Goldendoodle
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox dog breed The Goldendoodle is a designer dog created by crossbreeding a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. First widely bred in the 1990s, they are bred in three different sizes—each corresponding to the size of Poodle used as a parent.
Goldendoodles often demonstrate Golden Retrievers' intuitive and human-oriented nature in addition to the intelligent personality and "allergy-friendly" coat of a Poodle.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite book</ref>
HistoryEdit
In the 1990s, designer dog breeders in Australia and the United States (Ryan Harvey) started to widely cross Golden Retrievers and Poodles, adopting the term goldendoodle to describe the cross.Template:R The name doodle is also used to describe this crossbreed. The name goldendoodle is derived from "golden" (from Golden Retriever) and "Labradoodle" (itself a portmanteau of Labrador Retriever and a Poodle).Template:R Deliberately breeding Poodles with Golden Retrievers actually preceded the 1990s. An example of this was done by Monica Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, who crossed the two breeds in 1969.Template:R The cross can result in a healthier animal than either of the parent breeds.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":02" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite journal</ref>
The original aim of the goldendoodle's breeders was to produce an alternative to the popular labradoodle.Template:R Initially goldendoodles were only bred from standard-sized Poodles, but designer breeders also started using small varieties of Poodles to create a smaller crossbreed.Template:R As they are a crossbreed, they are not recognized by the AKC, FCI or British Kennel Clubs. Goldendoodles have been developed beyond the F1 (Golden Retriever crossed with a Poodle) and are now available in deeper generations created by crossing two goldendoodles. These are called multigenerational or multigen goldendoodles.Template:Citation needed
CharacteristicsEdit
AppearanceEdit
The appearance, size, and coat of goldendoodles can vary considerably according to their breeding generations and what type of Poodle parents they have.<ref name=":02" /> While some goldendoodles share common traits, each goldendoodle might have its own unique appearance and temperament.<ref name=":32">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In general, goldendoodles have round skulls, broad muzzles, heavily feathered tail, drop ears, and oval-shaped eyes.Template:R Goldendoodles' retriever parentage makes their body long and muscular, and likely to have a deep chest and wide stance.<ref name=":02" />
The goldendoodle can be bred from any one of the Standard, Miniature or Toy-sized Poodles, the resultant offspring coming in several sizes: the standard, medium and miniature goldendoodles.Template:R The standard goldendoodle typically stands Template:Convert and weighs Template:Convert, the medium goldendoodle typically stands Template:Convert and weighs Template:Convert, and the miniature goldendoodle typically stands up to Template:Convert and weighs Template:Convert
The goldendoodle is a long-haired dog breed and their coat can vary considerably, there are three main coat types: straight, wavy and curly.Template:R Wavy coated goldendoodles are a combination of the Poodle's curly coat and the Golden Retriever's straight coat. Their coat is wavy, with loose, shaggy curls. This type of coat is the most common amongst goldendoodles. Curly coated goldendoodles resemble the coat of a Poodle. Their coat is thick and curly.Template:R Goldendoodle coats come in varying colors, with the most common colors being cream, red, black, gold, apricot, brown, or a combination (parti-colored).<ref name=":02" />
Goldendoodles are often claimed to be 'hypoallergenic' or 'non-shedding'.Template:R However research has shown that hypoallergenicity can not be an official dog breed characteristic.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> AKC also asserts that "there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
It used to be thought that the higher the percentage of Poodle is in a goldendoodle's heritage, the less likely it is to shed.<ref name=":02" /> It was also thought that curlier coated goldendoodles tend to shed lighter and produce less dander.Template:R
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Cream goldendoodle
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Apricot goldendoodle
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Red goldendoodle
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Black goldendoodle
BehaviorEdit
In general, goldendoodles tend to take on a Golden Retriever’s friendly, affectionate, trustworthy and enthusiastic nature,<ref name=":02" /> whilst also demonstrating a Poodle’s reputable intelligence, sociability and trainability.<ref name=":02" /> Goldendoodles predominantly exhibit high levels of energy, loyalty and playfulness;<ref name=":02" /> they are often friendly with children and considered a good family pet. This friendliness and loyalty, however, means they are prone to separation anxiety, especially as puppies.<ref name=":02" />Template:R The crossbreed often exhibits strong retriever instincts inherited from its gundog parent breeds,Template:R which make them have an active mouth and high tendency to retrieve objects.<ref name=":02" />
A 2019 behavioural study compared goldendoodles to their parent breeds: on average, goldendoodles displayed greater dog-rivalry, dog-directed aggression and fear, and stranger-directed fear than purebred Golden Retrievers or Poodles.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref>
HealthEdit
Goldendoodles may avoid inheriting disease or health issues from parents, but may alternatively be susceptible to more health issues if the parents are unhealthy to begin with.<ref name=":6" />
Goldendoodles are prone to megaesophagus.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Popularity and usesEdit
Primarily bred as companion dogs, goldendoodles have been successfully trained as therapy dogs, guide dogs,Template:R nut-detection dogs detecting nuts in food for people with nut allergies,Template:R and other forms of assistance dogs.Template:R
In some regions of the United States it has become one of the most popular dog varieties.Template:R In Australia, it was named one of the top twenty most popular dog varieties in 2020Template:R where, due to the increased demand for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic, prices for a puppy have risen from around $3,500 AUD before the pandemic, to as much as $15,000 AUD by September 2020.Template:R
In a 2012 charity auction, American musician Usher paid US$12,000 for a goldendoodle puppy.Template:R
Despite their growing popularity, goldendoodles remain unrecognized by prominent canine organizations such as the American Kennel Club (AKC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or British Kennel Clubs due to their hybrid status.