Golden Retriever vs Goldendoodle

A Golden Retriever
Photo: Johan Spaedtke
A Goldendoodle
Photo: Nullterminator

Side by side

Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
Adult weight
Males 29–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29 kg (55–65 lb)1
8.7–30 kg (19–66 lb) (estimated: GANA's size categories are open at both ends, so the band runs 30% past each)
Height
Males 56–61 cm; females 51–56 cm2
Males 35.6–63 cm; females 35.6–63 cm (registry figure)3
Lifespan
Median 13.2 years4
No sourced figure
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs2
Non-sporting (AKC)
Coat
Coat with feathering2
No sourced figure
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
No sourced figure
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
Plenty
No sourced figure
Health
Blood blister in the ear flap (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)6,7
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Goldendoodle comes in a wide range of sizes, 8.7–30 kg (19–66 lb) as an adult, against 25–34 kg (55–75 lb) for the Golden Retriever.
Temperament
They differ most on activity (Golden Retriever: needs lots of exercise; Goldendoodle: a good daily walk and play) and on loyalty (Golden Retriever: friendly with everyone; Goldendoodle: bonded to its family).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Golden Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The Golden Retriever's temperament is friendly, intelligent and devoted. It is eager to please, gentle, keen to work alongside people and seldom a good guard dog.

Goldendoodle
Non-sporting · Medium

In temperament the Goldendoodle is typically friendly, gentle and sociable with people and with other dogs, and is seldom much of a guard. It is intelligent and responsive to training.

The Golden Retriever page →The Goldendoodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Golden Retriever grows to the heavier adult, about 29 kg against the Goldendoodle's 19 kg. The Goldendoodle's weight is not a published figure.
Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
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More comparisons

Compare the Golden Retriever with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverFlat-Coated Retriever vs Golden RetrieverGolden Retriever vs HovawartGolden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverGolden Retriever vs Great PyreneesAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·