DesignerNorth America

Goldendoodle

Golden Retriever cheer with Poodle curls.

Weight: 15–90 lbs
Height: 13–24 in
Lifespan: 10–15 yrs

In short

The Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, first bred in the 1990s in North America and Australia. Adults weigh about 15–90 lbs depending on the Poodle parent and live 10–15 years. Expect a friendly, social dog whose curly coat needs brushing several times a week.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

want a friendly, social family dog
enjoy fetch, swimming and outdoor play
want a lower-shedding coat and will pay for grooming

Think twice if you…

want a watchdog
are away from home long days
can't brush several times a week

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 50–180 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study8.5/10

EnergyAthlete8.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors9.0/10

SheddingModerate shedder4.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Wavy-to-curly coat
Lower-shedding coats are curlier but mat fast; regular brushing is the price.
02
Size set by the Poodle parent
Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle parents make very different adult sizes.
03
Retriever mouth
Many love to carry things, so expect socks and shoes to go missing.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	20–90 lbs	15–75 lbs
Height	14–24 in	13–22 in
Lifespan	10–15 yrs
Coat	Wavy to curly, low- to moderate-shedding

Side profile 13–24 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Goldendoodles are friendly with almost everyone and want to be part of every activity. Young ones are bouncy and mouthy. Most are not guard dogs; they're more likely to greet a burglar.

With kids

Usually great with kids, though big young ones can knock over toddlers.

With other pets

Generally friendly with other dogs and cats.

With strangers

Outgoing and welcoming; not a watchdog.

Alone time

Many dislike long days alone; build alone time gradually.

Training

Goldendoodles are eager to please and quick to learn. They love food and play, which makes positive training easy.

How often

2–3 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

From 8–16 weeks, focus on handling, grooming tools and calm greetings with people. Early grooming practice makes a lifetime of grooming easier.
Self-control

Teach polite greetings (sit before saying hi) to stop jumping, and "drop it" for things they pick up.
What it works for

Food, fetch and praise all work. Use small, high-value pieces such as freeze-dried liver for training, kept within 10% of daily calories.

Exercise

Goldendoodles enjoy walks, fetch and swimming. They need both exercise and company to settle.

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Fetch
Swimming
Hiking or jogging (once adult)

Brain work

Food puzzles
Retrieve games with named toys
Trick training

Best home

Best with a yard, though smaller Goldendoodles can live in apartments with daily outings.

Watch for Avoid long runs and repetitive jumping until growth plates close, and dry ears after swimming.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Goldendoodle (15–90 lbs) lands around 475–1,800 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 600–2,250 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 60–225 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–11 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 475–1,800 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 50–180 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 2–9 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 650–2,475 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 65–250 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–12 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 425–1,575 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 45–160 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 2–8 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	600–2,250 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	60–225 kcal	3–11 pieces
Adult Maintenance	475–1,800 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	50–180 kcal	2–9 pieces
Active / Working	650–2,475 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	65–250 kcal	3–12 pieces
Senior	425–1,575 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	45–160 kcal	2–8 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Goldendoodles can inherit hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disease and heart disease from the Golden side. Choose a breeder who health-tests both parents.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip and elbow dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip and OFA elbow evaluations	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Inherited eye disease	Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist (CAER)	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Heart disease (subvalvular aortic stenosis)	Cardiac exam by a veterinary cardiologist	In breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Progressive retinal atrophy	PRA-prcd DNA test	Once, in both parents (ask the breeder)

Health tests to ask for

The Goldendoodle has no CHIC program of its own, so ask for the tests the OFA requires for each parent breed.

Golden Retriever parent

Hip evaluation
Elbow evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
Heart exam

Full Golden Retriever list on OFA.org

Poodle (Standard) parent

Hip evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
One elective test from the breed club list

Full Poodle list on OFA.org

Grooming Low to moderate, varies by coat; mats without regular brushing

Brush to the skin 3–4 times a week. Professional groom every 6–8 weeks. Clean ears weekly, trim nails monthly and brush teeth several times a week.

History

1800s

The parent breeds

The Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland as a gun dog; the Poodle was a European water retriever.
1990s

A new cross

Breeders in North America and Australia began crossing Goldens and Poodles in the 1990s, following the Labradoodle.
Today

A popular family dog

Goldendoodles are not recognized by major kennel clubs, so there is no breed standard and quality varies between breeders.

Questions owners ask

Are Goldendoodles easy to train?

Yes. They are eager to please and food-motivated. Start early on jumping and mouthing, which are common in young dogs.

Are Goldendoodles good with kids and other pets?

Usually. They are friendly with kids, dogs and cats. Large young Goldendoodles can knock over small children, so supervise play.

How much exercise does a Goldendoodle need?

About 60–90 minutes a day of walks, play and training. Many love swimming and fetch.

Do Goldendoodles shed?

Usually lightly, but it varies by coat, and no dog is truly allergen-free. Expect brushing several times a week and a professional groom every 6–8 weeks.

What health problems do Goldendoodles have, and how long do they live?

Goldendoodles live 10–15 years. Watch for hip and elbow dysplasia, eye disease and heart disease. Ask for health tests on both parents.

Is a Goldendoodle good for apartments or first-time owners?

Often. They are friendly and easy to train, which suits first-timers. Smaller ones can live in apartments with daily exercise; larger ones prefer a yard.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Goldendoodle needs only 2–9 pieces a day, well inside the 50–180 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Goldendoodle ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.