Most of us are aware that the Goldendoodle is a hybrid between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. You can learn lots more about Goldendoodles from how they age to what colors they come in in the Goldendoodle section of our site. However, what is the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle?
A Goldendoodle is the result of crossing a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. The Poodle can be the Toy, Miniature or Standard variety. The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is the product of breeding the Poodle specifically with the English Cream Golden Retriever.
Is the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle a Doodle that stands out from the rest? Do they require different maintenance, exercise or diet from a ‘regular’ Goldendoodle? Let’s take a look at what makes them different.
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What is a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle?
Assuming that you are in the United States of America and looking to buy a Goldendoodle, most will be a cross between the Poodle and the American Golden Retriever. However, The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is specifically the cross between the Poodle and the English Cream Retriever.
The first purported Teddy Bear Goldendoodle was bred by Sherri Smeraglia in Alabama in the 90’s although at this time they were known as English Goldendoodles. She went on to write a book about her endeavours called Fletcher, the very first English Teddy Bear Goldendoodle.
What is a Teddy Bear Dog?
The year 2000 gave us a new millennium, the International Year for the Culture of Peace, the World Mathematical Year and the Teddy Bear dog. Quite simply, a Teddy Bear dog is a hybrid of two other breeds. The parent breeds are most frequently Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises or Bichon / Poodle crosses. However, breeders are continually adding to the gene pool by adding other breeds to the mix. The Schnoodle, the Cavapoo and the Cockapoo are other examples of a Teddy Bear Doodles.
Initially used as therapy dogs for disabled children, the Teddy Bear brought a warmer and more passive temperament to what are often yappy and excitable dogs. The term Teddy Bear most commonly refers to a smaller dog, but the name has also been adopted to describe other hybrids who have the same cute look about them such as the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle.
The English Cream Golden Retriever
There are three types of Golden Retriever. American, English and Canadian. All are descended from the original Scottish line who were developed in the mid 1800’s, but the different breeding processes used across the waters have resulted in their slight variations.
The Golden Retriever varies in colour from light golden to deep auburn. The English Cream Golden Retriever is much lighter. Whilst not pure white, they still come in a variety of shades of pale cream and light yellow. You may also find them referred to as White Goldens and Platinum Blonds.
They have other subtle facial differences including a broader head and rounder eyes making them easily distinguishable from their American and Canadian cousins. They tend to be stockier and their topline straighter. The topline is the measurement along the spine from the base of their neck to the top of their tail. Despite their stockier build they are the smallest of the three Golden Retrievers.
The English Cream Color is not recognized by The American Kennel Club (AKC). Although Golden Retrievers of this color are a recognized breed with both the Canadian and English Kennel Clubs.
All these slight differences aside, the English Cream is still a Golden Retriever and not a breed in their own right.
What are is the Differences between the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and the Goldendoodle?
Size
Goldendoodles come in three sizes depending on which size Poodle is used for the cross. The size of the Golden Retriever can also impact their overall height too, but this is just a guide.
Whilst the English Cream Golden Retriever is the smaller of the three Goldren Retriever breeds (American, Canadian and English Cream), the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle will still fall into the same three categories. These categories are:
- Miniature – The Miniature Goldendoodle is a result of breeding the Golden Retriever with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. They generally weigh between 15lbs and 35 lbs and stand between 13” and 20” tall from paw to shoulder.
- Small Standard – The Small Standard is of a similar height measuring, on average, between 17” and 20” but is a heavy dog weighing in at anywhere between 40lbs and 50lbs.
- Large Standard – The largest Goldendoodle will reach an average of 20” to 24” in height and weigh between 50lbs and 90lbs once they have reached their full adult size.
Color Choices
As with the standard Goldendoodle, their coats can be any color that Poodles can be. However, they do tend to have the look of your favorite childhood soft toy. Hence the name Teddy Bear.
Price
English Creams are much rarer in America than their darker colored counterparts. This means finding a reputable breeder is paramount as high demand makes for a higher price tag. A higher price tag is an unfortunate draw for nefarious breeders and puppy farms.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility for this to have a knock-on effect on the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle. Ensure that you do your due diligence when looking for a breeder to rule out the possibility of scammers and unscrupulous breeding.
Shedding and Coat Maintenance
All Golden Retrievers are known to be huge shedders, and this includes the English Cream. One of the primary reasons to cross them with the Poodle is to reduce their shedding powers and replace them with a more hypoallergenic pooch. In many cases, both the Goldendoodle and the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle will cause no issues for allergies sufferers but as no dog is truly hypoallergenic, this cannot be guaranteed.
The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and the Goldendoodle have a similar requirement of coat maintenance and ultimately it will be dependent on each individual dog. However, you should be looking to be brushing your Goldendoodle regularly with a suitable brush. A pin brush is a good option to keep knots and tangles at bay and keep their coat looking neat and healthy.
Exercise Needs
The Goldendoodle is an active breed and will need anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours a day of exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Ultimately, this will be an individual requirement which you will learn as you get to know, and bond with your dog.
Exercise can be made up from walking, playtime and even swimming. Being bred from two inherently good swimming breeds, the chances are that your Goldendoodle, regardless of their Teddy Bear status will have a natural love of the water. Take a look at our guide do Doodles like to swim to learn how to make this a safe activity.
Goldendoodles are a clever breed inheriting their intelligence from both parent breeds. The Poodle and the Golden Retriever rank second and fourth respectively in Stanley Coren’s – The Intelligence of Dogs. This means that your Goldendoodle will require plenty of mental stimulation with games, puzzles and toys. If they become bored, they can also become noisy and destructive.
Known Heath Issues
English Cream Golden Retrievers are predisposed to the same health issues as their darker counterparts. Hybrid vigour should go some way to lowering the risk of common problems and a reputable breeder should also be able to provide health declarations for both parents. However, known issues to be aware of with all Golden Retrievers are:
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cancer
However, as English Creams are imported to, rather than bred in, the US, and Europe has stricter health testing regimes, some may argue that they can be healthier than their American equivalent.
Food Requirements
There is a plethora of options to feed your pooch. Dry, wet, raw, the list is extensive. Some Doodles do have sensitive stomachs and may suffer from allergies so ultimately the decision may be made for you if they do not tolerate the initial choice you make. Our article do Doodles have sensitive stomachs can be a helpful tool to guide you through how to make changes if this is a concern.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles and Goldendoodles do not have different dietary requirements and what to feed them, providing it is a well balance and sufficient menu will be down to you.
Are Both the Goldendoodle and Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Hypoallergenic?
No dog is 100% hypoallergenic. However, bringing the Poodle into the mix who are known for their low shedding qualities significantly lowers the risk. An F1b Goldendoodle where the Goldendoodle is bred back to the Poodle can lower this risk even more, and makes a good choice for those with allergies.
Which Should I Choose? The Goldendoodle or the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle?
The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and the Goldendoodle have the same requirements in terms of care and commitment. Both can even exhibit the Teddy Bear look and you can even have your non-Teddy Bear looking Goldendoodle’s furnishings groomed to replicate the natural look.
Ultimately, the choice is down to you and how well you research the breeders of each. Choosing a breeder is like choosing a school for your child. When you find the right one, you just know.
While the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is rising in popularity, they are still a far cry behind that of the Goldendoodle. At the time of publishing, the Google search volume in the US for ‘Goldendoodle’ was 368,000 per month, whilst their Teddy Bear cousin only stood at 9,900.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Teddy Bear Dogs Easy to Train?
Training your pooch will be dependent on their breed and personality. Some will sail through the process and others will have a stubborn streak which will require a little more patience and encouragement.
Regardless of the ease of the task in front of you, obedience should always start early and be a wholesome experience. Positive reinforcement, praise and treats are recommended and not physical punishment.
Do Teddy Bear Dogs Bark a Lot?
Again, as the term Teddy Bear is a term used to describe the look of a dog and not the breed itself, this will be dependent on their genes. Smaller dogs tend to be yappier making them good watch dogs. However, all dogs have the capacity to develop into a barker if their basic needs are not met or they become bored.