Goldendale Dog Breed

The Goldendale is a mixed breed, and thus is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin--but they were probably first bred for commercial purposes during the "designer dog explosion" in North America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These active, intelligent dogs are best suited as companions for active families, especially those looking for a breed with good watchdog skills.

A few Golden Retriever-Airedale Terrier mix facts: they're medium- to large-sized, averaging 23 inches at the shoulders in height and 60 pounds in weight; they can have thick, double-layered coats like that of the Golden, or more wiry ones like the Airedale's (or somewhere in between), and the coats will usually shed seasonally; and they're both athletic and smart, so they'll need a lot of physical and mental stimulation.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning an Airedale Terrier-Golden Retriever mix:

The Goldendale is the offspring of two breeds that, while both being athletic and energetic, are quite different in temperament. The Golden is famous for its gentleness and affection; the typical Airedale, on the other hand, is almost the opposite: scrappy, independent, and quarrelsome if not properly trained. This means in most cases that your Goldendale will retain at least some Airedale personality traits, and will require obedience training and plenty of socialization--starting when the dog is a puppy, if possible--to teach it some canine manners.

That said, your Goldendale should basically be a playful, loyal pet. These hybrids are also whip-smart, and usually respond well to training; they normally make good watchdogs too. Depending on inherited traits, though, they may have high prey drives, so they're apt to instinctively chase small animals--which means these hybrids will need to be leashed when in outdoor public spaces to keep them from taking off after birds and squirrels! Because of their potential boldness, Goldendales will probably need supervision around strange people and animals as well.

And these hybrids will naturally have a lot of energy, so they'll need a good bit of daily exercise; without it they can become disobedient, hyperactive, and destructive.

The Goldendale, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits from its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip dysplasia, allergies, hypothyroidism, and various eye issues. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Goldendale is 10-12 years.