Searching for a new best friend? A Goldendoodle is the perfect option for new and old pet owners! This up-and-coming breed is affectionate, loving, low-shedding, and super smart.
If you’re a pet owner or considering adopting, we’ll give you the rundown on Goldendoodles to see if they’re the right fit. We’ll cover breed characteristics, personality, cost, common illnesses, and a few fun references to pop culture. (Scroll down to find the freshest dog influencers that’ll brighten up your Insta feed!)
But, as we all know, having a dog isn’t always as easy as scrolling through your feed. So before giving the run down on this breed, we’re going to tell you how to protect your pooch, and explain how dog health insurance could help take the bite out of vet bills.
Getting pet insurance for your Goldendoodles
Pet insurance helps cover the costs of your vet bills. You pay a monthly premium and in exchange, you can provide care for your canine or feline fur fam without stressing as much about the costs. With Lemonade pet insurance, pet parents can customize their policy to get the coverage their furry friend needs.
For starters, a basic Lemonade pet health insurance policy includes accident and illness coverage. This will help cover the costs of tests, treatments, and medication if your dog or cat has an unexpected accident or illness.
A basic policy is great for the unexpected things in your fur fam’s future, but Lemonade also offers affordable preventative care, designed to keep your pet healthy, and helps cover expenses you’re probably already paying for. By adding a preventive care package to a Lemonade policy you’ll also get access to live medical chat and be covered for all types of routine care—like your annual wellness exam fees, checkups, blood tests, several vaccinations, and other routine health care for your pet.
Wondering if pet insurance is worth it? Check out how much pet parents of dogs and cats, including Goldendoodles, have saved on vet bills by signing their fur baby up for pet insurance.
We ask a Goldendoodle about a day in their life…
“Morning cuddles are my favorite,” says Sasha, a Goldendoodle we met in San Francisco. “If you’re feeling lazy, I’ll lay in bed with you. As long as you give me belly rubs, we can watch your Netflix show of choice.”
“But… don’t get me wrong, I’m down to spend the day playing outside. I have a great idea! Let’s take a trip to the doggy park. While I make new friends, you can socialize with the humans.
Back at home, I’ll eat up my yummy lunch and take a nice, long nap. Try not to feed me toxic foods like grapes and chocolate, OK? Then feel free to go get all of your human errands done. Just make sure to not leave me for too long. Sometimes, my separation anxiety can act up.”
The Goldendoodle’s personality
Obviously every pup is unique, and it’s impossible to predict what kind of doodle you’ll be bringing into your life. But breeds do have certain tendencies and characteristics.
With a mix of Poodle and Golden Retriever traits, Goldendoodles are famous for their loyal companionship. They’ll make you feel loved every day of the week. Bonus points… They also love other dogs. If you’re already a pet owner or you want a social dog, a Goldendoodle may be the right choice for you.
While they aren’t the best watch dogs, they can serve as therapy dogs, guide dogs, service dogs, and sniffer dogs. Their intelligence and affection can help them do anything—these are some seriously talented pups.
How much does a Goldendoodle cost?
Owning any dog can be expensive. But, Goldendoodles are extra pricey, initially costing between $1,200-$3,200.
When it comes to buying one, be very careful. Only buy from a reputable breeder. Sadly, some breeders take advantage of the breed’s popularity while neglecting important health and temperament issues.
We’re huge fans of trustworthy adoption options. Rescue Me is a great resource for all potential pet owners.
Be prepared: During the first year, you’ll spend near $5,700 to get your new friend vaccinations, grooming appointments, and a pet insurance policy. This price drops to around $2,250 for each year following.
On average, Goldendoodles cost owners around $33,000 over their lifetime. But if you plan on spaying/neutering your dog, hiring a dog walker, and boarding your pup once a year, expect to pay anywhere from $70,000 to $155,000 over their lifetime.
What are common Goldendoodle health issues?
To decide if this breed is for you, we wanted to share some health conditions you might run into. We hope you never see your dog go through these. But if you do, it’s always a good idea to be prepared and know the signs.
Before we get into some common health problems your pup might encounter, a quick reminder that Lemonade offers stellar Pet Health insurance that’ll keep your four-legged friend happy and healthy. You can get a quote from your favorite pet insurance company in just a few minutes—it’s quick, simple, and even a little fun…
If your dog’s running on three legs or limping, she might have patellar luxation. It’s a painful condition that involves the knee joint shifting in and out of place. Most cases can be treated with pain medications, but some may require surgery.
Elbow and hip dysplasia are common in many dog breeds. If your dog goes untreated, these diseases could cost you $1,500 to $6,000. Since these conditions are inherited, we recommend asking your breeder for certifications from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
Your dog might also be prone to a common condition called hypothyroidism. It’s a disorder referring to an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones. To check for this one, watch out for signs like weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, and epilepsy.
Von Willebrand’s Disease is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels of blood clotting. If your dog gets injured with this condition, it’ll be difficult to stop the bleeding. Other symptoms are bleeding gums and nose bleeds. While there is no known cure, vets can use medicine to prevent bleeding episodes.
Since this breed has long, floppy ears, they’re prone to ear infections. This condition is easily fixed, but dangerous if left untreated. Watch out for swelling, dark discharge, and a bad odor. We recommend regularly using ear cleaning solutions to prevent infections.
To help keep your puppy healthy, stay up-to-date with vaccinations and wellness checkups. Like humans, dogs show symptoms in a variety of ways. Always call your vet if your dog starts acting differently.
Instagram-famous Goldendoodles
Nothing cheers us up like our favorite Instagram pets. Add these photogenic pups to your feed!
Indy and his baby sister, Roux, love road trips and making new friends. This dynamic duo will welcome you to their insta-feed with smiles and travel pics.
Norman and Luna are up for any adventure. They welcome a game of fetch and rewarding head rubs. Drop a follow! (Then check out this piece about the name Luna’s popularity among pet parents…)
Bentley is quite the celebrity with over 1 million followers on Tik Tok! He’s always down for a snack or a quick photoshoot for the gram. Follow along to see him grow up with his new human baby brother.
Have you ever seen a mini doodle. Talk about cuteness overload! King Orbit was born to be an LA influencer. If you follow him, he’ll warm your heart.
And don’t forget!
You might be wondering: is pet insurance worth it? Your buddy is a bundle of cuteness, and you want to keep that pup happy and healthy—without going bankrupt with vet bills in the process. Enter Lemonade’s Pet Health insurance, which offers an affordable way to make sure your furry friend can live their fullest life. Get your quote in just a few minutes, with a pet insurance plan that gives Goldendoodles and their pet parents peace of mind!
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
