Mini Goldendoodle – Everything You Need to Know About These Adorable Dogs

The Mini Goldendoodle is the perfect result of crossing a Golden Retriever with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. As you might guess, these little teddy bears are affectionate, attentive, fun-loving, and hypoallergenic too! They make particularly wonderful dogs for first-time pup parents or those who don’t feel confident taking on a larger or more demanding breed.

Here’s absolutely everything you need to know about the Miniature Goldendoodle – from appearance and temperament to price and exercise needs.

Parent Breeds of the Mini Goldendoodle

One of the best ways to get an overview of Mini Goldendoodles is to have a look at the dog breeds behind them. This can give you a good idea about both the personality and appearance of these pups (both the Poodle and Golden Retriever are considered two of the prettiest dogs, so you can imagine their mix is adorable too).

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are the most popular dog breed in America. So it’s hardly surprising that they’ve been crossed with many other great dog breeds to create adorable mixes.

These medium-sized dogs are hard workers that love to play and spend time with family. They enjoy and excel in obedience training, are very friendly with children and other dogs, and love playing in the park. 

They’re quite muscular dogs and this sporting breed needs a good amount of exercise each day. They’ll love long (preferably muddy) hikes, runs, playing, and chasing after just about anything. They’re highly intelligent pups and need to keep their brains active with toys, canine classes, and lots of diverse training sessions.

One thing that can be a little tricky about Golden Retrievers is the amount they shed. These pups have beautiful, double yellow coats that are water-resistant and relatively long but they do shed quite a lot. This is especially true twice a year when they blow their coats for the next season. They can also have much darker coats and look more like red dogs!

Golden Retrievers need to be brushed twice a week and bathed every so often to keep their luscious coats healthy and golden. 

Miniature or Toy Poodle

Poodles come in three different sizes – Standard, Miniature, and Toy. There’s also the Moyen Poodle but this medium-sized canine isn’t accepted as standard by the AKC.

Poodles are one of the most intelligent doggie breeds in the world. They excel in many different kinds of sports and training and really love to learn new things. They’re also very athletic – despite what many may think based on their haircuts. They need lots of regular exercise and love anything to do with water. In fact, they even have webbed feet they love it so much!

Although Miniature and Toy Poodles are just as intelligent as their Standard cousins, they weren’t bred to be retrievers. They were actually bred to be truffle hunters and the perfect pets for noble women across Europe. 

Poodles are very loving with their family members and they adore playing with children. They’re not quite as friendly as the Golden Retriever is around other dogs and may need a little more encouragement. They’re generally very happy dogs that make great pets.

One of the best things about Poodles is their hypoallergenic coat. This is a reason why breeders often choose to cross other breeds with Poodles. Luckily, the Mini Goldendoodle has inherited this non-sneezy coat which is great news for allergy sufferers.

Poodles require little brushing at home (this can even be painful due to their thick curls) but you should take them to the groomers for a trim.

You can find out more about French Poodles here!

History of the Miniature Goldendoodle

Mini Goldendoodles were first bred in the 1990s when designer dog breeds were booming. After the success of the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever mixed with a Standard Poodle), breeders started to cross smaller Poodles to get a smaller, or mini, Goldendoodle. 

Although still fairly new, Miniature Goldendoodles are becoming very popular thanks to their friendly and lively temperament, gentle nature, and intelligence.

How to Breed a Mini Goldendoodle

Ok, so we won’t go into the exact details but in order to get a Mini Goldendoodle puppy, reputable breeders should only breed female Golden Retrievers with male Toy or Miniature Poodles. This helps to reduce any possible complications at birth. 

The Appearance of a Miniature Goldendoodle

Because Mini Goldendoodles are a mixed dog breed, their appearance can vary quite a lot. They’re always, however, adorable dogs that are well proportioned and very cute!

Size

Mini Goldendoodles can vary quite a lot in size. But, because their Poodle parents are Toy or Miniature, you can certainly expect them to be smaller than a Goldendoodle. A full-grown Mini Goldendoodle can grow to be 13-20 inches tall and weigh 15-35 pounds.

Coat Texture

Poodles have iconically curly coats and Golden Retrievers usually have straight or slightly wavy ones. Your Mini Goldendoodle, therefore, can have a curly or wavy coat depending on what they inherit from their parents. It will probably be thick and dense too!

There’s a very good chance that your Mini teddy bear Goldendoodle will have a hypoallergenic coat (thanks to the Poodle in them). Golden Retrievers, however, are not hypoallergenic and it’s not 100% guaranteed that your Miniature Goldendoodle will be. If possible, it’s best for allergy sufferers to spend time with the Mini Goldendoodle puppy before committing to adoption.

Coat Color

The most popular color for these adorable dogs is golden and it’s also pretty common due to the Golden Retrievers’ coat color. A Mini Goldendoodle can, however, have a number of possible coat colors because Poodles come in many different colors. 

Possible coat colors include black, red, cream, fawn, brown, and isabella. They can also be beautiful gray dogs.

Eye and Nose Color

Mini Goldendoodles have beautiful brown or amber eyes. These pups have black noses.

The Temperament of Mini Goldendoodles

Mini Goldendoodles inherit the best personality traits from both parent breeds. These dogs need to be part of a loving family and create strong bonds with those they love. 

Just like the Golden Retriever, the Mini Goldendoodle is very loving and needs a lot of adoration in return. They’re gentle, friendly, and happy dogs that get on well with children and other dogs – in fact, because they’re such sociable dogs they really thrive in big families with more than one pet. 

As is the case with all dogs, Mini Goldendoodle puppies need to be socialized and trained from a young age. This shouldn’t be too much of a task (they’ll love making new friends) but it’s important you introduce them to other people, sounds, and smells right from the beginning.

Both the Golden Retriever and Poodle are very intelligent dogs. They can also be a bit silly. So you can expect a Miniature Goldendoodle to be fun-loving but highly intelligent too. They need lots of puzzle toys to keep them engaged and entertained for those moments when you might have to work. But otherwise, you can expect a Mini Goldendoodle to always be by your side.

If you’re thinking about adopting one of these amazingly cuddly dogs, you should be aware that separation anxiety can be a problem. These pups don’t like to be left alone and would much prefer for you to take them with you! Short periods of time should be OK if they have enough things to play with and indestructible toys to distract them.

Do Mini Goldendoodles Bark?

Full-grown Mini Goldendoodles bark very rarely. If they’re left alone, however, barking may be a way of them expressing their anxiety. Regular training, ensuring they’re not left alone for long periods, and providing them with lots of entertainment can help reduce this. You can find out more about barking behavior here.

Do Mini Goldendoodles Like to Be Pet?

Why do dogs like to be pet? For many pups it’s a favorite pass time and a way for them to get closer to their owners. It’s also a great way for pup parents to check their pet’s coat and skin for lumps and bumps or flea infestations.

Usually, your Goldendoodle will love nothing more than to cuddle up with you on the couch and have a good stroke. But that’s not the case for all dogs. There may be any number of reasons why your pooch doesn’t like having their tummy tickled. Generally speaking, though, this breed is social and happy to be with its owners.

How Much Exercise Does a Mini Goldendoodle Need?

A purebred Golden Retriever needs a lot of daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. A purebred Poodle needs less exercise, but still an hour or so.

These doggos are a combination of the two and they’ll need around an hour of good exercise every day. Because of their size, a lot of their energy can be used up playing with kids and other dogs in the backyard. Even with this, however, it’s important they get a good walk or play at the dog park every day. This ensures that they’re exposed to new things which they’ll love!

Grooming Miniature Goldendoodles

How you’ll need to groom your dog really depends on the beautifully unique coat that your Mini Goldenpoodle inherits. In all likelihood, it will be wavy or curly, but not as curly as a Poodle’s.

Although they’re not big shedders, the texture of their coats means they can be prone to matting. They require weekly brushing to stop mats from forming (which can be quite painful to brush out). This also helps to distribute oils which keeps their coat and skin in good condition.

Most Mini Goldendoodle owners opt to keep their coats clipped shorter for ease. Ask your local groomer and they’ll be able to advise.

What Health Problems Can a Mini Goldendoodle Have?

A great thing about cross breeds is that they’re usually healthier than pure-bred dogs thanks to the diverse gene pool. The same goes for full-grown Mini Goldendoodles.

