Goldendoodles are loving, social pups that come from two of the most popular dog breeds in the world, the Golden Retriever and Poodle. People love the two breeds that create the Goldendoodle for their versatility and compatibility. These dogs are energetic, friendly, and goofy pups that are great for families and individuals alike. Goldendoodles are even more versatile due to their different sizes. For example, you can get a Goldendoodle sized standard, miniature, or toy, and the smaller the dog, the better they are for less active lifestyles. Toy and Miniature Goldendoodles still need exercise, but they don't need as much as a Standard Goldendoodle. The Standard Goldendoodle mix is the most common Goldendoodle size.
These dogs get many favorable traits from their parent's breeds. The Standard Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds make the Goldendoodle intelligent, low shedding, and loving. These dogs also have better than average health when compared to many mixed dog breeds. Goldendoodles are very good with families and kid friendly as well. Many Standard Goldendoodle puppies can be well socialized and get along great with other dogs or cats in the home.
Poodles are also the second-smartest dog breed in the world. Because of how smart the Standard Goldendoodle dog is, they're great for first-time dog owners and experienced owners alike. Goldendoodles are happy to please their owners and love having a job to do. However, as much as the Standard Goldendoodle likes to serve, they would also love to spend a lovely afternoon wasting time. These dogs know how to make a good time out of every situation -- every situation, except for being alone.
Many Standard Goldendoodle dogs suffer from stress and anxiety. The Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds are very attached to their owners, and the Standard Goldendoodle is quite the same. However, these dogs aren't alone. Chronic anxiety and separation anxiety are some of the most common mental illnesses dogs experience. If you adopted your Standard Goldendoodle, you know how anxious rescue dogs can be. Many dogs experience a moment at some point in their life that causes them stress, and anytime any moment like that occurs again, these pups are more likely to have that same stress response. Different things can cause your Standard Goldendoodle stress and anxiety, such as significant life changes, separation anxiety, or the addition of new pets.
So why do Standard Goldendoodle puppies suffer from these mental illnesses so often? Because it's common for many dogs to suffer from these everyday stressors. But breeds like the Goldendoodle might be a bit more likely to have anxiety than the average breed. Both parent breeds of the Goldendoodle bond very closely to their families, and when they're left alone, they get stressed-out.
Everyday Stressful Situations Goldendoodles Experience
Many Standard Goldendoodle dogs suffer from anxiety and stress, and owners don't even realize it until their dogs become destructive. Goldendoodle owners should know many of the signs a dog with anxiety might show.
The Standard Goldendoodle will show signs of extreme distress when owners are absent. If your Standard Goldendoodle puppy demolishes couch cushions when you take a trip to the mall, it's because they can't handle being alone. The Standard Goldendoodle comes from two breeds people love for their company. Not to mention those two breeds are often used as service animals, accompanying their owners with them every day of their lives. So if your Goldendoodle puppy struggles with anxiety, it makes sense. When these pups misbehave, they call out for attention, but not in the way owners usually think. Dogs can't communicate with us by expressing their anxiety and chaotic energy, and they're presenting us their panic attacks in the form of a staged mess. It's difficult to understand, and one of the most annoying ways to send a message, but read the room when a Goldendoodle puppy destroys a couch. That Goldendoodle puppy needs help with their anxiety.
Stressed Goldendoodle dogs don't always communicate their uncomfortableness when they're left alone. Often, dogs with chronic anxieties are more likely to cling to their families for constant comfort. A Goldendoodle dog with stress and anxiety might pay extra close attention to their favorite person when they're home. Some stressed Goldendoodle puppies will follow their person from room to room, never letting them out of sight. Standard Goldendoodle puppies don't do this to scare their owners; they do this to be with them. They do it for a few more precious moments in our company.
If your Standard Goldendoodle puppy gets extra, incredibly, superduper excited when someone comes home, this is a common sign this dog is suffering from anxiety. If your Standard Goldendoodle puppy nips at your heels before you leave or tries to stop you from leaving, these are definite signs of separation anxiety and stress.
Other signs Goldendoodle puppies might show when they have stress can change in severity. The Standard Goldendoodle might express their distress through trembling, tucking their tails, nonstop howling, urinating, defecating, hiding, or trying to escape your house. Usually, the more intense the symptom, the more severe the stress the Goldendoodle has. Some dogs can get so stressed-out they defecate and then eat their feces. Thankfully, Goldendoodle dogs aren't known for that kind of reaction. Goldendoodle dogs are much more likely to express anxiety signs than the Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds show.
