The Vet’s Guide to Groodles: Facts, Care, and Training Tips

The perfect family dog, Groodles, also know as Goldendoodles, are an affectionate and loving Oodle breed. This playful dog breed is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, making them a gentle dog that is perfect for allergy-prone owners. 

Groodles are a very modern breed, having been first bred in the 1990s after their original breeders noticed the growing popularity of the Labradoodle. As dog lovers started looking for a hypoallergenic dog with the same characteristics as a Golden Retriever, they set out to create the Groodle, which is also referred to as Goldendoodle. Since then, this breed has been loved by individuals and families as a popular Oodle breed.

Almost all Groodles you will find today will be first-generation hybrids, meaning that their parents will be a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, as this ensures the inheritance of characteristics of both breeds.

• Groodles are a great family dog! They are known to be great around children, easily trainable and highly intelligent making them the perfect addition to any family or a great choice for first-time dog owners.

• This breed can be susceptible to a range of health conditions inherited from their Poodle and Golden Retriever parents. We recommend investigating their pedigree and medical history, and having them regularly screened for common hereditary diseases.

• Groodles are not only highly intelligent, but also very active. Be sure to make your Groodle a part of the family through frequent play sessions, daily walks and dog activities to keep them happy.

Appearance: Groodles can vary in appearance depending on the characteristics they take on from their parents. Some Groodles will have curly hair that resembles their Poodle genetics, while others will have a wavier coat from their Golden Retriever parent. 

Whilst their coat colour can vary, the golden coat colour is the most common in Groodles. Likewise, Groodles can vary in size depending on the size of their parent breeds (i.e. Groodles with a miniature Poodle parent will be smaller than those with a standard Poodle parent). Smaller Groodles often weigh around 22 kilograms, whilst larger Groodles can weigh up to 41 kilograms.

Temperament: Every Groodle will have a unique personality, but they are known to be very friendly, yet active dogs. Great for first-time dog owners, this breed responds well to obedience training and is often gentle with children - making them the perfect family dog.

Activity Level: This breed requires approximately one to two hours of exercise a day, but this depends on their size. Smaller Groodles that were bred with miniature and small Poodle breeds will need less exercise than Groodles with larger-sized Poodle relatives.

Health: Whilst generally healthy dogs, Groodles can be predisposed to varying hereditary diseases. To help manage this, we recommend the health screening of your Groodle at least once a year so these conditions can be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Lifespan: The average Groodle can be expected to often live between up to 15 years, meaning you have many years to spend with your new family member!

Groodles are a beautiful breed, but will sometimes require more grooming than other breeds. However, you can maintain your Groodles grooming from home with the appropriate tools, tips and attitude!

Coat Types & Shedding Patterns: Groodles can have varying fur types depending on the genes they inherit from their Golden Retriever and Poodle parents. Some Groodles will have curlier hair that closely resembles their Poodle parent, whilst some have wavy hair that closely resembles their Golden Retriever parent. This means that every Groodle will be a little bit different, and will require varying types of grooming.

Since Groodles can vary in their fur types, this also means that their shedding patterns can differ. A pup with a curlier coat will shed less than one that has a wavy hair texture - it all depends on their genetics!

Frequent Grooming: No matter their coat type, your Groodle should be groomed regularly. We recommend frequently brushing your pup to avoid excessive shedding and matts, which can cause discomfort if left for long periods of time.

For Groodle's with curlier coats, we recommend brushing them at least twice a week with a soft pin dog brush. For wavy-coated Groodles, you can brush them at least once a week with a dog brush to keep their fur healthy.

Nail Trimming: To make sure that your Goldendoodle doesn’t experience discomfort, be sure to monitor their nail growth and not let their nails become overgrown. Your Goldendoodle’s nails can be maintained by being naturally worn down from frequent walks on pavement or through trimming them regularly.

You can determine overgrown nails in your pup if they begin to touch the ground - this is time to carefully trim those nails with dog nail clippers! If possible, introduce nail trimming early on with your Goldendoodle to avoid difficulties with this process

When looking to adopt a Groodle, it’s extremely important to know their medical history, and that of their parents. This is due to Groodles being predisposed to a range of genetic disorders and health issues that can cause them later trouble into adulthood.