There are, however, a few health conditions that these pups can suffer from. They include:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Bloat
• Patellar Luxation
• Hypothyroidism
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Von Willebrand’s Disease

Whenever you adopt a dog (not just a Mini Goldendoodle) it’s important you go to a reputable breeder. They should be able to ensure the health of the parent dogs. There are lots of tests that breeders can do to prove a pup’s health.

A good breeder should care about the future of the breed, including temperament. It’s important you research the best in your area.

What To Feed A Mini Goldendoodle

Mini Goldendoodles need to be fed good-quality canine food that’s specifically designed to contain the right nutrients and calories. Fresh dog food is a great choice for this breed as many of the brands pre-portion the meals which can help with weight gain, whilst making sure they get enough food for the stage of life they’re at.

Weight gain can be an issue for Mini Goldendoodles so it’s important you give them healthy snacks that are full of added nutrients. These can include:

–Chunks of broccoli

–Piece of Pineapple

–Watermelon

–Raspberries

–Cucumber

–Peas

These dogs respond really well to treat based training, so make sure it’s something healthy!

Are Mini Goldendoodles Good Dogs?

All dogs are good dogs! But whether you think a Mini Goldendoodle is ‘good’ or not really depends on your lifestyle and why you’ve adopted them.

If your dream is to enter a dog into a competition, then a Mini Goldendoodle isn’t for you. Although very popular, they’re mixed breed dogs meaning they’re not considered standard by kennel clubs. 

Likewise, if you’re after a scary dog that’ll keep intruders away then a Mini Goldendoodle isn’t the best choice. In fact, it’s a pretty bad choice. These teddy dogs are more likely to make friends with an intruder than chase them off. 

But, if you want to add an intelligent, fun, and very loving little dog to your family, then you can’t get much better than a Mini Goldendoodle. They’re good for relatively inexperienced owners, love training sessions, and are very happy to please their humans. They love to cuddle, are great with kids and other dogs and barely have a doggie smell at all!

They’re also a wonderful choice if someone in your family suffers from light allergies.

How Much Does a Mini Goldendoodle Cost?

Mini Goldendoodles are a really popular mixed breed and therefore cost more than other pups. You’re also unlikely to find them in your local shelter (although it’s still worth checking). 

The good news is that there are many reputable breeders. However, because of the high demand, they can charge more for these beautiful pups. You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 and $2,500 for a Mini Goldendoodle puppy depending on demand in your area.

Of course, you’ll also have to factor in vet bills, products such as GPS collars, and good quality food.

What Are the Different Mini Goldendoodle Generations?

A first-generation Mini Goldendoodle is the result of breeding a purebred Golden Retriever with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. These pups are likely to be less consistent in appearance – even between the puppies in a litter.

A second-generation dog has a Mini Goldendoodle parent which breeds with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. Third-generation puppies have two Mini Goldendoodle parents and are likely to be more consistent in appearance.

What’s A Micro Mini Goldendoodle?

You may have read about them and be wondering what a Micro Mini Goldendoodle is and how it differs from a Mini Goldendoodle. A Micro Mini Goldendoodle is a multi generational breed that’s the result of breeding two small Mini Goldendoodles that have Toy Poodles as parents.

Are they healthy? Yes, Micro Mini Goldendoodles can be just as healthy as Mini Goldendoodles, but only if they’re naturally born. Be wary of breeders intentionally trying to breed very small dogs as they can often have health problems.

Final Thoughts on The Miniature Goldendoodle

Miniature Goldendoodles are an amazing dog breed. They’re becoming ever more popular and you can definitely see why. Not only are they really cute but they’re also good-natured, friendly, and intelligent. They really do have the best traits of both the Miniature or Toy Poodle and the Golden Retriever.

Theses pups have pretty low grooming requirements but do need to keep active. Lots of playing and fetching will keep them entertained but they’ll also love socializing with their friends at the park. They’re relatively easy to train and even make great therapy dogs thanks to their kind and caring nature.

They’re one of the more expensive designer dogs available but they really do make amazing additions to any family! 

Interested in more Mini Poodle mixes? Check out the Mini Bernedoodle!