Golden Doodle
GOHL-duhn DOO-duhl
United States· North America
The Golden Doodle is a modern crossbreed of Golden Retriever and Poodle, developed from the 1990s onward to combine retriever friendliness with a low-shedding coat.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
1 hour daily
Home size suited to
Small to medium home
Grooming frequency
Brush every other day, clip regularly
Coat length
Curly
Sheds
Very little
Lifespan
10-15 years
Town or country
Either, with enough exercise
Garden size needed
Small to medium
Where it comes from
Origins of the Golden Doodle
Developed in North America as breeders crossed Golden Retrievers with Poodles to create a lower-shedding family companion. There is no single "native" landscape, as the cross was designed for suburban and family life rather than a working environment.
- Region
- North America
- Climate it was bred for
- Varied, suburban family settings
- Original job
- Companion dog with reduced shedding
The long read
About the breed
It follows the same logic as the earlier Labradoodle, first popularised in Australia, and spread quickly through North America and the UK as breeders and pet owners sought a family dog that shed less than a purebred retriever while keeping a similarly biddable, affectionate temperament. It is not recognised by the Kennel Club or FCI, and there is no fixed breed standard, so appearance and coat type vary considerably between litters and generations.
Living with one is generally easy: most Golden Doodles are sociable, eager to please and good with children, inheriting the retriever's steady nature. Coat texture ranges from loose curls to wavy or straight depending on the cross generation, and even low-shedding coats still need regular brushing and periodic professional grooming to avoid matting.
Because it is unregulated, buyers should be cautious of breeders making exaggerated hypoallergenic claims and should ask about health testing on both the Golden Retriever and Poodle parents, since the cross does not remove the risk of either parent breed's hereditary conditions.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
5/5
How openly the Golden Doodle greets people it does not know.
Trainability
4/5
Eager to please, generally easy to train.
Energy
4/5
Playful and active, needs a good daily walk and play.
Barking
2/5
Generally low barking tendency.
Grooming
4/5
Needs regular brushing and periodic clipping.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Golden Doodle is for someone taking on their first dog.
Sociability
5/5
Typically very friendly with people and other dogs.
Independence
2/5
Prefers company, not suited to long hours alone.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Golden Doodle's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Outside the standard
Other colours
Dilute coats you will see advertised. They are the same breed, but no kennel club accepts them.
Gold
Not in the standard
The most common colour, inherited from the retriever parent.
Cream
Not in the standard
A paler shade seen in many litters.
Red
Not in the standard
A deeper coppery shade, less common.
Apricot
Not in the standard
Inherited from Poodle ancestry.
Timeline
History & development
1990s
Early crosses
Breeders in North America began deliberately crossing Golden Retrievers with Poodles, following the Labradoodle model.
2000s
Rising popularity
Demand grew for lower-shedding family dogs, boosting the cross's popularity in the US and UK.
Present day
Unofficial status
The Golden Doodle remains unrecognised by major kennel clubs and has no fixed breed standard.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Sturdy, proportionate
- coat
- Wavy or curly, low shedding
- ears
- Long, hanging, often wavy-coated
- eyes
- Round, dark, warm expression
- gait
- Free-moving, bouncy
- head
- Broad, retriever-like, softened by curl
- size
- Medium
- tail
- Feathered or curled, carried level
- colour
- The standard asks for the Golden Doodle's recognised colours only; novelty or dilute shades are not accepted.
- temperament
- Typical of the breed: strongest in sociability, energy, trainability. Nervousness or aggression are serious faults in the show ring and in the home.
- general appearance
- Medium to large, friendly-looking crossbreed with a soft coat
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Hip dysplasia
Screen for it
Ask for hip scores on the Golden Retriever parent.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Screen for it
Ask for eye certificates on the Poodle parent.
Ear infections
Low concern
Floppy, hairy ears need regular checking and cleaning.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Golden Doodles added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Golden Doodle
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Golden Doodle illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Golden Doodle Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Golden Doodle illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Golden Doodle Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Golden Doodle illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Golden Doodle Mug
Ceramic mug with the Golden Doodle illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Adjustable Harness (S/M/L)
Fully adjustable chest and girth straps — no fixed sizing.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Golden Doodle video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
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