What is a mini Goldendoodle? How do miniature Goldendoodles compare to standard and medium Goldendoodles?
If you’re considering bringing a mini Goldendoodle into your home or you’re the new parent of this pint-sized Golden Retriever and Poodle mix, welcome to the pack! 🐾 We’re happy you’re here.
By the end of this article, you’ll have all the facts on mini Goldendoodles—height, weight, temperament, coat colors, etc.—so you can decide for yourself if they are “Golden” for you.
So, without further “adoodle” 😉, let’s get started.
What is a Goldendoodle?
First, to understand the miniature Goldendoodle, we need to take a look at the Goldendoodle’s origin and history.
History and origin
Goldendoodles, a hybrid of the Golden Retriever and Poodle breeds, are taking the world by happy-go-lucky storm.
In fact, according to Rover.com, “Doodle” ownership has doubled since 2016.
Goldendoodles are one of many types of fluffy, Poodle mixes commonly called “Doodle dogs.” These silly sweethearts seem to be gaining popularity due to their reputation for being friendly, low-shedding, and eager-to-please family members.
Interestingly, Poodle mixes have been around for a long time. The Cockapoo (a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel mix) is a hybrid that dates back to the 1960s.
But the popularity of Poodle mixes soared when the first Doodle—the Labradoodle—came onto the scene about 30 years ago.
Since Goldendoodles are not a purebred dog, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, and they are not AKC Goldendoodles.
With this brief overview of Goldendoodles, next let’s look specifically at the mini Goldendoodle.
What is a mini Goldendoodle?
Miniature Goldendoodles are mini versions of the standard Goldendoodle. However, Mini Goldendoodles have a Miniature Poodle or small Poodle as one parent.
The pint-sized mini Poodle parent gives the mini Goldendoodle the smaller size. In contrast, the standard Goldendoodle has a standard Poodle as a parent.
Regardless of size, all types of Goldendoodles are Golden Retriever and Poodle mixes.
Here are key facts about the mini Goldendoodle:
Mini Goldendoodle Key Facts
| Dog breed group: | Hybrid |
| Height: | 14 – 17 inches shoulder to paw |
| Weight: | 25 – 35 pounds |
| Colors: | Cream, Apricot, Red, Chocolate, Black, Parti, Merle (varied) |
| Lifespan: | 10 – 15 years |
| Temperament: | Smart, friendly, energetic |
| Other names: | Mini Groodle, Mini Golden Doodle |
As the chart above shows, mini Goldendoodles are not part of a dog breed group (like a purebred dog), but are considered a “hybrid.” This is the term used for a crossbreed dog.
As mentioned above, mini Goldendoodles (also called mini Groodles) are a hybrid or a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
Hybrid dogs are more unpredictable in size, weight, appearance, and traits than purebred dogs. For example, in one litter of puppies, one Goldendoodle pup may have a curly coat, another may have a wavy coat, and another may have a straight coat.
Choosing a mini Goldendoodle is like choosing a chocolate from an assorted box of chocolates. You never know quite what you’re going to get.
But for many, the surprise is part of the fun of Doodlehood.
A look at the mini Goldendoodle parent breeds
To better understand the mini Goldendoodle traits, you can look at the Goldendoodle parent breeds for clues.
The Miniature Poodle 🐩
According to the American Kennel Club, Miniature Poodles are energetic, affectionate, and wicked smart. The Miniature Poodle stands 10 to 15 inches tall from shoulder to paw. They have low shedding coats.
Breed standards for all three Poodles (standard, miniature, toy) are the same with the exception of height. All Poodles, regardless of size, are active, energetic dogs.
With their hunting heritage (they were bred as hunting dogs), they often love to retrieve a ball, a frisbee, or any toy you’ll toss for them.
In addition to retrieving, many Poodles enjoy swimming and going for walks with their humans.
The Golden Retriever
According to the AKC, the Golden Retriever is a medium size dog. Females stand 21 1/2 to 22 1/2 inches tall and males stand 23 – 24 inches. Females weigh 55-65 pounds and males weigh 65-75 pounds.
The Golden Retriever takes a “joyous and playful approach to life and maintains this puppyish behavior into adulthood.,” according to the AKC.
This breed, which was originally built to retrieve waterfowl, has a natural affinity for swimming and fetch. They have high shedding coats.
With this combination of traits from the mini Poodle and Golden Retriever parents, you can see how mini Goldendoodles have become so popular.
Next, let’s look at the mini Goldendoodle’s size.
Mini Goldendoodle size
You may be wondering, “What size is a mini Goldendoodle?” “What size does a mini Goldendoodle get?”
The mini Goldendoodle is approximately 14 to 17 inches tall and weighs between 25 and 35 pounds.
Not as small as you were imagining?
While the label “miniature” is given to these Goldendoodles, their size isn’t as “mini” as other small breed dogs—not even as small as a Miniature Poodle.
This is logical because the Golden Retriever parent breed is a medium size dog, not a small dog.
Here’s a chart showing the size of the parent breeds compared to the mini Goldendoodle:
| Miniature Poodle | Golden Retriever | Miniature Goldendoodle |
| 10 to 15 inches tall to withers 10 to 15 pounds | 21.5 to 24 inches tall to withers 55 – 75 pounds | 14 to 17 inches tall to withers 26-35 pounds |
5 purebred dogs similar in size to Mini Goldendoodles
So, how does the mini Goldendoodle size up to some other popular dogs’ sizes?
As a point of comparison, here are some other breeds of dogs that are comparable in size and weight to the mini Goldendoodle:
- Cocker Spaniel (26 to 34 pounds)
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi (25 to 38 pounds)
- Shetland Sheepdog (15 to 25 pounds)
- Irish Terriers (25 pounds)
- Whippet (25 to 40 pounds)
Does the miniature Goldendoodle’s size measure up to what you had in mind? If not, there are three more sizes of Goldendoodles — petite, medium Goldendoodle, and standard.
As mentioned earlier, because Goldendoodles are a crossbreed, there isn’t as much consistency in traits. One way to guesstimate the size a Goldendoodle puppy will be is by looking at the size of the puppy’s parents.
Of course, any size of Goldendoodle is a-dood-able! 😉 And while we’re on the subject of cute Goldendoodles, let’s spill the tea on the mini Goldendoodle’s appearance.
Mini Goldendoodle appearance
Goldendoodles, including minis, are known for their teddy bear good looks.
Their variety of coat colors, cuddly coat types, and teddy bear faces have Muppet written all over them. (So much so, many Doodle parents choose Muppet names like Fozzie or Rowlf when choosing Goldendoodle boy names or even Muppet when choosing from Goldendoodle girl names.)
Let’s look at the mini Goldendoodle’s coat color next as part of the Goldendoodle appearance.
Mini Goldendoodle colors
Red Goldendoodles. Chocolate. Cream Goldendoodles. There are almost a rainbow of coat colors to consider when choosing a mini Golden Doodle.
The variety of coat colors largely comes from the Poodle side of the Goldendoodle’s family. Plus, the Golden Retriever side of the family brings a range of golden hues.
Let’s compare the mini Goldendoodle coat colors to the Poodle and the Golden Retriever breeds:
| Mini Goldendoodle | Poodle | Golden Retriever |
| Cream | White | Light Golden |
| Apricot | Cream | Golden |
| Red | Apricot | Dark Golden |
| Black | Red | |
| Chocolate | Black | |
| Parti | Brown | |
| Merle | Gray |
Now that we have a handle on coat color, let’s look at coat types.
Mini Goldendoodle coat types
Mini Goldendoodle coat types range from super straight to crazy curly.
Again, this is due to the wide variation between the two parent breeds. The Golden Retriever has a smooth (high shedding) coat and the Poodle has a curly (very low shedding) coat. The result?
There are four different coats types:
- Straight
- Loose wavy
- Wavy
- Curly
But wait. You may have seen pics of Goldendoodle puppies and their coats look pretty similar.
This is because coat type isn’t prominent when a mini Goldendoodle is a puppy. But as puppies begin to mature, curls start to “pop” or spring up.
Over time, cute curls, waves, or fairly straight coats replace the mini Goldendoodle puppy coats. Seeing how your Goldendoodle puppy’s coat transitions is just another factor that brings more fun to puppy days.
It’s worth pointing out that, if you are counting on a very specific look, a Goldendoodle might not be the ideal choice for you.
Mini Goldendoodle exercise requirements
Goldendoodles need adequate daily exercise or physical activity. (Remember, both of the Goldendoodle’s parent breeds—the Poodle and the Golden Retriever—have high energy levels and bring this quality to the Goldendoodle gene pool.)
Plus, both Poodles and Golden Retrievers are athletic dogs, so mini Goldendoodles inherit some athleticism, too.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to be an athlete yourself to keep up with a mini Goldendoodle. It simply means that mini Goldendoodles require adequate daily exercise.
A walk, some fetch games, backyard romps with another Goldendoodle are just a few examples of ways your Dood can expend some energy.
BTW…a mini Goldendoodle who doesn’t have a way to release their energy will come up with his or her own outlets (i.e. sock stealing or stick eating.)
Mini Goldendoodle personality
While mini Goldendoodles are small in size, there is nothing small about their personality. They have an energy and playfulness that gives them a zest for life.
