12 Reasons Not to Own a Goldendoodle: Debunking the Myths
The mini Goldendoodle is a favorite of pet lovers. Since the creation of the Goldendoodles started in the 1980s and became popular by the early 1990s, pet lovers worldwide have been drawn to this cute “doodle” breed. This breed of dog, a combination of a poodle and another dog breed, is highly sought after for its good qualities. Doodles are not only incredibly adorable, but they also inherit the playfulness and intelligence of poodles and have the characteristics of any mixed breed.
The Goldendoodle breed is a mix of a golden retriever and a miniature poodle, as its name shows. The end product is a dog that, like most of its parent breeds, is kind, intelligent, gentle, and eager to please. Mini Goldendoodles, are small in stature but large in playfulness, and wonderful family pets who get along with children and other animals.
reasons not to own a Goldendoodle
Even if these dogs are amazing, not everyone will enjoy them. These are the reasons!
Dogs that require a lot of upkeep
Many people think that doodles require little upkeep. There are two primary causes behind this.
Two things about them are that they are simple to train and do not shed as much as a Golden Retriever.
Even if these two statements are accurate, that does not make a dog require minimal maintenance.
The time it takes to brush and comb them will triple the time you save by not having to hoover up their fur.
I completely understand how much a Golden can shed, especially when they change coats, having lived with one. Additionally, their hair gets on everything, even their clothes.
However, regardless of whether your dog sheds a lot, you still need to vacuum occasionally.
Goldendoodles are expensive to purchase
Owing to their great demand, Goldendoodles are more expensive to purchase from a breeder than Poodles or Golden Retrievers. Moreover, their yearly maintenance expenses will be higher than those of the other dogs.
Dogs need food and veterinary visits to stay happy and healthy, and Goldendoodles also need expensive professional grooming.
Purchasing specialised brushes and combs will be necessary to keep their fur in good condition between grooming appointments.
Naturally, this varies based on your area and your Goldendoodle’s growth, but a grooming appointment can easily cost anywhere from $65 to over $100. The grooming expenses are about $600 a year if they sum it all up. Plus, the cost of food, toys, chews, and veterinary medicine makes a Goldendoodle more expensive and out of reach.
Making sure they are not matted and going with a smaller dog, such as a little Goldendoodle, will help you save money.
You might also want to look at the little Cavapoo, Cockapoo, and Berendoodle if you’re searching for a small dog.
You have the option to groom them yourself, but the initial equipment purchase will set you back about $1,000. That’s roughly two years’ worth of expert grooming.
High Energy level
Canines of great intelligence and enthusiasm are Goldendoodles. Both the Golden Retriever and Poodle families contribute to their high energy levels.
These two purebred canines were raised to spend their days hunting down their owners’ prey in the fields or on the lake. The dogs had to expend a lot of energy and endurance for this.
Even though Goldendoodles are companion dogs now, their energy levels are still quite similar to those of their parent breeds from years ago.
Every day, this energy needs to be expended. This implies that they need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Without enough mental and physical stimulation, they will start to form undesirable habits or choose to amuse themselves in ways you would normally disapprove of.
They might begin to chew on a shoe, bark at people, or dig through the trash. If your family can spend many hours playing with the dog or taking lengthy walks, that is ideal.
A Goldendoodle is fit for you if you’re an active person who can bring your dog along for socialising, hiking, or running.
However, a Goldendoodle is not the best dog for you if your family is too busy to give the dog attention or if you must leave the dog alone for extended periods.
The Unknown
Goldendoodles are frequently referred to as a breed. This is a result of breeders striving to achieve that objective.
However, people are breeding Goldendoodles because of their popularity tries to make quick money.
These breeders don’t give much importance to the offspring’s future characteristics or health. This brings us to the unknowable. Either you might get a great, well-trained puppy or a dog that has a lot of problems. Shedding is one of the main problems with the unknown. I’ve heard from a lot of breeders that Goldendoodles don’t shed.
But as all animals with hair—including humans—will eventually lose their old hair to develop new, we know it is not conceivable. However, compared to non-poodles, doodles do tend to shed far less.
The problem arises when someone wants a non-shedding dog but a doodle sheds a lot.
