Goldendoodle Behavior Stages: 7 Insights Dog Owners Need to Know!

These dogs are playful, active little creatures. Sometimes, they can get so zestful that they`ll get their owners to despair. (“What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down? – Oodle Life”, 2022)

This is also the reason why these lovely pets turn out to be wonderful family pets, as well as great to have around during hunting trips or hikes. (Page, 2022)

If you want to adopt a dog of this breed, you should expect a full-of-life canine with a passion for everything surrounding it. (“What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down? – Oodle Life”, 2022)

At What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down?

Most dogs of this breed will begin calming down at about 12 to 18 months old. This is the period of time when the puppy stage ends, and the starting of adulthood begins. (Rice, 2022)

Still, several other factors should be considered that will help keep your furry friend happy and peaceful. (Campbell, 2022)

So, you shouldn`t worry too much as there`s light at the end of each tunnel. A Goldendoodle`s level of energy will always pass through three different stages.

This will mean that although you may expect an upbeat canine, the entire level of excitement will start to wear off as they develop. (“What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down? – Oodle Life”, 2022)

What Should I Expect from My 5-Month-Old Goldendoodle?

Most likely, your Goldendoodle will be house-trained by the end of 5 months of age. However, if this hasn`t happened yet, this is quite normal. (“Your 5-Month Old Doodle Puppy (20-24 Weeks): What to Expect – Doodle Doods”, 2022)

Many vets predict that at around 5 months of age, a Goldendoodle puppy is around half its adult size.

Your puppy is perhaps going through its growth spurt, making it somehow awkward but at the same time quite adorable for the next 6 to 8 weeks. (“5 Month Old: Congrats Your Puppy is Officially a Toddler”, 2022)

As Lee (2022) clearly states in his article, your puppy isn`t really a little baby anymore in this life phase. This stage is also known as the “ranking phase. This is because your little one is trying to figure out all the concepts behind dominance and submission and learning its place within the family (e.g., pack).

Also, your 5-month-old Goldendoodle is trying to develop its own play style. You probably already noticed your pooch rehearsing its role of an adult with a rougher style of play, as well as some growls, humping, and nips. (“Your 5-Month Old Doodle Puppy (20-24 Weeks): What to Expect – Doodle Doods”, 2022)

What Is the Personality of a Goldendoodle?

Just as in their appearance case, the temperament of a Gondendoodle may take more after one parent. (“Goldendoodle Dog Breed: Information and Personality Traits”, 2022)

According to Page (2022), when talking about temperament and personality, dogs of this breed are lively, friendly, smart, and easy to train.

These dogs are great among other pets in the household, and they certainly love people. Also, they have a tendency to be gentle and patient with kids, turning them into a wonderful addition to the family. (“Goldendoodle Dog Breed: Information and Personality Traits”, 2022)

They not only fit perfectly with families but are amazing choices for first-time owners as well. Even the smaller types of Goldendoodles can make a great apartment dweller. (Burgos, 2022)

Do Goldendoodles Get Attached to One Person?

Goldendoodles and other similar dog breeds that are more people-oriented tend to bond with the entire family mainly.

Generally speaking, it isn`t hard to win the affection of these dogs at all – one easy trick can just be a rub on their belly. (“How Do Puppies Choose Their Favorite Person?”, 2022)

Although Goldendoodles can easily attach to anyone in the family, they aren`t typically one-person canines like, say, herding dogs are (e.g., Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, or Sheltie). (“Goldendoodle Breed Profile and Information – SpiritDog Training”, 2022)

Do Goldendoodles Have Behavioral Issues?

Who can honestly say that he isn`t a friend with a Goldendoodle? These dogs usually thrive when people are around them. Still, any dog breed has its issues; these canines don`t make any exceptions.

On the contrary, these dogs don`t enjoy spending too much time alone. They need attention, so they`ll find it time to get over a separation, sometimes even having to deal with separation anxiety. (“Bark Busters Breed of The Month – Goldendoodle”, 2022)

Also, they get easily bored and lonely, turning to destructive and depressed behavior, as well as exhibiting negative behaviors like loud barking, digging, or biting.

In contrast to this, a Goldendoodle that is socialized properly will also be well-behaved. Any training regarding socialization and obedience needs to start early when the little one is only a puppy. (“What Do I Need to Know About Potential Behavior Problems?”, 2022)

How Do You Discipline a Goldendoodle?

When talking about disciplining a Goldendoodle, timing means everything. Many old-fashioned techniques involved punishments in different forms: punishment after an incident, harsh physical punishment, etc.

