Goldendoodle dogs have earned their place in a lot of hearts, and it comes down to more than just looks. A Goldendoodle is a cross between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever, and benefits from real hybrid vigor: because there’s so little shared bloodline between retrievers and poodles, both sides contribute “fresh” genes, and the cross gets the best of both worlds.
Smart, healthy, easygoing
One thing both parent breeds share is high intelligence. Per Dr. Stanley Coren’s well-known research on canine intelligence (most other sources trace back to his work), Poodles and Golden Retrievers rank #2 and #4 among all breeds — which makes Goldendoodles exceptionally smart in turn. They also tend to be healthy, docile, and easy to train, with a notably lower incidence of the personality quirks that hybrid vigor helps smooth out — a dependable, happy companion for years.
Why “Teddy Bear” Goldendoodles?
Before we bred Goldendoodles, we bred Golden Retrievers — specifically English Retrievers, largely because of their regulations against inbreeding and line-breeding. Genetic diversity mattered a great deal to us as holistic breeders, so it was an easy choice. When we brought home our first English Golden Retriever, we discovered 20 generations back without a single crossed line, compared to roughly 5 generations for typical American retrievers.
That genetic-diversity focus is what led us to Goldendoodles — and specifically to Teddy Bear Goldendoodles, which combine the genetic health of hybrid vigor with the classic, huggable Teddy Bear look and temperament families fall in love with. The easiest way to remember the naming: English Goldendoodles come from English Golden Retrievers, and “Teddy Bear” simply describes that especially plush, round-faced look and gentle temperament many English-line Goldendoodles carry. With their health, even temperament, hypoallergenic-leaning coats, and unmistakably adorable look, it’s easy to see why Teddy Bear Goldendoodles have become one of the most popular designer dogs today.