All About Goldendoodles

     A Goldendoodle is a crossbreed designed to blend the gentle, loyal temperament of the Golden Retriever with the intelligence and low-shedding coat of the Poodle. The breed comes in several generations, including:

• F1: First-generation (Golden Retriever x Poodle)

• F1B: F1 Goldendoodle x Original parent breed (generally referring to poodle), a new term coined: Ultra Goldendoodle refers to a goldendoodle x golden retriever, which increases the proportion of retriever in the offspring.

• Multigenerational: Goldendoodle x Goldendoodle

 

     These generations influence coat type, shedding level, and the consistency of traits across litters.

Goldendoodles are often called a “designer breed” due to their intentional pairing and the desirable qualities they inherit. While still a relatively young hybrid, the Goldendoodle has quickly established itself as one of the most loved companion dogs worldwide.

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    Boreal Puppies has a goal of trying to produce goldendoodles that retain a high percentage of golden retriever genetic content, structure, and temperament, with non-shedding coat qualities and intelligence from the poodle.

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🐾 Personality and Temperament

     Goldendoodles are typically friendly, sociable, and eager to please. They tend to form strong bonds with their families and enjoy being part of daily life. Because of their affectionate and people-oriented nature, they are not suited for guarding or watchdog roles. Instead, they thrive in environments where they receive consistent interaction and are included in family activities.

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     Their temperament is generally stable, and they do well with children, other pets, and new people. They are highly adaptable but do require early socialization to build confidence and avoid shyness or separation anxiety. These dogs excel in both city and country settings but benefit from space to play and explore. Goldendoodles are not ideal for full-time apartment living or for homes where they would be left alone for long periods.

 

     We temperament test our puppies at 6.5-7 weeks of age so that families better understand core personality traits and adaptable traits each puppy has. We assess prey drive, assertiveness, trainability, confidence, sensitivity to new sights and sounds, stress-response to emotional tension amongst many other traits. This way families are more informed about all the puppies in the litter before choosing which one is right for them.

 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitability for Families

     Goldendoodles are widely recognized as very good family companions, thanks to their gentle nature, sociability, and adaptability. Their affectionate temperament and intuitive personalities allow them to bond easily with both adults and children, often forming strong and lasting attachments to their human families. They tend to be patient, playful, and tolerant—traits that make them a wonderful match for households with kids.

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     These dogs are typically very social and enjoy being part of daily family life. Whether it’s going for walks, playing in the yard, or relaxing indoors, Goldendoodles want to be involved. Their people-pleasing nature means they often adapt well to family routines and household dynamics. However, they need to be close to people whether it’s at your feet while you are cooking, beside your bed at night, or right in the bathroom with you (at all times).

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    Goldendoodles also tend to get along well with other pets, particularly when raised together or properly introduced. They thrive in homes where they receive consistent attention, mental stimulation, and affection. While they are adaptable to many environments, they are not well-suited to families who are away from home for long hours every day, as they are very social and require engagement with their owners.

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    Because they are intelligent and relatively easy to train, Goldendoodles can also be a good choice for families who may be new to dog ownership. With proper socialization, they typically grow into confident, friendly adults who bring joy and companionship to homes of all sizes.

 

📏 Size and Appearance

     Goldendoodles come in a wide range of sizes and coat types, largely influenced by the size of the Poodle used in the cross. Standard-sized Goldendoodles are 50lb-80lbs and 21-24”. When “Small-standard” is advertised, this often means puppies are anticipate to be 45-60lb. Medium-size is typically 30-50lb, about 18-21”. Mini-goldendoodles are 15-25lbs. At Boreal Puppies, we specialized in medium to small standard goldendoodles. If you are interested in a mini-goldendoodle, feel free to reach out because we can recommend some great breeders!

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     Goldendoodle coats can be curly, wavy, or straight, and they come in a variety of beautiful colors including cream, apricot, red, chocolate, black, white, sable, phantom, brindle, chocolate merle, and blue merle. Their appearance is part of their charm, but prospective owners should be prepared for regular grooming regardless of coat type.

Sometimes when two parent goldendoodles only have one facial furnishing gene are bred together, they can produce puppies who are unfurnished. This means they will have faces like golden retrievers and they will not be low-shedding like furnished goldendoodles. Genetic testing is very important when breeding goldendoodles to make sure that unintended outcomes are avoided.

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🧠 Trainability and Intelligence

     Goldendoodles are intelligent, intuitive, and respond well to training, particularly when it involves positive reinforcement. Their trainability and emotional sensitivity make them excellent candidates for therapy and service work, as well as household obedience and agility training. Early training and socialization are important to ensure well-rounded adult dogs.

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✂️ Grooming and Coat Care

     One of the most appealing features of the Goldendoodle is their low to light-shedding coat, which can be suitable for allergy-sensitive individuals. However, these coats require regular grooming to stay healthy and mat-free. Brushing several times a week is recommended, along with professional grooming every six to eight weeks.

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     Routine care such as nail trimming, ear cleaning, dental hygiene, and regular bathing is also important. Proper grooming not only keeps Goldendoodles looking their best but also contributes to their overall comfort and well-being.

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🏥 Health and Longevity

     Goldendoodles are generally healthy dogs, especially when bred responsibly. Like all breeds, they can be prone to certain inherited conditions. Common concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions, and eye disorders. Boreal Puppies takes health seriously and perform thorough genetic testing and structural evaluations using OFA and/or PennHIP to ensure we’re producing sound, healthy dogs.

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     With proper care, Goldendoodles typically live between 10 and 15 years. A balanced diet, regular exercise, routine veterinary care, proper grooming and routine care, and an enriching home environment all contribute to their long-term health.

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🏡 Lifestyle and Living Environment

     Goldendoodles are adaptable and do well in a variety of settings, provided their physical and emotional needs are met. They benefit from regular exercise, access to outdoor space, and opportunities for mental stimulation. While they are not high-strung dogs, they do best with daily walks, interactive play, and time with their humans.

These dogs are happiest when they are included as part of the family. They are not suited to being kenneled full-time or living exclusively outdoors. Their social nature means they need companionship and structure to truly thrive.

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🐕 Responsible Breeding and Rehoming

     Because Goldendoodles are rarely found in shelters, most families will work with a breeder to find their puppy. Boreal Puppies is committed to ethical breeding practices that prioritize health-testing of parent dogs, a non-kennel environment, temperament testing, and strict rehoming/ no shelter policies. Our breeding dogs are raised in a loving home environment as companions first, and if they pass health-testing and have excellent structure and temperament they are accepted into our breeding program.

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     We also maintain a lifelong commitment to every dog we produce. If a family can no longer care for their Goldendoodle, we require the dog be responsibly rehomed with our knowledge or returned to us so that we can ensure they are safely rehomed. We are here for our dogs, puppies, and their families for life!