Mini Goldendoodle: everything about this mixed breed

The Mini Goldendoodle is quickly becoming a favorite designer breed across America – which is hardly surprising when you consider just how cute they are! They’re also affectionate and extremely loveable.

Here’s absolutely everything you need to know about this Golden Retriever and Toy or Miniature Poodle mix.

Origin and history of the Miniature Goldendoodle

The Mini Goldendoodle was first bred in the 1990s to be the perfect family pet. Breeders wanted an adorable pup that would have the gentle, loving nature of a purebred Golden Retriever and the intelligence and manageable coat of a Toy Poodle.

To really understand the history of this dog breed, it’s best to look at the Mini Goldendoodle’s parents.

The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is arguably the most beloved pup in America.

They’re trainable, affectionate, happy to please, and very fluffy! They love spending time with their family and make great companion dogs. They were first bred in Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the 19th century.

He specifically wanted a dog that liked water and could retrieve waterfowl without damaging the bird. They’re hard workers but also goofy and loving.

In 1932, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Golden Retriever as a breed.

The Poodle

Poodles were first bred in Germany over a thousand years ago.

They too were bred as water lovers to help hunters retrieve fowl from ponds. These dogs became particularly popular when they went to France and were loved by the noblemen and women there.

The French gave them their iconic hairdo but also bred the Standard Poodle into two more sizes – the Mini Poodle and Toy Poodle.

The Miniature Poodle was bred to find truffles and the Toy Poodle (which is much smaller) as the ideal lapdog.

Temperament and personality of the Miniature Goldendoodle

With any hybrid dog (a pup that’s not considered a pure breed) you can never be 100% sure of their personality or temperament. The good news is that with the Mini Goldendoodle you’ll get a wonderful dog regardless of which parent breed they take after more. 

Generally speaking, the Mini Goldendoodle is an affectionate, fun-loving, and playful dog that’s great around people and other animals.

They make wonderful family pets and love nothing more than to follow their humans around, waiting patiently for them to play. These small to medium-sized dogs are real people-pleasers and will love to make you happy.

Mini Goldendoodles are fairly easy to train and are intelligent pups that will benefit from training classes and socializing. Because of their size and moderate energy levels, they also make good apartment dogs.

They don’t tend to bark much unless they really feel that they (or you) are threatened. They’re alert pups and will let you know if strangers are approaching your home.

Because these dogs are real people pups, they can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. It’s in their nature to want to be around their family and will struggle if they’re on their own.

If you’re out of the house for long periods of time on a daily basis, the Mini Goldendoodle probably isn’t the dog for you.

Appearance of the Miniature Goldendoodle

Mini Goldendoodles (and Standard Goldendoodles for that matter) look like adorable, fluffy teddy bears.

A Miniature Goldendoodle puppy is a small ball of fluff and they grow up to have a beautiful, lightly curled coat. The hair on their faces can be a little longer, surrounding their large brown or amber eyes, and they have big, floppy ears.

A Mini Goldendoodle’s tail is long and straight and can be quite fluffy.

Mini Goldendoodle size

The size of a full-grown Mini Goldendoodle will really depend on the parents and whether one was a Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle.

Usually, however, a Mini Goldendoodle will be anywhere between 13 and 20 inches (33 to 50 cm) tall.

Mini Goldendoodle weight

Again, the weight of a Mini Goldendoodle really depends on their size, but they generally weigh between 18 and 30 pounds (8 to 13.5 kg).

Mini Goldendoodle color

Golden is the most common coat color for Miniature Goldendoodles but they can also come in black, white, cream, apricot, gray, red, and fawn. It’s common that their coat lightens with age.

Generally speaking, these poodle mixes have a wavy or curly coat that’s around 2.5 inches (6 cm) long and can be fairly feathered in appearance.  

Life Expectancy – how long do Miniature Goldendoodles live?

Of course, you can never be 100% sure about the lifespan of any dog but mixed breeds do tend to be healthier and have a slightly longer life expectancy than their purebred parents.

On top of that, Poodles have a longer lifespan than Golden Retrievers, so if your Mini Goldendoodle has more Poodle DNA, they may live a little longer.

Normally, these pups can live anywhere between 12 and 16 years. As well as their unique genetics, lifestyle will also have an impact on the Mini Goldendoodle lifespan.

It’s important they get enough exercise, are fed high-quality, nutritious food, and are taken for regular check-ups at the vet.

Grooming Mini Goldendoodles

Do Mini Goldendoodles shed?

Nearly all Doodle breeds (breeds that are Poodle mixes) are popular because they inherit the minimal-shedding coat of their parent breed. At least in theory.

