Famous goldendoodles: real dogs behind the breed's rise

Part 1

What counts as a famous goldendoodle

A goldendoodle is a crossbreed of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Breeders crossed the two dogs deliberately as early as 1969, when Monica Dickens, a great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, bred them to create guide dogs for people with allergies. Wider breeding did not start until the 1990s, when breeders in Australia and the United States began producing goldendoodles on a larger scale.

No major kennel club recognizes the goldendoodle as an official breed.

Part 2

Public figures and goldendoodles

The goldendoodle has appeared alongside well-known people. In November 2021, Brodie the Goldendoodle appeared in a photo with actor Ian Somerhalder on the red carpet of a fashion show.

Part 3

Goldendoodles on social media

Brodie the Goldendoodle, nicknamed Brodie That Dood, is an 80-pound, curly-coated dog. He was born in April 2019 and posted his first TikTok in February 2020, a clip of him enjoying a car ride. His accounts have grown to more than 7 million followers on TikTok, more than 5 million subscribers on YouTube, and more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. His YouTube channel is reported to have generated about 3 million dollars. Brodie lives with his mother, a Golden Retriever named Luna. He is not a trained service dog, but he has visited children's hospitals in an informal role that brings comfort to patients.

Part 4

Working and service goldendoodles

Goldendoodles are also used for jobs beyond entertainment, including therapy work, guide work, and nut-detection work. They have been trained as therapy dogs, guide dogs, and dogs that detect nuts in food for people with nut allergies. This working use goes back to the breed's start, since Monica Dickens bred the first goldendoodles specifically as guide dogs for people with allergies. The Goldendoodle Association of North America describes the goldendoodle as a versatile companion capable of filling therapy and service roles. The Golden Retriever side of the cross adds a friendly, trainable temperament that suits work around people. If you are considering therapy or service training for your dog, a trainer can tell you whether your dog's temperament fits that kind of work.

Part 5

How the goldendoodle became popular

Monica Dickens crossed a Golden Retriever and a Poodle in 1969, decades before the cross had a common name. Breeders in Australia and the United States began widely producing goldendoodles in the 1990s, adopting the name goldendoodle for the mix. In 2001, breeder Amy Lane crossed a Golden Retriever with a Miniature Poodle, and the first known miniature goldendoodle litter was born in January 2002. Lane later founded the Goldendoodle Association of North America in 2008 to support ethical breeding and document pedigrees. Breeders aimed to blend a Golden Retriever's temperament with a coat that sheds minimally.

Part 6

What these dogs have in common

The goldendoodles known for public attention share a few traits. Golden Retrievers contribute a friendly, affectionate, and outgoing nature, while Poodles add intelligence and trainability. Goldendoodles are often described as loyal, playful, and trainable. This friendliness also comes with a tendency toward separation anxiety, especially in puppies. These traits, more than a long working history, are what tend to make an individual goldendoodle stand out, whether that is your own dog charming your neighbors or a dog charming millions online.