Things to Know About the Miniature Goldendoodle (Mini Goldendoodle)

The Miniature Goldendoodle is a crossbreed between a Golden Retriever and a Toy or Miniature Poodle.

As its name suggests, this hybrid breed is small-sized, with an average height of 13 to 20 inches at the shoulder and a weight of about 15 to 35 lbs.

The Miniature Goldendoodle is among the top preferred Doodle crossbreed dogs due to its compact size, it is low shedding, and inherited intelligence and affection.

The dogs from this hybrid breed have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Read on for more information about the Mini Goldendoodle, which will help you decide whether it is the best choice for a new companion and addition to your family.

Mini Goldendoodles are excellent family pets

Miniature Goldendoodles, as well as the Small and Large Standard Goldendoodles, are gaining popularity around the world because they are highly sociable, friendly, playful, and loyal dogs, which are perfect for family pets.

These dogs are very intelligent and will get along with all family members, including younger kids and any other pets you have.

They combine the best traits of both their parents – the smart Poodle and the friendly family dog favorite – the Golden Retriever.

Mini Goldendoodles can be excellent therapy and service dogs

These small-sized hybrid dogs are naturally smart and create a strong bond with their humans. They can easily be trained and become loyal and reliable partners to people with disabilities.

They can also be trained to become a superb guides and sniff dogs or therapy dogs.

Miniature Goldendoodles are not the best watchdogs

Being highly sociable and friendly to all – both family and strangers, Mini Goldendoodles are not suitable for people looking for a watchdog.

They rarely bark, so do not expect to be alerted if there is someone at your door or if someone enters your property.

In fact, it is more likely that your Goldendoodle will happily greet a stranger or intruder rather than bark and try to protect you.

They are an excellent option for dog lovers with pet allergies

All Goldendoodles are considered to be hypoallergenic due to their low shedding. This is a quality that they usually inherit from their Poodle parent.

This means that there will be fewer hairs stuck on your furniture, floors, and clothes and that the allergic reactions to dog hair and dog dander in people with existing pet allergies will be limited too.

Keep in mind that the Mini Groodles that have inherited the longer hair of their Golden Retriever parent may shed more than others, but most Miniature Goldendoodles tend to inherit the low shedding qualities of their Poodle parent, so you can expect your pup to shed minimally or not shed at all.

Although there are no dogs that are completely hypoallergenic, Miniature Goldendoodles are among the least-shedding and most suitable dogs for homes where there are people with pet allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions triggered by dog hair and dander.

Mini Groodles have low to medium energy levels and are very easy to train

These hybrid dogs are generally moderately active. This means that they will be happy and well with just about 20-30 minutes of walks and exercise a day.

The Mini Goldendoodles can adapt to all kinds of weather conditions so that you won’t have problems walking your pup, rain or shine.

They can be pretty excitable and eager to play but can adapt to all kinds of lifestyles and will also enjoy snoozing next to you on the couch all day long.

They are highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes them easy to train even for first-time dog owners and owners who are not too experienced or confident with canines.

The pups from this designer breed can easily learn new commands with a few repetitions and positive reinforcement training.

They can be fantastic agility dogs and swimmers, thanks to their Golden Retriever genes.

Mini Goldendoodles are suitable for people who lead all types of lifestyles and are a great way to get more sedentary people outside for some physical activity, walk and play.

These pups require minimal grooming

Being a low-shedding crossbreed, Mini Goldendoodles usually require minimal grooming, especially if they have inherited the non-shedding genes of their Poodle parents and have short and curly fur which doesn’t shed.

The pups with longer and straighter hair who have inherited their Golden Retriever parent’s coat may require more regular brushing and grooming.

No matter how short your dog’s coat is and the fact that it barely sheds any hair, it will require care and attention, such as brushing and clipping, to keep the coat healthy and prevent matting.

You will also need to regularly clip the nails of your pup, brush its teeth and inspect and clean its ears and eyes if you want it to stay healthy and well.

They are prone to separation anxiety

Yes, your Mini Goldendoodle will quickly develop a very strong bond with you and your family, but this endless love and affection mean that it can be prone to suffering from separation anxiety.

So, if you tend to spend long hours at work or outdoors, or you travel frequently, then this hybrid breed is not the best option for you.

Mini Goldendoodles prefer to spend as much time with their humans, and when they are left alone without other pets and people, they can resort to unwanted and even destructive behavior.

In other words, your pup may bark incessantly, chew on your furniture, howl, or otherwise misbehave when left completely alone and without enough interactive toys, games, or other mental and physical stimulation.

