Are Goldendoodles Good For First-Time Owners? 7 Tips To Know! (2024)

As a first-time pet owner, you may be a little anxious about stepping into the world of dog ownership.

A lot of thoughts can go through your mind….”Am I truly ready for this commitment?”…”Do I really have the time for this?”…”What will I do when I go on vacation?”

This article will discuss the Goldendoodle and some of the considerations you should think through and understand before bringing one into your home. Let’s start with the biggest question.

Are Goldendoodles good for first-time owners? Yes, Goldendoodles can be a great choice for first-time dog owners. Their temperament, friendliness, and trainability make them great for those with no or limited experience raising a puppy. 

While Goldendoodles can be a fantastic choice as a first dog, it won’t come without some work and effort on your part. 

Successful dog ownership starts with you (the owner) knowing what you’re getting yourself into, beforehand. So we’ve put together a 7-part list of what we feel every potential owner should know about the breed and what Goldendoodle ownership actually looks like. Enjoy!

The Goldendoodle is a crossbreed between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. They were originally bred to help those who needed a service animal but also suffered from pet allergies.

Golden Retrievers are commonly used as service or care animals because of their intelligence and their friendliness. They’re extremely loyal pets.

The Poodle was chosen because of their hypoallergenic coats. They shed infrequently and very little, and they make great pets for those who suffer from allergies.

Together, they forged the Goldendoodle.

If you’re considering welcoming an adorable Goldendoodle into your life, you’ll want to start your journey off on the right track from the very beginning. 

Having a comprehensive guidebook can prepare you to be the best owner possible so that your dog can reach his full potential and be an affectionate, faithful companion.

The Owner’s Guide to the Perfect Goldendoodle is packed with information about breeders, puppy proofing your home, training, coat types, grooming requirements, health issues, and more.

It will be the book you turn to again and again. Pick up your copy today so you can confidently help your little Doodle become the dog he was born to be.

7 Things Every Owner Should Know About Goldendoodles

1. They’ll Build A Bond Quickly

While this is a good thing, it also means that they are prone to separation anxiety when you have to leave them to work.

If you work at home or have someone at home throughout the day, then separation anxiety isn’t something that you need to worry about.

However, if you’re like most people and have to leave the dog alone, then you should be aware that they may whine, bark, or destroy objects in order to deal with their anxiety and boredom.

This is where having a good exercise routine comes in handy! Do you know how much exercise your Goldendoodle actually needs?

Find out the recommended exercise times for both puppies and adult Goldendoodles in this article.

2. They Love To Play

Goldendoodles are pretty active. If you’re thinking about owning one, then you should expect to be active too.

If you’re not one to be active yourself, then this might pose a bit of an issue. The Golden Retriever in them loves to play fetch, tug-of-war, and games like hide-and-seek.

Goldendoodles can be wonderful family pets (discover why here) if you have any children. The kids can play with the dog and properly tire them out for you.

3. They Are Extremely Social

Because the Goldendoodle is a social dog, they love to greet new people and other animals.

They don’t make the greatest of guard dogs because they’d rather make friends with intruders than scare them off.

This friendliness can result in them jumping up on new people or guests when they’re full of excitement.

This is nothing that training can’t fix. In fact, we show you exactly how to correct jumping issues here.

4. Socialize Your Goldendoodle Early

To battle that tendency to bark, you’ll want to socialize your Goldendoodle early. (Is barking a common problem with Goldendoodles? Find the answer here.)

Socializing means helping your dog become used to new smells, people, and dogs. It’s to make them comfortable with encountering new experiences and situations.

The best time to socialize your dog is when they’re a puppy. That’s because as they grow older, they tend to become more suspicious of new things rather than curiously excited.

You should begin socializing your Goldendoodle as soon as you bring him home, typically between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks old, although a good breeder will have already begun the socialization process.

Socializing provides many benefits for your dog. They’re far more relaxed and happy.

It also means that you don’t have to worry about them barking at each new person or sound that they encounter.

Read more about the process of introducing your dog to new experiences in our Complete Socialization Guide.

5. Be Consistent With Obedience Training

To further ensure that your Goldendoodle is prepared to behave properly outside and inside the home, you need to start obedience training.

Like socialization, this is done best when they’re still a puppy. As they grow older, Goldendoodles tend to become more stubborn and willful.

