Golden Retriever vs Goldendoodle
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Golden Retriever | Goldendoodle | |
|---|---|---|
| A cross of | Purebred | Golden Retriever and Poodle |
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 24.9 to 34 kg | 22.7 to 40.8 kg |
| In pounds | 55 to 75 lb | 50 to 90 lb |
| Adult height | 55 to 61 cm | 51 to 61 cm |
| Energy | High | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | High |
| Coat | Medium double | Medium wavy to curly |
| Shedding | High | Not published |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 15 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | United States |
The main differences
- They are about the same size: the Golden Retriever is 24.9 to 34 kg and the Goldendoodle 22.7 to 40.8 kg.
- Both have high energy in their published profiles.
- The Goldendoodle takes more grooming (high) than the Golden Retriever (moderate).
- The Goldendoodle usually lives longer: 10 to 15 years against 10 to 12 years.
Temperament
Golden Retriever: Kindly, friendly and confident, biddable and intelligent with natural working ability.
Goldendoodle: The Goldendoodle is friendly, biddable and family oriented, and does well in obedience and agility work. They need 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day and are prone to separation anxiety if left alone for long stretches.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Golden Retriever
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Progressive retinal atrophy (GR_PRA1 and GR_PRA2), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Ichthyosis (ICT-A), detectable by DNA test on both parents
Goldendoodle
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by OFA or PennHIP radiographs
- Subaortic stenosis and other heart disease, picked up as a murmur on auscultation and confirmed by echocardiogram
- Progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and glaucoma, found on a veterinary eye examination and by DNA test where the variant is known
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, an emergency recognised by retching, pacing and a distended abdomen
- Cancers including lymphoma and haemangiosarcoma from the Golden Retriever side, diagnosed by imaging and biopsy
- Hypothyroidism, diagnosed on a thyroid blood panel
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Golden Retriever or the Goldendoodle?
They are about the same size. Adults weigh 24.9 to 34 kg for the Golden Retriever and 22.7 to 40.8 kg for the Goldendoodle, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Golden Retriever or the Goldendoodle?
The published life expectancy is 10 to 12 years for the Golden Retriever and 10 to 15 years for the Goldendoodle. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Golden Retriever or the Goldendoodle better with children?
They score the same: reliably good with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- royalkennelclub.com for the Royal Kennel Club exercise or grooming band, used where it asks for more than the AKC score
- petmd.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes