Yes, Goldendoodles are excellent with kids, and they get along with kids of all ages. When it comes to younger kids, they are sturdy, with slightly older kids they are playful and intelligent, and with teenagers, they are energetic enough to go out for swimming or a brisk walk.
Our Goldendoodle, Nala, loves to go outside with our Daughter and wrestle in the snow in the winter. They do it for hours!
You can’t go wrong with a Goldendoodle if the idea is to expand the family. Doodles are smart, sweet, and have a humorous aspect about them that will always keep you entertained.
They love to spend time outdoors and do not mind accompanying the child while dozing too. Owing to being low-shedding, children are not in danger of inhaling pet-hair.
Reasons why Goldendoodles are Compatible with Kids
In addition to being affectionate, Goldendoodles are also useful as therapy dogs for all age groups. Certain unique traits are typical to this breed which renders them compatible with kids as too the elderly.
And these are –
Trainability – Because Goldendoodles can grasp what is being told to them, training them is not just a breeze but also an enjoyable experience. For a pet that craves mental and physical stimulation, learning new commands, games, and tricks is always welcome.
This willingness also explains why they are open to accepting the house’s rules and take to the lifestyle of the family members, including kids.
While training your Goldendoodle, make it a point to involve children, especially while teaching basic commands. In this way, you can show them how to train the pet in terms of what to do and what not to do without being unduly harsh. Doing so will also serve to build a bond between the pet and the kids.
Calm disposition – A family pet needs to be calm and patient, which is exactly why Goldendoodles are preferred. Calmness is a virtue particularly because kids can sometimes be impatient, lack consideration, throw a tantrum, or indulge in rough play and inadvertently cause hurt.
Having a calm Goldendoodle would ensure avoiding unpleasant situations, such as the dog snapping at your kid. Do realize that it is just as important to teach your kids to behave well with their pets.
Teach them that overly rough or violent behavior should be avoided as the cute and friendly Goldendoodle is also a member of the family after all.
Friendly – Whether or not the dog breed is friendly depends on how well they adapt to the family members, other pets, and strangers. To this effect, Goldendoodles don’t just get along with humans but also with other animals, including cats, which are supposed to be their arch-rivals.
With a Goldendoodle, you will have gained a family member who will accept your children, the other pets in the house, and not react to strangers.
You need to work out that the various parties, namely kids, Doodles, and cats, do not infringe upon each other’s space and respect boundaries.
Sensitive – Goldendoodles are rather quick at judging your mood. On one hand, they can sense how you feel, and on the other hand, they also react to it and share feelings with you.
So, if you are smiling, your Goldendoodle will be bouncing all over the place to partake in your happiness. Likewise, on the days, you are down, the Goldendoodle will creep up to you and try and lift your spirits or simply lie next to you in a show of moral support.
When it comes to children, the Goldendoodle would observe and gauge the child’s reactions, and accordingly, plan out its actions.
Sense of humor – For all, you know your Goldendoodle might develop sufficient bonding with your child to be hand-in-glove with every bit of mischief that occurs at home.
Their intelligence notwithstanding, Goldendoodles are just as comic and are definitely up for a moment of fun. During those particularly stressful days, every family can do with a bit of frolic, your pet Goldendoodle might turn out to be just the stress-buster that everyone needs.
Teaching Your Children about Goldendoodles
While it is fair to expect the Goldendoodle to be good with kids, it is equally important to ensure that your children are just as nice as the cute and cuddly furball.
For the feeling of love and bonding to be a two-way street between the kid and the Goldendoodle, you must teach your child how to interact with the pet without either party getting hurt.
Supervising and guiding the interaction will help ensure that no one gets hurt. Following are a few tips that could come in handy –
Setting a good example – One of the best ways of teaching children how to interact with pets is by setting a good example. Kids often imitate the adults around them and can pick up some guidelines on having a pleasant interaction with animals.
By observing their parents, children can learn how to be calm and gentle, approach, and handle pets.
Laying down rules – As soon as you bring the Goldendoodle home, lay down certain ground rules and ensure that everyone in the house obeys them. These should pertain to –
- Not pulling the Goldendoodle’s ears or tail;
- Using a calm voice when talking, the high volume might cause the pet to become stressed;
- Avoiding climbing on or squeezing the pet, as this can frighten and cause panic;
- Never scaring the pet to the point of causing it to lash out due to fear;
Supervising interactions – Always supervise the interaction between the Goldendoodle and the child. In this way, you can correct any behavior that might make the pet feel insecure and teach the child how to safely deal with the pet.
Showering praise on the pet and the child – Showering praise on both the Goldendoodle and the child will reinforce good behavior and create an atmosphere of trust. The learning experience should be positive for both parties.
Final Thoughts
Opting for a Goldendoodle as a pet for a family with children has several benefits, primarily the high energy levels of both parties. Both kids and Goldendoodles belong to the high energy category, hence a good match for each other.
Because Goldendoodles hardly shed, they are safe for kids in terms of allergies or asthma. This also implies that the child’s area would remain relatively free of pet hair and dander, even if it does not undergo frequent vacuum cleaning.
Last but not the least, having a Goldendoodle as part of the family is a great way of teaching your kid responsibility. Certain tasks like refilling the water/food bowl, taking them out for a walk.
Playing with them without being rough can be assigned to the children. Fulfilling these will foster a sense of responsibility and also develop a strong bond between them.