By contributor: Rebecca Kirby
When you Google hyper dogs, you may find American golden retrievers and standard poodles at the top of most lists. After all, both were bred to be working dogs, and Daily Paws notes that these specific breeds are “bundles of energy [that] will keep you on the move all day long.”
Hence, it should come as no surprise to find the highly affectionate crossbreed, goldendoodles, are more than just a bundle of cuteness. While they’re widely considered ideal family dogs due to their friendliness and social personalities, it’s important to know that goldendoodles require regular interaction in order to manage their high energy levels.
Although not every goldendoodle is hyper, goldendoodles have generally earned a reputation for being so. Timberidge focuses on raising goldendoodles with a manageable level of energy, which is part of why we choose to breed English goldendoodles. If you’re not looking for a hyper Goldendoodle, it’s essential that you find a breeder who focuses on temperament rather than color. Likewise, it’s also essential that you likewise focus on temperament and not color.
If you already have a high energy goldendoodle, here is a list of tips on how to better raise hyper goldendoodles to assure a good quality of life for your both…
Training
Thankfully for owners, the two parent breeds of goldendoodles are also at the top of the list when it comes to highly trainable breeds.
The important thing to remember in training hyper breeds is consistency. Tampa Bay Times featured Scott, a 2-month-old goldendoodle whose owners, the Hawk family, stressed the need to communicate the ground rules of dog care to other household members.
For one, children may be tempted to allow the puppy to jump up on them to display affection. However, this is unwanted behavior that may risk hurting someone, especially when Scott grows into an 80lb adult dog. Make sure that cue words like “down” or “sit” are used universally so that the puppy doesn’t get confused.
Toys and distractions
Don’t let their adorable teddy bear appearance fool you — just like puppies from any breed, some goldendoodles are enthusiastic chewers and this unwanted behavior can be exacerbated when they’re lonely, bored, or anxious from lacking an outlet for their boundless energy.
Chewing is a completely natural behavior as this allows our furry friends to keep their jaws strong and their teeth clean. This is where toys and distractions come in.
Our previous article on Puppy Chewing describes a puppy play yard that keeps your goldendoodle safe from chewing on the wrong things. This doesn’t stop their instinct to chew, but productively redirects their behavior towards a suitable outlet to engage and entertain them at the same time.
Pet liability insurance
While most people have heard of pet insurance, most aren’t aware that pet liability insurance exists. Our friendly goldendoodles don’t mean any harm, but accidents can happen, especially if a curious puppy is left unsupervised or goes without training. An untrained friendly standard goldendoodle could accidentally knock over your elderly neighbor while enthusiastically delivering a good morning greeting.
In a time like this, having pet liability insurance is a lifesaver, according to Sound Dollar. Policies cover financial compensation for repairing or replacing property your dog damages, and even medical fees or legal expenses in case of a lawsuit if your goldendoodle accidentally harms another dog or human.
This is particularly timely as dog owners are now considered liable for injuries caused by their pets in 29 states in the US. Training and providing toys are always great and non-negotiables, but it is crucial for owners to remember that our puppies can unintentionally damage things and make mistakes. So it is on us to take responsibility.
Exercise regimen
Ultimately, prevention is always better than cure. Don’t wait for the accident to happen. Instead, work on getting all your goldendoodle’s energy out with exercise on a daily basis.
While some say that the average healthy adult dog requires at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day, SF Weekly claims that a goldendoodle’s fitness needs actually varies according to age, health, energy level, and breeding type. The important thing is to not limit or restrict them to a single exercise routine.
Instead, make exercise a part of their life because that’s what they truly love to do. This creates opportunities, not just for training, but also bonding so that you and your goldendoodle can stay happy, fit, and active together.
By contributor: Rebecca Kirby