While scrolling through Instagram, I came across the term Comfort Goldendoodle. I figured it was just another name someone gave their Goldendoodle for being a cute snuggle buddy or an emotional support dog.
After some research, I discovered that the Comfort Goldendoodle is a new type of Doodle breed.
This led to a bunch of questions that I had. In this post, I will try to answer those questions and explain the basics of the Comfort Goldendoodle!
What is a Comfort Goldendoodle?
A Comfort Goldendoodle is a mix between a Cocker Spaniel (American and/or English), Golden Retriever, and Poodle.
A Comfort Goldendoodle may be a mix of a Dakota Sport Retriever with a Poodle. Or, it can be a mix of a Comfort Retriever with a Poodle.
Where did Comfort Goldendoodles come from?
Comfort Goldendoodles, or Comfort Doodles, were first intentionally bred by Forest Creek Kennels. Forest Creek is a Doodle breeder located in Virginia. They coined the name Comfort Goldendoodle.
Forest Creek was the first to breed Comfort Goldendoodles, but Comfort Retrievers have been around for a while.
The Comfort Retriever
The term, or designation, comfort comes from the Comfort Retriever. Kathy Burgess developed Comfort Retrievers in 2003.
After decades of breeding Golden Retrievers, Kathy was intent on finding a healthier and smaller breed variant. She began breeding Cocker Spaniels with Golden Retrievers to create the first Comfort Retrievers.
Due to health and appearance, she transitioned to breeding her Golden Retrievers with Poodles instead. Some people would call this mix a Goldendoodle…
But the Comfort Retriever is a trademark of Kathy and her business GoldenQuest Comfort Retrievers.
In summary, the Comfort Retriever can either be a deliberate mix of a Golden Retriever and a Cocker Spaniel or a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
But, wait, there’s more…
Since GoldenQuest placed a trademark on the name “Comfort Retriever,” the mix has been given another name by breeders: Dakota Sport Retriever.
The Dakota Sport Retriever
The Dakota Sport Retriever is a mix between a Golden Retriever, American Cocker Spaniel, and English Cocker Spaniel. The ideal combination is 50% Golden Retriever, 25% American Cocker Spaniel, and 25% English Cocker Spaniel [1]dakotasportretrievers.com.
George and Karen Brausen developed Dakota Sport Retrievers.
Unlike the Comfort Retriever, the Dakota Sport Retriever is a strict mix of the three dog breeds.
This unique mix is athletic and can be trained for hunting. They are good with families and children. Their temperament is even-keeled, and they are not aggressive. These traits make the Dakota Sport Retriever an excellent mix to breed Comfort Goldendoodles from.
The Many Mixes of the Comfort Goldendoodle
Given this background information, there is no standard for breeding a Comfort Goldendoodle. It can be a mix of the Golden Retriever, American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, and Poodle.
The list below summarizes the different combinations of breeds that can produce a Comfort Goldendoodle.
- (Golden Retriever x English Cocker Spaniel) x Poodle
- (Golden Retriever x American Cocker Spaniel) x Poodle
- [(English Cocker Spaniel x American Cocker Spaniel) x Golden Retriever] x Poodle
As with other Doodle dogs, the parent breeds can be backcrossed to create different generations of the Comfort Goldendoodle, such as F1, F2, F1b, etc.
History of the Parent Breeds
Since the Comfort Goldendoodle can be bred from a few different dog breeds, it’s worth taking a quick look at each parent breed. A breed’s history provides insight into the dog’s personality, temperament, and overall disposition.
This will give you better insight when picking out your Comfort Goldendoodle.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever was originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century. They were bred to be gundogs and are still used for this purpose today. Lord Tweedmouth is credited as the founder of the modern Golden Retriever.
In the mid-1800s, he bred a Yellow Retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel. At the time, hunting was becoming a trendy sport in Scotland and England. This particular mix was bred with the intent to aid hunters in the retrieval of waterfowl and upland hunting.
Golden Retrievers were imported to America in the early 1900s and became popular there because they were easy to train and had good hunting skills. Golden Retrievers are still used in hunting but have become one of the most popular household pets in the United States (and the world).
Today, Golden Retrievers are often used as guide dogs for people who are blind, as well as search and rescue dogs. They are also used as service dogs for people with disabilities such as autism or epilepsy.