Whilst there’s no such thing as a totally hypoallergenic dog breed that doesn’t shed, there are definitely dogs that allergy sufferers have less trouble around – and Poodles are one of them. 

Whilst Mini Goldendoodles won’t leave your house and furniture covered in hair, they still need a good amount of grooming. Their curly coat can be prone to matting, so it’s important you brush it to keep it sleek and healthy.

It’s not always easy to brush Poodle hair and many owners worry about hurting their pup. Taking your dog to a groomer every 8 weeks may be a good idea if that’s the case with your pup. The hair around their eyes and mouth will also need to be trimmed.

As well as their coat, it’s important to regularly check and clean Mini Goldendoodle ears. Because they’re so floppy, and because your Mini Goldendoodle will love jumping in and out of water, it’s important to keep their ears clean to prevent infections.

Do they smell?

No one wants a smelly dog. Luckily, the Mini Goldendoodle is fairly scent-free (at least compared to other dog breeds). This, however, is only the case if you keep on top of their grooming needs.

If you don’t regularly bathe and brush your dog, dirt, dry skin, and oil will start to build up and create that all too well-known doggie odor. 

If your dog gets wet – which most Mini Goldendoodles will love doing – they’ll also start to smell if they’re not dried well when you get back. Make sure you wash out any mud and maybe give them a rinse down if they’ve been in dirty water and thoroughly dry them.

Training a Miniature Goldendoodle

As with both the purebred Golden Retriever and Miniature or Toy Poodle, the Mini Goldendoodle is very intelligent. They’re also really eager to please their owners, making them pretty easy to train. 

These dogs can also be very excitable and always looking for something fun to do, so concentration may be a bit of an issue when it comes to training sessions. Make them as interactive as possible, full of positive reinforcement and praise from you and you should keep them interested.

It’s also a good idea to keep sessions short so that they enjoy them.

As with all dogs, early socialization is really important for the Mini Goldendoodle. They’re naturally very friendly and inquisitive pups, but socializing with other dogs and people will help them to get used to being around new things. 

How much is a Miniature Goldendoodle?

The price of a Mini Goldendoodle will vary depending on a number of factors.

The most important thing to consider when getting a pup is that they come from a responsible and ethical breeder. Avoid puppy farms or much cheaper breeders as the dogs are likely to suffer from health problems and won't be treated well.

Generally speaking, a Mini Goldendoodle puppy will cost you anywhere between $1,600 and $2,600.

If you get an F1 puppy, you’ll pay less than for an F2 pup. An F1 puppy comes from a litter in which the mother is a Golden Retriever and the father a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The puppies can be a little different in appearance and temperament.

An F2 puppy is the result of a Mini Goldendoodle breeding with another Mini Goldendoodle. The puppies are much more regular in appearance and personality, but they will cost you more.

Because these dogs are a popular hybrid breed, it’s unlikely that they’ll end up in a shelter – but you never know! It’s worth checking just to be sure.

Do Miniature Goldendoodles have health issues?

As with any breed of dog, Mini Goldendoodles can be prone to certain diseases and conditions.

Generally speaking, however, they’re healthy pups when they’re well looked after. It’s important these dogs get around 30 mins of exercise a day and are fed good quality food.

They also need to be taken regularly to the vet for checkups. You should make sure their brains are kept active through training, socialization, and interactive toys.

When selecting your breeder, it’s essential that they can present you with health certificates for the parents of your future dog. This will help to ensure that your pup will be as healthy as possible.

Mini Goldendoodles can suffer from the following conditions:

• Patellar Luxation: this can be a very painful condition in which the kneecap (usually on the hind legs) slips in and out of position. It’s quite common amongst small dog breeds.
• Hip Dysplasia: this is a common condition in which the thigh bone doesn’t fit correctly into the hip joint. It can lead to painful arthritis. Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition and dogs with it shouldn’t be bred. Make sure you ask your breeder for proof that neither parent has it.
• Ear Infections: if water gets into your dog’s ears it can lead to an infection. Make sure you clean them and keep them dry – especially after a particularly wet walk!
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy: this is an inherited eye disease that can eventually cause blindness. Make sure your breeder proves neither parent suffers from it.
• Von Willebrand’s Disease: this is a blood disease that both dogs and humans can suffer from. It affects how the blood clots. Pups suffering from this will experience heavy bleeding even from small scratches.
• Hypothyroidism: a condition in which the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones.
• Allergies: all dog breeds can suffer from allergies – and the Mini Goldendoodle is no exception. Your vet will be able to advise on changes you can make to help your pup.

Fun facts about the Miniature Goldendoodle

Mini Goldendoodles are wonderful dogs. They’re fun-loving, affectionate, intelligent, and a great choice as a family pet. How much did you know about these adorable teddy bears?