The Mini Goldendoodle Is Stealing Hearts And Here’s Why
With the adorable face of a teddy bear and a bright and cheerful personality it’s easy to see why the Mini Goldendoodle has become such a popular breed. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with them and it doesn’t hurt that they are so friendly and good with children. As a designer breed, in this case a mix of the Golden Retriever and Miniature Poodle, it is not AKC recognized but that hasn’t stopped interested owners from taking a chance on this unique breed. With the tight, curly coat of the Poodle they release very little dander making them nearly hypoallergenic, which has also added to their popularity.
History
Designer breeding, where two purebred dogs are mated in hopes of achieving the best traits of each breed, is a relatively new process. Labradors and Standard Poodles were first mixed in 1989 and in the 1990s, breeders began mixing Poodles with Golden Retrievers. As with all designer breeds, the Mini Goldendoodle combines the personality traits of its parent breeds. With the Mini Goldendoodle you get the highly intelligent and sociable traits of the Poodle and the intelligent, gentle and affectionate nature of the Golden Retriever. Of course, as with any designer breed, it is extremely important that breeding is handled very carefully in order to avoid any unwanted or dangerous results.
Temperament
Getting the best traits of its parent breeds means that in the Mini Goldendoodle you have a loving, cheerful and happy-go-lucky dog that is also highly intelligent and easy to train. In fact, they are so easy to train and eager to please that the Mini Goldendoodle is considered a great choice for first time dog owners. While their good nature does make them a great family dog that gets along well with other pets and children, they are high energy dogs and may have a tendency to get overly excited in families with small children. As a result, they are generally recommended for families with children who are school aged or older.
Environment
Standing at just 14-17 inches tall and weighing 26-35 pounds, the compact size of the Mini Goldendoodle makes it ideal for apartment living. It’s important to remember, however, that the breed can be both high energy and hyper loyal, which means they are prone to bouts of separation anxiety. As a result, they may have a tendency to bark or chew if left alone for long periods of time. Fortunately, with the proper training and plenty of soothing and calming from their owner, they can learn to overcome their anxiety issues.
Exercise
As a high energy and highly intelligent breed, the Mini Goldendoodle requires regular physical and mental stimulation. While walks are certainly helpful, the Mini Goldendoodle also requires some time off-leash to burn off energy in quick bursts and to spend time exploring and sniffing outdoors. Their extraordinary intelligence means that they can easily become bored, especially if they are left alone for long periods of time. Unfortunately, that boredom can often lead to negative traits like barking or chewing. Providing mental stimulation with toys, puzzles and one-on-one play time can help to ease this problem.
Grooming
The tight, curly coat of the Mini Goldendoodle means that it is very low shedding and therefore it is considered hypoallergenic but this does not mean that it is maintenance free. Daily brushing will help to keep their coats clean and to avoid matting. There are always individual variations within designer breeds and that means some Mini Goldendoodles may have wavy or straight coats that will require regular grooming to keep them short. You will also need to pay particular care to their coats in the winter as snow and ice can easily become clumped on their legs and bellies.
