The breeds · side by side
for a family
Goldendoodle or Golden Retriever.
The cross against one of its parents. For a doodle the breeder is the main event: no registry standard exists, so the coat, the shedding and the temperament come from the actual parents and the generation. The breed entry shows what the parents bring; the breeder shows what this litter is.
Every value below shows its source and how sure we are. Breed sets the odds; the parents set the dog. Nothing here is a prediction about one dog.
What the question turns on
Coat
Three coat types set by the KRT71 curl gene: curly (two curl alleles), wavy or loose curl (one), straight like a Golden Retriever (none). Furnishings (RSPO2 gene: eyebrows, moustache, beard) are what confer the low- to non-shedding coat; two furnishing alleles typically non-shedding, one copy lower shedding, unfurnished (flat-coat) dogs shed, though GANA puts them somewhat below a purebred Golden Retriever. GANA's standard asks for a soft texture with facial furnishings
Dense and water-repellent with good undercoat; outer coat firm and resilient, straight or wavy, lying close to the body; untrimmed natural ruff, moderate feathering on forelegs and underbody, heavier on neck, thighs and tail; rich lustrous golden of various shades
field lineShorter, thinner coat with less feathering, darker shades from gold to red; leaner, lighter-boned build
show lineLonger, heavier coat with more feathering, lighter shades from cream to rich gold; broader head and heavier build
Shedding
f1 lineNot predictable from the generation label: shedding follows the furnishings gene, and two wavy Goldendoodles bred together can produce all three coat types. A first cross from an unfurnished Golden Retriever carries at most one furnishings copy, which GANA describes as lower shedding, not non-shedding
Shedding 4 of 5 (AKC breed page trait score)
Grooming load
3 of 5 · Spread of 3 to 4 between the parents: Golden Retriever more than once a week (RKC grooming band) and Poodle every day or regular clipping (RKC grooming band). GANA coat genetics: the furnishings gene (RSPO2) and the curl gene (KRT71) set a Goldendoodle coat, so a furnished, clipped coat sits at the Poodle end and an unfurnished flat coat nearer the Golden end
3 of 5 · More than once a week (RKC grooming band); coat length medium; sheds
Trainability
2.9 of 4 · C-BARQ trainability breed mean 2.91 (Goldendoodle n = 157), against Golden Retriever 2.61, Standard Poodle 2.69, Miniature Poodle 2.54; not significantly different from any parent breed
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Exercise need
Spread of 60 to 150 minutes between the parents: Golden Retriever more than 2 hours a day (RKC band) and Poodle up to 1 hour a day (RKC band)
More than 2 hours per day
The rest, read the same way
Height at the shoulder
23.6 in (21.5 to 27)
dogs 23.5 in (23 to 24) · bitches 22 in (21.5 to 22.5)
Weight
dogs 67.5 lb (60 to 75) · bitches 52.5 lb (40 to 65)
dogs 70 lb (65 to 75) · bitches 60 lb (55 to 65)
Heat tolerance
3 of 5 · Both parents agree at 3: the Golden Retriever has a dense water-repellent double coat with good undercoat (AKC standard) and the Standard Poodle a naturally harsh, dense curly coat that is kept clipped (AKC standard); the cross is wavy to curly with furnishings
3 of 5 · Medium double coat: dense and water-repellent with good undercoat, firm resilient outer coat, moderate to heavy feathering
Median lifespan
Not recorded for this breed yet.
13.2 years (13.1 to 13.2)
Exercise need
Requires a lot of exercise and enjoys playing; a rescue that has rehomed Goldendoodles since 2012 puts their energy somewhat below a purebred Golden or Labrador Retriever
More than 2 hours per day
Energy
Not recorded for this breed yet.
