Designer breeds are all the rage nowadays! From Schnoodles to Cavapoos, puppy parents can’t get enough of these unique mixes.
Two of the most popular cross-bred pups are Labradoodles & Goldendoodles. However, these distinct breeds keep getting mixed up!
What exactly are Labradoodles & Goldendoodles? What features do they share & how do they stand apart?
Read on to have all your Doodle questions answered!
Table of Contents
Side-by-Side Breed Comparisons
To understand the different aspects of each pup, we should first understand where these dogs come from.
Goldendoodles are a mix between a Golden Retriever & a Poodle. Labradoodles are a mix between a Labrador Retriever & a Poodle. Since they both share a Poodle parent, they may have a few similar features, but they also have a ton of different characteristics that make them unique.
Poodle
Poodles are one of the most recognizable dogs in the world. This curly-coated pooch was first bred as a retrieving water dog in France.
Known for their extreme intelligence, fantastic swimming skills, & hypoallergenic woolly coat, Poodles quickly became a favorite among French aristocrats.
Poodles come in various colors: black, silver, apricot, and red. They also come in 3 different sizes. A standard poodle has a shoulder height of more than 15 inches. A miniature Poodle should have a shoulder height of fewer than 15 inches. A toy Poodle must be less than 10 inches.
While cartoons & movies have told us that Poodles are ditzy dogs, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Poodles are highly perceptive, curious, and very athletic pooches.
Labrador Retriever
A Labrador Retriever is a classic choice for many families. This medium-sized dog was first bred in Newfoundland to retrieve ducks. Their short, weather-resistant coat & their thick, rudder-like “Otter Tail” make these retrievers very strong swimmers.
Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dog breed for a few decades now – and for a good reason! These dogs are pretty clever & playful but still extremely gentle. This makes them a great option for households with young children.
These features also make them one of the most popular breeds to become a guide dog or rescue dog.
Their coats can be yellow, black, or chocolate. Their shoulder height can range anywhere from 21.5 to 24.5 inches.
Labradoodle
The Labradoodle was first introduced by Wally Conron in 1989 to the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia. He had bred this mix to combine the tenderness of a Labrador with the hypoallergenic coat of a poodle, making a perfect guide dog for people who were allergic to dogs.
A Labradoodle is an umbrella term that refers to any dog that has both Poodle genes & Labrador Retriever genes. A Labradoodle could be bred with a Poodle parent & a Labrador Retriever parent, with 2 Labradoodles, or even with a Labradoodle parent & a Poodle parent.
All these different genetic percentages lead to vast differences in the puppy’s size, coat, color, and temperament.
Golden Retriever
These pups are the third most popular pooch in the US, but they started off as a companion for Scottish hunting aristocrats. The first Golden Retriever was bred in the Scottish Highlands by breeding a Yellow Retriever with a Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct).
After several generations of careful breeding, a healthy Golden Retriever population was formed. These dogs were coveted for their intelligence, lustrous coat, and athletic builds.
These dogs require lots of regular exercise to expend their energy. They also need mental stimulation, as they are naturally curious & intelligent pups. However, this makes them relatively easy to train because they love to please their owner.
Golden Retrievers are well-known for their puppy-like behavior, which continues until seniority! However, their gentleness makes them a fan favorite with children & adults alike.
Goldendoodle
As the name suggests, a Goldendoodle refers to a mix between a Golden Retriever & a Poodle. The first recorded Goldendoodle was bred in 1969 by Monica Dickens, a socialite & Charles Dickens’ great-granddaughter.
She found that the offspring was larger and healthier, a phenomenon that would later be coined “hybrid vigor.”
Goldendoodles have the easygoing temperament & teddy bear face of a Golden Retriever, as well as the hypoallergenic coat & intelligence of a Poodle. This makes them one of my favorite mixed breeds!
They were originally bred as an alternative to the popular Labradoodles, but now they stand as one of the most popular designer dog breeds.
What Are the Differences? Goldendoodle vs. Labradoodle
Now that we’ve broken down the general differences between a Labradoodle & a Goldendoodle, we can look at different features & how these pups compare with one other.
Temperament
Labradoodles are known for their sunny personality. They will come up to any stranger & become best friends. This is a great trait if you have children in the house and worry about your pet becoming aggressive toward the little ones.
Labradoodles make great house pets because of how gentle they are. Just consider their mouths; Labradors were bred to have “soft mouths,” which basically means that they don’t chomp down hard on whatever they are biting. This is so they could retrieve the game birds to their owner in one piece.
Similarly, Goldendoodles also have very outgoing personalities. They are known for their intelligence, which makes them quite easy to train. They are also very affectionate, so they are a great option if you have children in the house. They also have the “soft mouth” of a Labrador Retriever, so they are very gentle.
However, it’s important to note that this sunny personality means neither of these dogs is suitable as a guard dog. In most cases, these pups are so friendly that they will simply befriend the thief!
Also, the breed can play a small role, but your dog’s temperament is mainly based on his environment, how you treat him, and how much stimulation he has. Just like humans, every dog is different & has an entirely unique personality.
Size
The sizing of Labradoodles & Goldendoodles can get a bit complicated because there are so many subcategories to choose from.
