Everyone loves the Goldendoodles temperament. They are funny, sweet, and caring dogs. But just because their personalities are perfect for you doesn’t mean they are always a good fit. Specifically, how much care do Goldendoodles need? And are Goldendoodles high maintenance? The answer might surprise you.
What Makes A Dog High Maintenance?
Before we go into all the parts that make Goldendoodles high maintenance, defining what this means is important. But the truth is, it’s all subjective. What might be too high maintenance for some is a breeze in the park for others.
So when you read this article about caring for a Goldendoodle, take a look at your lifestyle. Is there time for each of these tasks? Do you have the financial means to care for these needs? Will these tasks be challenging to complete every day? Asking yourself these questions will help determine if Goldendoodles are too high maintenance for you.
How Much Exercise Do Goldendoodles Need?
When people think about a high maintenance dog, they usually think about exercise needs. And Doodles everywhere have a bad reputation for being hyper. In fact, the number one reason Doodles get put up for adoption is that owners can’t accommodate their physical needs. So are Goldendoodles hyper?
We can assure you that when caring for a Goldendoodle, hyperactivity isn’t a problem. If left to what a Goldendoodle wants to do, they are perfectly content being a couch potato. But by all means, don’t let them do that.
Your Goldendoodle will need about 20-30 minutes of exercise every day to keep them healthy and in shape. Exercise for a Goldendoodle could be a stroll around the block, playing fetch, or doing any outdoor activities you enjoy. They love to play and do anything that you love to do.
Are Goldendoodles Trainable?
Every dog benefits from basic training. Commands like sit, stay, come, and heel are the basics that every dog needs to learn. And if you were to get a Goldendoodle, these dogs are easy to train. Using a positive reinforcement training style, your dog catches on quickly.
Goldendoodles love to have regular training sessions as well. Training keeps their minds sharp and prevents them from becoming bored. When it comes to training, you have to remember the Goldendoodle’s roots. Both the Poodle and Golden Retriever are hunting dogs that performed tasks.
Your Goldendoodle will have this drive too. But that doesn’t mean you have to go all out and teach your dogs tricks. But regular refreshers and adding new commands periodically will do the trick just fine.
A Goldendoodles Social Needs
With the Goldendoodles intelligence comes the need for lots of interaction. If left to their thoughts, your Goldendoodle could develop separation anxiety. So are Goldendoodles high maintenance when it comes to social needs? Yes, they are.
If you work long hours or go on regular trips, the Goldendoodle might not be the best choice for you. You are the center of a Goldendoodle’s universe. Without you, they could start destroying property, marking, or trying to run away.
But having a job doesn’t squash your dreams of having a Goldendoodle. Options like Doggie daycares and hiring a dog walker is the perfect solution for you. They may cost a little more than you expected, but they are worth it to keep our babies happy.
Boredom Busters!
Even if you don’t work long hours, you should have a few boredom busters for your Goldendoodle. The best way to do this is to create a toy rotation of 4-5 toys that your Goldendoodle only gets when you are gone. Those toys should be a combination of interactive toys, puzzles, and chewies.
And every week you should change out which toys they get. If you have a month’s worth of rotations, it will be like a whole new set of toys every time your dogs get them. These toys will give your dog an incentive when left alone. So when thinking about if a Goldendoodle is high maintenance, you should take into account their toy needs as well.
What About A Goldendoodles Special Diet?
When caring for a Goldendoodle, you don’t need a special diet. But you also don’t want to give your Goldendoodle just any food off the shelf. Not all dog food is equal. We believe that our dogs deserve a high-quality diet. After all, if we are spending the money on a designer dog, we should do everything to prolong its life.
With a high-quality diet, you won’t have to feed your Doodle as much because they keep your dog full. In low-quality foods, you might find that your dog is still hungry after 4 cups or more. But in most top varieties, your Goldendoodle will only need 2-3.5 cups a day. That means that a 30-pound bag will last you about a month.
So how much can you expect to pay in food a month? Surprisingly, you can get excellent quality food at a lower price. On average, you will spend $40-$55 or more for higher-end brands.
The only exception to all of this is if your Goldendoodle develops food allergies. After getting tested, you might find that you can only feed your dog top quality foods that cost more. Some people find that these brands can cost as much as $120 a bag. But if they keep our dogs happy and healthy, they are worth it.
A Goldendoodles Grooming Requirements
Are Goldendoodles high maintenance? If you are strictly looking at their grooming requirements, they are. Many owners don’t realize just how much work goes into keeping up with Goldendoodles hypoallergenic coats. But luckily, breeders are starting to make people more aware.
The first thing you should know about Goldendoodles is that they need daily brushing. No matter if your Doodle has straight, wavy, or curly hair, it needs brushing to keep it from tangling and shedding. You will need a few tools on hand for this task: a comb, slicker brush, and dematting rake.
To begin, use the comb to loosen any dirt and debris from the hair. You will also use this time to find small knots. If there are no tangles, you can skip ahead and use the slicker brush all over. But if you find tiny knots, you might want to use a dematting rake first from ends to root.
This whole process might take you a while at first. Once you and your puppy get used to it, it will only take 15-20 minutes. But the shorter you keep your Goldendoodles’ hair, the faster it will go. You might even find that if the hair is under an inch, you can get by with doing it every other day.
But the hair maintenance doesn’t stop there. They also need to see a professional groomer every 6-8 weeks. Not only will this take some time, but it can also get quite expensive. For a basic package, the national average is about $65. But it can cost more or less depending on your location and what you are having done.
Most people pick a basic package of a bath, nail trim, and hair cut. But you could always choose to bathe and trim your dog’s nails at home to cut back on costs. If you decide on this route to save a little money, your Goldendoodle will only need a bath when they smell or dirty. And to keep the nails short, you will want to cut or grind them every 3-4 weeks.
So as you can see, Goldendoodles are very high maintenance when it comes to keeping up with their luxurious and desirable hair.
Do They Need Lots Of Vet Visits?
And lastly, we will talk about how much vet care a Goldendoodle needs. Goldendoodles are relatively healthy dogs and don’t need more than the average amount of vet attention. We recommend semi-annual check-ups with your trusted vet.
These more regular exams catch anything that your dog could develop. Your vet will do things like blood tests, fecal exams, dental checks, and vaccines. All of this in the hopes of catching any illness before it becomes a bigger problem.
You might even consider getting pet insurance for your Goldendoodle. If you run into an emergency or sudden illness, insurance works to pay for medications and vet visits. It could potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year.
But do you have anything to worry about with a Goldendoodles health? There are a few common diseases in Goldendoodles that you should always be on the lookout for. Things like:
- Addison’s disease
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Heart disease
- Eye diseases
- Cancer
- And thyroid problems
But the sooner any of these problems gets diagnosed, the faster your vet can recommend a treatment plan. With an early diagnosis, your Goldendoodle’s lifespan will be unaffected.
So What Do You Think?
Are Goldendoodles high maintenance to you? A Goldendoodles calm and collected personality is attractive to everyone who meets them. But they can have some ups and downs depending on your lifestyle. Only you can decide if a Goldendoodle is too high maintenance or not.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!
