Oh, my Goldendoodle! With so many unique types of Goldendoodles, who can keep track of it all? We’re here to help! If you’re doing your homework on different types of Goldendoodles, we’re glad you’re here.
Choosing a dog is an important decision and a big commitment. Getting all the information about Goldendoodles—including generations, sizes, and colors—is a logical step toward choosing a furry family member.
As the mom of a Goldendoodle dog named Chloe and a research hound, I’ve done my homework on these fun-loving, energetic canine companions, and I understand how important it is to find a furry family member that’s just right for your lifestyle.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the nitty-gritty on all the types of Goldendoodles.
Before you jump in…
It’s exciting to think about all the sizes, colors, generations, and types of Goldendoodles. And it’s easy to get wrapped up in the emotion of all those sweet puppy faces. However, if you’re considering adding a Goldendoodle to your family, the puppy’s health is job one.
Lay the groundwork by focusing on the health (both physical and behavioral) of the puppy and the puppy’s parents. Whether you’re adopting a well-bred Goldendoodle puppy from a reputable breeder or a reputable shelter/rescue group, make sure they put the dog’s needs first.
Listed below are just a few questions to ask a Goldendoodle breeder to help you determine their credibility, reputation, and knowledge of the breed:
- Have the parents had health testing for conditions such as hip dysplasia?
- Does the breeder truly care about the home the puppy goes to? Is there an application process?
- Are the puppies getting lots of love and handling?
With that framework set, let’s dig into learning more about the Goldendoodle.
What is a Goldendoodle?
First, let’s start with the term “Goldendoodle.” The name Goldendoodle is derived from the two parent breeds: the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
Essentially, a Goldendoodle is a mixed breed or hybrid dog breed. You may have seen them referred to as designer dogs. However, most Goldendoodle parents call them family members.
In the United States, we generally refer to these ragamuffin dogs as Goldendoodles. Our Australian friends call them Groodles.
(For a deeper dive into the Goldendoodle’s history and how 100 Doodle parents describe their own dogs, please read my article: What is a Goldendoodle.)
It’s also worth pointing out that many dog parents use the nickname “Doodle” when talking about Goldendoodle dogs. “Doodle” is a broader umbrella term to include many types of Poodle mixes.
The difference between a Goldendoodle and other types of Doodles
While we’re on the subject of Doodles, let’s dispel a myth: All Doodle dogs are not Goldendoodles. The two breeds that comprise the Goldendoodle “breed” are specifically the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
This is not just my opinion, other knowledgeable sources concur including the Goldendoodle Association of North America.
Different generations of Goldendoodles may have more Poodle ancestry or more Golden Retriever ancestry (I’ll explain that in a minute), but other breeds of dogs are not part of the Goldendoodle mix. For example, a Labradoodle is a Labradoodle. It is a Poodle mix and often referred to as a Doodle dog. However, it is not a type of Goldendoodle.
Types of Doodles
So what types of Poodle mixes fall under the broader umbrella term of Doodle dog? Some of the most popular include:
- Labradoodle: Labrador Retriever + Poodle
- Aussiedoodle: Australian Sheepdog + Poodle
- Bernedoodle: Bernese Mountain Dog + Poodle
- Sheepadoodle: Old English Sheepdog + Poodle
- And, of course, the Goldendoodle: Golden Retriever + Poodle
As you can see from the list above, the Poodle is the common link between all of these mixes. Because they are a combination of the Poodle and other dog breeds, Doodle dogs are not considered a breed.
Types of Goldendoodles
Now that we’ve established what a Goldendoodle is and how it is one of many types of Poodle mixes, let’s dive into the different types of Goldendoodles.
Goldendoodle generations
One way you can talk about the Goldendoodle is by generation. For example, a purebred Poodle crossed with a purebred Golden Retriever is referred to as an F1 (first generation cross) Goldendoodle.