Simple commands like sit and stay can be taught when they’re 7 or 8 weeks old.

It’s before the 6-month mark that you should really double down on professional obedience training. By 6 months, they’re already starting to reinforce adult behaviors.

Some of the training that you’ll want to focus on with Goldendoodles is to keep from jumping on people, to stop, to be silent, and to fetch.

We have a ton of other useful tips and helpful information on all aspects of life with a Goldendoodle. Click here for more!

6. They Need Lots Of Exercise And Mental Stimulation

Especially when they’re younger, Goldendoodles are extremely active. They require at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.

However, happier dogs are those who are played with more and exercised longer than just that. They love games of tug-of-war and fetch.

Because they’re quite intelligent, they need plenty of mental stimulation.

Not familiar with this concept? We define mental stimulation, explain the benefits it provides, and give you creative ideas to get and keep your dog mentally fit in this article.

You should give your dog puzzle games (this one is highly recommended), Kong toys (these are definitely a must-have), and other toys that require them to think in order to access the treat inside.

They’ll have a lot of fun trying to figure out how to get to the treat, and you’ll be surprised how the mental activity helps to wear them out.

You can also keep them mentally engaged by teaching them new tricks.

If you’re going to be out of the house for an extended time, then make sure that they have plenty of toys to play with in order to occupy themselves.

If they become bored, you can be sure that they’ll start chewing on things in your home.

Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles love the water, so you can be sure that your Goldendoodle will too. (Be sure to read this article for important water safety tips!)

Taking your dog swimming or playing water sports with them is a great way to keep them happy, exercised, and mentally stimulated.

7. Some Grooming Is Required

While the Goldendoodle is somewhat hypoallergenic due to the Poodle’s contribution to the breed, you still need to groom your dog.

Their fur can become matted and dirty if not brushed regularly. This is the brush I use on my own Doodle dogs.

The slicker brush and a good-quality stainless steel comb are my two most used grooming tools by far.

You can always clip the coat and keep the fur short. This reduces the amount of brushing that you need to do.

If you want to keep your dog’s hair short, then you should expect to visit the groomer’s every 6 to 8 weeks.

However, if you keep the coat as is, you should brush every few days. Bathing can be delayed to every few weeks unless they happen to roll in something unpleasant.

Looking for a great detangling conditioner to make brushing easier?

I use this detangling cream because it can be applies to either wet or dry fur and a tiny bit goes a long way. No greasy feeling. No need to rinse. No more tangles to make my dog miserable.

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Related Questions

Are Goldendoodles Stubborn?

Because Goldendoodles are quite smart, they can also be quite stubborn. If they don’t want to do something, then they likely won’t do it unless you give them a lot of encouragement.

(We have some terrific training tips in this article.)

However, you can help reduce their stubbornness by making the task fun or by ensuring that they know they’ll receive a treat after they obey.

Can I Leave My Goldendoodle Alone at Home? How Long?

Goldendoodles can be left home alone, but they won’t be happy about it. They create strong bonds with their owners and can experience separation anxiety.

Puppies should be left alone no more than an hour to three hours. Older Goldendoodles can be left alone for a full workday (8-10 hours).

Give them lots of love and exercise to make up for their solitude. This article explains how to make the transition to being on their own easier.

That’s A Wrap!

This breed of dog is extremely friendly, active, and contains aspects of the Poodle’s hypoallergenic coat.

Because of this, the Goldendoodle is a lot easier to maintain than other dog breeds with heavy coats.

Because the Poodle is also extremely intelligent, the Goldendoodle is just as intelligent. This makes the breed easy to train in terms of understanding what it is that you want from them.

Furthermore, the Goldendoodle is a great choice for first-time pet owners because the two breeds that make up the Goldendoodle are also great for first-time owners.

The Golden Retriever is a popular choice among first-time owners. They’re sweet-tempered, playful, and easy to teach and train.

The Poodle is also a popular choice for first-timers because their intelligence makes them easy to train. They also love their owners a great deal and prefer to be with them any time that they can.

Before you go, remember to grab your copy of The Owner’s Guide to the Perfect Goldendoodle – the only guidebook you’ll need. Check it out today!

Last update on 2024-04-18 at 20:10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API