Is my dog a Goldendoodle? How to recognise the Golden × Poodle
A Goldendoodle usually has a Golden Retriever’s warm colour and kind expression under a wavy or curly Poodle coat. Size depends on the Poodle parent. Upload a photo to see the breeds your dog resembles most.
Also known as: Groodle, Golden Doodle, Golden Retriever Poodle mix, DoodleCross of: Golden Retriever × Poodle
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About the Goldendoodle
The Goldendoodle, also called a Groodle, is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Breeders in North America and Australia began producing it in the 1990s, following the Labradoodle, and it is now one of the most popular doodles. It is not recognised by the FCI, AKC or KC. Standard, medium and mini Goldendoodles exist, depending on the Poodle parent. Most are gentle, people-focused and playful, with the Golden’s softness and the Poodle’s intelligence. They want company and do best in an active household where they are rarely left alone for long.
At a glance
- Type
- Mixed breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 20–40 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–15 years
- Exercise
- High
How to recognise a Goldendoodle
- Coat is straight and feathered like a Golden, loosely wavy, or tightly curled like a Poodle; the shaggy wavy coat is the most common.
- Colours run from pale cream through apricot and gold to deep red; chocolate, black and parti dogs also appear.
- Drop ears hanging close to the cheeks, covered in long, wavy hair that often blends into the face.
- Head rounder than a Poodle’s, with a medium muzzle, dark eyes and often a soft beard and eyebrows.
- Size goes from mini to large, with a well-balanced body and a deep chest; standards are solid and athletic.
- Tail of medium length, carried with a plume or wave of hair, set level with the back.
Photo tip. Shoot in daylight to keep the true coat colour, with the dog side-on and its face clear of hair; colour and head shape separate it from a Labradoodle.
Goldendoodle or look-alike?
Labradoodle
A Labradoodle often has a tighter, curlier coat and a broader, blockier head, with chocolate and black more common. Goldendoodles look softer and shaggier, in warm gold and red shades.
Golden Retriever
A Golden has a flat or slightly wavy coat with clear feathering on the legs and tail, and a smooth, short-haired face. Any beard, eyebrows or curl on the muzzle points to Poodle.
Poodle
A Poodle has dense, uniform curls, a long, fine head and a square, elegant frame. Goldendoodles have looser coats, wider skulls and a more relaxed, retriever-like outline.
Bernedoodle
A Bernedoodle usually shows the Bernese tricolour: black base with white blaze and rust on the cheeks and legs. Solid cream, apricot or red coats point to a Goldendoodle.
What a Goldendoodle inherits
Goldendoodle litters can be very uneven. An F1 litter may hold flat-coated puppies that look like slim Goldens next to curly ones that pass for apricot Poodles, and the Poodle parent’s size sets the range. F1B dogs, bred back to a Poodle, are curlier and more consistent. Goldendoodle is one of the labels the Petus photo check recognises, so it may name the mix itself. Otherwise the result usually shows Golden Retriever and Poodle, with Labradoodle a common runner-up. A DNA test gives you the true percentages.
Health and care
- Hip dysplasia and PRA are known on both sides, and subvalvular aortic stenosis on the Golden side; ask for hip and elbow scores, a heart check and PRA DNA results.
- Golden Retrievers carry a well-known cancer predisposition. Routine check-ups and attention to new lumps are worth building into the dog’s life.
- Wavy and curly coats mat behind the ears, under the collar and in the armpits. Brush to the skin several times a week and book regular trims.
- Floppy, hairy ears keep in moisture, so ear infections are common. Check them weekly and dry them after swimming.
- Both parents enjoy food. Measure portions, and give daily exercise and company: Goldendoodles do not like long hours alone.