Are you considering adding a Mini Goldendoodle to your family? If so, you’ll want to read this guide first! Doodles are a popular crossbreed dog and for good reason and a Mini Goldendoodle may be the perfect pet for you. They are low-shedding and easy to train. They’re friendly, laid-back, and make great family pets. They are also one of my favorite dogs as patients (if well trained!).
In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know about the Miniature Goldendoodle, from their temperament and size to their exercise needs and price. I will also give you some tips on how to find a reputable breeder. So if you’re considering adding a Mini Goldendoodle to your family, keep reading!
Contents
QUICK FACTS
| Height: | 13-22 inches |
| Weight: | F1B: 20-35 lbs, F1: 25-45 lbs |
| Lifespan: | 12-16 years |
| Best suited for: | Active families, couples or singles |
| Temperament: | Doting, Affectionate, Intelligent, Social with a gentle nature |
| Care Level: | Moderate |
What is a Mini Goldendoodle?
A Mini Goldendoodle is a designer breed dog that is a cross between a Miniature Poodle and a Golden Retriever. The miniature size is achieved by breeding a Toy or Miniature Poodle with a Golden Retriever. Doodles are known for their low-shedding, hypoallergenic coats and their friendly, outgoing personalities.
Like their standard and medium-sized counterparts, Mini Goldendoodles come in a variety of coat colors, including cream, apricot, gold, red, and chocolate. They typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and stand 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder. Mini Goldendoodles are intelligent, playful dogs that make great family pets. They are also relatively easy to train and are good choices for first-time dog owners.
Mini Goldendoodle Overview
Temperament:
They are friendly, affectionate, and intelligent dogs that make great additions to all families. Mini Goldendoodles are outgoing and sociable and enjoy spending time with their pet parents. They are good with children and other pets, and they thrive on human companionship.
A word of warning. Mini Goldendoodle’s can be quite rambunctious and high energy for the first one to two years so be prepared to spend the time exercising them and training them.
Size: 13-22 inches
Average Weight: F1B has a range of 20-35 pounds and F1’s are 25-45 pounds.
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Adaptability: 4/5
Energy Level: 3.5/5
Mini Goldendoodles are active dogs that need plenty of exercise
Dog Friendly: 5/5
Pet Friendly: 5/5
Child Friendly: 5/5
Intelligence: 4/5
Trainability: 4/5
Mini Goldendoodles are easy to train and very versatile dogs. They can be trained to perform a variety of tasks and excel in obedience, agility, and even therapy work.
Barking: 2/5
Apartment/small spaces: 3/5
Grooming level: 1-2/5
Shedding level: low shedding/hypoallergenic, but shedding level varies
Appearance
These wonderful dog’s are a mix of Golden Retrievers and Poodles and as such their appearance can vary greatly. They can vary in size considerably, ranging from 13 to 20 inches tall and weighing 15-40 pounds. Yes—this is a significant range! The overall size of your Mini Goldendoodle will be determined by the size of both parents as well as pure luck in the genetic lottery.
The color of their coat will vary from light yellow, apricot, and cream to brown or red. They can have small white markings on their chest.
Miniature Goldendoodle’s fur is wavy or curly and will grow very long if not cut regularly. Also, they can, on occasion have a flat coat. Similar to Their Golden Retriever parent. Their floppy ears and expressive eyes give their face a teddy bear look.
History
In the 1980’s, the Mini Goldendoodle was created after their larger relatives, the Standard Goldendoodles. These dogs were designed as hypoallergenic guide dogs for allergy sufferers and were an immediate success. The world has come to adore these canines for their outgoing personalities, loyalty, and happy demeanor.
Golden Retriever
The purebred Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and it has a long and rich history. The breed originated in Scotland in the 19th century, where they were bred to assist hunters in retrieving game birds. They quickly became popular for their loyalty, intelligence, and trainability.
In 1908, the Golden Retriever was recognized by the Kennel Club of England, and the breed has been gaining popularity ever since. Today, Golden Retrievers are cherished family pets and loyal companions.
They continue to excel in working roles such as guide dogs, assistance dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs. With their friendly dispositions and winning personalities, it is easy to see why the Golden Retriever is so popular
Miniature Poodle
The Miniature (mini) Poodle is a popular breed of dog that traces its roots back to 15th-century Germany. The breed was originally created by crossing small breeds of water dogs. And it was used primarily for hunting and retrieving game birds. Over time, the mini poodle became a popular pet among the upper classes. Eventually spread to other parts of Europe.
The Mini Poodle first came to America in the early 19th century, and it quickly became one of the most popular breeds in the country. Today, the Miniature Poodle is still a popular pet, and it is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and affectionate nature.
Health Concerns
While the bonus of a Mini Goldendoodle is that they are generally healthy dogs due to their hybrid vigor. They are susceptible to certain health conditions of their parents.
Health problems include:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Epilepsy
- Von Willebrand’s disease (a clotting disease)
- Environmental allergies (atopy)
- Hotspots
- Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease
Purchasing your Miniature Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder who performs genetic testing should help reduce the risk of some of these diseases such as PRA and Von Willebrand’s disease.
Feeding
Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of raising a healthy puppy. As with any breed, it is important to feed your Mini Goldendoodle a high-quality diet that meets its specific nutritional needs.
A good diet for a Mini Goldendoodle should be:
- High in protein – puppies need more protein than adult dogs to support their growth and development
- Rich in antioxidants to help protect the dog from diseases
- Contain probiotics and prebiotics – to help with digestion
- Be low in calories. Goldendoodles are prone to obesity if they eat high-calorie diets or too many treats
When choosing a food for your Mini Goldendoodle, always consult your veterinarian to make sure you are providing the best possible diet for your dog. As your puppy grows, their dietary needs will change, so it is important to continue to monitor their diet and make adjustments as needed.
