Our F1-Goldendoodle at Ramsey Creek Kennels

What is an F1 Goldendoodle Breed?

An F1 Goldendoodle is a cross-breed between a Golden Retriever and a poodle. In short, the F1 Goldendoodle is half Golden Retriever and half Poodle. F1 stands for “filial 1 hybrid” or “first filial generation,” or in simpler terms, the initial cross between two genetically distinct seed/plants or animal offspring resulting from cross-mating of distinctly different parental types. Many considers Goldendoodle as a “designer dog” which refers to an intentional mixing of breeds and is also sometimes called a “hybrid” dog.

History:

Goldendoodles were first bred in 1969 which was intended to be guide dogs. However, this gained more popularity among breeder only until the 1990’s. The inspiration behind the crossbreed for Goldendoodle was the successful breeding of Labradoodle, a poodle and Labrador retriever hybrid. In the United States, one of the most popular domestic dog breeds is the golden retrievers so it was an obvious choice for crossbreeding with the hypoallergenic poodle.

Size and Weight:

There are three main sizes of Goldendoodles that are most widely recognized. These are the mini Goldendoodle, medium Goldendoodle, and standard Goldendoodle. The minis are usually 25 pounds with a height of around 16 inches. The medium ones weigh around 30-40 pounds and stands anywhere from 16-20 inches in height while the size of a standard Goldendoodle is around 50-60 pounds and can grow up to 22 inches tall.

Goldendoodle Care:

Goldendoodles only require some decent attention when it comes to their grooming needs to help them keep healthy. Many people select this breed because they love Golden Retrievers but would prefer a dog that sheds less hair. Goldendoodles only require baths when absolutely necessary since they naturally produce oils that help keep their coats smooth and moisturized. Apart from bathing needs, their teeth need ocasional brushing as well to help prevent tartar buildup and other dental conditions. It is also very important to start their grooming process from a young age by constantly handling the Goldendoodle’s ears, paws, mouth, and tail to avoid any sensitivities. Make them feel that grooming is a fun and rewarding experience rather than something they have to dread.

Temperament:

Goldendoodles are usually highly affectionate, gentle, patient, and actively enjoy human presence which makes them a wonderful option for families with young children. They are also very loyal and highly obedient if given proper training. The trainability of Goldendoodles is excellent since they are very smart dogs willing to learn new behaviors and commands with the help of positive reinforcement. They have athletic genes so you can expect them to have a very high energy and activity level. Many also love to explore water and can learn to swim, and they make great guide dogs, service dogs, and even therapy dogs.

Health:

Goldendoodles are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. If you are buying a Goldendoodle, it is good to get health clearances when possible from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia (with a score of fair or better), elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's disease; from Auburn University for thrombopathia; and from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certifying that eyes are normal. You can confirm health clearances by checking the OFA web site (offa.org).