Golden Retrievers are Prone to Stress and Anxiety
Golden Retrievers are known as one of the most family-friendly dog breeds ever. And while this breed certainly loves their people, the downside is they can experience feelings of nervousness or impending doom in our absences. Anxiety in Golden Retrievers is very similar to fear.
Golden Retrievers are somewhat predisposed to experiencing separation anxiety, which opens up a world of symptoms and things that might trigger these symptoms. All in all, Golden Retrievers love to be in the company of their people, and when they are out of that company, they are aware that we are not always with them. If you feed your dog, control their playtime, give them treats, a home, and plenty of attention, your dog is going to love you! That's amazing, and we all want our dogs to love us as much as we love them. But that means these dogs get dependent on our presence. When Golden Retrievers experience stress and separation anxiety, they haven't learned that they're okay alone.
Golden Retrievers experiencing these signs and symptoms might start shaking, pacing, whining, barking, yawning, lip licking, cowering, drooling, or panting. Sometimes, Golden Retriever puppies under stress hide in a corner or between someone's legs or under furniture such as the kitchen table. Some Golden Retriever dogs get very stiff postures, refuse to eat, or tuck their tails when stressed and anxious.
When Golden Retrievers are experiencing separation anxiety specifically, they often are persistent in their crying, howling, urinating, defecating, destructive behavior, and trying to escape the house.
Poodles are Prone to Anxiety and Stress Signs
Poodles are one of the best dog breeds because of their natural intelligence and laid-back attitude. As brilliant as Poodles are, they can't speak English, but they can talk in terms of body language. Poodles are usually great with everything, but these dogs suffer from stress and anxiety more than some other breeds do. Luckily, Poodles have many obvious signs they present when they're stressed.
Some Poodles will have a condition called "whale eye," which happens when the white part in a dog's eyes is visible right around the iris. Sometimes, their eye even bugles out if the Poodle is highly stressed, and weirdly enough, it's more common in dark-colored Poodles. If you choose to get a Miniature Goldendoodle instead of the Standard Goldendoodle, your pup might show their stress through bodily shaking.
Sometimes Poodles show their anxiety and stress by licking their lips. Sometimes these anxious dogs don't even lick their lips. Instead, they stick their tongues out and smack them in the air. Poodles are prone to whining and tail tucking when experiencing stress and anxiety.
What Causes a Standard Goldendoodle Stress and Anxiety?
Standard Goldendoodle dogs can experience many different situations that cause them stress and anxiety, such as going to the vet, getting a bath, or confinement in a crate. Some dogs experience anxiety constantly, and some dogs only experience anxiety for particular events. Knowing where your Standard Goldendoodle puppies' anxiety stems from can help you understand the best way to treat your dog's anxiety.
The Standard Goldendoodle can have moments of stress and anxiety that are fleeting, called situational anxiety. This type of event can be a few situations that cause stress like storms, fireworks, car rides, a new pet, a new house, or being left alone.
Noise phobia is a different kind of event that results in an overly stressed and anxiety-ridden Standard Goldendoodle. Common noise phobia experiences are storms, sirens, or other loud, repetitive noises. This stressful event can make Standard Goldendoodle dogs react poorly to their environments.
The Standard Goldendoodle is more likely to experience stress and anxiety because genetics can pass chronic or situational anxiety conditions onto the next dog. However, dogs don't always pass on chronic stress and anxiety symptoms, and sometimes dogs with no genetic history can experience things like this.
Past trauma can cause stress and anxiety in your Standard Goldendoodle puppy. Sadly, dogs that experience traumatic events like neglect, abuse, homelessness, or threatening illnesses like heartworms may be more prone to experiencing bouts of anxiety and stress. If any of these situations happen when your Standard Goldendoodle is a puppy, they are even more likely to have long-lasting stress symptoms throughout their lives. Keep in mind terrible encounters with other animals can also cause stress -- if another dog attacked your dog, your Standard Goldendoodle could get stressed-out by other animals.
