There are a few different things that most people look at when considering a dog breed, size, temperament, and coat type are just a few.
Some breeds shed all year long, other breeds like pugs, and German Shepherds shed heavier seasonally, and some don’t shed at all.
Different breeds shed differently! I have grown up my whole life with dogs who do not shed very much.
Breeds that shed heavier seasonally tend to shed much more during the spring and fall.
At the beginning of spring as the weather starts to warm up their coats shed the damaged and dead hair so that their coat is much lighter in the upcoming warmer months.
In the fall the amount of shedding is similar to the spring in preparation for the winter months. It is very important to brush your dog weekly, if not daily to keep up with the amount of hair they are losing!
Short History of the Breed
Before we jump into the hairy details of the Goldendoodle breed, I think it’s important to know more about the breed itself!
This breed is a mix between the Golden Retriever and a Poodle! Records don’t show exactly when this breed was crossed but breeders of this dog started to emerge in the early 1990’s.
One of the big selling points for this breed was their low maintenance low shedding coat, paired with the loving temperament of the beloved golden retriever.
As the popularity of this breed grew and grew so did the demand for variations of the breed.
People wanted different sizes to accommodate their different lifestyles. Because of this there are now a variety of colors and coats to choose from!
The Goldendoodle Coat: Colors, Lengths, and Textures
The Goldendoodle coat is a beautiful one, and comes in a rainbow of colors!
The golden retriever side of this breed offers cream colors, apricots and reds while the poodle ancestry offers those colors as well as black, grey, chocolates and silver!
They also come in many different patterns. Their coat also comes in two different lengths, short haired and long.
This is all determined by whether or not your dog has the recessive long hair gene, or the dominant long hair gene!
Did you know their coats also come in three different textures as well? They can be either curly, wavy or straight!
Do Goldendoodles Shed?
In short, yes. However, Goldendoodles are one of the few breeds that were bred between two low-medium shedding breeds, to create another low shedding dog breed.
On the shedding index with 0 being “no shedding” and 4 being the highest shedding, Goldendoodles tend to fall closer to zero.
If you plan to share your house with a dog, it should be understood that you will have to be okay with some level of dog hair on your clothes.
Some people say no outfits are complete without a little bit of dog hair!
As we know now, there are different breeds who shed more than others and some that shed more during certain times of the year.
If you are looking at a low shedding dog because of allergies I recommend finding a breeder with knowledge into their dog’s DNA, because even with a zero index rating you could still be allergic to things like saliva, dander, and other allergens carried in a dogs coat.
When do Goldendoodles Shed the Most?
While the Goldendoodle breed rates low on the shedding index there is no dog that is 100% hypoallergenic.
It is a 50/50 chance your dog will get lucky and miss this golden retriever gene, but if they don’t it is still lower than many other breeds.
It is also not uncommon for Goldendoodles to shed their “winter” coat in preparation for warmer weather. That is completely normal though!
Another time when you might notice there is more free hair floating around your home is when a puppy reaches the age of 6 months.
Typically this is around the time when puppies shed their “puppy coat” and completely and start growing their adult coats.
Just like they do with baby teeth! On average full grown dogs do shed “more” but that is mostly based on size. A bigger dog will shed more hair than a dog half its size.
How to Combat Goldendoodle Shedding?
If you do find yourself in a situation or season where your dog is shedding more than expected don’t panic!
There are a few things you can do to reduce the amount of hair you are finding all over your home. Brushing your dog regularly will help a ton.
You should do this weekly if not daily! Bathing your dog regularly can help as well. Rinsing the damaged and dead hair from your dog keeps it from floating around your house!
If you find yourself taking all these steps and your dog is still shedding like crazy, I advise looking at your pets diet and possibly going to see your vet.
There could be an underlying medical issues or missing essential nutrients in their diet.
Health Reasons for Increased Shedding in Goldendoodles
Sometimes, medical issues can be the cause of increased shedding in your otherwise low shedding Goldendoodle.
Some of those medical conditions include, parasites, infections, allergies, problems with their kidneys, and much more.
If this heavy amount of hair loss/shedding is paired with other unusual symptoms such as itching, redness, any kind of open sores, constant foot licking and or face rubbing you should definitely take your dog in for a checkup.
Did you know just like humans, a dog’s shedding can increase due to a hormonal shift or increased stress?
If your dog is in a constant state of worry this could be a cause for your dogs increased hair loss. It might be helpful to figure out what is causing this stress for your furry friend.
Equipment Help to Combat Goldendoodle Shedding
Since these dogs are often times curlier than not, the best type of brush to be used is a slicker brush.
A slicker brush is more dense with metal pins that do a great job at picking up any extra hair. Any type of brush will get the job done though!
There are also dog shampoos out there that say they help with shedding by thinning out the undercoat of your dog’s hair by treating with Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids.
I have not personally tried these shampoos for my low shedding dog but if I were in a seasonal shedding routine i would definitely give them a try!
Here are a few highly rated products to give a try if you find yourself in a hairy situation!
#1 FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo to Reduce Shedding
This shampoo helps promote a healthy coat by increasing the health of your furry friends skin. You simply shake the bottle, lather your pet, let sit for five to ten minutes and rinse!
#2 Pro Pet Works All Natural Organic Oatmeal Pet Shampoo + Conditioner
It can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits! There is no Alcohol, no added colors, sulfates, colors, harsh chemicals and or fragrance!
With soothing ingredients like organic aloe vera not only will this help with shedding but any itching your dog may have!
#3 Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo
This shed-control shampoo is also one product of the whole earth balance pet line.
With over 3,000 reviews, and ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and green tea extract just like the Pro Pet works shampoo it promotes a healthy coat by nourishing the skin underneath!
In addition to these great shampoo options brushes are a great compliment.
With the right brush and routine you could cut your hairy dust bunnies in half! Here is one great brush I recommend that my parents have used for years on all their dogs!
If you dont believe me, check out the over ten thousand reviews!
#4 Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Here is a highly recommended and reviewed handheld vacuum to help with the clean up!
#5 Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum, Corded, 33A1
It features a multi layer filtration system and a specialized rubber nozzle that attracts dirt and hair.
Are Goldendoodles Considered to be Hypoallergenic?
The simple answer is no. Dog allergies are not caused by the coat type but rather by the dander and dead skin cells that are on the dog.
With that being said, dogs that shed more heavily spread more of that dander and skin cells over your home causing more severe allergic reactions while dogs that don’t shed as much do not spread as much of that everywhere.
As mentioned above if you are looking to get a dog and looking at “hypoallergenic” options it is important to look into the genetics of that breed to see what type of shedding gene they may have.
Final Thoughts: Do Goldendoodles Shed?
Do Goldendoodles shed? The short answer is yes, all dogs shed. On the shedding index they are among a few other breeds who are considered low shedding.
With that being said it is important to realize that owning a dog comes with the expectation of some level of hair on your clothes and in your home.
It is important to keep an eye on how much your low shedding dog is shedding to make sure there is not an underlying health issue.
If you are looking for a loyal, happy, low shedding dog, this might just be the perfect pup for you!
You may also want to consider the Mini Goldendoodle and how much it sheds, you can do so by checking out our article; Do Mini Goldendoodles shed?
We hope that you find the perfect dog for you, happy pup parenting!