Here’s an easy reference guide to Goldendoodle generations:
- F1 Goldendoodle: 100% Golden Retriever x 100% Poodle
- F1b Goldendoodle (first generation backcross): 100% Poodle x F1 Goldendoodle
- F2 Goldendoodle: F1 Goldendoodle x F1 Goldendoodle OR F2 Goldendoodle x Poodle
- F2b Goldendoodle: F1 Goldendoodle x F1B OR F2 x Poodle
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles
You may have heard the phrase “teddy bear” to describe a type of Goldendoodle. From my research, “teddy bear Goldendoodle” (or English Goldendoodle) describes the English Golden Retriever crossed with the Standard Poodle.
For more about the teddy bear Goldendoodle, please read my article: The Teddy Bear Goldendoodle.
Incidentally, “teddy bear” also describes a specific haircut. Get all the details by checking out my article: Goldendoodle Teddy Bear Cut.
Types of Goldendoodles by size
You can also categorize Goldendoodles by size. Goldendoodles may range in size from 25 to 80 pounds or more.
The Poodle breed, more so than the Golden Retriever breed, bring the smaller size to the mix. This is because the Poodle breed ranges in size from Miniature to Standard. (We’ve all seen standard Poodles that are 60 pounds and miniature Poodles that you can carry on one hip.)
The Golden Retriever, on the other hand, is fairly standard in size. According to the AKC, a female Golden Retriever weighs 55-65 pounds and a male weighs 65-75 pounds.
Since the Golden Retriever is a fairly large dog and the Poodle ranges greatly size, it’s only common sense that Goldendoodles will range in size. However, it’s also common sense that since the Golden Retriever parent is a larger breed dog, Goldendoodles aren’t meant to be tiny little things.
According to the Goldendoodle Association of North America, “sizes of Goldendoodles are determined at adulthood.” Why? Unlike a pure breed, cross breed traits (including size and weight) have a lot more variation.
Here’s how I like to think of it: Much like my own human children, as curious as I was to know how tall my baby would be at adulthood, there was no way predict it…until adulthood. That, my friends, is the beauty of life and why I like to say…
Goldendoodles are like opening a box of chocolates. Each one is a wonderful surprise!
With that framework, here are some standards as set by the Goldendoodle Association of North America:
Petite: about 25 pounds
Mini Goldendoodle: 26-35 pounds
Medium Goldendoodle: 36-50 pounds
Standard Goldendoodle: 51+ pounds
Types of Goldendoodle coat colors
Finally, it’s worth clarifying that, while “Golden” is part of the Goldendoodle’s name, “Golden” within the name does not refer to or indicate the coat color of the dog.
According to the AKC standards, the Poodle ancestry includes apricot, red, black, chocolate, silver, white, just to name a few. The Golden Retriever ancestry includes a range of golden colors from light golden to golden to dark golden.
That’s why you may have seen so many colors (and even shades of colors) of Goldendoodles. I’ve listed both solid coats and some unique coat types below:
- Red Goldendoodle
- Apricot
- Cream Goldendoodle
- Chocolate
- Black Goldendoodle
- Parti colored (mix of colors)
- Merle (some color looks naturally faded)
- Phantom (a pattern of markings)
Related: Goldendoodle Colors
Types of Goldendoodle coats
Are you seeing a trend when it comes to Goldendoodles? Yes, the phrase “variety is the spice of life” applies to just about every aspect of the Goldendoodle, including coat type. A Goldendoodle’s coat may range from straight to wavy to curly. This occurs because the coat types of the parent breeds are vastly different.
The Poodle has a curly coat bringing curly traits to the gene pool and the Golden Retriever has a smooth or straight coat, bringing smooth traits to the gene pool.
Doodles are Golden
With a better understanding of the types of Goldendoodles and the knowledge that the puppy’s health is your first priority, I hope you find the Goldendoodle that is a perfect fit for your family.
Thank you for taking valuable time out of your day to be part of our pack and join us in loving and committing to the betterment of these adorable dogs.
Join our happy pack!