What kind of pet is man's, woman's, a family's, and every stranger's best friend:

Winner by TKO is the Goldendoodle. Upon first impression of seeing one you are struck with wonder at what the shaggy homeless-looking creature could be. As you look a bit closer you notice a regal-ness in the animals gait, paired with eyes, that if you could see them, would melt your heart with love and adoration. As you are undeniably beckoned closer to the animal, you reach a hand out in greeting. Your hand is enveloped in a silky soft coat, and then immediately drenched by a wet type of love called " doggy kisses". The water works continue from the undoubted beard the animal has, that is most likely soaking wet from it's last drink of water and also a bit smelly, unless it has bathed recently. If you can get past this one tiny inconvenience, and you must be a true dog lover to do so, you will fall completely head over heels in love with this usually large and very hairy beast with a heart of gold.

I'm not sure if every goldendoodle is as fabulous as our dog Sunny, but I have an inkling that most of them hold the title of great family pet.

A Golden Doodle is a cross between a golden retriever and standard poodle. This makes what is called an F1. Then there is a goldedoodle crossed back with a poodle, making a dog that is 3/4 poodle and 1/4 golden and that is called F1b. The reason for the the back cross and for the development of the "new breed" in the first place started with the first breeding of the labradoodle. People were in search of a service dog that could be hypo-allergenic for special needs clients with allergies. Retrievers historically are great service dogs and poodles hypo-allergenic, hence the cross. Goldendoodles came later as some believe the golden retriever to be a calmer dog than the laborador, so they added a twist onto a great idea.

So what makes a Golden Doodle a great family pet?

If you look at breed traits for both dogs, you will find that the Standard poodle(ranked #8 in breed popularity by AKC in 2007) is recognized for Intelligence,train-ability, and jovial personality. But, they can tend towards being high strung, or a bit neurotic, due to inbreeding. They are also "hypo-allergenic" dogs due to their non-shedding coat. Incidentally, Poodles are also working dogs, water dogs in fact, like the retrievers.

Golden Retrievers(ranked #4 in breed popularity by AKC in 2007) are recognized for their love of people, and for their easygoing fun nature. They are also make great service dogs which is a testament to their train-ability and gentle nature. They are a shedding breed and require regular brushing and lots of vacuuming! Retrievers are also prone to hip and eye problems due to inbreeding.

So ideally combining these two breeds together you get a smart, loving, family dog that doesn't shed, or more realistically sheds very little.

When you are considering adding any pet to your family, always do your research to see if the particular addition will be the right fit. Goldendoodle puppies have lots of energy and require plenty of socialization, exercise and training to become a good pet! Maybe adding an adult dog to your family would be a better fit. And even thought they shed very little if at all, they still require fastidious grooming and frequent clips, they have a lot of hair and it grows fast! Goldendoodles are very social animals. No animals should be left by themselves on a regular basis, especially not these guys. If they are home by themselves, they will get bored eventually , and chew up anything they can.

Be sure to check your local animal shelter first, because they just might have the pet that will steal your heart, you might even find a doodle at a fraction of a breeders price. If you decide that a doodle is the only dog for you, be sure to find a reputable breeder. There are many opinions on how to do this. My opinion is to buy local if at all possible. This is the only way you can be sure that the animals are cared for in a humanely and loving way. Visit the premises and meet the parent dogs, This is the best way to ensure you are purchasing from a caring breeder, and not a "puppy mill". No matter what kind of dog or cat you get, please Spay/Neuter your animal! Even if your dog is cute, don't be tempted to breed it.Leave that to the professionals. Leaving a pet unaltered is a sure way to end up with an unwanted litter from your local stray. If cost is an issue, there are local organizations(ie. Humane society) that will assist you with finding a low cost spay/neuter clinic.

Any final thoughts?

How about a quote of what we think, Sunny the Goldendoodle would say if asked:

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sunny. Please pet me. Love me. Stay awhile, be my friend. If you have a tennis ball, I love to play chase. I also love all sports including skateboarding, boogie-boarding and sledding. If you would like, I would leave my owners in second and come live with you. I just love everybody. How bout a kiss?"