Goldendoodle

There's no separate temperament standard for the Goldendoodle; the best information is the description of the two parents. The FCI standard describes the Golden Retriever as biddable, intelligent, possessing natural working ability, kindly, friendly and confident. For the Poodle, the FCI says a dog renowned for its loyalty, capable of learning and being trained, a particularly pleasant companion. What the two share is a people focus and a willingness to learn.

There's a study showing this is no guarantee in crosses. In a 2019 study (Shouldice et al.), 5,141 dog owners filled out a behavior questionnaire (C-BARQ). Goldendoodles fell between the two parent breeds on most traits; but on dog rivalry, dog-directed aggression, dog-directed fear and stranger-directed fear they differed significantly from at least one parent breed. Burnett and colleagues (2022) interpret these as behaviors prospective owners may view negatively. That's an average; not every Goldendoodle is like this. But it's a reminder that the assumption "a cross will be more easygoing" isn't backed by evidence.

The Goldendoodle can suit people who can give plenty of daily exercise and mental games, who have time for regular grooming and who enjoy an energetic dog. Because size varies so much, the Poodle size used is the best clue to a puppy's adult size.

For help with being alone, see our post on separation anxiety in dogs.

The Goldendoodle is a crossbreed from the deliberate mating of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle; which Poodle size is used varies from puppy to puppy. A study of crossbred puppies bought in the UK in 2019–2020 (Burnett et al.) counts the Goldendoodle among the popular "designer crossbreeds" along with the Labradoodle, Cockapoo and Cavapoo; the same study describes demand for puppy adverts outstripping supply. We couldn't find a reliable record of when and where the Goldendoodle first appeared; there's no breed standard and no official stud book. That means you need to ask about each puppy's mother and father separately.

The origins of the two parents are well documented: the FCI lists Great Britain as the Golden Retriever's origin and France as the Poodle's, and notes that the Poodle was originally used for wildfowling. The Poodle's different sizes are why the Goldendoodle comes in such a range of sizes.

There's no single standard for the Goldendoodle's appearance. Looking at the parents' standards shows the range:

• Golden Retriever (FCI): Height at the withers 22–24 in (56–61 cm) for males, 20–22 in (51–56 cm) for females.
• Poodle (FCI): Standard Poodle over 18 in (45 cm) up to 24 in (60 cm); Medium Poodle 14–18 in (35–45 cm); Miniature 11–14 in (28–35 cm); Toy 9.5–11 in (24–28 cm).
• In the cross: Height depends on the Poodle size and on the puppy; the coat may be straight, wavy or curly, in cream, gold, red or other shades. Puppies in the same litter may not look alike.

When you buy a puppy you can't know the adult size and coat type for sure. Seeing the mother and father is the best clue.

The Royal Kennel Club marks the Poodle's grooming as "every day" and classes the Standard Poodle as non-shedding; for the Golden Retriever it says "more than once a week," and notes that the breed sheds. In the cross, coat care depends on which parent it takes after more; but it's a good assumption to prepare for daily brushing and regular clipping.

• Brushing: Catch tangles early in friction zones such as behind the ears, under the armpits and on the belly.
• Clipping: Choose a groomer who is gentle with dogs; see our dog grooming post for details.
• Ears: Check drooping, hairy ears weekly; if you notice odor, redness or discharge, show your vet.
• Teeth and nails: Get your dog used to tooth brushing from puppyhood.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day for the Golden Retriever and up to an hour for the Standard Poodle. For the cross, somewhere in between makes sense: at least 1 to 2 hours a day plus mental games.

• Reward-based training: The FCI describes both parents as trainable. Short, consistent, rewarding sessions work best.
• Mental games: Sniffing games satisfy both the Golden and the Poodle side.
• Alone time: A bored dog that hasn't burned off its energy can be destructive; teach alone time gradually.
• Walking: Our post on leash and walking training is useful to start early.

The Goldendoodle doesn't need a special food; a complete, balanced food that suits its age, size and activity level is enough.

• Weight: Work out the ideal weight with your vet. If you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above, the weight is good.
• Digestion: In a study of Labradoodles, eating things they shouldn't, vomiting and diarrhea were reported more often than in Poodles. We have no such data for the Goldendoodle; introduce new foods slowly and ask your vet if problems come up.
• Harmful foods: See our post on foods dogs shouldn't eat.

We couldn't find a separate, large-scale health study for the Goldendoodle. The big UK study published in PLOS ONE in 2024 looked at Labradoodles, Cockapoos and Cavapoos, not Goldendoodles. So we pass on the known issues of the two parent breeds and general information about crosses. What follows is for information only; for diagnosis and treatment, talk to your veterinarian.

Being a cross is no health guarantee

That UK study (9,402 dogs, owner-reported) found no difference in 86.6% of comparisons between the Labradoodle, Cockapoo and Cavapoo and their parent breeds; some disorders were reported more often in the crosses and some less. So the belief that "crosses are healthier" wasn't supported by this data, though crosses weren't shown to be worse either. It wouldn't be right to assume the same result for the Goldendoodle; still, inherited problems from both parent breeds can pass to the puppy, and whether the parents were screened is decisive.

Burnett and colleagues' 2022 article also reports that the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club list designer crossbreeds such as the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle among the top ten breeds at risk of hip dysplasia, and stresses that parent screening matters for crosses too.

Known issues on the Golden side

The Royal Kennel Club lists hip, elbow and eye (including gonioscopy for PLA) screening for the Golden Retriever, plus DNA tests for progressive retinal atrophy (GR_PRA1 and GR_PRA2) and ichthyosis (ICT-A). Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW) lists atopic dermatitis, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism for the Golden.

Known issues on the Poodle side

The Royal Kennel Club lists DNA tests for prcd-PRA and von Willebrand disease (vWD1), plus eye and hip screening, for the Standard Poodle. In a 2026 US study in JAVMA (the Dog Aging Project), Poodles and Poodle mixes were found to be at higher risk of bloat (GDV); the study also found body weight over 88 lb (40 kg), male sex and low body condition to be risk factors. The study doesn't look at Goldendoodles separately; but in a dog that's a Poodle mix, especially a large one, it makes sense to talk with your vet about it.

We couldn't find a separate lifespan figure for the Goldendoodle. The Royal Kennel Club lists "over 10 years" for the Golden Retriever and "over 12 years" for the Standard Poodle. In a large UK study (McMillan et al. 2024) the median lifespan of all crossbreds was 12.0 years. That's a general crossbred average; a particular Goldendoodle's lifespan depends on its parents, weight, care and luck.

• Consider a shelter: Goldendoodles and similar crosses also end up in shelters. Our post on adopting a dog from a shelter explains the first steps.
• If buying from a breeder: Ask to see the mother and father; ask which Poodle size was used, and about both parents' hip, elbow and eye exams and DNA test results. See that the puppies are raised with their mother in a home.
• Watch out for "hypoallergenic" promises: In a 2022 UK study (Burnett et al.), almost half (47.1%) of owners of designer crossbred puppies cited the dog being "hypoallergenic" as a reason for their choice, roughly six times the share of purebred puppy owners. Crossbred puppies were less likely to be seen with their mother when bought (73.1% versus 79.8%) and cost more. The RSPCA counts the same phone number appearing on several adverts as a warning sign.
• Time and budget: Be prepared for regular grooming, daily exercise and mental games.
• Legal registration: In Türkiye, owned dogs must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system; rules vary by country. Details are in our post on PETVET registration and microchips.
• First days: Our post on bringing a puppy home: the first week can help.