field lineHigher energy and drive than show-bred dogs; bred to hunt all day
Grooming
Grooming is the expectation most often unmet: in a US survey of 2,191 owners, more than twice as many doodle owners as purebred or mixed-breed owners said their dog's maintenance (chiefly regular grooming) was more intensive than expected; grooming complaints were second only to barking in doodle owners' free-text answers
More than once a week
Role
Companion and assistance cross: GANA records Goldendoodles bred in the 1960s by Monica Dickens as guide dogs for people with dog allergies, a programme inspired by the Labradoodle's success, with dedicated breeders promoting the cross from the late 1990s (Amy Lane's first miniature litter January 2002; GANA founded 2008). GANA describes the breed as a companion capable of therapy and service roles; its standard asks for a friendly, reliable, trustworthy dog suited to service and therapy work
Primarily a hunting dog (a non-slip retriever), to be shown in hard working condition
Primary game
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Waterfowl and upland birds, retrieved to hand; AKC retriever tests are built around upland game or waterfowl hunting situations
Range
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Close: a non-slip retriever works from the handler's side and goes out on command; test retrieves should not normally exceed 100 yards (Junior, Senior) or 150 yards (Master)
Field trial standard
Not recorded for this breed yet.
AKC retriever hunting tests score four abilities 0-10: marking (memory), style, perseverance/courage/hunting, and trainability (steadiness, control, response, delivery); dogs must perform equally well on land and in water; Senior and Master dogs run blind retrieves and honor another dog's retrieve
Water work
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Retrievers shall perform equally well on the land and in the water and are tested on both at every level
Cold water
Not recorded for this breed yet.
4 of 5 · Dense, water-repellent coat with good undercoat on a breed the standard calls primarily a hunting dog
Hip dysplasia
Not recorded for this breed yet.
19.3% · 19.3% dysplastic of 193,301 OFA hip evaluations on record (all data through Oct 2026; OFA hip registry dates from 1974); 78.3% normal (5.9% excellent, 50.2% good, 22.2% fair); breed rank 55
Elbow dysplasia
Not recorded for this breed yet.
11.8% · 11.8% abnormal of 84,443 OFA elbow evaluations on record (grade 1 9.2%, grade 2 2.1%, grade 3 0.5%); breed rank 44
Most common disorders
No study of Goldendoodle disorder prevalence was found. The nearest evidence is the Royal Veterinary College's 2024 survey of three Poodle crosses (Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Cavapoo; 9,402 UK dogs): odds of 57 common disorders did not differ from the parent breeds in 86.6% of comparisons, crosses had higher odds in 7.0% and lower in 6.4%, which the authors read as no evidence of hybrid vigour and no evidence of poorer health
GRCA 1998-99 National Health Survey (owner-reported, Purdue-analysed): neoplasia accounted for 61.4% of veterinarian-confirmed deaths (264 of 430); lifetime risk of hot spots about 1 in 3, hypothyroidism 1 in 4, hemangiosarcoma 1 in 5, lymphosarcoma 1 in 8. Elbow/hip dysplasia and cardiovascular disease ranked second and third in owners' concerns.
Energy
2.0 of 4 · C-BARQ energy breed mean 2.05 (Goldendoodle n = 157), against Golden Retriever 2.01, Standard Poodle 2.04, Miniature Poodle 2.05; excitability 2.21 against Golden Retriever 1.97 and Standard Poodle 1.94 (no significant breed difference on either scale)
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Toward strangers
0.8 of 4 · C-BARQ stranger-directed aggression breed mean 0.85 (Goldendoodle n = 157), against Golden Retriever 0.56, Standard Poodle 0.56, Miniature Poodle 0.67 (difference not significant). Stranger-directed FEAR 1.16 was significantly higher than the Golden Retriever's 0.48
0.2 of 4 · C-BARQ stranger-directed aggression breed mean 0.23 (online sample, n = 181); breed-club sample 0.36 (n = 179); ranked 7th of the 8 breeds common to both surveys in both samples, where rank 1 is the most aggressive (only the Siberian Husky scored lower)
Toward other dogs
1.7 of 4 · C-BARQ dog-directed aggression breed mean 1.68 (Goldendoodle n = 157), significantly higher than all three parent breeds (Golden Retriever 0.73, Standard Poodle 0.74, Miniature Poodle 0.92); dog-directed fear 1.44 was also significantly above the Standard Poodle's 0.74
0.6 of 4 · C-BARQ dog-directed aggression breed mean 0.63 (online sample, n = 181); breed-club sample 0.49 (n = 179)
Being left alone
0.9 of 4 · C-BARQ separation-related problems breed mean 0.93 (Goldendoodle n = 157), against Golden Retriever 0.51, Standard Poodle 0.63, Miniature Poodle 0.94; not significantly different from the Golden Retriever after adjustment
Not recorded for this breed yet.
