Engraved illustration of a Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle Training & Temperament: Breed Guide

The Goldendoodle crosses a Golden Retriever with a Poodle, usually a Standard, or a Miniature for the smaller version. It began appearing in North America and Australia in the 1990s, following the success of the Labradoodle, as breeders looked for a family dog with the Golden's famously gentle nature and a coat less likely to shed.

The Golden Retriever side was developed in the 1860s on the Guisachan estate in the Scottish Highlands, where Lord Tweedmouth wanted a dog that could fetch shot birds from water and rough ground and deliver them without a mark. The Poodle started out in Germany as a water retriever too, so a Goldendoodle comes from two lines of dogs bred to work closely and willingly with people.

You can expect an affectionate, outgoing dog who loves company, food and anything involving their mouth. Golden Retrievers are known for taking their time to grow up, and many Goldendoodles share that long, bouncy puppyhood, so patience with the teenage months is part of the deal.

Training approach for Goldendoodles

  • Goldendoodles tend to be soft-natured dogs who love praise, attention and food in roughly equal measure, which gives you plenty of ways to reward them. They learn quickly and are usually keen to get things right.

    That softness also means they can be easily worried by a raised voice or rough handling. A Goldendoodle who's been told off may become hesitant or clingy, so rewarding what you want and calmly guiding them away from what you don't keeps their confidence and enthusiasm intact.

  • Calm is the big one. A Goldendoodle's love of people and other dogs can turn into a lot of bouncing, so teach a settle on a mat early and reward your dog generously for quiet moments throughout the day.

    Work on staying calm around other dogs on lead. A sociable dog who's always allowed to say hello can become frustrated when they can't, which often shows up as pulling, whining or barking, so practise walking past dogs with rewards for checking in with you.

    Give that soft retriever mouth plenty to do with chews, carrying toys and gentle retrieve games, and teach a trade for anything they pick up that they shouldn't.

    Fit regular handling and brushing into your routine from the start, along with checking and drying their ears, since the coat and floppy ears need ongoing care.

  • Start with settling, handling and simple cues in your puppy's first few days home, and introduce them to calm, friendly adult dogs as early as your vet advises.

    Adolescence often starts around six months, and because Golden Retrievers mature slowly, a Goldendoodle can stay quite puppyish until two or even three years old. Keep your expectations realistic through that stretch and stick with the settle work, since it pays off as they grow up.

Q & A

  • The main difference is the retriever parent. Goldendoodles often inherit a slightly softer, more sensitive streak from the Golden Retriever, along with a longer, wavier coat, while Labradoodles can lean towards the Labrador's boisterous energy and big appetite. There's plenty of overlap, though, and individual dogs vary a lot, so meeting the parents tells you more than the name of the cross.

  • Usually later than people expect. Many stay bouncy and puppyish until somewhere between two and three years old, thanks to the Golden Retriever's slow maturity. Calm doesn't simply arrive with age, so practising settling, rewarding quiet behaviour and making sure their needs for exercise, sniffing and chewing are met all help them get there.

  • A Mini Goldendoodle is bred from a Miniature Poodle, so it's a smaller, lighter dog that's easier to manage on lead and in a smaller home. Training needs are much the same either way. A Standard Goldendoodle is a big, strong dog as an adult, so polite greetings and loose lead walking matter even more.

  • Carrying things in their mouth is exactly what both parent breeds were bred for, so it comes very naturally. Puppies use their mouths to explore and play, and many Goldendoodles carry on wanting something to hold well into adulthood. Keep a toy handy to offer when they're excited, especially at greetings, and give them plenty of appropriate things to chew.

  • They're naturally sociable, so seeing another dog can feel like the best thing that's happened all day. If every dog has meant a chance to play, being held back on lead can quickly become frustrating. Practise passing dogs at a comfortable distance with rewards for staying calm, and save greetings for dogs you know are friendly and when your Goldendoodle is relaxed enough to ask nicely.

  • Their floppy, hairy ears can trap warmth and moisture, which makes infections more likely, particularly after swimming or bathing. Dry the ears gently afterwards, keep an eye out for redness, smell or head shaking, and ask your groomer or vet about keeping the hair around the ear canal tidy. If you spot signs of infection, see your vet promptly.

Is a Goldendoodle right for you?

  • You'd love a friendly, affectionate family dog who wants to be involved in everything, and someone is around for much of the day. You enjoy daily walks and training games, you're ready for a long and bouncy adolescence, and you're happy to budget time and money for regular grooming.

  • You're hoping for a dog who'll settle into calm adulthood quickly, since many Goldendoodles take two or three years to get there. Long days alone are likely to be hard on such a people-focused dog. And if anyone at home has allergies, remember that a low-shedding coat can't be guaranteed in a cross.

If you're in Brighton and Hove and want structured guidance for training your Goldendoodle, my Puppy Foundation and Teen Reset programmes can help. Or check out my free Puppy Primer or Terrible Teen Survival guides for a practical starting point.