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View 8 More +A Miniature Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog, the result of mixing a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Although they are not purebred, they are just one of many Poodle crosses that are enjoying growing popularity.
This tiny and adorable pup is, without a doubt, a people magnet, thanks to their size and of course, their teddy bear-like face. These dogs are tiny because one of their parents is either a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The Mini Goldendoodle is one of the newest pups on the designer dog scene, with breeders creating even smaller versions.
Breed Overview
Height:
13–20 inches
Weight:
15–35 pounds
Lifespan:
10–15 years
Colors:
Black, white, silver, brown, blue, red, parti, sable, cream, tan, apricot, merle
Suitable for:
First-time pet owners, family with kids, active owners
Temperament:
Loving and loyal, hypoallergenic, easy to train, gentle, outgoing, playful
Miniature Goldendoodles are the ultimate combination of good-looking, faithful dogs with outgoing temperaments and social intelligence. They are naturally committed to loving and pleasing and are low-shedding, making them exceptional family canines.
Besides being suitable for households with mild to moderate allergy issues, Mini Goldendoodles make great service dogs and when trained, can help people with physical and/or mental impairments. Keep in mind, though, that since they are hybrids, it’s hard to know how much of each parent they inherit. Regardless, a Miniature Goldendoodle will not let you down.
This breed can make an excellent addition to any family, though you have to consider a few things before bringing one home. Here’s everything that you need to know about these dogs.
Miniature Goldendoodle Characteristics
Miniature Goldendoodle Puppies
All dog lovers feel concerned about their potential pet’s lifespan, health status, trainability, and care level. The good thing about Goldendoodles is that they tend to be healthier due to hybrid vigor, with a commendable lifespan of about 10–15 years. You can also easily house-train them, as they are intelligent enough to pick up basic commands quickly. First, however, you ought to measure this dog’s exercise and social needs.
Miniature Goldendoodles might be a small breed, but they are energetic and active. This means exercise will be an essential part of their grooming and care, to help use up some of their excess energy levels. They also love social interaction, so you should organize playdates with fellow canines or give them enough attention. You should offer your Mini Goldendoodle proper socialization and attention from puppyhood and continue throughout the dog’s life for appropriate behavior.
Temperament & Intelligence of Miniature Goldendoodles
Mini Goldendoodles are people-pleasers, gentle, and friendly, just like their Golden Retriever parent. They get their mischief and playfulness from their Poodle bloodline and their intelligence and outgoing demeanor from both parents.
They are also incredibly social and inherit a happy-go-lucky attitude from Golden Retrievers, making them unsuitable for introverts. Your Mini Goldendoodle can turn a simple evening walk into a “meet and greet” session with everyone you come across.
These dogs can be vocal! They are loud and bark when happy, excited (their mood most of the time), and bored or when they hear strange noises or even when the neighbor’s dog barks. While you can train a dog to stop or reduce impulsive barking, it is impossible to completely stop a naturally verbal dog from barking.
Mini Goldendoodles aren’t for you if you are looking for a dog that guarantees a quiet home. These fluffy mini teddy bears can and will be loud!
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡
The Mini Goldendoodle hasn’t become popular in most households for no reason. This dog loves to socialize and endears themselves to everyone they meet, especially if they take after their Golden Retriever heritage.
As far as figuring out why you should get this dog in the first place, know that you’ll have an everyday companion, one that is always ready to give and receive affection. However, while this is sweet, it makes them needy and prone to separation anxiety if you leave them alone for long. They’ll chew and shred your furniture and clothes if they feel restless and lonely.
These dogs are also naturally inclined to be gentle with infants and toddlers and will always exercise patience with the children as they grow up. That said, you’ll still need to supervise small kids around your pet to ensure they learn how to interact with the dog appropriately.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
There are no animals that Mini Goldendoodles don’t like, including smaller pets like cats. So, they don’t actively show aggression to other animals.
Instead of wanting to chase like other dogs do, Mini Goldendoodles are laidback and almost bashful. As a result, they are perfect dogs to find playmates for. However, your Mini Goldendoodle is still a dog, so you need to socialize your canine friend from puppyhood properly.
Things to Know When Owning a Miniature Goldendoodle
These dogs are lovable, and you might be tempted to bring one home once you set eyes on them. However, before you do, you should be aware of your dog’s requirements and what to expect of them.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
The Mini Goldendoodle will require around 1 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food every day. The amount you provide depends on the dog’s size, age, body build, activity level, and metabolism. Mini Goldendoodles are prone to being overweight, so it would be best to measure their food and divide it into two meals a day to keep your pup in good shape. Also, due to their Golden Retriever heritage, they are prone to digestion issues like bloat and gastric torsion.
Exercise 🐕
A Mini Goldendoodle will require daily play and exercise, whether a morning walk, an evening backyard fetch session, or both! Thanks to the breed’s easygoing attitude, your pup will flourish with additional playmates (humans and dogs alike). These dogs also love water, so swimming will give them another outlet to work out their energy.
Generally, Mini Goldendoodles are active and happiest when they move around, so they require at least 1/2 an hour of physical exercise every day. You’ll want to fence your backyard to make the exercise easy. Mini Goldendoodles that do not get enough physical and emotional exercise can channel their excess energy to destruction and excessive barking.
