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Since the Goldendoodle is a designer breed, you’re not going to find any hard-set standards about them, making it difficult to determine which size you actually have. But while there’s not an organization out there that everyone looks to for this information, there are some standards that most breeders and breed enthusiasts use.
That’s what we’ve highlighted here. So, if you’re trying to figure out if you have a mini, medium, or standard Goldendoodle, keep reading and we’ll break down everything you need to know!
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Height: < 17”
- Weight: < 25 pounds
- Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
- Height: 17 to 21”
- Weight: 25 to 50 pounds
- Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
- Height: > 21”
- Weight: > 50 pounds
- Lifespan: 11 to 14 years
Mini Goldendoodle
The mini Goldendoodle is the smallest Goldendoodle size out there, although some breeders will further break down this size category into teacup, toy, and petite sizes.
Since there’s no official standard, breeders can break down this sizing into whatever categories they want, and if they’re breeding smaller Goldendoodles, they want to differentiate so people know what they’re getting. The advantage of a mini Goldendoodle is that they typically live a bit longer than larger Goldendoodles. This is a trend that holds true for most small dog breeds, and the mini Goldendoodle is no exception.
Typically, mini Goldendoodles will have a smaller poodle parent, and this is where they get their smaller size from. However, it is possible to have a medium poodle breed with a smaller Golden Retriever to get a mini Goldendoodle.
Not only that but since many Goldendoodles are now multiple generations along, sometimes it’s impossible to know what size the original Golden Retrievers and Poodles were!
Medium Goldendoodle
The medium Goldendoodle is the in-between size for the Goldendoodle, settling in nicely between the mini and the standard size. While the mini Goldendoodle breaks down into many different size categories, that’s usually not the case with the medium Goldendoodle.
However, some breeders will call the medium Goldendoodle a pup between 30 and 50 pounds, and others will expand this range to between 25 to 50 pounds. That’s still a pretty big range in size, so ensure you have a good understanding of each parent’s size to get a better idea of how big your medium Goldendoodle will be.
Also, keep in mind that it’s possible for some Goldendoodles from a “medium” Goldendoodle litter to either be a little smaller or a little larger than the typical medium Goldendoodle sizing. Since the medium Goldendoodle isn’t an official breed, it’s not uncommon for dogs to get a little larger or a little smaller, even if you’re expecting a medium Goldendoodle!
Standard Goldendoodle
The standard Goldendoodle is the largest Goldendoodle size option, and they get the “standard” name from the standard Poodle, which is the largest size. Because of this, it stands to reason if you breed a standard Poodle with a larger Golden Retriever that you’re going to get a larger Goldendoodle.
A standard Poodle weighs between 45 and 70 pounds, while a Golden Retriever weighs between 55 and 75 pounds. So, to get a standard Goldendoodle that weighs over 50 pounds, you need a larger Poodle and Golden Retriever as the parents.
But since many Goldendoodles now come from subsequent generations, it’s also possible to get a standard Goldendoodle from two larger Goldendoodle parents.
Finally, while we stuck with the over 50-pound mark for a standard Goldendoodle, there’s no official standard for the size. Because of this, some breeders might call a Goldendoodle a standard Goldendoodle even if they’re a bit smaller, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a breeder that doesn’t call a 50-pound Goldendoodle a standard Goldendoodle.
Which Breed Is Right for You?
In the end, there’s no wrong choice between a mini, medium, or standard Goldendoodle. All that changes is their size, and the size of dog you want comes down to what you prefer. But remember that smaller dogs typically do live a little longer than larger ones, and this is true for mini, medium, and standard Goldendoodles too.
Think about what’s best for your living situation and what you want, then go get your Goldendoodle, and don’t look back!
Featured Image Credit: (L) Tanya Consaul Photography, Shutterstock | (M) cine-nomadic, Shutterstock | (R) David Calvert, Shutterstock