Recent studies have already shown that because canines live in the moment, a gentle, brisk correction at that moment will also be more efficient than, let`s say, harsh physical punishment after a particular incident. (“How Do You Properly Punish Your Doodle? Try Out These Tips”, 2022)

But there are also other suitable ways to discipline your canine companion. One is by using short sounds to grab your little pal`s attention. This is similar to the distraction method but way simpler. (“Discipline Your Doodle Dog Without Harsh Punishment?”, 2022)

The owner`s behavior also has a significant impact on a Goldendoodle puppy. Using positive reinforcement on your little one without scolding or punishing the puppy can also do wonders. (“Goldendoodle Training 101: Methods and Troubleshooting”, 2022)

What Do Studies Show?

As hybrid dog breeds, such as Goldendoodles, gain more popularity, how they show inherited behavior traits becomes more interesting compared with purebred dog breeds.

Due to this reason, researchers investigated behaviors shown by crossbred canines by concentrating their focus on popular breeds, like Labradoodle and Goldendoodle, by making in-depth comparisons with their constituent dog breeds or corresponding parents. (Shouldice et al., 2019)

A study was performed on 5141 canines from all over the world. The results of this research were used to investigate 14 distinct fundamental behavioral trait scores.

It was noticed that from the F1 crossbreds, the crossbreds used in the research had a tendency to fall between the 2 parent dog breeds with a few exceptions.

The outcome of the research conducted by Shouldice et al. (2019) indicated that the Labradoodle displayed obvious differences only from the mini Poodle when it came to canine rivalry, while the Goldendoodles showed more troublesome behavior in comparison to their constituent dog breeds.

Conclusion

In short, keep in mind that a Goldendoodle is an active dog breed, so owners shouldn`t lack bravery during the puppy phase.

It`s recommended to be consistent in exercising and disciplining your puppy. Physical and mental stimulation will certainly settle the little one in your household.

References & Resources:

5 Month Old: Congrats Your Puppy is Officially a Toddler. PupBox. (2022). Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://www.pupbox.com/training/5month-old/.

Bark Busters Breed of The Month – Goldendoodle. Bark Busters. (2022). Retrieved 13 June 2022, from https://www.barkbusters.com/breed-of-the-month/golden-doodle.

Burgos, S. (2022). Goldendoodle. Daily Paws. Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/goldendoodle.

Campbell, K. (2022). What Age Do Goldendoodles Naturally Calm Down?. Goldendoodle Advice. Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://goldendoodleadvice.com/what-age-do-goldendoodles-naturally-calm-down/.

Discipline Your Doodle Dog Without Harsh Punishment?. Lover Doodles. (2022). Retrieved 13 June 2022, from https://www.loverdoodles.com/discipline-your-doodle-dog-without-harsh-punishment/.

Goldendoodle Breed Profile and Information – SpiritDog Training. SpiritDog Online Dog Training. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://spiritdogtraining.com/breeds/goldendoodle/.

Goldendoodle Dog Breed: Information and Personality Traits. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/goldendoodle.

Goldendoodle Training 101: Methods and Troubleshooting. Doodle Doods. (2022). Retrieved 13 June 2022, from https://doodledoods.com/goldendoodle-training-101/.

How Do Puppies Choose Their Favorite Person?. Jenna Lee Doodles. (2022). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.jennaleedoodles.com/post/how-do-puppies-choose-their-favorite-person.

How Do You Properly Punish Your Doodle? Try Out These Tips. Jenna Lee Doodles. (2022). Retrieved 13 June 2022, from https://www.jennaleedoodles.com/post/how-do-you-properly-punish-a-doodle-try-out-these-tips.

Lee, J. (2022). What Are the Doodle Behavioral Stages? Age, Personality & Maturity. Jenna Lee Doodles. Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://www.jennaleedoodles.com/post/what-are-the-doodle-behavioral-stages.

Page, A. (2022). Goldendoodle Temperament And Personality – What to Expect?. FiveBarks. Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.fivebarks.com/goldendoodle-temperament/.

Page, A. (2022). Goldendoodle Energy Level: At What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down?. FiveBarks. Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://www.fivebarks.com/goldendoodle-energy-level/.

Rice, A. (2022). When Do Goldendoodles Calm Down? [2022 Full Guide]. STAYYY. Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://stayyy.com/when-do-goldendoodles-calm-down/.

Shouldice VL, Edwards AM, Serpell JA, Niel L, Robinson JAB. Expression of Behavioural Traits in Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. Animals. 2019; 9(12):1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121162

What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down? – Oodle Life. Oodle Life. (2022). Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://www.oodlelife.com/what-age-do-goldendoodles-calm-down/.

What Do I Need to Know About Potential Behavior Problems?. Goldendoodles 101. (2022). Retrieved 13 June 2022, from https://goldendoodles101.com/goldendoodle-behavior-problems/.

Your 5-Month Old Doodle Puppy (20-24 Weeks): What to Expect – Doodle Doods. Doodle Doods. (2022). Retrieved 12 June 2022, from https://doodledoods.com/your-5-month-old-doodle-puppy-20-24-weeks/.