In addition to their playful, energetic disposition, they tend to be smart, friendly, social, and eager to please you.
Their intelligence and amiable personality means they tend to be highly trainable and quick to learn new commands. (Both parent breeds—the Poodle and the Golden Retriever—rank in the top five most intelligent dog breeds.)
On the flip side, if they don’t have an outlet for their curiosity, they tend to come up with their own ways to stimulate their mind such as pulling the stuffing out of a dog toy.
Also, because they are intelligent and intuitive, they may be sensitive.
Their social nature means they may enjoy being with you so much so that they have no sense of personal space. (Don’t be surprised if they follow you into the bathroom.)
On the flip side, if they don’t get enough of your time and attention, they may exhibit unwanted behaviors such as barking.
They may not be the ideal family companion for families that don’t have plenty of time to devote to them.
Where do mini Goldendoodles get such peppy personalities?
You can attribute the mini Goldendoodle’s personality to the parent breeds, the mini Poodle and Golden Retriever.
However, as with any breed of dog, not all dogs within a breed are alike. Dogs, like humans, have their own unique personalities.
It’s important to look at the puppy’s own parents’ personalities as one way to help predict the puppy’s personality. Also, socialization and positive training during puppyhood will help to ensure that a puppy is well adjusted, happy, and eager to be part of the family.
With proper socialization, a loving home, positive and consistent puppy training, and physical along with mental stimulation, mini Goldendoodles make great family companions and good additions to most families.
It’s worth noting that mini Goldendoodles may be more fragile for young children to handle than medium and standard Goldendoodles. As with all dogs, teaching young children how to be gentle and properly handle dogs is an important part of caring for a pet.
Do mini Goldendoodles shed?
If you’re looking to minimize the amount of doggy hair decorating your house, car, and clothing, mini Goldendoodles may be the answer. For the most part, mini Goldendoodles shed less than other popular breeds of dogs like the Labrador Retriever or the Golden Retriever.
The amount of Goldendoodle shedding varies based on the type of coat. Those that lean more to the Poodle side of the family may shed very little and those that lean heavily to the Retriever side of the family may be higher shedders.
Overall, though, they tend to shed less than their Golden Retriever parent due to the mini Poodle breed’s low shedding genes.
Mini Goldendoodle grooming
Since most mini Goldendoodles are lower shedding dogs that means all that hair has to go somewhere.
In other words, grooming is an essential part of caring for a mini Goldendoodle. If not groomed, the coat will get mats.
Mats are loose hairs in the coat that get tangled with other hairs. Frequent brushing (ideally daily) rids the coat of loose hairs, dirt, and debris that hides in the coat and ensures your dog doesn’t get mats.
All in all, you can plan to enjoy time each week brushing or combing your Goldendoodle’s coat. Plus, you can plan to budget around $80 to $150 every six to eight weeks for professional grooming. Or, some parents opt for DIY at-home Goldendoodle grooming (me included).
The amount of combing, brushing, and grooming required for coat upkeep is one of the biggest reasons why some pet parents say “H*ck Yes!” to the question, “Are Goldendoodles are high maintenance?“
If ongoing coat maintenance doesn’t sound like your thing, Goldendoodles may not be an ideal fit for your lifestyle.
Mini Goldendoodle health conditions
With such an adorable face, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the miniature Goldendoodle’s cute good looks. But what about their health?
Overall, mini Goldendoodles are a healthy breed. However, they may have health conditions common to both Poodles and Golden Retrievers.
If you’re adopting a puppy, the best way to ensure your puppy’s health is by choosing a reputable Goldendoodle breeder.
Reputable breeders will willingly share health clearances (i.e. hip clearances, OFA testing, and canine eye registry) on the puppy’s parents.
Additionally, they often have waiting lists for puppies, offer a guarantee, and will ask you to fill out an application. Overall, they care about the future of the breed.
Less than reputable breeders, may throw out the term “vet checked” if you ask about health conditions. Or, they may ask you to meet in a parking lot to pick up your puppy. Beware.
Because Goldendoodles are popular, it’s not always easy find a Goldendoodle to adopt from a shelter. However, it is possible.
Doodles are “Golden”
Oh. My. Goldendoodle! Who knew there was so much to know about these pint-sized puppers?
Are mini Doodles “Golden” for you, your family, and your lifestyle? Is a hybrid breed the right type of dog for you? If you’re a new Goldendoodle parent, what surprised you about your puppy?
With your love, time, and attention, the Doodle may be the dog that’s “Golden” for you. 💛
Thank you for taking the time to meet them.
What surprised you about mini Goldendoodles?
Please comment below.