Sometimes, straightforward activities for people cause stress for dogs. For example, a Standard Goldendoodle puppy could be watching its owners put away groceries and watch a watermelon hit the floor just as an alarm goes off. This overwhelming moment can cause that Goldendoodle to become stressed every time she hears an alarm goes off. So you see, trauma for your Goldendoodle dogs is very different than what we usually expect.
What do Stress-Free Goldendoodle Puppies Have?
The Standard Goldendoodle puppy is a pack animal by tendency. Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems dogs in this mixed breed will face.
A mentally healthy and physically stimulated Goldendoodle will be far too tired and happy to have anxiety. Goldendoodle dogs that receive the right amount of daily activity release all that unexpressed energy in a healthy way. Standard Goldendoodle puppies might need two or three hours of activity to be pleased, but the smaller Goldendoodle size might only need thirty minutes to an hour of daily activity. Overall, a regular exercise routine for your Goldendoodle puppy can be best deciphered based on your dog's specific weight, height, activity levels, age, sex, and any health conditions they might have.
You can distract your dog from otherwise stressful situations by giving your dog puzzle toys or Kong balls. For instance, if your Goldendoodle gets stressed from the dishwasher running, then giving them a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter and bananas in the living room can be a great way to make them less stressed dogs.
What Not to do When Your Goldendoodle is Stressed-Out
Sometimes, the Standard Goldendoodle puppy might show their stress by tearing a hole into the couch cushion. An owner's first reaction might not be a pleasant one, but it's important to remember never to punish an anxious or stressed Goldendoodle puppy. Remember, these dogs are terrified, and that's why they're acting out. So when dogs experience that situation that had them acting out with bad behavior, they take that moment to understand what they are feeling. More often than not, the dog panics and is fearful, and if their people punish them, the average Goldendoodle will feel as if they are right to have fear.
Methods to Calm Down Your Stressed and Anxious Goldendoodle Puppy
Owners must comfort their scared and stressed-out Goldendoodle puppies. Some people mistakenly believe that comforting a fearful dog will reinforce their fear, but this is untrue. Dogs with stress and anxiety are completely afraid and need someone to relax them and make them feel calm again. When a Goldendoodle is shaking from fear and their owner comforts them, this helps create trust and comfort. Dogs bond deeply with their owners over time through joyful activities, but comforting stressed dogs helps create a sense of safety and protection in your home.
Owners must remain calm when their Standard Goldendoodle shows signs of stress and anxiety. Many dogs can feel their owners' emotions by observing their voices and body language. After all, dogs communicate primarily through body language. But a stressed-out owner will lead to one extra- stressed Goldendoodle puppy.
Comfort your poor Goldendoodle puppy with as many things as you can. Provide their favorite blanket, a toy, and a bed if they need a special place to rest. Goldendoodle puppies that experience stress can benefit from calming products. For example, some Goldendoodle puppies might experience stress and benefit from rest, so providing your Goldendoodle with a comforting dog bed can help them release their fear.
Some dogs benefit from calming scents and sprays. Sometimes scented things can help calm dogs because they stimulate their brains and distract them from stressful situations. Thankfully, many things can offer Goldendoodle puppies some comfort when they are anxious. There is no guarantee that any specific calming technique will help, but owners can always try one at a time to see if they can help their Goldendoodle with their stress.
Goldendoodle puppies and most dogs love treats and benefit from special supplements and vitamins to enhance their physical health. Owners can also give their Standard Goldendoodle puppies treats that their dogs love. Giving your dog their favorite treats, or even special treats alone, can help make a stressful time fun. For example, a special puzzle toy stuffed with low-fat cream cheese, bacon-flavored treats, or some soft chews can have your dog wishing you were gone more. Dogs really can have an entirely different experience with a change of diet.
All in all, Goldendoodle owners need to know their dog's wants and needs. Depending on your Goldendoodle dog's size, they'll need different amounts of rest, activity, and food. So observe your dog to see if they like specific snacks better. See if your Goldendoodle puppy is scared of car rides, other dogs, or washers and dryers, and try to help them get over that fear! Dogs can live a long, happy life with their stress and anxiety, but helping them get over something causing them stress can make them more comfortable. Use calming products and sweet treats to help your Standard Goldendoodle live an overall more joyful life. If your Goldendoodle starts to enjoy alone time, then that's just one more moment of happiness your Goldendoodle puppy deserves to experience.