Generation Guide
- F1 Mini Goldendoodle: A first-generation Goldendoodle is a 50:50 cross of a purebred poodle and purebred Bernese Mountain Dog parent. They have the most hybrid vigor and typically the least health issues (if they come from well-bred parents).
- F1B Mini Goldendoodle: An F1B is 75% poodle and 25% Golden Retriever, where the “B” stands for backcross. They are usually a cross between a Purebred Miniature or toy poodle and an F1 Mini Goldendoodle. Poodles are usually chosen to try to reduce shedding.
- F2 Mini Goldendoodle: These second-generation mini doodles have two F1 Mini Goldendoodle parents. The level of shedding is highly variable depending on the parents.
Keep in mind that doodles with more poodle DNA will have less likelihood of shedding. Those with greater Golden Retriever DNA will likely have more shedding and a straighter coat.
First-generation Doodles have the most hybrid vigor
Grooming
The Mini Goldendoodle’s coat is usually wavy or curly and can be quite dense. The curly coat will require regular brushing and grooming to keep it looking its best. Most Goldendoodles don’t shed much, but they will still need to be groomed regularly to remove any dead hair and avoid matting.
The curlier the coat, the more likely it is to matt. If you don’t groom your Mini Goldendoodle every day or every other day, matting can occur which usually requires a trip to the groomer.
If you are not keen on brushing they may not be the dog for you. The alternative is to get your Mini Goldendoodles clipped every few months.
How much does a Mini Goldendoodles cost?
The price range of a Mini Goldendoodles puppy varies between $1500-$3500 depending on coat color and breeder. There are a lot of unscrupulous breeders out there so make sure to thoroughly check out the breeder and meet the parents. You can also enquire at pet rescues if you are interested in adopting a Mini Goldendoodle.
Doodle designer dogs have exploded in popularity in the last few years so there are many that are needing new homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do Mini Goldendoodlesinteract with children and other pets?
A: Mini Goldendoodles are great with children and other pets. They are usually very patient and tolerant of young children.
Q: What is the average life expectancy of a Mini Goldendoodles?
A: The average life expectancy for a Mini Goldendoodles is around 12-14 years. However, they can live up to 16 years
Q: Do Mini Goldendoodles make good therapy dogs?
A: Mini Goldendoodles make excellent therapy pets. These affectionate dogs love spending time with people. They are also very patient which is a bonus.
Q: How easy are Mini Goldendoodles to train?
A: Mini Goldendoodles are fairly easy to train if you put the time in. They are intelligent and eager to please. Be careful though as an untrained Goldendoodle can get into a lot of trouble!
Q: Do Mini Goldendoodles make good guard dogs?
A: Mini Goldendoodles do not typically make good guard dogs as they are usually too friendly with strangers.
Q: How much exercise does a Miniature Goldendoodles need?
A: Mini Goldendoodles have moderate to high energy levels and need around an hour of exercise per day. This can be a combination of long walks, playing in the yard, and swimming.
Q: How much food do Mini Goldendoodles eat on average per day?
It can be highly variable. Feed to their ideal body weight and talk to your vet.
Q: Do Mini Goldendoodles shed?
They are considered low shedders. Please keep in mind that when you cross two different breeds there is no way of knowing which parents shedding level they will inherit. If you get an F1B Mini Goldendoodles that are 75% Poodle you will have the most likelihood of low shedding.
Q: Do mini Goldendoodles need to be groomed?
A: Yes. The best way to groom a Mini Goldendoodle is to brush it every day to keep its skin and coat healthy. If the coat is particularly curly, you may need to clip it every few months.
Q: Where can I find reputable Miniature Goldendoodle puppy breeders in my area?
A: You can find a reputable Goldendoodle breeder in your area by joining a Doodle or Golden doodle Facebook group and asking for recommendations. It is highly likely you will need to travel to get a Mini Goldendoodles from a responsible breeder. You can also check with local pet rescue organizations.
Q: Are Mini Goldendoodles good apartment dogs?
A: Yes they can make good apartment dogs.
Q: Are Mini Goldendoodles recognized by the American Kennel Club?
No, Mini Goldendoodles are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as they are not a purebred dog breed.
Q: How big do F1 Mini Goldendoodles get?
A: F1 Mini Goldendoodles typically weigh between 20-30 pounds.
Q: How small do F1B Mini Goldendoodles get?
A: F1B Mini Goldendoodles weigh on average 15-25 pounds.
Q: What is the difference between a Mini Goldendoodle and a standard Goldendoodle?
A: The main difference between Mini Goldendoodles and regular Goldendoodles is size. Mini Goldendoodles are typically smaller than regular Goldendoodles, weighing between 15 and 30 pounds compared to 25 and 65 pounds. Mini Goldendoodles also stand between 13 and 22 inches tall, while regular Goldendoodles measure 24 to 28 inches at the shoulder and are bred with a Standard Poodle
Q: Do mini goldendoodles like water?
A: Yes, mini Goldendoodles love water! They make great swimming dogs.
Summary
Mini Goldendoodles are a good choice for anyone looking for a loving, friendly pet that is also low-shedding and easy to train. They make good apartment dogs and are perfect for families with children or other pets. Be sure to groom your Mini Goldendoodle regularly and give it at least an hour of exercise per day. With proper care and training, mini Goldendoodles can be wonderful companions for life.
Dr. Elly has always loved animals, and she knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. After studying hard in veterinary school, she practiced in several different countries before moving to North Carolina with her husband and young family. She currently works part time as a veterinarian while caring for her 4 busy children and writing this blog. Dr. Elly genuinely cares about the welfare of her patients. She currently has three dogs, two cats, 5 chickens and 2 rabbits (yes a bit of a zoo!)
