White Goldendoodle on a couch — The Goldendoodle: a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle
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Goldendoodle: Golden retriever cross Poodle

By Alice Lang Copywriter

Updated on the 03/05/2022

The Goldendoodle: your perfect family dog. For those looking for a companion dog who is smart, amiable and easy to train, the golden retriever cross poodle is an obvious choice. A mix of the warm and friendly Golden Retriever and the intelligent yet quirky Poodle, this crossbreed dog makes the perfect four-legged friend.

You might know it as the Golden Retriever x Poodle, the Groodle, the Goldie Poos, the Golden Poos or simply the Golden Retriever cross Poodle. These sociable and outgoing pups are fairly new in the crossbreed scene. They were initially bred to create a Poodle-esque pup which was also ‘hypoallergenic’, intelligent and loving.

And the idea was certainly a success! It’s hard to come across an aggressive or disobedient Goldendoodle - unless, of course, they’re not treated well or haven’t been trained. So if you’re looking for a fair sized dog who loves a long walk and gets on with everyone, your search might be over... introducing, the Golden Retriever cross Poodle!

First, let’s take a look at the Goldendoodle’s parents:

Golden Retriever

We all know how incredible Golden Retrievers are - all they want to do is love and be loved! On the whole, this breed is playful, patient, obedient and affectionate. They’re a pretty large dog, with males growing to around 58-62cm with females slightly smaller. They’re often chosen as a pet for families with young children - if trained, you can trust a Golden Retriever to be gentle and well-tempered around kids.

Poodle

Many people are interested in Poodles because of their unique and quirky looks - but that’s not all they’ve got going for them. They’re known to be extremely intelligent whilst still retaining an affectionate, loving and warm attitude. Poodles come in various sizes: the toy Poodle, the miniature Poodle and the standard Poodle.

"Ranked as the most intelligent dog breed second to the Border Collie, the Poodle is known for being very skilful. This is why they do very well as assistance or service dogs,” explains Susanne Saben in Goldendoodle: Goldendoodles Owners Bible.

Golden Retriever cross Poodle - the Goldendoodle

The positives of the Goldendoodle

Friendly, affectionate and generally great with people
Good for first-time dog owners
Smart, intelligent and easy to train
Non-shedding, great for those with allergies
Adaptable

The negatives of the Goldendoodle

Prone to separation anxiety and shouldn’t be left alone for long
Can be high maintenance depending on their coat
Need lots of exercise, playtime and mental stimulation
Not great watchdogs - simply because they’re so lovely!
Can become destructive if bored

Physical attributes of a Goldendoodle

Height: Males 61-66cm, females 56-58cm
Weight: 14-21kg
Coat: Varies depending on parents - often curly but can also be straight. Gold, black, brown, white, grey, cream, red or a combination.
Life expectancy: 10-15 years.

Golden Retriever cross Poodle looks will vary depending on what specific traits are taken from each of the parents. Their bodies are athletic and muscular and have a squareish shape. Often, their coat is wavy and can grow very long if left unclipped.

You’ll love the Goldendoodle puppy's big, round expressive eyes and the hair which frames them - which looks like doggy eyebrows! Their ears are normally fairly flat and high-set and square nose.

Temperament of the Goldendoodle

It’s rare you’ll find a Golden Retriever cross Poodle who isn’t happy, bubbly and easy-going. They’re rarely nervous or aggressive when they’re part of a happy home and have been trained. This is why, the Goldendoodles make great guide dogs and therapy dogs.

Goldendoodles crave company and will thrive when they’re around people. If you’ve got children, this breed will love playing with them and most importantly, can be trusted around them. Thanks to that, the Goldendoodle is a great family dog.

However, they’re prone to separation anxiety and don’t cope well with being left home all day. You’ll need to be able to provide fairly constant interaction and not leave them at home for hours on end. When the Golden Retriever x Poodle feels isolated, they’ll quickly become depressed and may experience behavioural issues.

Goldendoodle’s are also very playful and can even be a little mischevious - in a cute and quirky way. For example, they’ll probably work out where you keep the doggy treats and let themselves into the cupboard.

Training and socialisation

Despite the Goldendoodle’s intelligence and obedience, they still need training and socialising to become a well-rounded pooch. It’s best to begin early and put the ground rules in place from the get-go. This breed can begin learning simple commands at just 8 weeks old. Start socialising your Goldendoodle from a young age around humans, animals and children.

The great thing about this breed is that they love learning new things and want to please their owners - so positive reinforcement works a treat! Inheriting intelligence and sensitivity from both parents, the Golden Retriever Poodle mix won’t respond well to shouting or harsh correction.

Grooming your Goldendoodle

The Golden Retriever cross Poodle’s coat varies from puppy to puppy - even within the same litter! The different coat types can be straight, wavy or extremely curly and come in a variety of colours. You can expect a this curly coat dog to have its hair grow 5-8cm.

Though they’re low-shedding dogs which are a good choice for those with allergies, Goldendoodle’s will still need a regular brushing to keep their coat in tip-top condition. Their coat will need to be clipped once or twice a year and ears checked for wax regularly, too.

Exercises for a Goldendoodle

No matter what size Goldendoodle you choose, they’ll be full of energy. They’ll need daily physical exercise and plenty of toys and playtime to keep them stimulated. If you choose to adopt this breed, then you’ll need to provide around 60 minutes of exercise a day - and that’s the minimum!

Goldendoodle’s are fairly adaptable and have been known to be fine in apartment settings providing they get their daily walks, plenty of trips outside and lots of social interaction.

Health concerns

Coming from the Golden Retriever and Poodle, Goldendoodle’s can inherit health issues from either side. It’s impossible to predict the future, so the best thing to do is be aware of the risky conditions and their associated symptoms. If you do notice any symptoms, get them checked out as soon as you can.

Golden Retriever cross Poodle dogs are prone to: