One of the friendliest and most intelligent dogs out there, the Goldendoodle has become a fast favorite for many families.
Because of its combination of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle, owners can expect various size options for their Goldendoodle.
Since certain sizes can make a dog easier to handle for certain families, it’s important to know just which size is right for you.
How big do Goldendoodles get? The Standard Goldendoodle measures 20 to 24 inches in height and weighs 50 to 90 pounds. The Miniature Goldendoodle measures 17 to 20 inches in height and weighs 40 to 50 pounds. Finally, the Toy Goldendoodle measures 13 to 20 inches in height and weighs 15 to 35 pounds.
So you can see that there is a wide variety here. Anywhere from 15 to 90 pounds is a big difference!
As you’ll learn when raising your puppy, Goldendoodles are not your average dogs.
Because they are a combination of two breeds, traits such as size, coat type, shedding, and even temperament, can vary greatly from dog to dog.
Having a comprehensive guidebook to explain what you can expect can be priceless. That’s why we put together The Owner’s Guide to the Perfect Goldendoodle.
With more than 75 pages packed with facts and practical advice specific to Goldendoodles, all your questions will be answered, all in one place.
It will be the only Goldendoodle resource you’ll need, the book you’ll turn to again and again. Pick up your copy today to ensure you and your puppy get off to the best possible start.
Why are there different sizes? Which is “best”? When will they get to their full size? Let us explain…
How Breeding Affects Goldendoodle Sizes
How large the Goldendoodle becomes is dependent upon its parents. Multigenerational breeding between Goldendoodles is, as of yet, not commonly done.
Most often, you’ll receive a Goldendoodle that was bred from the two species that make up the Goldendoodle–the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
Since Golden Retrievers are usually the same size, the size falls upon what kind of Poodle is used.
There are five versions of the Poodle: Standard, Miniature, Toy, Klein, and Teacup.
When it comes to breeding, the Standard, Miniature, and Toy are the most often used.
The height of your Goldendoodle will be a blend between what kind of Poodle is used and the Golden Retriever. (You can learn all about Golden Retrievers here.)
Standard Poodles can have a height of 20 to 23 inches tall with a weight of 45 to 80 pounds.
Goldendoodles that stem from a Standard Poodle will likely be the taller and heaviest of the versions that you can select from.
Miniature Poodles have a height of 11 to 15 inches tall with a weight of 14 to 18 pounds.
Goldendoodles with this Poodle for a parent will be smaller than their Standard versions. They’ll range somewhere between a small and medium-sized breed.
The Toy Poodle has a height of 8 to 10 inches tall with a weight of 6 to 9 pounds. It’s rare for a Toy Poodle to weight anything more than 10 pounds.
Goldendoodles that utilize a Toy Poodle parent are going to be small.
However, they likely won’t be as small as the actual Toy Poodle because the Golden Retriever’s genes will offset anything too tiny.
The important aspect here is to know the parents of the Goldendoodle that you’re interested in purchasing.
If you want a smaller dog, then you should look for breeders who have Miniature or Toy Poodle parents for Goldendoodles.
This 75+ page book is jam-packed with expert knowledge and real experiences from Goldendoodle owners and breeders alike. Consider this the ultimate owner’s guide for the breed with tips, tricks, and answers to the most frequently asked questions – saving you time, money, and loads of frustration along the way.
Activity Levels And Temperament Based On Size
In general, larger Goldendoodles will have higher exercise requirements than the smaller size versions. That said, they are all active and need daily physical activity to stay healthy and happy.
Size plays a minimal role in terms of activity level when it comes to dogs in general.
More than anything, it’s the breed that determines how active the dog is going to be. This is because certain breeds of dogs were bred to perform specific tasks.
Herders, for example, have a lot of energy because they were bred for running around sheep and herding them.
Hunting dog breeds also have a pretty active energy level because they were bred to chase after animals or to fetch fallen quarries.
In terms of the Goldendoodle, you can expect high activity levels in both the Standard Goldendoodle and the Miniature Goldendoodle, but the larger will have more activity needs.
Poodles can be pretty active themselves, but it’s the Golden Retriever that’s truly responsible for your Goldendoodle’s activity level.
Retrievers are another dog breed that requires a good amount of activity in order to be healthy and happy.
Larger Goldendoodles will have a higher activity level than their Toy counterparts.
This is because Toy breeds aren’t always the most active. They have to expend a lot more energy due to their smaller stature in order to cross the same distance as medium-sized dogs and larger.
However, you should still try to play with and exercise your Toy Goldendoodle for at least 30 minutes.