Aggression, as studied
Across 14 C-BARQ scales the Goldendoodle sample mostly fell between its parent breeds, differing significantly from one or more of them on four: dog-directed aggression, dog-directed fear and stranger-directed fear (all higher than a parent) and dog rivalry (lower than the Miniature Poodle, level with the retriever and Standard Poodle). The Labradoodle in the same study differed from a parent on only one scale
Not recorded for this breed yet.
What to ask a breeder for
Clearances
- Golden Retriever: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5) DNA test (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Poodle: DNA (Standard): PRA (rcd4), prcd-PRA, von Willebrand disease (vWD1); imported Standard Poodles must be clear or carrier of prcd-PRA and rcd4 for registration since 6 January 2025 (clearance to ask for on the Poodle parent) · UK
- Golden Retriever: DNA tests available, use at the breeder's judgement: prcd-PRA, GR-PRA1, ichthyosis (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Golden Retriever: Eye exam by an ACVO diplomate within 12 months before breeding; yearly for life for dogs that produce offspring (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Golden Retriever: Cardiac exam by an ACVIM (Cardiology) diplomate at 12 months or older (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Golden Retriever: Elbow evaluation at 24 months or older (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Golden Retriever: Hip evaluation at 24 months or older (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · US
- Golden Retriever: DNA (best practice): ichthyosis (ICT-A), progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA1 (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · UK
- Golden Retriever: DNA (good practice): progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA2 (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · UK
- Golden Retriever: Eye testing including gonioscopy for primary lens/glaucoma (PLA) (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · UK
- Golden Retriever: Elbow scoring (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · UK
- Golden Retriever: Hip scoring (clearance to ask for on the Golden Retriever parent) · UK
- Poodle: Health elective, at least one of: OFA thyroid evaluation, OFA sebaceous adenitis evaluation by an approved dermatopathologist, or heart evaluation by an ACVIM board-certified cardiologist (Standard; CHIC requirement) (clearance to ask for on the Poodle parent) · US
- Poodle: Yearly eye exam by a board-certified ACVO ophthalmologist (all varieties; CHIC requirement) (clearance to ask for on the Poodle parent) · US
- Poodle: Von Willebrand Disease I DNA test (Standard; AKC/CHIC listing) (clearance to ask for on the Poodle parent) · US
- Poodle: Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS) DNA test or clear by parentage (Standard; AKC/CHIC listing) (clearance to ask for on the Poodle parent) · US
- DNA panel: prcd-PRA, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, von Willebrand disease type 1, neonatal encephalopathy with seizures (NEwS), ichthyosis (ICH1), degenerative myelopathy (DM) · US
- Permanent OFA patella clearance (Poodles and Goldendoodles) · US
- Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) exam every 2 years · US
- Basic cardiac clearance at 12 months or older (Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles) · US
- Elbow evaluation: preliminary or permanent Normal rating after 4 months of age (OFA or eVet Diagnostics) · US
- Hip evaluation: OFA preliminary or final (or eVet Diagnostics) scored Fair, Good or Excellent; PennHIP at 4 months or older, or BVA, accepted as alternatives; required of Golden Retriever, Poodle and Goldendoodle breeding dogs · US
- Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5) DNA test · US
- DNA tests available, use at the breeder's judgement: prcd-PRA, GR-PRA1, ichthyosis · US
- Eye exam by an ACVO diplomate within 12 months before breeding; yearly for life for dogs that produce offspring · US
- Cardiac exam by an ACVIM (Cardiology) diplomate at 12 months or older · US
- Elbow evaluation at 24 months or older · US
- Hip evaluation at 24 months or older · US
- DNA (best practice): ichthyosis (ICT-A), progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA1 · UK
- DNA (good practice): progressive retinal atrophy GR_PRA2 · UK
- Eye testing including gonioscopy for primary lens/glaucoma (PLA) · UK
- Elbow scoring · UK
- Hip scoring · UK
The health clearances each breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.
The selector
Which one, for your life?
A few minutes of honest answers: the birds, the ground, the water, the house, the week. The selector ranks both of these against what you said, explains every rank, and shows exactly where the one you came in wanting lands.
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