What were goldendoodles bred for? The purpose behind the mix
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If you share your life with a goldendoodle, you might wonder what job breeders had in mind for the mix. Goldendoodles were bred to combine a golden retriever's friendly, trainable nature with a poodle's coat.
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The story in 6 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
The short answer
The goal was to blend the golden retriever's temperament with a coat that sheds minimally, if at all.
Part 2
Who first crossed a golden retriever with a poodle, and why
Deliberate crosses of golden retrievers and poodles happened before the breed became popular.
Part 3
The allergy and shedding problem they aimed to solve
Goldendoodles are often described as hypoallergenic or non-shedding, but hypoallergenicity is not an official breed trait, and the American Kennel Club says there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog.
Part 4
From working parents to a companion role
The golden retriever is a gundog developed in Scotland, used for serious hunting and field work, as a guide for the blind, and in search-and-rescue.
Part 5
How goldendoodles are used today
If your goldendoodle seems eager to please and comfortable around people, that fits the roles the mix has taken on.
Part 6
Not a recognized breed, and what that means
Your goldendoodle is not recognized as a breed by any major kennel club, including the AKC, the FCI, or British kennel clubs.
Read the full story
Part 1
The short answer
The goal was to blend the golden retriever's temperament with a coat that sheds minimally, if at all. Breeders were inspired by the success of the labradoodle, which had already shown that a poodle cross could help people with dog allergies. So while your dog's ancestors include working gundog breeds, the goldendoodle itself was designed as a companion, not a specialist.
Part 2
Who first crossed a golden retriever with a poodle, and why
Deliberate crosses of golden retrievers and poodles happened before the breed became popular. Monica Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, crossed the two breeds in 1969, reportedly to provide guide dogs for people with dog allergies. It was not until the 1990s that designer dog breeders in Australia and the United States began crossing golden retrievers and poodles widely, adopting the name goldendoodle for the cross. Their aim was to produce an alternative to the labradoodle, which had already become popular. Amy Lane became one of the trailblazers of organized goldendoodle breeding programs in the United States, and in 2001 she crossed a golden retriever with a miniature poodle, producing the first known miniature goldendoodle litter in January 2002.
Part 3
The allergy and shedding problem they aimed to solve
Goldendoodles are often described as hypoallergenic or non-shedding, but hypoallergenicity is not an official breed trait, and the American Kennel Club says there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog. So while your dog's coat may vary, the American Kennel Club says there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog. Coat type still varies a lot within the breed, since it depends on breeding generation and the type of poodle parent used. It was once thought that a higher percentage of poodle heritage meant less shedding, and that curlier coats produced less dander, though this is not a fixed rule.
Part 4
From working parents to a companion role
The golden retriever is a gundog developed in Scotland, used for serious hunting and field work, as a guide for the blind, and in search-and-rescue. The poodle was originally a water retriever, likely from Germany, France, or Russia, and its name comes from the German word for splashing in water. The poodle's distinctive trimmed coat began as a practical choice, protecting joints and vital organs while the dog swam and retrieved waterfowl in cold water. By crossing these two breeds, breeders created a dog suited to companionship, and also to therapy and guide work.
Part 5
How goldendoodles are used today
If your goldendoodle seems eager to please and comfortable around people, that fits the roles the mix has taken on. Goldendoodles are primarily bred as companion dogs, but they have also been trained as therapy dogs, guide dogs, and even nut-detection dogs for people with nut allergies. The Goldendoodle Association of North America describes the breed as versatile, capable of filling roles including therapy and service work, alongside its main role as a companion. Goldendoodles have grown in popularity as family companions since breeders began widely promoting the cross in the 1990s.
Part 6
Not a recognized breed, and what that means
Your goldendoodle is not recognized as a breed by any major kennel club, including the AKC, the FCI, or British kennel clubs. That matters because your goldendoodle is not recognized as a breed by any major kennel club, including the AKC, the FCI, or British kennel clubs. The Goldendoodle Association of North America did develop a breed standard in 2017.
Things you might not know
- Breeders were inspired by the success of the labradoodle, which had already shown that a poodle cross could help people with dog allergies.
- By crossing these two breeds, breeders created a dog suited to companionship, and also to therapy and guide work.
- Goldendoodles have grown in popularity as family companions since breeders began widely promoting the cross in the 1990s.
Year by year
- 1969Monica Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, crossed the two breeds in 1969, reportedly to provide guide dogs for people with dog allergies.
- 2001Amy Lane became one of the trailblazers of organized goldendoodle breeding programs in the United States, and in 2001 she crossed a golden retriever with a miniature poodle, producing the first known miniature goldendoodle litter in January 2002.
- 2017The Goldendoodle Association of North America did develop a breed standard in 2017.
Questions people ask
Why were goldendoodles bred in the first place?
Breeders wanted to blend the golden retriever's friendly, trainable temperament with a poodle's coat, aiming for a low-shedding companion dog. They were inspired by the earlier success of the labradoodle in helping people with dog allergies.
Are goldendoodles good for people with allergies?
They are often described as hypoallergenic, but hypoallergenicity is not an official breed trait, and the American Kennel Club says no dog is completely hypoallergenic. Shedding and dander can still vary a lot depending on the individual dog's coat and generation.
Who created the first goldendoodle?
Monica Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, crossed a golden retriever and a poodle in 1969 in England, reportedly to create a guide dog for people with allergies. Widespread, intentional breeding of goldendoodles did not begin until the 1990s in Australia and the United States, when breeders like Amy Lane helped popularize the cross.
Are goldendoodles used as service dogs?
Yes, goldendoodles have been trained as guide dogs and therapy dogs, alongside their main role as companions. The Goldendoodle Association of North America also describes the breed as capable of therapy and service work.
What is the difference between a labradoodle and a goldendoodle purpose-wise?
The labradoodle was created in Australia in the 1980s to develop an assistance dog with a hypoallergenic coat for a client with allergies. The goldendoodle followed a similar goal of combining a retriever's temperament with a low-shedding poodle coat, but it emerged later, in part as an alternative to the labradoodle's popularity.
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Sources
- Goldendoodle - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Poodle History: From Water Retriever to Versatile Companion. American Kennel Club.
- History of the Goldendoodle - Goldendoodle Association of North America. Goldendoodle Association of North America.
- History of the Doodle — Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Bernedoodles & Others. Cosmopolitan Companion Dogs.
- Double Doodle Dog: All About the Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Crossbreed - DogVills. DogVills, Feb 29, 2024.
- The Doodle: The History of this Dog Breed | Holiday Barn Pet Resorts. Holiday Barn Pet Resorts, Sep 21, 2020.
- Golden Retriever. American Kennel Club.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research