Goldendoodles: the most wonderful pets you could wish for. Unless of course they jump on you and knock you down. Or they chew on an electrical cord. Or you are allergic and the endless shedding bothers you.
I’ve had my goldendoodles for three years now and (as kids) the delights outweigh the annoyances, at least most of the time.
The reason I bought goldendoodles to begin with was their (supposed) non-shedding hypoallergenic state. While for me, the allergy statement has been true, other members of my family start sneezing and itching around them. As for shedding, my dogs must be lacking the right kind of poodle genes. Hair is everywhere, all the time. My kids now understand the purpose of lint rollers.
As for friendliness, goldendoodles can’t be beat. My dogs have never met a human or canine they didn’t love. This doesn’t make them good watchdogs, but they could at least lick an intruder to death.
Goldendoodles are certainly chewers, at least for the first few years. My thing for chewing on my door frames (when I wasn’t looking). They are rambunctious puppies and cannot be trusted to be left unattended for long periods. I think it would probably be easier if you just had a doodle. Like little children, mine goad each other into their mischief. We have two because I go to work long hours and they keep each other company. I say “we” because they really belong to my children…
I have never seen my dogs bite anyone, but my hand caught on a tooth when they were puppies, and the two dogs sometimes play rough with each other. Even dogs that don’t bite can accidentally bite if you put your hand where it shouldn’t be.
The biggest danger my dogs pose is that I haven’t trained them (yet) not to jump on people. This is not good for animals weighing between 50 and 80 pounds. They could easily knock over a child or an elderly person. One of my dogs is naturally a jumper. He jumps into the air with joy at the prospect of seeing an old friend or a new acquaintance. I’m hoping this will change as she gets older, though training her is probably the best answer. This same dog loves to swim and enjoys taking a dip in a pool. However, it is best to avoid a dog that jumps and swims, especially around small children. Dogs have no idea that their claws can cause damage while swimming, and instinct tells them to keep their legs moving.
If you’re looking for a dog to sleep with, a goldendoodle will jump at the chance (if you can stand it). If that’s your plan, I suggest you groom and wash your goldendoodle regularly. Long hair (up to 8 inches) picks up all kinds of debris you don’t want in your bed.
My son wanted a lap dog. That’s what we got, an 80-pound lapdog. For companionship, golden doodles make wonderful friends. They will accept all the love and attention you can give them, and yet they will be ready for more.
We all learn from experience, and I advise you to spend more time than you have training your dog. Indulgence results in furry monsters that jump, lick, chew…but I love them anyway.
Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD