When you make the decision to buy a puppy, you’re not only welcoming this new life into your family but you’re taking on the huge responsibility of caring for and nurturing it throughout its life.
As pet owners, one of the concerns we have is the health of our four-legged companions. We care for our dogs as much as any other member of our family and when a dog dies, it can cause huge emotional stress.
With that in mind, it’s vital to ensure that the puppy you choose has been bred by somebody who cares for its wellbeing as much as you do, that all the necessary health checks have been done and that the foundations are in place for it to live a healthy and happy life.
So, you’re likely to be here because you’re either considering welcoming a Goldendoodle into your family or have recently done so and you’re interested to know how long it might be with you.
The life expectancy of a Goldendoodle is between 10 and 15 years. The purebred Golden Retriever and Poodle breeds which are used to produce them are generally considered to be healthy dogs which provides a good foundation for the Goldendoodle, especially with the addition of hybrid vigor.
Let us explore the life of a Goldendoodle where we’ll answer the key questions around life expectancy and what determines how long these beautiful dogs live for.
Table of Contents
Why do Different Dogs have Different Life Expectancies?
Much of the difference between the various dog breeds with regards to life expectancy comes down to genetics.
To produce a purebred puppy, the dam and sire need to be from the same gene pool. A lot of breeders actually use dogs from the same family in their breeding programs which can increase the risk of genetic defects.
The risk can rise as the generations go on and some pedigree breeds now have a life expectancy of only 5 – 8 years. Most pedigree dogs however do tend to live longer than that.
With hybrid dogs, the gene pool is much larger and there is generally little in the way of inbreeding. ‘Hybrid vigor’ or heterosis to use the scientific name is a term used to describe the improved genetic foundation of a hybrid dog which can result in the outbreeding of certain breed specific health issues.
Another factor to a dog’s life expectancy is its size. On average, smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger ones. A Great Dane’s life expectancy is between 6 and 8 years, this is also true for the Bernese Mountain Dog. Both of these are classed as big dogs.
On the opposite end of the size scale, a Miniature Poodle’s life expectancy is between 14 and 17 years. Other examples of small dogs are Dachshunds and Yorkshire Terriers, both of which have life expectancies of up to 16 years.
Whether a dog has been spayed or neutered can also affect its lifespan. Spaying in female dogs eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and in male dogs, neutering reduces the chances of them developing prostate cancer.
Do the Dam and Sire Breeds Play a Part?
Goldendoodles are bred using Golden Retriever and Poodle parents. The pedigree breeds of both parents have a good life expectancy of up to 12 years for the Retriever and 15 years for the Poodle.
With this being the case for the pedigree parents, it stands to reason that the Goldendoodle’s life expectancy shouldn’t be any lower than this.
Both breeds are generally considered healthy which is reassuring for the prospective Goldendoodle owner. The Poodle in particular is known for having few health issues.
Do Pedigree Dogs or Hybrid Dogs Generally Live Longer?
This is a really important question and one which is particularly relevant because of the fact that the Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed.
The UK’s RSPCA conducted a study which found that on average, purebred dogs lived for 11.9 years compared with 13.1 years of a crossbred dog.
The infographic they produced can be found below.
How long do our dogs live – An infographic funded by the RSPCA.
Factors which can Impact Life Expectancy and How to Keep your Dog in the Best Possible Health
As we mentioned at the beginning, as a dog owner you have the responsibility of looking after your pet and keeping it in the best possible health.
As the infographic above states, an annual health check by the vet can help to pick up issues early. It’s also important to speak to your vet if you’re concerned about anything in between these check-ups.
Exercise and diet are also important. Make sure to feed your dog a well-balanced, nutritionally dense diet in quantities that are appropriate for its size. Over feeding can lead to obesity and under feeding can lead to your dog being underweight and lacking the nutrients and vitamins it needs.
Be sure to exercise your dog sufficiently. Every breed has different requirements. A Goldendoodle is a high energy dog so around two hours per day is recommended. Mental stimulation is also important as a bored dog is generally an unhappy one.
Other things you can do to keep your dog healthy is to ensure it receives the recommended vaccinations, and that you keep it free of parasites (fleas and ticks etc).
Conclusion
Although largely determined by genetics, there are things that you can do as the owner to ensure that your Goldendoodle stays healthy and lives a long and fulfilling life.
The purebred breeds which are used to produce Goldendoodles are generally considered healthy dogs which is a great foundation for healthy offspring, especially when hybrid vigor is thrown into the mix.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Health Problems do Goldendoodles Have?
Although generally considered to be a healthy breed like their parents, they can still be susceptible to inheriting some of the known health issues from both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
Hip dysplasia can be an issue in both breeds as can thyroid issues, so this is something to look out for in your Goldendoodle.
Which Generation Goldendoodle is Best?
The answer to this really depends on what you’re looking for in a dog. For example, an F1b Goldendoodle which is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever is more likely to be low shedding due to the Poodle gene being more prominent.
You may prefer the look of an F1 Goldendoodle as it’s a 50:50 mix and looks may be more important to you than the properties of your dog’s coat.
From a health perspective though, first generation (F1) Goldendoodles are considered to be the healthiest as the gene pool is the largest.