Needs a Lot of Social Interaction
Both poodles and golden retrievers were initially bred to work closely with their owners in the agricultural regions of Germany, France, and Scotland. Dogs have a natural desire to please and spend time with people.
Because of these characteristics, Goldendoodles are excellent family dogs and quite gregarious. That is, assuming you have the time to give them the attention they want.
On the other hand, your dog will probably get bored and depressed if you have to leave them home alone due to extended work hours. This can subsequently result in negative behaviours, such as trashing household items and experiencing separation anxiety.
Anxiety of Separation
Owing to their extroverted nature, Goldendoodles are more likely to experience separation anxiety when left alone. These dogs should never be left alone for extended periods. Most of the time, they must be among people. Once more, they make wonderful family dogs when the family is together, but unless you can always bring them along, they can be a major pain for an active family that is constantly on the go.
When we had our Golden, we spent the weekends travelling everywhere with him. He enjoyed socialising and exploring new areas.
Most Goldendoodles inherit this similar sociability and desire to interact with people. Of course, there are instances in which you are unable to accompany them. However, those instances need to be the exception rather than the rule.
Although it might get pricey, enrolling them in dog daycare can help with their separation anxiety.
Not much Hypo allergies
It’s common to hear that doodles are hypoallergenic. This is accurate in theory.
However, we must remember that hypoallergenic products are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
It is not certain that a person won’t develop a dog allergy. Not all people are the same, and not all Goldendoodles have the same sort of fur, even though many people—including myself—who have pet allergies can live with a doodle without experiencing daily allergy symptoms. It’s crucial to understand that a protein found in a pet’s dander, saliva, and urine is what causes pet allergies. Pet dander is dispersed into the atmosphere when a dog sheds hair.
Usually mouthy
The Poodle and Golden are both retriever-type breeds. This indicates that they are trained to perform their duties with their mouths.
Even though they both have a “soft mouth,” they also frequently speak with their mouths.
A Goldendoodle may frequently grab someone by the arm or yank on clothing to catch their attention. When our doodle was a puppy, she used to act in this way.
Even though they are harmless, it can be unsettling for someone unaware of their characteristic. This is especially problematic for small children who are around Goldendoodles who are still learning how to use their jaws appropriately.
Goldendoodle Is Not a Guard Dog
Goldendoodles are not the best dog for the job if you’re searching for one to watch over your house.
Like Goldens, Goldendoodles are incredibly amiable. Rather than attempting to keep a stranger out of their house, they would prefer to invite them in.
Prone to Specific Medical Conditions
Due to their “hybrid vigour,” Goldendoodles are sometimes touted as being healthier than purebred dogs, although this isn’t always true.
There is a chance that the Poodle and Golden will experience some of the same common health problems that the Golden has, such as hip dysplasia and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) complex, sometimes known as bloat.
To truly have a hybrid dog with energy, you need to choose a doodle whose parents do not have similar health issues.
Goldendoodles never pay attention to you
The main cause of Doodles’ unethical behaviour is the breeders’ motivations. It is not unusual for Doodle breeders to charge extraordinarily high prices for their mixed-breed puppies—price points that some even exceed for purebred puppies that have been produced ethically. The people who purchase Doodles frequently aren’t aware that they are purchasing puppies from breeders who don’t do health tests on their adult dogs because they are misled by phrases like “designer dogs” or “hybrids.” A significant portion of Doodles are produced in puppy mills. Due to the overwhelming demand for Doodles in all varieties, breeders are rushing to produce the “first” cross between two separate Doodle varieties.
Goldendoodles got hyper at night
Several typical elements consist of the absence of exercise: Puppies are full of energy and may become hyperactive at night if they don’t exercise enough throughout the day. Attention-seeking behaviour: When a puppy feels ignored or bored, they may behave to win their owners’ attention.
Final Words
In conclusion, even though golden retrievers are amazing pets that can improve your life in a variety of ways, it’s crucial to think through all the aspects of their upkeep and welfare before deciding to get one.
Important characteristics include their size, energy levels, sluggish development, tendency to specific health problems, and the accompanying costs of ownership.
These factors are essential to ensuring that you can give a Golden Retriever a loving, secure, and appropriate home and that your expectations and way of life align with the realities of having this gentle breed.
Making wise decisions now will, in the end, help guarantee that you and your furry buddy have a long and happy relationship.