We understand that this is not always possible, especially if you’re adopting an adult Groodle with very slim medical documentation. Therefore, we recommend having adult Groodles being screened for health issues every year to help detect any possible issues as early as possible.

Orthopaedic Conditions: Groodles are susceptible to a range of orthopaedic conditions that can affect their mobility as they age. These conditions are commonly found in Golden Retrievers, so if possible, screening of your Groodle's Golden Retriever parent of these diseases is highly important.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is a condition caused by the abnormal development of these joints in your dog. Dysplasia can be identified in your Goldedoodle starting from one to two years old through difficulty in walking, stiff joints and abnormal swaying. Whilst many dogs can live comfortably with anti-inflammatory medication, some severe cases require surgery. If you identify any of these symptoms in your dog, we recommend taking them to a trusted veterinarian.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative disease that affects the eyes of the dog. In Groodles, symptoms such as bumping into objects or becoming nervous often begin to show when they are three to five years old. With PRA, your Groodle’s night vision will begin to deteriorate first, meaning that it is best to look for symptoms when they are in dark spaces.

Whilst there is no cure for this disease, your Groodle can still live a happy and healthy life due to their strong sense of smell, hearing and touch. 

Gastric Dilatation: As a deep-chested breed, Groodles can be susceptible to gastric dilation at any life stage. This condition can occur when food, fluid or air collects in the dog’s stomach, making it expand. Following this, the dog’s stomach can twist and trap the content in the stomach, leaving it nowhere to go and restricting blood flow to vital organs.

Common symptoms of gastric dilation are a swollen abdomen, agitation, inability to vomit and excessive drooling & panting. If you observe these symptoms, take your Groodle to the veterinarian immediately as this is a life threatening condition.

To help prevent gastric dilation, we recommend giving your Groodle food in smaller portions or even through slow feeder bowls to regulate the speed of their eating. Likewise, we recommend waiting at least an hour before or after exercising to feed your pup.

If you’re looking for a breed that is easily trainable and responds well to commands, the Groodle is the perfect fit! As both Poodles and Golden Retrievers are known for their intelligence, Groodles are likewise very smart and easily trained. 

Starting early: We recommend beginning training with your Groodle at a young age to help with common behavioural issues later in life, such as jumping and barking. By setting a basis of training with your Groodle, you can ensure they are a happy addition to your family.

This sentiment also rings true for house-training your Groodle. Starting early will make this process smoother for both you and your pup! Due to their high intelligence, potty training your Groodle will often come easier, as they will pick up commands faster than some dog breeds.

Leash training: Training your Groodle to walk properly on a leash is a vital practice from a young age! Groodles can grow to be quite large, and having a dog pull you down the street can not only be tiring, but unsafe.

To leash train your dog, we recommend purchasing a good quality harness that is appropriate for the size of your Groodle and bringing along some training treats on your walks. You will need to be patient with your dog, and reward them with treats when they are walking loosely on the lead and responding to your commands.

Positive reinforcement: When training your Groodle in any area, we recommend following the positive reinforcement method. This involves giving your dog a reward (e.g. praise or a treat) when they perform the wanted behaviour, such as sitting on command. When your dog shows unwanted behaviours, this method recommends ignoring them, and redirecting them to a positive behaviour.

This is the most effective method of training, and will make the experience for both you and your Groodle positive and something your dog looks forward to.

Socialisation: Although Groodles are a friendly and personable dog breed, it is still important to socialise your pup. By socialising your Groodle, it gives them the best chance at becoming comfortable around other dogs, people and environments. You can socialise your dog in a safe setting, such as a local puppy school or meeting with known dogs.

Puppy School: A great way to introduce your Groodle to basic commands, and also socialise them with other dogs is puppy school. In puppy school, your dog will learn basic obedience training, as well as allow them to familiarise themselves with other dogs, people and environments. This is an accessible and safe way for your Groodle to learn basic commands and become a well-rounded pup!

Many veterinary practices offer puppy school classes, which provides a safe environment for your Groodle puppy when they are vulnerable before receiving their full vaccinations.

