Hip dysplasia is a crippling disease that can occur at a very young age. Any responsible breeder would do their upmost to prevent this happening to any of the puppies they had bred.

Hip scoring is done when the dog is about one year old. An x-ray is taken of the pelvis and sent to the BVA (British Veterinary Association) who measure various angles and give scores on these angles for both the right and left hip, these are then added together to give a hip-score. An average for the breed is calculated after a minimum of ten dogs of that particular breed having been hip-scored. For example the average for the Golden Retriever is 19 and the Standard Poodle is 15. Breeders wishing to reduce the risk of hip dysplasia should only breed from dogs with scores below the average. The theory being that breeding from dogs with healthy hips is more likely to produce offspring with healthy hips.

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Eye testing
Is it necessary?

Both Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles can suffer from various inherited eye disorders. It is important to only breed from dogs that have been tested clear. Eye testing should be carried out annually; some disorders are late onset and may not develop until the dog is maybe three or four years old or possibly older.

Hybrid vigour
Is it true that Goldendoodles are healthier than pedigree breeds?

The definition of Hybrid Vigour is:

'The Increased sturdiness, resistance to disease, etc,
of individuals whose parents are of different race
or species compared both with their parents
and with the offspring of
genetically similar parents.'

From Concise Medical Dictionary.

Each breed’s gene pool is relatively small, so putting two unrelated dogs, of differing breeds, together will increase the gene pool so, should help to avoid breed specific diseases.

Allergies
Is it true that Goldendoodles are suitable for people with allergies?

I have placed Goldendendoodles into families with allergies with success however, allergies differ from person to person and there are no guarantees. See also Shedding below.

Shedding
Is it true that Goldendoodles do not shed?

In my experience the Goldendoodles are very low shedding. From my own Goldendoodle I find the odd bit of fluff on the floor, nothing like my Retrievers who shed constantly in copious amounts!!

Please be aware low to non shedding coats are high maintenance. Undercoat/wool is still produced and needs to be groomed out to prevent the coat becoming matted. Between the age of about eight and eighteen months the coat needs really regular, thorough grooming. This is the time the adult coat is coming through. Many owners find it easier to have their Goldendoodle trimmed by a professional groomer. I scissor my Goldendoodle down to a couple of inches all over. This is much easier to cope with when he’s swimming and running in the woods on a daily basis, however I think they look stunning when in full coat!


The photo's below are all of the same dog showing the just clipped, 1 month growth and full coat looks.

Terminology
What's the difference between F1 and F1b?

A first cross between a Retriever and Poodle (makes no difference which is mum) is an F1.

An F1 Goldendoodle mated to a Poodle or Retriever the resulting pups are F1b, the b stands for backcross. (Again makes no difference if the F1 Goldendoodle is mum or dad.)

Family Life
Are Goldendoodles good with children?

In our experience we have found that Goldendoodles have a natural affinity with children because of their fun loving, friendly natures.

Our Goldendoodle Dylan adores a game of football and will play fetch the ball again and again and again....... much too any visiting child’s delight!

Gender
Do males or females make better pets?

Because Goldendoodles are a sociable, non-aggressive breed I really feel the only difference is that males tend to be larger. Their temperament is not gender related so both make equally good family companions.

Exercise
How much exercise does a Goldendoodle require?

Goldendoodle adults require regular exercise, with their love of retrieving and water this is quite easy to achieve. Ideally an hour free running twice a day. A fast ball or Frisbee game can be as physically tiring as an hours run. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for youngsters and adults alike.

Puppies must be exercised with caution. Hip problems particularly dysplasia are not caused solely by genetics. Environmental factors can also contribute to bad hips. Inappropriate or excessive exercise and an unsuitable diet during the first year, when the majority of their growth happens, can affect skeletal development and damage vulnerable joints. Inappropriate exercise being, running up and down stairs, standing up on their hind legs, jumping, or miles of road walking on lead. Ideal exercise is free running on grass but not to the point of exhaustion. Muscle needs to be built up slowly to support the joints. Puppies should be grown slowly and not allowed to become overweight.

Training
Are Goldendoodles easy to train?

Goldendoodles are intelligent and eager to please and respond well to kind, consistent training. I recommend joining a well structured, positive reward based training class. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) list classes all over the country on their website. The time and effort put in to training a young dog is more than amply repaid when you have a well balanced, nicely behaved dog that is welcome anywhere!!