Goldendoodles have captured the hearts of families for good reason. By combining the friendly, affectionate nature of the Golden Retriever with the intelligence and low- to non-shedding coat qualities of the Poodle, Goldendoodles often offer a wonderful balance of companionship, trainability, and charm. Their playful personalities, intuitive nature, and strong desire to be with their people make them exceptional family dogs. On this page, we’ve compiled some basic information about these wonderful dogs, with guidance and educational resources from the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA™).
“Imagine a companion that seamlessly combines the sweet, loyal disposition of a Golden Retriever with the intelligence of a Poodle. Goldendoodles are an exceptional crossbreed that bring so much joy to many people. They have several qualities that make them an ideal companion breed due to their temperament, versatility, hypoallergenic quality, and excellent health outcomes.”
- The Goldendoodle Association of North America
BREED STANDARD
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Goldendoodle is a friendly, intelligent, and confident breed with a happy expression that is engaging and welcoming to strangers. His loyalty and eagerness to please make him the perfect companion dog, the function for which he is purposely bred. Since this is not a conformation show breed, his health and calm temperament are equally top priorities; however, proper structure is also essential to overall health, well-being, and breed type. His temperament must be stable and sound under all possible situations while he continues to prove his suitability for service/therapy work. The breed was developed by crossing Poodles and the Golden Retriever, and therefore the physical appearance of this breed is a balanced mix of the traits common to those two founding breeds, which are the only two breeds that comprise the Goldendoodle. To ensure as much genetic diversity as possible, the stud book will remain open and the dogs may be bred from the founding breeds or from multigenerational stock. These founding breeds, when combined through multiple generations, present a well put together, agile, durable and athletic dog, whose light footedness results in a smooth, fluid gait. Goldendoodles possess a distinct diversity in coat types, colors, and sizes, which is inherited from the parent breeds.
SIZES
Petite: Height: below 14 inches, typically 25 lbs. or less
Miniature: Height: over 14 inches but under 17 inches, typically 26-35 lbs.
Medium: Height: over 17 inches but under 21 inches, typically 36-50 lbs.
Standard: Height: over 21 inches, typically 51 or more lbs.
PROPORTION
The build of the Goldendoodle is consistent with that of the endurance trotter: slightly longer in back from the forechest to the point of rump than the height from the ground to the withers. His length of leg is to be equal to his depth of body. The brisket is to extend down to the center of the back of the elbow.
SUBSTANCE
Adequate bone and muscle are necessary for his active play style, energy level, and exercise endurance. His bone substance is moderate, neither too heavily nor too slightly boned. His weight is proportionate to his size, neither overweight nor underweight.
Much of the breed-standard information on this page is taken directly from the Goldendoodle Association of North America’s (GANA™) website. To learn more about the Goldendoodle, visit www.goldendoodleassociation.com.