You might be asking: what is a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and how are Teddy Bear Goldendoodles different from normal Goldendoodles?
In this article, we’ll discuss everything that you need to know about Teddy Bear Goldendoodles.
What is a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle?
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles, or English Goldendoodles, are a mixture between a Standard Poodle and an English Golden Retriever.
Some breeders prefer to use an English Golden Retriever over an American Golden Retriever due to lower cancer rates and hip dysplasia occurring with the English breed.
What is an English Golden Retriever?
Also known as the English Cream Golden Retriever, (and lesser known as the Platinum Retriever or White Retriever) these dogs are the cousins of the classic American golden retrievers and Canadian golden retrievers.
English Golden Retrievers were first bred in the 19th century in Scotland as gundogs to fetch shot-down game. As their popularity grew they were important to Northern America and over the years the difference between the bloodlines became more prominent.
The English Golden Retrievers are strong, medium size, muscular and athletic dogs. They have an adult average height of 21 to 24 inches and weigh between 55 and 75 pounds.
One of the key differences between American and English goldies is their coat color. American goldies are known for their golden to deep red coat color, while English goldies have a platinum or white cream gold color coat.
Another prominent difference between these two bloodlines is their build. English goldies are overall stockier and more robust. They have facial differences as well: English goldies have bigger and boxier heads, thicker necks, wider muzzles, and a stronger jaw.
The topline of an English Golden Retriever is level, from his neck to his tail. While the American golden retriever is more slanted – the neck is slightly higher than the tail.
Golden Retrievers are known for their loyalty, friendliness, and as a highly active breed. They require daily exercise, however, English goldies are known to be calmer than their American cousins.
They are smart but do require mental stimulation and proper training. They are also eager to please their family.
Although English retrievers are generally healthier than American retrievers, both bloodlines can suffer from the same health issues.
Common health issues with English Golden Retrievers include hip dysplasia, cancer, skin allergies, sensitive stomachs, and heart problems.
It’s important to remember that these two dogs classify under the same breed, Golden Retriever, according to the American Kennel Club.
What is a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle?
The first Teddy Bear Goldendoodle was bred in the 1990s in Alabama, according to Euro Goldendoodles. Ever since being discovered, they have been praised as wonderful family companion dogs.
They are most known for their toy-like appearance – a round head, sturdy body, curly or wavy hair, and small brown eyes that usually have them mistaken for an actual teddy bear. This is mostly due to their parent breeds, the English golden retriever and the poodle.
These Goldendoodles are said to be alert, eager to please, inquisitive, and intelligent. They also are quite energetic and require daily exercise. They are easy to train and are often used as service dogs, therapy dogs, and sniffer dogs.
Goldendoodles require at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This could be walking, running, or even swimming. Goldendoodles are bred with two parent breeds that love the water, so naturally, they also enjoy swimming.
This amount of exercise could be intimidating to new pet owners, but it does become easier as it melts into your daily routine.
If you find yourself thinking you could never exercise up to 30 minutes a day, or you live in an apartment with no plans to walk your dog daily, you should not get a Goldendoodle (or golden retriever) as a pet.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles also require mental stimulation (along with physical stimulation) as both parent breeds are quite intelligent. You could play games with them or have them work out puzzles. You might be surprised how quickly they can remember locations or tricks.
If you neglect your doodles’ mental stimulation they could start to be destructive and noisy so training your Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is essential.
Your doodle does need a lot of attention and will not be happy to be left alone for 8 hours a day as they are prone to developing separation anxiety and will start to bark when their owner leaves.
These dogs would be better suited for someone who works from home or has a partner who does not work. English Goldendoodles, or Teddy Bear Goldendoodles, have a life expectancy of up to 15 years if they are well looked after.
Goldendoodles are not guard dogs. They are not overly protective of their family and they are friendly to most people. Goldendoodles are not descended from guard dogs either, so don’t expect them to guard your home ferociously.
