A dog is a man’s best companion because of its unconditional love and undying loyalty to their owners. People keep dogs for many reasons like emotional support, security, and companionship. If we talk about a friendly, highly entertaining, and challenging breed of dog, a Goldendoodle will be the best choice.
Table of Contents
The Basics
A Goldendoodle is a unique crossbreed between a Golden retriever and a poodle, having the combination of good looks, playfulness, and smart wits. This crossbreed is called a “designer breed” because they have the characteristics of both of their parents, but it is challenging to know which traits they will inherit from each parent.
Characteristics
- They are very energetic and intelligent
- They love playing and doing exercise-based activities
- Most of them quickly build a relationship with children, birds and other dog breeds
- They actively participate in physical activities like hiking, running, and walking with their owners.
- Most Goldendoodles are water-lovers and enjoy swimming a lot.
- Their coats can be of different colors like dark brown, orange, cream, or black, which is an adorable mix of their parents.
- Poodles don’t shed and not irritate their owners.
Goldendoodle Growth Stages
For a better understanding of your puppy, you need to ensure you are considering the developmental stages of your buddy well. Pets are like children who have their stages of development. They go through their different phases of life, from the toothless, hairless creature to a full-grown senior dog.
To understand their development, understanding their growth stages is essential. Let’s go through the primary stages in the following table:
| Stages | Duration | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
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Stage 1 |
Birth to 3 weeks |
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Stage 2 |
3 to 7 weeks |
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Stage 3 |
7 to 12 weeks |
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Stage 4 |
12 to 16 weeks |
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Stage 5 |
16 to 40 weeks |
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Stage 6 |
40 weeks to 1 year |
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Goldendoodle Average Lifespan
- The average lifespan of a Goldendoodle is almost 10-15 years.
- Hybrid crosses like the Goldendoodle take the lower range and a higher range of its two-parent breed’s life expectancy.
- The life span of all living creatures depends upon two factors, i.e., genetics and health. Genetics means the average span of the animal breed and the average lifespan of parent animals. At the same time, health includes factors like lifestyle, injury, diseases, diet, and physical activity.
- However, it is a common sight that a bigger dog has a shorter lifespan, on average big dogs live up to 8 to 10 years, and smaller dogs live 15 years. As mentioned above, it can be enhanced with an active and healthy lifestyle. Guldens and poodles are unfortunately prone to many diseases because of a mixed breed. Good care helps for longer lives.
Types Of Goldendoodle
You may have noticed there are several kinds of Goldendoodles, which are the result of different percentages and different breeds of dogs. Here is the breakdown of the various strains of Goldendoodle.
- Australian Labradoodles: it is a mix of Poodle, Labrador Retriever, and Cocker Spaniel multi-generation
- English Goldendoodles: a mix of English Golden Retriever and Poodle
- Aussiedoodle: a mix of Australian Shephard and Poodle
- Teddy Bear Schnoodles mix of Schnauzer with Teddy Bear face and Poodle.
- Berne doodles: a mix of Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle
- Goldendoodle: a mix of Poodle and Golden Retriever
- North American Retrievers or Double Doodles: This is a hybrid of two generations, for example, a mix of Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle) plus Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever and Poodle)
- Labradoodle: a mix of Labrador Retriever and Poodle
- Teddy Bear Goldendoodles English Golden Retriever, which is like Teddy Bear face and Poodle
- Petite Goldendoodles Golden Retriever and Cavalier for the mother dog and then miniature Poodle for Sire. Again, two-generation blends.
Factors That Determine Goldendoodle Lifespan
Life span is based on the quality of life your dog spends. Physical health, as well as mental health, both play a significant role in determining the lifespan for your best buddy. Make sure your dog is getting sufficient time a day for physical activity; you should spend some time with them. You can take them on a long walk. Spending time with him and doing something tangible allows you to form a deeper connection with him, which will improve his mental wellbeing as well. It’s an opportunity for you to have a healthy lifestyle too.
Common Signs Of Aging
Goldendoodles, when taken care of properly, can give you years and years of love and affection. However, the signs of aging are several such as
- Age-based health problems begin to appear.
- Their behavior changes. They become crankier.
- Their gums and teeth may bleed
- Their hip joints can dislocate
- Their senses are affected
- They may gain weight or may lose it.
Age-Related Diseases
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
In this condition, dogs experience a gradual deterioration of the retina that can cause daytime blindness.
Von Willebrand’s Disease
A blood-related condition that causes clotting and symptoms are bleeding gums and nose. It occurs around the age of 3 to 5 years.
Tips For Looking After An Aging Goldendoodle
Keeping a dog is no game; parenting of a dog is nothing less than parenting a human baby. Several important points should be taken care of, such as:
Exercise
Physical activity is a must, play with them. Go on hikes with them. Make them run; fetch is a good option.
Eating And Nutrition
A healthy diet is another must; some foods are specific for their age groups. Give them accordingly. Pizzas, slices of bacon, or other junk food are neither good for you nor good for your dogs. Keep it simple and healthy for yourself and your bud.
Weight
Weight is a factor linked to healthy habits. Make sure you’re maintaining the weight of your dog; otherwise, they will be prone to various diseases, ultimately reducing their life span. Snacks should not be comprising more than 10% of their total diet. Carrots and bell peppers are a healthy treat. Also, there are low crab meat-based dog treats you can consider giving. This well-balanced diet will surely promote the dog’s health.
Regular Checkups
Pay a visit to your vet regularly to ensure that your dog is healthy living, and in any case, your dog has caught any disease; it is diagnosed in an early stage instead of making it to a more significant problem. They should get vaccinated on time to protect them from any avoidable disease.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental being is the primary factor in determining the lifespan of your dog. Form a deep connection with pets by spending time with them. In this way, you will quickly get an idea of their intelligence and mental stability.
Care Of Teeth And Ear
If you are willing to increase the life expectancy of your dog, brush their teeth, and clean their ears.
When To Switch Goldendoodles From Puppy To Adult Food?
Puppies’ nutrient needs are different from adults, especially for standard Goldendoodle, because they are more prone to diseases. Food should be given to them correctly according to the mentioned ages on dog food packs. In general, puppy food should be provided until the age of 1 year and then transition to adult food gradually or consult your vet to decide.
Conclusion
The average lifespan of a standard Goldendoodle is 10 to 15 years. However, this span varies with the standard of life. Physical and mental health can increase and decrease life expectancy. Different types of Goldendoodles lifespan do not differ significantly; they all lie in the range of 10 to 15 years, but in general, smaller dogs tend to live longer. If well taken care of, i.e., exercise, mental wellbeing, regular vet rounds, vaccination, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning. These factors increase life expectancy to approximately 15 to 20 percent.
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