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Goldendoodle Golden Retriever Mix: Ultimate Breed Guide

Goldendoodle sitting next to a Golden Retriever with text above saying "Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever Mix"

The Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix is a unique twist amongst the Doodle dog world.

Since the explosion in popularity of the Doodle dogs, multiple breed variants have been introduced. This has led to new Doodle x Doodle crosses, also known as Double Doodles.

Generational crosses such as F2, F3, or many other F-variants result in a unique and new “Doodle” spinoff. 

Then there’s what’s known as a “backcross,” which is the Golden Retriever mixed with a Goldendoodle.

I’ll take a closer look at this unique Doodle mix in this article. 

What Is a Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever Mix? 

The Goldendoodle and Golden Retriever mix is the offspring of an original, or F1 Goldendoodle, and a purebred Golden Retriever. These adorable dogs are also known as F1 Goldendoodle Retrievers – or F1b Goldendoodles.

However, it’s worth noting that the F1b moniker is typically reserved for the F1 Goldendoodle backcross. This is where a Goldendoodle is bred back to a Poodle rather than a Golden Retriever.

This is where the “b” in the name comes from, referencing the breeding back to previous generations of the breeds responsible for the original Goldendoodle. 

History of the Parent Breeds

The parents of the F1 Goldendoodle Retriever, the purebred Golden Retriever, and the F1 Goldendoodle each have an exciting and storied history. While it’s not entirely accurate to say that these two dog breeds were accidents – both were unintentional. 

First, let’s look at the dominant parent in this situation – the beloved Golden Retriever. 

Golden Retriever

Artistic rendering of a Golden Retriever dog.
Golden Retrievers are consistently one of the most popular dogs in the U.S.

The history and true origins of the Golden Retriever date back to as early as the 1860s. However, the story of the Golden Retriever began even earlier than this, according to the Golden Retriever Club of America [1]grca.org/about-the-breed/breed-history/the-origins-of-the-golden-retriever-revisited.

Based on information found on the American Kennel Club website, the Golden Retriever was originally a product of the wealthy Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, son of a wealthy banking investor who inherited a generous amount of money [2]ukcdogs.com/standard-poodle.

Because of his love for dogs and bird-hunting, he would go on to acquire several properties with a substantial amount of land.

One, in particular, was a retreat in the Scottish Highlands named Giusachan, which he kept reserved for training hunting dogs to assist in his fowl-hunting ventures. During his youth, he had developed an affinity for dog breeding, a hobby reserved then for the well-to-do. 

As the story goes, the young aristocrat was strolling home one evening and encountered a wavy-coated sporting dog owned by a local merchant who needed to settle a debt – and the rest is history. Ironically, golden-colored sporting dogs weren’t fashionable in those days, as people preferred the black-coated variety.

The dog would come to be named Nous and would eventually be bred with a liver-colored Tweed Water Spaniel, a now-extinct breed. Nous was rumored to be of Russian origin – a story that held for some time until the GRCA conducted further research. 

The result was the longer, wavy, golden hair of Nous, the dog with a mysterious Russian background, with the intelligence and tact of the Tweed Water Spaniel. Ultimately, it was discovered that Nous was bred from a variation of a Red Setter.

Golden Retriever puppy sitting outside with his tongue out.
Golden Retriever puppies are too cute to handle.

This, combined with the liver-colored coat of the Spaniel, and the golden color of Nous, gives the Golden Retriever chances of having anything from brilliant gold to even a darker copper color. 

One owner had this to say regarding his Golden:

“My first dog was a “golden” Retriever with a dark red coat. He was tall and lanky but had that characteristic square head. People always thought he was a red setter, but he came from a breeder and had a documented ancestry.

An unusual example of the breed for sure, especially since he lived to 16 (certainly not due to his diet because I was always sharing my food with him lol). Such wonderful dogs, especially with kids.”                                                                                    

Golden Retrievers are known for their companionship, loyalty, and intelligence. They’re also avid hunters and – all jokes aside, excellent retrievers!

Overall, the Golden Retriever is one of the most loving dogs in existence and makes a great companion or family dog.

Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle with a sweet face posing for a picture with a purple background.
Goldendoodles come in different sizes such as toy, mini, medium, and standard.

The Goldendoodle is a playful breed that displays a perfect mix of the personality traits of its parents, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. These dogs became popular in the early 90s but have existed since as early as the 60s. 

Initially bred as a solution for owners with allergies to dog hair, the Goldendoodle doesn’t shed even a fraction as bad as its Retriever ancestors. Their hair is typically a perfect blend of the parents, growing in mid-length curls that aren’t quite as tight as the Poodle’s and not nearly as long as a Retriever’s coat. 

Most Goldendoodles have an excellent disposition – a combination of the intelligence of the Poodle and the Golden Retriever form an extremely smart dog with an affinity for quick learning.

They have the loving side of the Golden Retriever, with an equal number of people-pleasing traits from the Poodle, giving them a knack for showing off. 

This makes them even easier to train, and historically, these dogs love to demonstrate new things they’ve learned. This quote from Rover sums the breed up perfectly: 

“Because of their intelligence and people-pleasing manner, well-bred Goldendoodles excel in training. They love being around their people and will work hard alongside you, especially with lots of positive reinforcement.”

Because we covered the Golden Retriever above, we’ll highlight only the other half of the Goldendoodle’s parent breed, the Poodle. 

Poodle

The Poodle is perhaps one of the most misrepresented breeds in existence. Many people assume a Poodle to be spoiled, even somewhat snobby, and, if nothing else, extremely high maintenance.

Standard Poodle being a good boy and smiling for a picture.
Poodles originated in Germany, not France.

