
The Black Goldendoodle’s teddy bear-like appearance and charming personality have captured the hearts of dog-lovers. It is a crossbreed between the sweet and gentle-natured Golden Retriever and the fun-loving Standard Poodle. Barely shedding compared to the former, it has the best of both worlds packed in a warm and cuddly furball.
Whether you call them Groodle, Doodle, Goldenpoo or Golden noodles, here’s everything that you need to know about Black Goldendoodles.
Why are they Black?
Goldendoodle comes in a variety of colors from apricot, red, cream, dark brown, gray, silver, blue, white and black! Black Goldendoodles mainly get their charcoal coat from the poodle side of the family. As they grow older though, this lightens and turns to grey.
Three Black Goldendoodle Coat Types
Goldendoodle’s soft and full coat comes in three types depending on which parent gene is dominant: the Golden Retriever’s shag, the Poodle’s curl or in-between?
● Straight Coat
This type of coat is rare compared to shaggy or curly. If the Black Goldendoodle has a straight coat, it means that the Golden Retriever parent is predominant. Having a straight coat makes it easier to maintain. The straighter the coat though, the more it sheds. Weekly brushing is sufficient grooming already.
● Shaggy or Wavy Coat
The most common coat among the Black Goldendoodles is shaggy or wavy. Having this coat means they inherited a good combination on both sides. It is also the easiest to maintain. Weekly brushing is also recommended. Shedding is minimal in this type of coat.
● Curly Coat
Dominantly of a Poodle gene, this coat is characterized by its loose barrel curls. To avoid matting, daily brushing is important. While it requires a lot of grooming, shedding is almost non-existent.
Sizing of Black Goldendoodle
Because one of its parents is a Standard Poodle, the largest among the breed, it is considered as a medium dog breed. Even if one of their parents is a toy poodle, they can grow larger than them. Predicting its size can also be tricky though as it will always depend on the dominant parent.
● Mini Black Goldendoodles – These cute furballs can grow at 13 to 20 inches and weigh 15 to 30 lbs.
● Standard Black Goldendoodles – Height can range from 17 to 20 inches and weigh between 40 to 50 lbs
● Large Black Goldendoodles – They can grow as large as 22 to 26 inches in height and weigh 45 up to 100 lbs
Black Goldendoodle’s Personality
Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles are both well-loved family pets. Coming from great parent breeds, what is the likely temperament of a Black Goldendoodle? While it will greatly depend on their parent’s dominant genes and a good upbringing, below are some of their common traits:
● Social Creatures
Their cute faces are not just a facade as they are really very friendly. They need their “humans” to spend a lot of time with them. Other dogs and even cats are considered friends, too. Just like their parents, they are affectionate and loyal.
For them to grow-up well-mannered and not shy, they need to be trained on how to socialize as a pup. Never leave them for too long too as they tend to have separation anxiety.
Indeed, Black Goldendoodles are great companion dogs.
● Intelligent and Patient
Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles are known to be intelligent and no wonder Black Goldendoodle offsprings are. As such, they are easy to train. They can even be trained to check allergen on their owner’s food such as nuts. They qualify for a good sniffing dog. Be pleased as they are very eager to please their owners.
When raising and training them, positive reinforcement works (with treats!). This allows them to learn tricks fast.
● Playful and Energetic
Black Goldendoodles love to play around. They are not the type of dogs to be placed in a cage or it will really mess them up. Nor are they the type that likes to get bored. They need space to trot about and thrive. Leave them in the backyard and they sure will start to dig. During playtime, they also tend to be goofy and mischievous.
● Sweet and Gentle
While they are playful, they are also sweet and gentle. That makes them great with kids and even the elderly. Because of this temperament, they are good therapy dogs.
● Warning: Too Friendly!
Adorable as they are, Black Goldendoodles do not make for a good guard dog. In fact, they barely bark at strangers so neighbors are unlikely to be disturbed. They also will welcome intruders with kisses. That said, they are better off as door greeters at a party.
Between a male and a female Black Goldendoodle, males tend to be more stubborn.
Black Goldendoodle Grooming
Because Black Goldendoodles are gifted with less shedding, their coats are easy to maintain. They are even considered hypoallergenic. But be warned: no dog is truly 100% hypoallergenic as all dogs have dander and shed dead skin cells, just like humans.
Apart from regular hair brushing, occasional bathing and monthly professional grooming are also advised. Frequent brushing of teeth, trimming of nails, cleaning of eyes and ears should also be part of their grooming.
If they love to swim, check and clean ears regularly and spot for possible signs of infection.
Since a Goldendoodle’s coat can grow as long as 8 inches, giving them a short haircut is a thumbs-up option.
Black Goldendoodle Exercise and Play
As with humans to stay healthy, Black Goldendoodles also need moderate exercise to work their endless energy off.
Walk them thrice daily, each for about a half-hour, in the park or mall. Spend a few minutes of playful games with them. They love to fetch, chase, play tug of war and jog. Inheriting from their Golden Retriever parent, they also love to swim and retrieve! Try it and get it unscathed with their gentle mouth.
Exercising also puts them in a good mood.
How Much is a Black Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodle’s price varies on the type of coat, size of the dog, quality of parents, color and more. Black is the most common but it is the most sought after with prices ranging from USD 1,500 to 2,000.
Rely only on reputable dealers. While they tend to have higher upfront prices as they spend much on testing, it will save on medical bills in the future.
Other things about Black Goldendoodle
● Health
Hybrid dogs are expected to live healthier and longer than purebreds. Black Goldendoodles only inherit health problems common to both parents. Generally, they are not prone to diseases but some of the common types are hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections, allergies and even cancer. Be sure to buy them from reputable breeders as they usually perform various tests and provide evidence of good results.
A regular visit to the vet is also a must especially in their later years. When properly taken care of, they can live for as long as 15 years.
● Food
A balanced diet is important for any dog. Choose a kibble with high-grade ingredients rich in meat-based protein, healthy fats and complex carbs. Check what’s appropriate for your pet’s age, size and activity levels. Stick also to the right amount of food, as indicated in every feeding guide. Give Goldendoodles premium dry food to meet their nutritional needs. When in doubt especially on serving size, it’s best to consult a vet.
Conclusion
No doubt, Black Goldendoodles are great family pets. It is highly recommended for first-time owners and perfect for those with kids or elderly. They are also great companions for swimming and hiking.
As with most pets, Black Goldendoodles require utmost attention, care and love. Give it the TLC that they need and they will definitely give it back a thousand-fold. Who wouldn’t love that fuzzy doodle as a member of the family?
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