Goldendoodles are among the most popular breed of Doodle dog. Some choose to believe that they are simply high dollar “mutts”, but I beg to differ. Well-bred goldendoodles make wonderful family pets and even better service dogs! As a matter of fact, Goldendoodles first originated in 1969 and were specifically bred as guide dogs for the blind. They wanted a service dog that was as good as the Golden Retriever, but one that was more hypo-allergenic and low shedding for allergy sufferers. Once breeders realized what an amazing cross they had produced, Goldendoodles quickly became one of the most popular breed choices in many countries in the 1990’s. A cross of the loyal, outgoing and social Golden Retriever and the non-shedding, highly intelligent Poodle, Goldendoodles combine the qualities of both parents into a perfect package. 

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Goldendoodles are smart, energetic and love to be around people. Known for being happy, friendly, and intelligent, Goldendoodles are easy to train. They’re also very gentle and devoted to their family, including its younger members. Goldendoodles are a relatively healthy breed with a long life span. By mixing the two breeds, you decrease the chance of the puppies being prone to certain breed-related diseases and health issues. This hybrid breed is typically healthier with less health problems than their parent breeds, and can live for an average of 10-14 years. The smaller the Goldendoodle, the longer their lifespan, on average. (This is also true with regular dog breeds: the larger the breed, the shorter the lifespan.) 

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As stated earlier, the poodle’s intelligence and golden retriever’s obedience make this breed wonderful service animals. They’re also great companion pets for hospital patients or people in nursing homes. Goldendoodles also do well as medical alert dogs, which are service dogs specially trained to alert their owner or even call for help when the dog senses that their person is about to experience a seizure or that a diabetic is suffering from low blood sugar. Standard Goldendoodles can also work as mobility service dogs, which help people with mobility issues stand, walk, or balance better. We currently do not train service dogs, but our goal is to be able to do this in the future. 

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