goldendoodle dog implying that a hybrid crossing is a heartier dog, however, there is no factual scientific evidence to support this claim. Theoretically, it could be possible only because there is a wider genetic pool to reduce the amount of genetic problems providing the breeder ensures their Goldendoodles are first generation only. Breeders who create multi generation Goldendoodles are creating dogs that are at a higher risk for genetic ailments or health issues that are similar to the purebred dog.
Be wary of breeders who boast they breed "NON-SHEDDING" or "HYPO-ALLERGENIC" dogs. There is no such thing as a hypo-allergenic, non-shedding, dog...period....and there is no such thing as a RARE doodle. I personally contacted many canine laboratories back in 1996 and asked them if there was a test they could perform on the hairs of my Goldendoodle dogs to see if they were non shedding or hypoallergenic. I was told by all of the laboratories that there were no such tests available. Many people who purchase a Goldendoodle from breeders who claim their Goldendoodles are non shedding dogs or that are hypoallergenic, have the most problems because of the fact their doodle WILL shed and IS NOT guaranteed to help the allergy suffered have fewer allergy issues. Because dogs can bring allergans indoors from their feet and their coat, it is impossible to own a hypoallergenic dog of any breed. Goldendoodles go through ten to fifteen different coat changes/phases from the time they are born until the day they turn a year of age. All Goldendoodles shed, but they are low shedding dogs that work out for most people who have little or no allergy issues. Breeders can not guarantee anyone with severe allergies that their Goldendoodle dog would work out for them. If any breeder claims their Goldendoodles are non shedding or hypoallergenic, make sure they give you a written guarantee so that you can return the dog when it sheds or if it causes you allergy issues. I guarantee you will NOT find any breeder willing to back up their claims in writing or with any sort of guarantee of this nature.
Those who claim doodles other than an F1 (first generation) mixture are healthier, hardier dogs have no factual or certified evidence to back up their claims. We actually believe it is just the opposite. Genetic testing is not yet available from Veterinarian Specialists or canine laboratories to provide Golden Retriever breeders or Poodle breeders DNA profiling to rule those dogs out who may carry recessive, genetic defective genes that can pass on to their offspring. Also, highly inbred dogs (F1B or multi generation) mean they carry traits that are undesirable and inherited within extremely narrow limits. Dogs who are too closely inbred or linebred or who have limited gene pools, can intensify negative traits....none of which are desireable. VetGen is presently trying to work on DNA profiling, but it is not yet available for Poodles or Golden Retrievers.
Author/Breeder: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World. Copyright protected 2006.