Poodle vs. Goldendoodle – which breed makes the best pet for you? Which of these breeds is easier to train? And are Goldendoodle puppies or Poodle puppies more expensive to buy?
Taking on a canine furry friend is a lifelong commitment. Both Goldendoodles and Poodles are quite long-lived, generally surviving until they are at least 15 years old. So, you need to make the right choice.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the differences and similarities between the Poodle and the Goldendoodle.
Table of Contents
Poodle vs. Goldendoodle – What’s The Difference?
A Goldendoodle is a “designer” breed that’s basically a hybrid of a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden retriever. Puppies that are born to purebred Poodle and Golden Retriever parents are called F1 Doodles.
So, the basic difference between these two breeds is that the Poodle is purebred, and the Goldendoodle is a hybrid.
Goldendoodles and Poodles come in different sizes. Poodles can be Toy, Miniature, or Standard size and should be registered as purebred with the American Kennel Club (AKC). The size of a Goldendoodle varies, depending on the size of the Poodle parent.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each breed before we draw a direct comparison between the two.
What Is A Poodle
Poodles are often thought of as lap dogs or the companions of little old ladies. However, nothing could be further from the truth! The Standard Poodle was originally bred to be a hunting dog, specifically a bird dog, working with duck shooters. That’s why Poodles are such good swimmers and water-loving dogs.
Although Poodles are frequently referred to as French Poodles and are France’s national dogs, their breed history shows that these dogs are actually thought to be a German breed.
Poodles are one of the brightest breeds around.
Zero Shedding!
The big deal about Poodles is that they have a single coat of extremely curly hair that hardly sheds. In fact, a Poodle’s fur is more like human hair than dog fur. That makes the Poodle one of very few hypoallergenic dogs. So, if you have an allergy sufferer in your household and you hate vacuuming, a Poodle could be a good choice of pet for you.
Poodles have a wonderful temperament, and they usually get along very well with kids and other pets, being intelligent and highly trainable. So, you can see why breeders chose to use the Poodle as the perfect breed to cross with other purebred dogs to create smart, loving, allergy-friendly dogs that are now commonly referred to as “Doodles.”
You can find four different sizes of Poodles:
- Standard (the largest)
- Moyen
- Mini
- Toy
By using these different sizes of Poodles, breeders can produce Goldendoodles of various sizes, too.
What’s A Goldendoodle?
A Goldendoodle is a cross between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden retriever.
Goldendoodles are a friendly, lively, happy-go-lucky dog that loves to be around their human owners, getting along well with other pets, too. These dogs are also highly trainable, which makes the Goldendoodle a favorite choice for a family pet.
You can also find backcrosses of Goldendoodles, producing generations that contain different percentages of Poodle and Golden retriever genes. Basically, a multigenerational dog is the offspring of two Goldendoodles beyond the second generation (F2). So, both the puppy’s parents and grandparents will be Goldendoodles and not a purebred Poodle and Golden retriever. Generally, the F3 generations and beyond that are regarded as multigenerational by both breeders and Doodle fans.
More crossbreeding is often carried out using the original F1 dogs to boost the most desirable Goldendoodle traits, including low shedding, coat color, friendly temperament, and trainability, etc.
Poodle vs. Goldendoodle Direct Comparison
Now, we’re going to compare these two gorgeous dog breeds side-by-side.
Size and Average Weight
The Standard Poodle is the largest Poodle, ranging from around 50 pounds right up to 70 pounds. That said, there are four Poodle sizes that range from Standard through to Toy, being the smallest version of the breed. In fact, Toy Poodles can weigh only around 10 pounds.
Goldendoodles are a mixture of two dog breeds, so the dog’s adult size depends on the size of the parent breeding dogs. Golden retrievers are large dogs that generally produce large offspring when crossed with a Poodle. Goldens generally stand over 22 inches tall and weigh over 60 pounds.
There are a variety of Goldendoodle sizes, ranging from Standard, Mini, and Medium through to tiny Teacup dogs. Mini Goldendoodles are the most popular size, typically weighing less than 30 pounds.
Comparing the sizes of the two breeds, the Standard Goldendoodle generally comes up slightly larger than a Standard Poodle.
Coat Type And Shedding
Poodles are well-known for their short, tightly curled coats that shed hardly at all. Also, Poodles don’t generally produce as much dander as many other dog breeds.
In comparison, the Golden retriever is a moderate to heavy shedder. So, breeders use the Poodle in the hybrid to produce a puppy that has the Poodle’s curly, low-shedding hair, making Goldendoodles ideal for homes with allergy sufferers.
Goldendoodles can have a wavy coat, a curly coat, a straight coat, or an improper coat. Basically, the more Poodle genes the puppy inherits, the curlier his hair type will be, and the less he will shed when he makes the transition to his adult fur.
Goldendoodle vs. Poodle Grooming Requirements
Both these breeds demand a daily grooming commitment. These dogs both have extensive grooming requirements when it comes to brushing and they do need a good deal of grooming. You’ll need to brush your Goldendoodle every day or so to keep the coat clear of tangles and mats that can be a common issue for these breeds. Also, a visit to a professional groomer every four to six weeks is necessary to have your Doodle bathed, have his nails clipped, and have your pet shaved.
Between trips to the groomer, you can keep your pet’s coat in good condition by using a high-quality shampoo and brush.
Poodles hardly shed at all, and Goldendoodles are generally very light shedders, and if you have your dog shaved regularly, that will help to prevent matting, provided that you brush your dog thoroughly every day.
Colors
In theory, Goldendoodles can be any color that a Poodle can be. However, that rather depends on the generation of Doodle, as well as the color of the parent dogs.
Poodles can be:
- White
- Cream
- Brown
- Red
- Gray
- Black
- Silver beige
- Apricot
- Cafe au lait
These dogs can also be particolored.
Goldendoodles can be any color that a Poodle can be. However, many Doodles take after the Golden retriever parent, tending toward lighter colors. Generally, Goldendoodles are apricot, black, chocolate, cream, and red.
One of the most exciting things about owning a Goldendoodle puppy is that these dogs change color as they mature. So, you might start off with a red Goldendoodle and finish up with an apricot one once your Doodle leaves the puppy stage behind him!
Poodle vs. Goldendoodle Temperament
Poodles are super intelligent canines with boundless energy. These dogs are incredibly loyal and are often called “velcro dogs” since they follow their favorite human companion everywhere. That unwavering devotion makes these dogs extremely easy and fun to train, although their seemingly endless energy can be a little bit too much for those who prefer a quieter life.
Standard Poodles tend to be much more laid back than their smaller counterparts, getting on well with family members of all ages and with other pets, too. However, the smaller Poodle varieties do have a reputation of being somewhat snappy with small children.
Goldendoodles have amazing temperaments, being friendly, outgoing, and loyal. Like Poodles, Goldendoodles are devoted family dogs, which can make them rather clingy and prone to separation anxiety. Goldendoodles are also high-energy dogs that need plenty of daily exercise to keep them mentally and physically happy.
Goldendoodles are usually more chilled out than Poodles, making this breed an extremely popular dog with families. However, bear in mind that it’s difficult to predict the exact temperament of a hybrid dog.
Exercise Requirements: Poodles vs. Goldendoodles
All sizes of Goldendoodles are extremely active dogs with a high energy level that love to spend time outside, walking, swimming, or playing interactive games with their owners. A trip to the dog park or the beach are welcomed with the Goldendoodle’s characteristic enthusiasm.
Poodles also need plenty of exercise and have a high level of energy to expend. Both these dogs are excellent swimmers that love nothing more than to spend time playing at the lake or in your home pool to burn off that extra energy!
When exercising your pet, remember to make allowances for his age and health. Older dogs can develop arthritis, so they can’t tolerate as much exercise as their younger counterparts. Also, young puppies shouldn’t be given too much vigorous exercise that could damage their soft, developing joints.
Genetic Health Issues – Poodle vs. Goldendoodle
A reputable breeder will always have their breeding dogs health-screened to help rule out the possibility that the puppies will inherit a congenital health problem.
That’s why you should never buy a puppy from a puppy mill, where health checks are rarely carried out, and puppies are often diseased or have inherited health problems.
Poodle Health Issues
There are a number of potential health concerns that can affect Poodles, including:
- Poodles can suffer from anemia.
