A common question that people ask is, should you bring a Goldendoodle home? In this article, we’ll discuss are Goldendoodles good with kids?
Goldendoodle ownership has skyrocketed in the last decade. Many people already own or are now considering adding a Goldendoodle to their family. But what if you have children or are planning to have children in the near future?
What are the Factors that make Dogs Good with Kids?
It’s no surprise that we want to make sure that dogs are going to fit in well with our families. When we add a furry friend to our family, we want them to be with us for life. The last thing that anyone wants to do is get a dog, only to find that it’s not going to work out with their family, forcing them to give the dog up.
So how can you tell if a dog is going to be good with kids? You will want to consider how the pup was raised and its genetic background/pedigree.
Not all dogs have been bred to be good with kids. You will need to do your research on a breed and a specific line of dogs to make sure they will be a good fit for your family.
Here are some qualities that you’ll want in a dog if you have or plan to have kids:
Easy to train
If a dog is too stubborn, it might not cooperate with children or listen to adults when they try to teach their dog how to get along with their kids.
Obedient
Obedience is not the same as being easy to train. Someone can train their dog to be calm around kids, for example, but you will want your dog to want to listen to you and please you by obeying the rules that you’ve taught him/her.
Tolerant
This trait is especially important if your children are under five years old. The best dogs are going to tolerate the sporadic and sometimes unexpectedly rough petting and tugging that a toddler might do. Kids don’t always know where they should touch a dog. Therefore, the dog should be comfortable being petted on different parts of his/her body, such as the ears, tail, and feet.
Children usually play rougher with their siblings or friends, and might be loud or have loud or strange-sounding toys. The pup doesn’t have to necessarily ignore these unexpected sounds, but he/she should be able to recover quickly after being startled. A kid-friendly dog also needs to stay calm and be comfortable and confident around the child’s things, such as strollers, high chairs, walkers, and playpens.
If the child gets too rough, the dog should appropriately try to avoid the disturbance, but should never act out. Any signs of aggression or intolerance is a warning sign that the dog probably won’t be good around children, and should never be left alone with them.
Friendly
A kid-friendly dog should be precisely that—friendly! Dogs don’t have to be the social butterfly, but they should be social enough to tolerate children and people of all shapes and sizes. A friendly canine will be more likely to get along with children because it views everyone the same and has a gentle kindness that shines through.
- How Does the Goldendoodle Check All these Boxes?
- So now that you know what factors make a dog good with kids, where does the Goldendoodle fit?
Highly trainable and smart
Goldendoodles want to please you and love learning new things. It’s one reason why they are commonly trained to be service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs. If you want a dog that is going to listen to you and learn the rules about how to live in a household with children, then the Goldendoodle should be a top pick!
Loyal and devoted
They will always want to be by your side. They have a naturally outgoing demeanor, which makes them a friend to all, and most importantly, your child’s best friend! Goldendoodles have a pure love for their people. They bond very closely with children and comfort them.
Tolerant with a sense of humor
The Goldendoodle will tolerate a child’s antics, but likely will also want to join in the fun! They were not bred to have strong hunting, guarding, or herding instincts. So it’s no wonder they are tolerant and pleasant to work with around children!
Pros of owning a Goldendoodle when you have kids
So now that we know the Goldendoodle checks all the boxes that we’d want in a dog that will be good with kids, what makes Goldendoodles more unique than other breeds?
The Goldendoodle is, in many ways, the perfect family dog.
Some of the extra benefits of choosing to own a Goldendoodle with children include:
Hypoallergenic
Goldendoodles were initially bred to shed less than other breeds. They make great pets for people who have kids were allergies, asthma, or other conditions that prevent them from owning a full-shed dog. That being said, Goldendoodles still can shed, but they are a better choice than many other breeds when it comes to being more suitable for allergy-prone children.
Teaches responsibility
Because Goldendoodles are highly trainable and smart, your children will have a ton of fun teaching them fun tricks. You can encourage your kids to help feed, water, walk, and clean up after your furry family member, teaching them all about responsibility and pet care.
Different sizes
Goldendoodles were initially bred by combining a Golden Retriever with a Standard Poodle. Nowadays, smaller poodle breeds (miniature and toy) have been mixed in, allowing the Goldendoodle to come in a wide range of sizes and weights. Kids who need a large dog for support can own a larger Goldendoodle, and families looking for a smaller dog can own a smaller Goldendoodle.
A friendly personality
Goldendoodles are very tolerant of youngsters and have the patience to thrive in a family home. They tend to seek out an upset child and sit with them, providing a calming presence. And while the Goldendoodle is not the best guard dog, they are still alert and will protect your child if needed.
Cons of owning a Goldendoodle when you have kids
We can’t discuss the pros of owning a Goldendoodle without balancing it out with the cons. There are pros and cons to owning any type of breed. Therefore, doing your research not only into the breed but the specific breeder is very important.
Some factors you should consider when it comes to owning a Goldendoodle include:
Grooming
The Goldendoodle has a beautiful coat that requires a lot of time, energy, and money to maintain at home and with frequent visits to the groomer. The type of maintenance that a Goldendoodle’s coat requires is not as easy for a child to do. Kids might be able to help with some brushing, but most of the work is probably going to fall on the adults in the household, so be prepared.
Energy level
Even though this is a pro of owning a Goldendoodle, it can also be considered a con. If your children are very young, they might easily be knocked over by a rambunctious young pup who doesn’t know any better. Or if your Goldendoodle likes to give hugs, they might be more likely to jump up on the little kiddos.
Barking and Chewing
Since Goldendoodles are super smart, they can’t get bored. Otherwise, they start looking for other ways to occupy their time. The Goldendoodle might decide to have a snack if your kids leave food on the counters or toys lying out. It shouldn’t have or rip up your kid’s favorite toy by accident.
The Goldendoodle’s temperament
Goldendoodles have a very lovely temperament that makes them extremely suitable for life with a family. When it comes time to choose which specific puppy from a litter will be yours, or which youngster or adult Goldendoodle comes home with you, there are specific qualities that you can expect the Goldendoodle to have.
Make sure you meet your Goldendoodle in-person before bringing him/her home so that you can verify their temperament.
The temperament of a Goldendoodle should include being:
- Energetic
- Friendly
- Intelligent
- Trainable
These qualities can sometimes be hard to notice in some puppies. For example, if you visit the litter after a long play session or mealtime, they might all be asleep. Even if you wake them, a groggy puppy might not act the same. If needed, you can look at the parents’ temperament, which can help decide what the puppies are going to be like.
Also, keep in mind that a Goldendoodle’s temperament will continue to blossom with lots of love and attention. The last thing anyone would want is to have their friendly pup later become fearful of strangers because they were not properly socialized.
Completing the Family
The Goldendoodle is a one-of-a-kind dog that fits the bill if you are looking to add a furry friend to your family. Now you know all of the great qualities that make a dog good with kids, the pros and cons of owning a Goldendoodle when you have kids, and the ins and outs of the Goldendoodle temperament.
You will still have to do some research into a specific breeder or rescue to make sure they check off all of the boxes for the important factors. But you now have all of the information that you need to decide to let a Goldendoodle complete your family.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
