Breed group: Hunting Dogs

Average weight: males 55-75; females 45-65 lbs

Average height: males 21-24; females 20-22? inches

Colour(s): Beautiful colors, reds, creams and goldens

General information: The Goldendoodle gets its name from it's mixed heritage - golden retriever and poodle. Goldendoodles are a hybrid dog, a first generation cross, and as such they exhibit "hybrid vigour". This is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the fact that the first cross between two unrelated purebred lines is healthier and grows better than either parent line. The puppies take on the best traits of both breeds. Goldendoodles were first deliberately bred in North America as a larger version of the popular Cockapoo around the mid 1990s. Their non/light shedding coats and ability to live with families with allergies has made them very popular companions. The only genetic diseases they can be prone to would be those shared by both the Golden Retriever and the Standard Poodle. Their life expectancy is about 15 years.

Temperament: Goldendoodles are very intelligent. They are obedient and devoted to their family. Goldendoodles are friendly towards children, other dogs and pets, and easy with strangers. They are social dogs, happiest when people are around. Goldendoodles are likely to get into mischief and develop behavior problems if they spend most of their lives secluded. Their intelligence, eagerness to please, and love of learning make them very easy to train.

Character: Goldendoodles are terrific family dogs, friendly, intelligent, affectionate and easy to train.

Training: The intelligence of this breed makes training fairly easy.

Care: The Goldendoodle does not require much grooming attention. Like many poodle crosses, most Goldendoodles are light to non-shedding, and most live easily with families with MILD allergies.

Activitiy: Goldendoodles require a moderate amount of exercise.