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Miniature Goldendoodle Dog Breed Guide: Pictures, Info, Care & More!

Written by: Nicole Cosgrove

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Nicole Cosgrove

Miniature Goldendoodle Dog Breed Guide: Pictures, Info, Care & More!

Miniature Goldendoodles are hybrids, a result of the mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Although they are not purebreds, they are among crosses that are enjoying growing popularity.

This tiny and adorable pooch is without a doubt a people magnet, thanks to their sizes and, of course, the teddy-bear like face. These dogs are tiny because their Poodle parents are Miniature or Toy Poodles. However, they are among the newest pups on the 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, and merle

Suitable for:

First-time pet owners, family with kids, active owners

Temperament:

Loving and loyal, hypoallergenic, easy to train, gentle, outgoing, playful

Mini Goldendoodles are an 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 dogs, making them exceptional family canines.

Besides being suitable for households with mild to moderate allergy issues, Mini Goldendoodles make great service dogs and can help anyone with visual impairment. Keep in mind, though, that because they are hybrids, it’s hard to know how much of each parent they inherit. In either case, a Miniature Goldendoodle will not let you down.

This breed is an excellent addition for any family, although you have to think about a few things before bringing one home. Here’s everything to know about these dogs.

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
+
Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Miniature Goldendoodle Puppies

All dog lovers feel concerned about their potential dog’s lifespan, health status, trainability, and care level. The good thing about Goldendoodles is that they are healthier due to their hybrid vigor, with a commendable lifespan of about 10-15 years. You can also very much house train them as they are intelligent enough to understand basic commands. First, however, you ought to measure up this dog’s exercise and social needs.

Mini Goldendoodles might be a smaller dog breed, but they are energetic and active. This means that exercise will be an essential part of their grooming and care to help use 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.

Parent_breeds_Miniature-Goldendoodle
Image By: Left – Tatyana Vyc, Shutterstock | Right – Petra Šolajová, Pixabay

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 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. This is because your Mini Goldendoodle can turn a simple evening walk into a “meet and greet” session with everyone you come across.

And, these dogs can be vocal! They are loud and bark when happy, excited (their mood most of the time), bored, 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 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. However, 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 itself to everyone it meets, especially if it takes after its Golden Retriever heritage.

As far as figuring out why you should have this dog in the first place, you’ll have an everyday companion, always ready to give and receive affection. While this is sweet, it makes them needy and prone to separation anxiety if you leave them alone for long.

It’ll chew and shred your furniture and clothes if it feels 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. However, 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?

goldendoodle
Image Credit: Sammy-Williams, Pixabay

Mini Goldendoodles have no animals that they don’t like, including smaller pets like cats. So they don’t actively show aggression to other animals.

Instead of wanting to chase as other dogs do, Mini Goldendoodles are laid-back 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..

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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 it. However, before you do, you should be aware of your dog’s requirements and what to expect of them.

Food & Diet Requirements

The Miniature Goldendoodle will require around 1 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food every day. The amount you provide depends on the size, age, body build, activity level, and metabolism. 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 dog in good shape.

It is best to split the meal instead of giving the dog a whole meal at a time. This is mainly because its Golden Retriever heritage is prone to digestion issues like bloat and gastric torsion. Your Mini Goldendoodle can inherit such issues.

Exercise

A Mini Goldendoodle will require daily play and exercise, whether a morning walk, an evening backyard fetch session, or both! But, thanks to the breed’s easygoing attitude, your pup will flourish with additional playmates (human and dogs alike).

These dogs also love water, so swimming will give them another outlet to work out and cut on their energy.

Generally, Mini Goldendoodles are active and happiest when they move around, so they require at least half 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

Quick to learn and eager to please, a training session with a Goldendoodle should be easy. They inherit these traits, plus intelligence, from their Golden Retriever heritage, making them suitable for both experienced and first-time dog owners!

As with all dog 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 recently-born Mini Goldendoodle puppy can learn obedience, tricks, and obey commands through early training and socialization.

Grooming ✂️

One of a Mini Goldendoodle’s most remarkable feature is their low-shedding coats. However, even with little to no shedding, they 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, only if 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

Minor Conditions
  • Dental Issues
  • Allergies
  • Ear and Eye Infections
Serious Conditions
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease
  • Cancer
  • Bloat

Mini Goldendoodles are a generally healthy breed, although they can inherit genetic conditions common to both 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 dogs. The health concerns include:

Ear Infections (Serious Condition) – Goldendoodles love water and swimming. This activity 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, which increases the risk for infections.

Hip Dysplasia (Serious Condition) – This condition is usually genetic, although 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 both 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 blood transfusion before surgery.

Cancer (Serious Condition) – Golden Retrievers are among the dog breeds with the highest cancer rates. Your Mini Goldendoodle can inherit cancer from their Golden Retriever parent since they’re a Golden Retriever and Poodle offspring.

Allergies (Minor Condition) – Dogs are prone to allergies, and Mini Goldendoodles are no exception. They can suffer from food sensitivity, skin allergies, and inhalant allergies.

Ear Infections (Minor Condition) – Goldendoodles love water and swimming. This activity helps with their activity needs, but the moisture predisposes them to ear infections.

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.

divider-pawMale vs Female

The process of settling for a Mini Goldendoodle dog 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.

Well, the truth is, Mini Goldendoodles have the same temperaments regardless of sex. Mini Goldendoodles of both sexes can inherit either of their parent breeds’ temperaments, so there are no fundamental differences. This applies to their health status as well.

The only exception is with size, as male Goldendoodles grow up to be slightly bigger than females when it comes to 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 English Goldendoodle is a mix of an English Golden Retriever and a Toy Poodle. The American Goldendoodle is next, a result of an American Golden Retriever and a Poodle.

Then there’s an Australian Goldendoodle, which is different from the other two Goldendoodles. Instead of crossing a Golden Retriever with a Poodle, breeders crossed an English Golden Retriever with an 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 F2B 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.

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Final Thoughts

Whether or not 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, Mini Goldendoodles are a great alternative and a fantastic addition to any home.

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Featured Image Credit: DiZiga, Shutterstock

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