Training 🎾
Since they’re quick to learn and eager to please, a training session with a Mini Goldendoodle should be easy. They inherit these traits, plus intelligence, from their Golden Retriever heritage, making them suitable for experienced and first-time dog owners!
As with all breeds, incorporating positive reinforcement and rewarding your dog’s good behavior with treats will go a long way to reinforce the training. You risk damaging your dog’s confidence and trust if you use harsh corrections.
Even a Mini Goldendoodle puppy can learn tricks and obey commands through early training and socialization.
Grooming ✂️
One of the Mini Goldendoodle’s most remarkable features is their low-shedding coat. However, even with little to no shedding, they will still need consistent maintenance to keep their coat healthy.
You’ll have to groom your pet regularly unless you want their hair to become matted. Brush the hair daily if you intend to keep it long, and brush the coat daily if you prefer it short. However, the dog won’t need much bathing, unless they’re dirty and smelly. Frequent baths can exhaust natural oils and dry the skin.
Also, brush your dog’s teeth twice or thrice a week to prevent dental issues, especially since they are prone to inheriting dental issues from their Poodle parent. Finally, trim the nails at least once a month or twice if the dog can’t wear them down naturally.
Unfortunately, this breed is prone to ear infections, so it would be best to check for dirt and odor and gently wipe them with a dampened cloth every week.
Health & Conditions 🏥
- Dental issues
- Allergies
- Ear and eye infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Cancer
- Bloat
Mini Goldendoodles are a generally healthy breed, though they can inherit genetic conditions common to Poodles and Golden Retrievers.
Your best chance of having a healthy pup with a relatively long lifespan is getting them from a reputable breeder. Incompetent and sneaky breeders risk breeding diseases into their dogs.
- Hip Dysplasia (Serious Condition) — This condition is usually genetic, though it can also be triggered by malnutrition. Hip dysplasia occurs when the dog’s thighbone doesn’t snugly fit into the hip joint, appearing displaced. Some dogs present issues like lameness, pain, and discomfort. You can diagnose the problem using an X-ray screening. The best way to avoid the condition is through genetic testing. Breeders should not cross dogs with hip dysplasia, so ask for the parent’s medical history before you bring the dog home.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease (Serious Condition) — This disease is common in humans and dogs. It is a blood disorder that affects the clotting process. Dogs with this disorder usually have frequent nose bleeds, prolonged bleeding when in the heat cycle, bleeding gums, bloody stool, and prolonged bleeding after surgery. Unfortunately, von Willebrand’s disease has no cure. You can only manage it with treatment plans like suturing injuries, avoiding specific medications, and doing blood transfusion before surgery.
- Cancer (Serious Condition) — Golden Retrievers are among the dog breeds with the highest cancer rates. Your Mini Goldendoodle can inherit certain cancers from their Golden Retriever parent.
- Allergies (Minor Condition) — Many dogs are prone to allergies and Mini Goldendoodles are no exception. They can suffer from food sensitivities, skin allergies, and inhalant allergies.
- Dental Disease (Minor Condition) — Mini Golden Retrievers can inherit dental issues from their Toy Poodle parents. This is why owners need to observe dental hygiene.
- Ear Infections (Minor Condition) — Goldendoodles love water and swimming. This helps with their activity needs, but the moisture predisposes them to ear infections. These dogs have long, floppy, and hairy ears that can reduce airflow and trap moisture, increasing the risk of infections.
Male vs. Female
The process of settling for a Mini Goldendoodle is often exciting yet stressful. There are many things to consider, including health, genetics, vaccinations, and sex! Unfortunately, most people find it difficult to decide whether to settle for a male or female Mini Goldendoodle.
The truth is, Mini Goldendoodles have the same temperaments regardless of sex. Both can inherit either of their parent breeds’ temperaments, so there are no fundamental differences. This applies to their health status too.
The only exception is with size, as male Goldendoodles grow up to be slightly bigger than females in height and weight.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Miniature Goldendoodle
1. There Are Three Types of Miniature Goldendoodles
You can find three types of Mini Goldendoodles. The Mini English Goldendoodle is a mix of an English Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle. The Mini American Goldendoodle is next, a result of an American Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle.
Then there’s the Mini Australian Goldendoodle, which is different from the other two Mini Goldendoodles. Instead of crossing a Golden Retriever with a Toy Poodle, breeders cross an English Golden Retriever with a Mini Australian Labradoodle.
2. This Breed Is New
Mini Goldendoodles are relatively new and only appeared in America and Australia in the 1990s.
3. There Are Different Generations of Mini Goldendoodles
You might hear terms like first-generation, F1, and F1B puppies when looking for a Mini Goldendoodle puppy to buy. These phrases are Doodle-generation classifications depending on the breed mix. For instance, the F1 Goldendoodle is half Golden Retriever and half Poodle, while F1B is the product of mating a Goldendoodle with a Poodle.
Final Thoughts
Whether a Miniature Goldendoodle is the right choice for you and your family depends on whether you have enough time and affection to share with them.
Of course, it’s entirely up to you to decide the type of dog you would desire for a pet. But truth be told, a Mini Goldendoodle is a great alternative and a fantastic addition to any home.
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Featured Image Credit: Tanya Consaul Photography, Shutterstock