- Thyroid disease is also a common health condition in Poodles, which can be treated with medication and doesn’t impact the dog’s life expectancy.
- Epilepsy is another genetic health condition that can be controlled with drug therapy.
- Bloat or gastric dilation volvulus is a condition that commonly affects deep-chested dogs. The condition is usually triggered when the dog bolts its food and can potentially be fatal.
Generally, your Poodle will live a healthy life if fed a correct diet and bred from parents that were health screened.
Goldendoodle Health Issues
Some of the medical conditions that affect Goldendoodles are also a problem for Poodles, including:
- Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation are both extremely painful, disabling health problems that can affect Poodles and Goldendoodles. In these conditions, the hip and knee joints become inflamed, causing lameness. Both conditions can be treated with pain management therapy and drugs. However, in severe cases, surgery will be required.
- Certain types of cancers and degenerative disease, including epilepsy can affect Goldendoodles.
- Eye diseases, including a serious condition called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) can affect Goldendoodles, sometimes causing blindness even at an early age.
- Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) is a condition that affects the skin’s sebaceous glands, causing hair loss, crusting on the skin, and creating an unpleasant odor.
Most of these conditions are avoidable provided that the puppy’s parents are health-screened.
Lifespan
Generally, both Poodles and Goldendoodles enjoy a long lifespan, typically from 10 to 15 years. That’s because both the parent breeds have a long life expectancy, and that’s passed on to their progeny.
However, that is dependent on the purity of the breeding of the puppies and on any other random injuries and common diseases that the dog experiences during its lifetime.
Training – Poodle vs. Goldendoodle
Poodles and Goldendoodles are some of the brightest dog breeds, are highly trainable, being eager to please, and extremely intelligent. Also, both Poodles and Goldendoodles love food! That makes positive reward training the way to go, especially when you use your pet’s favorite treats.
Because these purebred dog breeds are very intelligent, training is the perfect way to satisfy the dog’s need for mental stimulation. However, Poodles and Goldendoodles have a high energy level and both need lots of physical exercise, and it’s important that you take care of that requirement before you expect your dog to concentrate and focus on training.
Both breeds are widely used as service dogs. So, if your dog has a good temperament and has successfully been trained in basic obedience, you might enjoy training your dog as a canine good citizen or therapy dog. That helps to teach the dog to focus and improves self-control, as well as doing good in the community.
Diet And Nutrition
Essentially, the nutritional requirements of both Poodles and Goldendoodles are very similar and a diet of high-quality dry food will keep your canine friend healthy and provide him with enough energy for his usual daily activities.
Just be aware that the Goldendoodle can have a sensitive stomach, so do not feed your fluffy friend human food or overdo the number of treats he has!
Price – Poodle vs. Goldendoodle
Generally, the price of both these breeds varies, depending on the quality of the parent dogs, the breeder’s reputation, and various other factors, such as the dog’s color, size, and sex.
A well-bred Standard Poodle will set you back around $4,000, whereas a Goldendoodle price starts at $2,000, rising to over $4,000, depending on the puppy’s breeding.
What Are The Main Differences And Similarities Between Poodles and Goldendoodles?
You can see from our comparison that there are similarities and differences between these two beautiful breeds.
- Both breeds are highly trainable, intelligent dogs.
- Both breeds are low-shedders that are ideal for allergy sufferers.
- Both Poodles and Goldendoodles come in different sizes, from large to pocket-sized.
- Both breeds are similar in price.
- Both breeds need lots of exercise, frequent walks, mental stimulation, and social interaction.
- Both breeds share the same average life expectancy.
Poodles and Goldendoodles make great family dogs that get along well with kids, seniors, and other pets. So, both breeds can make a faithful companion for novice owners.
In Conclusion
Did you enjoy our comparison of Poodles and Goldendoodles? If you did, please share the article. We hope this guide helps you to make an informed decision as to which breed to buy.
We think that both breeds make great family pets. Goldendoodles tend to shed a little more than Poodles, but Poodles are generally a little smaller than Goldendoodles. Both breeds are easy to train but need lots of mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy.
It’s decision time! Based on our comparison, which of these two breeds would you choose?
Tell us what you think in the comments box below!
