If you've never heard of a Goldendoodle and you're looking for a family pet, it's definitely time to find out about this gorgeous cross-breed. What's more, while you look into this unique breed of dog or any other kind of animal you have in mind, it's important to also look into pet insurance to provide for any demanding veterinary bills your pet may incur.

Responsible dog-owning starts before your new pet even comes home. Animals can have varying health needs and certain breeds of dog are known to be more prone to health issues than others - if you or your children have your heart set on the adorable Goldendoodle read on to discover more about them.

The rise of the 'doodle'

The Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle and they can be full-sized or there is a miniature version - friendly and energetic dogs, they thrive on human contact. Breeders estimate they first appeared around the late 1990's following the success of the Labradoodle (a cross between a labrador and a poodle) which was bred as a 'seeing eye' dog for people with allergies - both the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle are ideal for people with a mild allergy to dogs - they shed very little hair, if any.  

Goldendoodles are eager to please so are extremely trainable and they are generally good at being with other dogs - perfect if you already have a family pet. Due to the nature of the cross-breed, they can often look quite different - sometimes looking more like a poodle than a golden retriever, and sometimes the other way around! Their coats vary in color - they can be white, red, black, caramel, blonde, ginger or a mixture of them all, so when you go to see a litter of Goldendoodle puppies they may not even look related.

However, cute as they are, Goldendoodles - as with most breeds both pure-bred and cross - can have health problems. Both the Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds can suffer from hip dysplasia - an abnormal formation of the hip socket which can cause lameness. The condition can be very painful for dogs and if you find out your pup suffers with it you could be looking at considerable veterinary bills to manage the pain or even get a hip replacement. If you have the right pet insurance in place, found through conducting a thorough pet insurance comparison, you will be able to secure your much-loved family pet the best treatment available.

Compare Pet Insurance

There are important decisions to be made before you buy a puppy or any animal - it's vital to fully understand the health demands of the breed you are interested in and ensure you make time to compare pet insurance providers carefully in order to be able to cover all eventualities, not to mention the everyday demands of looking after an animal.