Goldendoodles are a fluffy bundle of joy who bring love, smarts, and cuteness to your life. They also have boundless energy and a natural desire to play with everyone they meet.

As a puppy parent, your daily schedule has the biggest impact on your pup's behavior. This guide is here to help you plan for your new furry family member!

How to Care

Goldendoodles are intelligent and eager-to-please dogs. They love human company, can experience separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time and require regular obedience training to burn off their energy and create a strong bond with their humans. They are quick to learn and very adaptable, making them ideal for homes with kids, other pets or active families.

Getting your puppy into a daily routine is important, especially while house training to prevent accidents. Puppy schedules should include meal times that are consistent with your family’s to avoid overfeeding and to establish a natural rhythm of eating.

Grooming is also an essential part of caring for your puppy. Even though Goldendoodles are not extreme shedders, their curly, thick coats need daily brushing and regular professional grooming appointments to keep them healthy and looking their best. They should be bathed frequently to keep their skin and ears clean. They also need plenty of exercise to maintain their healthy weight.

Training

A well-trained Goldendoodle is a pleasure to have around the house and a source of pride for its owner. It also helps prevent unwanted behavior such as chewing or barking, jumping, or being gated away from family members and guests when they visit.

Start training your puppy from day one to make sure that it understands its role in the family. Then, continue to train throughout its life to maintain a strong bond and set expectations for the dog.

Puppy training should include obedience classes, agility courses, and other activities that will help your Goldendoodle burn energy in a safe way. Also, get your Goldendoodle into a routine so that it knows what to expect from the time of day and will feel reassured. This will minimize anxiety and make your pet more comfortable in its crate, which should be reserved for sleep and rest. Regular vet visits and a nutritious diet will promote your puppy’s health.

Health

Goldendoodles are intelligent and highly adaptable, making them easy to train. Their boundless energy can be channeled into obedience or agility training. They thrive in a household with children and other dogs and are less prone to separation anxiety than some breeds.

Regular grooming habits (especially ear cleaning) and a high-grade, balanced dog food can help your pup stay healthy throughout their life. A well-balanced diet includes lean meats, healthy fats and moderate percentage of complex carbohydrates.

Goldendoodles are notorious for ingesting items such as socks, especially used ones (yuck!), hair ties, tampons (yes, even those used), bars of soap and rocks. Getting them to the ER quickly when they have ingested something they shouldn’t have can help them avoid a GI blockage that could require surgery and result in a huge vet bill. Childproof your home and keep dirty laundry out of their reach to minimize this risk.

Diet

Goldendoodles require a well-balanced diet that is adapted to their lifestyle. They are active and energetic dogs that need a diet rich in protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.

Ideally, the protein source should be from chicken, beef, or lamb. These proteins help support muscle health and repair. Carbohydrates are an important energy source, and they should be sourced from vegetables and fruits. These plant-based carbohydrates also provide fibre, prebiotics, and antioxidants.

A kibble diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrate content may be better for your Goldendoodle’s health than a high-fibre or low-protein kibble. Ensure that you are feeding your dog the proper amount of food, as overfeeding can lead to weight gain and obesity-related health conditions. You can assess whether your puppy is eating enough by feeling the outline of his ribs. If you can feel his ribs but cannot see them clearly, this indicates that he is gaining weight and is not getting sufficient nutrition