However, Poodles are an incredibly versatile breed with a long history of being excellent service animals.

The standard Poodle was initially bred to hunt waterfowl – which makes a great combination with the excellent retrieving skills of the genetics from the other side of the gene pool. The ease with which they’re trained also leads to an ideal training experience with the offspring Goldendoodle. 

They have very little aggression towards other dogs and owners, which makes learning in a dog school or having them train with other members of your canine family very stress-free. Be prepared for laughter – the Poodle can also be an extremely goofy breed.

This comes from their affinity for pleasing their owners – they’re in constant show-off mode and love to get a laugh out of an audience. If there were a breed you could compare to a comedian or actor – it would certainly be the Poodle [3]youtube.com/watch?v=_Pw-39u9344.

A woman holding a white Mini Poodle in her arms.
Mini Poodles were bred down from the Standard Poodle.

The Poodle has its roots as a swimmer, as noted by their webbed paws, and generally loves the water.

The following quote from an owner speaks volumes about the value of this versatile breed: 

“They are amazing dogs. I recommend having multiple, as they are very social animals. You can get larger or smaller, depending on the breeder, as well as different colors, including multicolor (parti).

Best advice I got was to make sure you go to a reputable breeder. Poodles were insanely popular in the mid-twentieth century, and were overbred.

So, you need to make sure all the proper precautions were taken to minimize health issues. Amazing, amazing dogs.” 

Now, let’s dive into the other features of the Golden Retriever and Goldendoodle mix. 

Appearance

The appearance of the Golden Retriever and Goldendoodle mix is less versatile than the Goldendoodle itself or other Doodle breeds, but it still has various physical traits. 

Coat Type

The coat of the Goldendoodle and Retriever mix varies depending on the genetics and coat type of the parents. However, their coats are generally medium in length with extremely light curls. 

When they get wet, their curls are more prevalent. Some of them end up with more of a wavy coat instead of a curl – but both are possible.

What’s interesting is that despite the added length and thickness, they still don’t shed nearly as bad as the purebred Golden Retriever, making them an excellent choice for any family with allergy issues. 

Coat Colors

The Goldendoodle Retriever generally has anywhere from a darker copper to an extremely light blonde, almost white color. Their parents ultimately dictate their shade – listed below are the potential colors of the parents: 

  • Red
  • Brown
  • Gray
  • Copper
  • Liver-colored
  • Golden
  • Blonde
  • Off-white
  • White

Each of these colors comes in varying hues and shades. 

Size

The Goldendoodle Retriever mix is a medium-large to large breed most of the time – although it’s common for some of them to fall into a medium-sized category. 

Height

These dogs usually stay around the same height – although it may fluctuate slightly, they seem to hover within a specific range.

Generally, after total growth is achieved, most of these dogs end up slightly smaller than the average Golden Retriever, or about 18 to 20 inches

Weight

If the Goldendoodle side was bred with a smaller version of the Poodle, expect the Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix to be closer to the 60-70 pound range. However, if the larger Poodle is mixed into the genetics, you could end up with a 90-100-pound pup. 

You’re probably well aware that the Golden Retriever isn’t a small dog by any means – on average, the Retriever weighs anywhere between 60-100 pounds.

The same holds for the Goldendoodle, depending on the parents’ size. Goldendoodles, full-grown, range anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds. The Golden Retriever is typically between 60 and 120 pounds. 

Traits & Characteristics

Visual summary of the traits and characteristics of the Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever cross

Temperament & Personality

This loyal dog’s temperament and personality align with its family members – reliable, intelligent, and sweet disposition.

They’re great family dogs and are known to be gentle with children – and incredibly easy to train. 

Don’t expect them to be aggressive toward humans or other dogs – this makes them fantastic playmates. 

Common Health Issues

Because of their hybrid genetics, these dogs tend to have fewer health problems than other “purebred” variants. However, there’s still the risk of developing issues the parents have, which include: 

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Ear Infections
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Addison’s Disease

Lifespan

Expect the Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix to live between 10 and 15 years with the proper diet and exercise. 

Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever Mix Breeders

One of the primary places to purchase one of these dogs is Aspen Hill Doodles, located in Colorado. Otherwise, you may have to keep your eyes open.

Always ask for the history of the parents and some paperwork. Ensure the parent breeds came from original purebred Poodles and Golden Retrievers, and the current father is a purebred Golden Retriever. 

This is extremely important – otherwise, you could face challenges with the dog later. And, of course, always ensure health standards and shots are up to par, and you’re dealing with a reputable breeder. 

How much does a Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix cost?

Depending on where you find them, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500 for a Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix. 

Is the Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mix a good service dog?

Yes, the Goldendoodle-Golden Retriever mixes make for excellent service dogs. They are well-suited as guide dogs or therapy dogs. Their low-shedding coat is a plus for allergy sufferers needing a service dog.

More Goldendoodle Posts!

Interested in other unique Goldendoodle mixes? You’ll want to check out these unique dogs:


Kevin is a proud Bernedoodle owner and Doodle dog fanatic. Read how a chance encounter with two Bernedoodles spurred a lifelong passion here. If you want to get in contact with Kevin, you can send him a message.

2 thoughts on “Goldendoodle Golden Retriever Mix: Ultimate Breed Guide”

  1. My goldendoodle golden retriever 13 week old puppy was diagnosed with juvenile cellulitis also known as puppy strangles after two different vets examined her at 6 weeks and 12 weeks giving her clean bills of health her in Colorado Springs. Some say it’s genetic from the golden retriever line, and others say this disease’s origins are unknown.

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