Читать книгу Goldendoodles - Edie Mackenzie - Страница 7

A well-bred Goldendoodle is happy and affectionate with a zestful “life of the party” personality. Goldendoodles are also eager to please and will make a great deal of eye contact trying to figure out what you want them to do. Combine all of this with their high level of intelligence, and you get a breed that is relatively easy to train. However, their intelligence and enthusiastic nature require diligence on your part. Contrary to popular belief, a highly intelligent dog requires more training and more stimulation than a dog of average intelligence. When properly trained, Goldendoodles are very adaptable to a family environment and can make good companions for children. But keep in mind, their strong retriever parentage makes them mouthy. Their mouths are most active when they are puppies, and your Goldendoodle will use her mouth on you or your children if not properly trained. An easy way to train your Goldendoodle is to work with her natural tendency to retrieve items. Whenever she gets mouthy with you or a family member, put a favorite toy in her mouth; in no time she’ll be grabbing a toy each time she approaches you or starts to feel frisky.

All puppies, no matter the breed, are busy and active. Goldendoodles are no exception. Often, their mellow, calm temperament becomes more apparent as they approach maturity. This is why it is essential to work with a breeder who is actively breeding for good health and calm temperaments.

It is critical for prospective owners to take their time to research and interview breeders before purchasing a puppy. All puppies are cute. Sadly, not all puppies are healthy, nor are all breeders honest and ethical. The work you put in to locate a reputable, responsible Goldendoodle breeder goes a long way toward bringing a happy, healthy Goldendoodle into your family. Ideally, breeders of Goldendoodles breed for sound, genetically healthy dogs with good, gentle temperaments and low- to nonshedding coats. You must do your due diligence, as the popularity of the Goldendoodle motivates many unscrupulous breeders. Carefully read the section later in this chapter on how to choose a breeder on page 10. It will make a significant difference in the quality of the dog you take home.