Groodles are very active breeds - both physically and mentally. This means that keeping up with daily exercise and mental stimulation is vital to keep your pup happy and save you from dealing with any unwanted destructive behaviours, such as barking and digging.

Daily walks: A great way to incorporate your Groodle's daily exercise is through at least one walk a day. By creating this routine with your dog, you can ensure they get the exercise they need without getting lost in your busy schedule. 

To make sure your Groodle doesn’t become bored with the same walking route, be sure to switch up where you walk every few walks. This keeps your Groodle interested in walks, and also allows them to become familiar with new environments.

Playtime: Daily walks should not just be the only source of exercise your Groodle receives in the day. We recommend carving out some time to spend playing with your Groodle each day. You can play fetch outside with their favourite toy, or play tug of war with a sturdy rope toy. This not only helps you meet your dog’s exercise requirements, but is also a great opportunity for you to bond with your Groodle.

Mentally stimulating activities: Groodles are smart dogs, so they need activities that help keep their brains occupied. We recommend providing your dog with mentally stimulating dog activities such as puzzle treat toys or play mats to help keep their mind active. By regularly engaging your pup in various activities, you will help keep them happy and healthy for a longer period.

Groodles are generally well-behaved and friendly dogs, but that doesn’t discount them from experiencing some behaviour issues. Luckily, these behaviours can be trained out due to their receptiveness to obedience training. Through positive reinforcement and patience, your Groodle will begin to understand that the unwanted behaviour will not be rewarded.

Excessive barking: You may experience some excessive barking in your Groodle, which can become frustrating at the best of times. Excessive barking can be the result of boredom, excitement, attention seeking, alerts or loneliness. Identifying the cause of excessive barking is crucial to understanding the next steps of training out the behaviour.

If you continue to experience excessive barking in your Groodle, and the causes don't appear to be one of the above, we recommend taking your dog to a trusted veterinarian for further examination.

Destructive behaviour: Your Groodle may become destructive through excessive digging, and this is likely the cause of boredom or loneliness. Finding holes scattered in your backyard can be a pain, so we recommend addressing this as soon as possible. To help keep your Groodle from boredom, ensure they are taking an active role in your household. This means frequent attention from family members and daily walks. Likewise, we recommend providing your Groodle toys and dog activities to keep their minds busy.

Jumping: As an energetic and loving dog breed, Groodles can have a tendency to jump. Whilst not aggressive in nature, this is something you should address, as this can become a dangerous behaviour when around children, and unwanted by guests.

To tackle this behaviour, we recommend consistency with ignoring your dog when they jump by turning away, and rewarding them when they have all four paws on the ground. Through repetition, your Groodle will understand that they only receive attention when they are not jumping.

With any pup, you want to make sure that you are providing them with the appropriate amount of nutrients to keep them happy and healthy. This is no different for Groodles, as they require nutrient dog food that uses high quality ingredients to keep them healthy.

Protein-rich food: Along with nutrient-rich foods, we recommend providing your Groodle with foods that are high in protein. High-protein foods will give your pup the energy they need, along with supporting their growth and development. Dog foods with the base of chicken, beef, turkey, salmon or pork are a great way to incorporate protein into your pup’s diet.

Hydration: As with all dog breeds, it is important that you give your Groodle access to fresh and clean water at all times. Keeping your pup hydrated helps prevent dehydration and related illnesses - making them a happy pup!

We recommend having a water bowl filled with clean water out in your home so that your Groodle has access to water whenever they need it.

Meal Frequency: The portion sizes of each meal you give your Groodle will vary depending on their life stage and their size, but you should still space out meal times throughout the day. We recommend feeding your Groodle twice a day to encourage healthy eating habits. 

To avoid your Groodle overeating or eating too quickly at meal time (which can put them at risk of diabetes and associated diseases), we recommend putting their food into a slow feeder bowl to encourage the development of a healthy appetite into adulthood.

Whether you have an Goldendoodle or you're thinking about getting one, we hope you learnt something by reading our article. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Goldendoodle ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Share your experiences with other Goldendoodle owners, and always continue to learn more about your dogs breed, temperament and how best to care for and love them.

This article was written by Dr. Jack Ayerbe