To begin with, there are 4 sizes for a Labradoodle: standard, miniature, toy, and teacup. These dogs are born when a Labradoodle is bred with the corresponding Poodle. For example, a toy Labradoodle is bred when a normal Labradoodle breeds with a Toy Poodle.
- A standard Labradoodle is up to 24 inches tall & weighs anywhere from 45 to 100 pounds.
- A miniature Labradoodle is up to 20 inches tall & weighs up to 40 pounds.
- A toy Labradoodle is 14-16 inches tall and weighs between 15 and 20 pounds.
- A teacup Labradoodle is less than 11 inches tall & weighs less than 13 pounds.
For Goldendoodles, the sizing categories are very similar. There are 3 different sizes – a toy, miniature, and standard Goldendoodle. Standard Goldendoodles can be anywhere between 17-24 inches tall and weigh between 50-90 pounds. Miniature Goldendoodles can weigh between 35-50 pounds, and toy Goldendoodles are less than 20 pounds.
So, standard Labradoodles can be marginally larger but not really enough to be a deciding factor. The standard sizes of both these dogs are quite big, so they may not be well-suited for apartment living.
Coat
Goldendoodles have 3 different coat types-flat, wavy, and curly.
- The flat coat is the least desirable coat, and it looks just like Golden Retriever fur. It is thick & straight and needs less frequent brushing, but it is not hypoallergenic.
- The wavy coat is thick hair with a slight wave to it. It is a bit harder to maintain but may cause fewer allergic reactions.
- The most sought-after coat is the curly coat because it is almost completely hypoallergenic. However, it takes the most grooming & maintenance.
All of these styles should be clipped & washed every 4 to 6 weeks.
Labrador retrievers also have 3 possible coat types:
- The first is the hair coat, which is just like Labrador hair. This fur sheds easily & can cause allergic reactions.
- The second is the fleece-coated Labrador. This fur type is a little more hypoallergenic and requires less upkeep.
- Another coat type is wool-coated, which is so thick & curly that it resembles sheep wool. This coat will likely not cause an allergic reaction.
Color
Since Golden Retrievers only come in 1 color, Goldendoodles have more limited coat colors. Goldendoodles can be black, grey, copper, red, apricot, brown, and parti.
There is more color variety for Labradoodles, as they can be black, silver, blue, cream, red, apricot, white, beige, and chocolate.
Energy Requirements
Both of these dogs need loads of physical & mental stimulation. You need to ensure you spend enough time playing with your dogs because too much pent-up energy can result in destructive behavior like barking, chewing up your furniture, and pacing.
Also, spend 10-15 minutes daily on training, even if you have an adult dog. Since these breeds have Poodle parents, they are extremely intelligent & need mental stimulation to avoid boredom.
However, Labradors are genetically wired to overeat, so you may need to exercise your Labradoodle a bit more to ensure he doesn’t become overweight.
Cost
The average cost for a standard Labradoodle in a common color would typically be around $1500-$2000. This depends on many factors, including the puppy’s size, age, and location.
The average price for a Goldendoodle would be anywhere from $2000 to $2500. Goldendoodles can be a bit more expensive than Labradoodles, but this also depends on the location where you are looking for your pup.
Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy for a Goldendoodle is 10-15 years, and the lifespan for a Labradoodle is 12-15 years.
Both breeds are prone to health issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, ear infections (due to their floppy ears), and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). A reputable breeder should test their doodle puppies for these ailments before selling him to you.
Which Breed Is Best for Me?
Both of these breeds are adorable, fun-loving pups that make fantastic family pets. However, if you’re stuck between the 2, it’s important to weigh their unique differences & see how they would fit into your lifestyle.
I believe that a Goldendoodle would be ideal if you want more of a working dog. If you’re looking for a guide dog or a dog to go with you on hikes, I believe the Goldendoodle would be a better bet because of their intelligence & athleticism.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a gentle family pet, I would definitely go with the Labradoodle because of their outgoing personality & kind nature, which makes them great with kids.
Conclusion
Choosing a new member of the family is an important decision, so it’s vital that you consider all the information you have before you take your pick.
The most important thing to remember is that the breed of the dog does not 100% foretell the dog’s personality, health, and look. Each dog is different, so the best thing you can do is to go meet your prospective pooch & see if he would be a good addition to the family!
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I had a black Golden Doodle. He was sweet and huge. He was easy to manage and loved all people. He passed following a diagnosis of Liver cancer at 15.
Just a few weeks ago I was offered a young black doodle. He is 8 months old and very big. My vet believes he is a labradoodle. I just know I love him.
My family and I have two Doodles. A very gentle even tempered five year old and a rambunctious goofball that’s ten months old. One hour of exercise daily is a very conservative estimate of how much activity Doodles need to remain happy and healthy.
The boys tend to be happier and less mischievous if the are getting an hour of intense off leash play at our dog park and another 30 to 45 minutes of on leash walking.
Another point that I think is worth mentioning is that Doodles have very sensitive stomachs and may suffer from allergies. Both of my boys have chicken and poultry allergies. Finding a 100% chicken free diet is expensive and time consuming as most kibbles rely on chicken meal or chicken fat as an ingredient.
In talking with my veternarian, I learned that this is very common and likely can be found in the bird dog heritage.