Goldendoodles, which have been bred in North America since the 1990s, are ideal family pets with curious, kind, loyal, and loving personalities. Goldendoodle lifespan is around 10 to 15 years and is inherited from their golden retriever and poodle parent breeds.
Golden retrievers tend to have a slightly shorter life span of 10 to 12 years, while poodles average around 12 to 15 years. As with people, each dog breed is unique, and there are many factors that contribute to a Goldendoodle’s life expectancy.
In this article, we’ll consider some of the factors that affect a Goldendoodle lifespan and break down some common ailments that arise as this hybrid dog breed ages.
Training and Fitness To Increase Goldendoodle Lifespan
Like humans, Goldendoodles need to lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain a high activity level to have a long and happy Goldendoodle lifespan. This includes eating a healthy diet, getting lots of exercise, and maintaining good mental health with lots of love, attention, and social interaction.
Goldendoodles are the crossbreed of two very athletic, purebred dogs – golden retrievers and standard or toy poodles – so it’s important that they get exercise every day. Pups raised in households with plenty of room to play and explore will likely maintain better physical fitness and reduce potential health problems well into their later years.
Choosing the right diet for your mixed breed dog can also help Goldendoodle lifespan be longer. Because they’re active by nature, Goldendoodles do best with premium dog foods that are high in energy. Consider a dry kibble that’s rich in both protein and fat. This type of food can help your Goldendoodle stay nourished and promote better dental hygiene. Some Goldendoodles can have allergies to corn, wheat, soy, and dairy, so keep a close eye on your pup when introducing a new type of food.
Goldendoodle’s health can also sometimes be prone to ear infections due to the structure of their ears. Their long, hairy ears can reduce airflow within the air canal, which can then lead to a buildup of moisture causing ear infections. Typically, these infections can be easily treated, but it’s important to bring your pup to the vet if it struggles with chronic ear problems.
Safety and mental health are also key factors to ensuring a full Goldendoodle lifespan and training are key. These trainable retriever-poodle mixes are smart and receptive by nature, so they can receive a high level of training at a young age and are often considered an ideal breed to train as therapy dogs or even as guide dogs.
Learning commands such as “come,” “sit” and “leave it” can make your life easier and prevent your pup from engaging in unsafe behaviors. Goldendoodle’s health can also suffer from separation anxiety, so training them to be comfortable with alone time can help relieve stress and avoid health issues early on in life.
Goldendoodle Lifespan: Common Signs of Aging
With the right support, training, and care, standard Goldendoodles can offer many years of love and make for great family dogs. There are, however, some common ailments that Goldendoodle lifespan experience as they age. Here are a few of the most common signs to look for with help from your vet:
- Hip dysplasia: This is a condition in which the thigh bone becomes displaced from the hip joint. This condition has a strong genetic component and is avoided by working with a reputable breeder.
- Von Willebrand’s disease: This is a blood condition that affects clotting. It’s usually diagnosed between three and five years of age, and symptoms include nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: Also called PRA, dogs with this condition experience a gradual deterioration of the retina. Blindness can occur, especially during the daytime.
We health test for over 160 of the most common canine diseases with the most modern genetic testing available, which helps ensure a long healthy life for your puppy. Have more questions about Goldendoodle lifespan? Visit our FAQ page for additional information.
If you’re looking to add a lovable, cuddly Goldendoodle puppy to your family, take a look at our available dogs or fill out a contact form and a Pride and Prejudoodles team member will get back to you shortly.
