Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly
Temperament
Friendly, Sociable, Playful, Intelligent.
Health problems to know about
- Hip and elbow dysplasia (from the Golden side)
- Skin allergies (atopic dermatitis)
- Cancers common in Golden Retrievers
- Addison's disease (Standard Poodle side)
- Megaoesophagus
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
An hour or more of exercise and training a day. Curly or wavy coats can mat badly: brush several times a week and book a groom every 6 to 8 weeks. Ask for health tests on both parents.
A good fit for
Families with children, active owners, and people happy to pay for regular grooming.
Probably not ideal for
Anyone relying on the dog being hypoallergenic (none are), and owners who won't brush.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