Miniature Goldendoodles can be prone to some inherited health issues and diseases

While experts believe that crossbreeds are usually less prone to inherited genetic diseases as compared to purebred dogs, Mini Goldendoodles still face the risk of inheriting a genetic illness from their purebred parents. Some of the common inherited maladies which can plague Mini Groodles include:

• Patellar luxation – this is an inherited dislocation of the kneecap, which is a common condition among toy and miniature dog breeds
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – this condition leads to the progressive deterioration of the retina of the eyes, starting from night blindness and ending in complete blindness. Thankfully, dogs can easily adapt to conditions such as blindness, if you do not move around the furniture or change their environment
• Ear infections – these are very common among dogs with floppy ears, which is why you should inspect the ears of your dog regularly for redness, pain, ear wax, or a bad smell
• Von Willebrand’s disease – is another genetic condition, which affects the clotting ability of the blood of the dog. This can cause nose bleeds, heat cycle bleeds, and injury or surgery bleeds, which are hard to control but can be managed if diagnosed in a timely manner
• Hypothyroidism – this is a thyroid gland disorder that can cause hair loss, lethargy, obesity, epilepsy, pyoderma, and other conditions in dogs. If diagnosed properly, it can be controlled with a suitable diet and medications
• Elbow and hip dysplasia – are inherited degenerative conditions which cause the hip or elbow joints not to fit the bones snuggly. Responsible breeders test their dogs and do not breed dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia

Keep in mind that these are potential health concerns to keep in mind and watch for. Chances are, your pup will be happy and hopefully never develop any of these conditions.

You should get your Mini Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder

Whenever you are buying a dog, you should opt for a reputable and responsible breeder. Breeders like this will ensure that their dogs are tested for any genetically inherited diseases, that the puppies have all vaccinations and have been dewormed in a timely manner, and that they have been appropriately socialized.

Most reputable breeders offer a guarantee for all of their puppies and will not ask for an unreasonable price.

Still, suppose you are looking for a new puppy for your family. In that case, we recommend that you check your local pet rescue shelters and centers to see if there is a Mini Goldendoodle or another dog looking for a forever home first before buying!

FAQs about Mini Goldendoodles

Q: How big will the Miniature Goldendoodle become?

A: With one of its parents being either a Toy or a Miniature Poodle, you can expect your Miniature Goldendoodle to reach a height of only 13 to 20 inches at the shoulder and to weigh 15 to 35 pounds. But since each dog is different, and these dogs are usually first-generation Goldendoodles, there can be some surprises in the size and weight if the puppy has inherited it from the significantly larger and heavier Golden Retriever parent.

Q: Is the Miniature Goldendoodle a good dog to have?

A: Mini Goldendoodles are the perfect family dogs. They are smart, eager to please, loyal, loveable, and friendly. They are suitable companion dogs for owners of all types and ages, including first-time dog owners, senior or disabled owners, single owners, or large families with kids.

Q: How much does a mini Goldendoodle cost?

A: You can expect to have to pay from $1,600 to $2,600 for a Miniature Goldendoodle puppy. The price is affected by the pedigree of the parents, the socialization and training of the puppy, the location and reputation of the breeder, and more.

As mentioned earlier, you can check any Goldendoodle rescue groups and local or other shelters for dogs that are up to adoption before proceeding to buy a dog.

Q: Do they bark a lot?

A: The Mini Goldendoodle is not a noisy dog, and in most cases, will not even bark to alert you if someone is approaching your door. On the other hand, these dogs can suffer from separation anxiety and can bark a lot if left alone without the proper mental stimulation, toys, games, or another pet, or without proper behavioral training.

Q: Are they hyperactive?

A: With parents like a Poodle and a Golden Retriever, the former which is a working dog, and the latter a sports dog, you can expect that your Miniature Goldendoodle can be quite hyper, especially during puppyhood. But this crossbreed can easily adapt to any lifestyle, so given sufficient physical and mental stimulation can be a jogging buddy as well as a couch potato buddy for owners who lead all kinds of lifestyles.

Final Words

Mini Groodles are the perfect mix between two of the most beloved and smartest dog breeds. They are friendly, affectionate, sociable, and intelligent. Mini Goldendoodles are suitable for all kinds of owners, including inexperienced dog owners and elderly or frail owners.

They are sweet, playful, and eager to please dogs, which can be prone to some genetic health issues but have a long lifespan in general.

They require less maintenance than the high-shedding dog breeds and are suitable even for homes where there are people with pet allergies.

Something which they are not is good watchdogs. They will more likely happily greet strangers at the door than alert you or protect you from potential intruders. Then again, if you want a watchdog, you can choose another dog breed.

But overall, these sweet little dogs are an excellent choice for pets for just about any household or owner.