According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter a shelter each year, including Goldendoodles. When it comes to getting a dog, you have a few options from which to choose. You can either choose to try and rescue a Goldendoodle from a local shelter or a Goldendoodle-specific rescue. We highly recommend that you consider rescuing a Goldendoodle before you look for a breeder. We have compiled some of the major pros and cons for rescuing a Goldendoodle. For more information about the Goldendoodle dog breed, visit We Love Doodles.

Rescuing a Goldendoodle

One option for welcoming a Goldendoodle into your life is to rescue -- and you will saving a dog’s life. Many people are quite surprised to hear that several Goldendoodles need to be rescued per year. Just this last month, I received over 10 inquiries to relocate or foster a Goldendoodle. Below you will find the pros and cons of rescuing a Goldendoodle.

Pros

• Give a Dog a Second Chance: Unfortunately, people surrender their dogs for various reasons. By rescuing a dog, you are giving him or her a second chance at a loving home. Additionally, some shelters euthanize dogs that are not adopted quickly, so you could even be saving a dog's life. (Goldendoodles aren’t always perfect and are known barkers, have high energy, can be destructive if not mentally stimulated, and pull owners on a leash when not trained. Consequently, many Goldendoodles need to be rescued every year.)
• Price: If you are looking for a less expensive way to add a Goldendoodle to the family, rescuing is your best choice. Adoption fees are lower than buying from a breeder or pet store. We’ve seen Goldendoodle breeders charging over $5,000 dollars for a puppy while there are Goldendoodles that need to be rescued, and available for less than $500. You’ll be saving a lot of money and still get a loving companion.
• Maturity: Breeders and pet stores focus on providing customers with young puppies, but not everyone is ready to get a young puppy. If you are one of these people, then adoption is the best choice for you. Rescue dogs are typically older, so they are calmer and sometimes even fully trained! You can still find Goldendoodle puppies are rescues, but it is more rare.

Cons

• Availability: Shelters have limited amounts of certain breeds available. They do not get to choose what dogs come into their care, so they can never guarantee you a particular dog. Right now, Goldendoodles are an especially desirable breed, so they may be even tougher to find as they are adopted quickly. Chances are you will have to get on a waitlist and check with each shelter or rescue frequently.
• Underfunding: Unfortunately, some animal shelters do not have the funding needed to train all the dogs in their care. Your Goldendoodle may not get the training and attention it needs before adoption.
• History: In many cases, the dogs at animal shelters have no known medical history. This lack of information can be a problem because you do not know what health or behavior problems your dog may face. However, each Goldendoodle rescue will do their best provide you with a healthy and happy dog. Typically, rescue Goldendoodles will be spayed or neutered and up to date on all vaccinations.

Conclusions For Rescuing a Goldendoodle

Since animal overpopulation has become such a huge problem in the United States, we highly encourage you to consider adopting a Goldendoodle prior to searching for a breeder. Many Goldendoodles need rescuing every year and they are just as loving of a companion as one that is purchased!