Golden Retrievers are often ranked in the world’s top 5 most popular dogs.
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels were originally bred in England as hunting dogs. Their primary purpose was to retrieve the downed game. Their smaller size allowed them to pursue game in brush and thick vegetation.
The breed was trained specifically for hunting the Eurasian Woodcock. Hence, the name Cocker Spaniel or nickname ‘Cocker.’
There are two main types of Cocker Spaniels – English Cocker Spaniel and American Cocker Spaniel.
English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniels are larger than their American counterparts. The English Cocker Spaniel is tall and has a thinner coat.
Chereen Nawrocki, a past English Cocker Spaniel Club of America president, explains, “British breeders were breeding roan and parti colored springer types with their Cocker Spaniels to produce a larger, leggier Cocker who would hunt and retrieve.”
American Cocker Spaniel
The breed was brought over to America in the late 19th century. It was bred to emphasize different physical traits. Additionally, it was used to hunt the American woodcock. American Cocker Spaniels are smaller in size. They have a shorter muzzle and back with a dome-shaped head.
Poodle
The modern Poodle was originally bred in Germany sometime in the 1600s. It’s believed that the Poodle was bred from European water dogs and other breeds.
Despite their reputation as “sissy” dogs, they were bred for waterfowl hunting. They are excellent water dogs and are still used today in hunting sports. The iconic Poodle cut was developed to give the breed versatility while keeping warm in the frigid European rivers and lakes.
The standard Poodle was eventually bred down in size to create the Miniature Poodle. The Mini Poodle was used as a circus dog in some parts of Europe.
Once the Poodle was introduced to America, it was bred down further to create the Toy Poodle. The Toy Poodle was ideal for city dwellers since they were small and easy to carry around.
Toy Poodles weigh about 5 pounds and stand about 10 inches tall at the shoulder. Miniature Poodles weigh about 15 pounds and stand about 12 inches tall at the shoulder. Standard Poodles weigh about 50 pounds and stand over 15 inches tall.
Poodles are popular because they have a lot of energy, are easy to train, and are good with children. They have a low shedding coat, which is why they are highly sought after for mixed breeds. As one of the most intelligent dog breeds, the Poodle, of all sizes, has enjoyed popularity worldwide.
Traits & Characteristics
Every dog has its own unique personality. However, some parts of their character are common throughout their breed. This is especially true for Comfort Goldendoodles.
They inherit the traits and qualities of the Poodle, Golden Retriever, and Cocker Spaniel. Below is a summary of what you can expect a Comfort Goldendoodle to be like based on its parents (and grandparents).
Health Concerns of a Comfort Goldendoodle
Mixed dog breeds benefit from so-called ‘hybrid vigor.’ This refers to the decreased risk that mixed dogs have for inheriting breed-specific diseases. This is a good thing but not a sure thing.
Mixed dogs are still at risk for all sorts of illnesses and diseases. You should be aware of the following health issues for the Comfort Goldendoodle:
- Patellar luxation
- Frequent ear infections
- Eye disease
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Juvenile cataracts
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
A reputable breeder will health check the dam and sire before breeding a new litter. Frequent visits to your veterinarian will help keep your pup happy and healthy.
Where can I buy a Comfort Goldendoodle?
Forest Creek Kennels in Virginia regularly breeds Comfort Goldendoodles. But there are Comfort Goldendoodles for sale in different parts of the United States and the United Kingdom.
I would start with an internet search to find a Comfort Goldendoodle puppy near you. A helpful step is to find owners on social media and ask where they got their puppy from. Recommendations from owners are one of the best ways to locate a good breeder.
Beware of puppy mills! The Doodle dog world has attracted shady breeders from around the globe. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that a few of these mills have started to breed Comfort Goldendoodles.
- Always visit the breeder in person.
- Make sure to check reviews.
- Ask for contact information from previous owners.
- Review the parents’ and puppies’ health test results (or veterinarian diagnosis).
How much are Comfort Goldendoodles?
Comfort Goldendoodles cost around $2,000. The final price will depend on the breeder, location, taxes, etc.
Related Posts
- Hilarious Goldendoodle Memes
- The Complete Goldendoodle Guide
- What is an Australian Goldendoodle?
- Science behind the Merle Goldendoodle
- What is an English Goldendoodle?
References
| ↑1 | dakotasportretrievers.com |
|---|