This variety pack of toys is excellent for Doodles with smaller mouths. Your pup can enjoy chew rings, rope toys, an IQ treat ball, and squeaky toys, all at a bargain price.
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Their age is also a determining factor as to their activity levels. Puppy Goldendoodles will require less activity than when they’re adults.
Puppies have little bursts of energy but then need naps afterward. Since puppies are growing, too much walking and exercise can actually injure their joints and bones.
You should play with your puppy for around 5 to 10 minutes depending on their size, and then allow them to nap it off and restore their energy levels.
You can learn about appropriate forms of exercise for young Goldendoodles and see how their exercise needs change as they grow here.
As adults, Goldendoodles will require exercise based on their size and temperament.
Each dog has its own personality and level of activity. However, all dogs do require some form of physical and mental exercise daily.
We show you how to keep your Goldendoodle active, mentally fit, and happy in this article.
For families who want an active dog, then procuring a larger Goldendoodle may be the best option for you. For those who prefer a quieter dog, then you might want to consider the Toy.
In terms of temperament, again, the breed itself determines the temperament more so than the size.
However, you might find that the larger Goldendoodles are more active and thus more playful than the smaller versions of the Goldendoodle.
They may be more inclined to perform water sports (most Goldendoodles love to swim) and play fetch.
Smaller Goldendoodles are just as friendly, but they may also be more excitable. Toy Poodles, for example, can be quite excited at certain sounds and bark at them.
This behavior may be inherited by your own Toy Goldendoodle. Luckily, it can usually be trained out of them (we explain how here) with a bit of patience and plenty of tasty treats, like these.
Some people assume that the smaller a dog is, the more likely it is that he’ll bark a lot. While this may seem to be true with certain breeds, Goldendoodles are not usually prone to excessive barking.
Did you know that Goldendoodles typically respond quite well to training due to their high intelligence and eagerness to please? It’s true. You can read all about Goldendoodle training here.
Because they enjoy meeting new people, Goldendoodles regardless of size will likely not make for the greatest of guard dogs.
Larger Goldendoodles may walk right up to the intruder and greet them.
Smaller Goldendoodles, due to their barking habits, might bark and rouse the family from sleep, but they’re just as likely to want to make a new friend as their larger counterparts.
(Find pro tips to minimize unwanted barking in this article.)
In all, the Goldendoodle is quite a friendly breed no matter what the size. They’re affectionate, gentle, and make wonderful family dogs.
At What Age Is An Goldendoodle Fully Grown?
The size of the dog does determine at what age it is considered to be fully grown. Smaller dogs require less time to be fully grown because they have to grow less.
All dogs typically see a growth spurt around the six-month mark. However, smaller dogs will usually reach their adult height by that six-month mark whereas larger dogs still have some growing to do.
In terms of the Goldendoodle, the Toy Goldendoodle will reach its adult size before the others.
They’ll likely reach half their adult size around 3 or 4 months, and then reach full height around 6-8 months.
The Miniature Goldendoodle will also reach half of its adult size around the four-month mark. They will reach their full height around 8 to 12 months.
Finally, the Standard Goldendoodle, which has the most growing to do, will likely need a full year in order to reach its maximum height.
(This article will provide you with greater detail as far as Goldendoodle growth is concerned and show you how big you can expect your Doodle to be at maturity._
For dogs in general, one year is often how long it takes for the dog to reach its adult size. Larger dogs require a bit more time.
Once their adult size has been reached, the next few months will be spent filling out. This refers to the development of both muscle and fat that is gained through exercise, play, and feeding.
Related Questions
What Is the Life Expectancy of a Goldendoodle?
Since the Standard Goldendoodle is a medium-sized dog, they typically follow the same lifespan for that size.
Goldendoodles are expected to live anywhere from 10 years to 15 years. With good nutrition, plenty of exercises, and good health in general, your Goldendoodle can live a long and happy life.
How Much Attention Do Goldendoodles Need?
Because they are active, intelligent, and social dogs, Goldendoodles need a lot of attention. In terms of play, they at least need 30 minutes outside with exercise.
In terms of attention and affection, you’ll find that the Goldendoodle loves cuddles (find tips on helping your dog learn to love cuddling here) and pets as often as you can give them.
At What Age Is a Standard Goldendoodle Full Grown?
Standard Goldendoodles typically reach their full height around one year of age. The remaining months are spent filling that height out.
Because Standard Goldendoodles are larger than other versions of Goldendoodles, it may take a little longer than a year for them to reach their full height.
There is so much to learn about Goldendoodles! You’ll find more than 30 articles on our Goldendoodle page to enjoy. Click here to access them all.
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 20:35 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