Sizes and Coats of the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle
Since they are a relatively young breed, Goldendoodles do not have a specific breed standard size. You can read more about their sizes below.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Sizes
There are three main sizes for the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle (or English Goldendoodle):
- Standard Goldendoodle: The result of breeding a standard poodle with an English Golden retriever. These doodles can weigh between 50 to 75 pounds and stand 21 to 23 inches tall.
- Small-standard Goldendoodle: The result of breeding a miniature poodle with a standard size English golden retriever. These doodles can weigh between 24 to 45 pounds and stand 16 to 19 inches tall.
- Miniature Goldendoodle: The result of breeding a toy poodle or miniature poodle with a mini English Goldendoodle. These doodles can weigh between 15 to 25 pounds and stand 13 to 16 inches tall.
Please note that if you want to breed a specific size Teddy Bear Goldendoodle, be sure to use a reputable breeder who only breeds with purebred dogs. Especially in the US, where English golden retrievers are more scarce.
Nefarious breeders could be running a puppy mill with inhumane conditions behind the scenes. They have no sense of responsibility for preventing life-risking pregnancies in female dogs and usually have no regard for healthier offspring.
They try to speed up the breeding process by forcing a female dog to become pregnant more often and this usually leads to the female dog injuring herself during birth.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Coat Types:
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles come in three different coat types:
- Wavy coat is the most common type of coat for Goldendoodles, also known as a fleece coat. Wavy coats can grow up to 18cm, although the hair is usually shorter around the face. These coats require brushing at least once a week.
- Curly coat is the densest of any Goldendoodle coat. This coat is inherited from the poodle and is typically non-shedding. It’s difficult to gauge the length of the hair because the coat is so dense. You should be careful with sand and dirt that could get stuck in the hair of your Goldendoodle. This coat should be brushed twice a week.
- Straight coat, hair coat, or loose coat is most like the golden retriever. This coat is by far the least amount of maintenance, although you would still need to brush once a week to prevent knotting.
Goldendoodles are considered to have a light or non-shedding coat, and they are thus sought after by people with allergies. They aren’t hypoallergenic, as no dog breed is 100% hypoallergenic, but they do have low levels of dander in their fur.
You should always keep a pin brush nearby to keep tangles at bay and keep your doodle’s coat looking healthy and smooth. Teddy Bear Goldendoodles also come in a variety of coat colors but most are a shade of gold or brown.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Coat Stages
The three different coat types also have two coat stages for each: puppy coat and adult coat.
The puppy coat is notoriously softer and thinner. Goldendoodles are born with their puppy coat and usually shed into their adult coat at around 6 months. The change can be sudden or it can happen gradually. Some owners never even realize the difference.
Why Are Mini Teddy Bear Goldendoodles So Popular?
The mini Teddy Bear Goldendoodle has become so popular mostly due to the dog closely resembling an actual stuffed toy teddy bear.
A mini Teddy Bear Goldendoodle is a mixture between a Toy Poodle and an English Golden Retriever. However, this variety is still relatively new, there are no standard sizes, and breeders often differ on what they classify as a miniature Teddy Bear Goldendoodle.
We recommend checking with your breeder on what sizes (weight and height) they classify as a miniature Teddy Bear Goldendoodle.
If they lead a healthy life and come from a responsible breeder, Teddy Bear Goldendoodles tend to live between 12 and 16 years. They are excellent family dogs and can grow up with children as best friends.
How Much Does a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Cost?
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles are still a very young breed and they have become extremely popular so you would probably have to wait a few months to buy a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder.
Prices vary depending on demand and location, but on average a standard Goldendoodle would cost $2,500. A small-standard Goldendoodle could range between $2,700 and $2,900. A miniature Goldendoodle could be as much as $3,500.
If buying a puppy from a breeder might be too pricey for you, you could try to adopt a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle for $200-$400, but they are extremely difficult to find at rescues and shelters.
Final Thoughts
So what is a Teddy Bear Goldendoodle? Hopefully, you are 100% sure after reading our article. If you are in the market for a wonderful family pet, we would definitely recommend the Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and as we discussed in this article, they are the perfect companion to families who love to be active. We hope that you found this article golden.