Goldendoodle types- The 12 colors & coat types Guide

Designer dogs like the Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and others have increasingly become popular among dog lovers.

Several variations of these popular doodles have also popped up, a great example being the Goldendoodle that has had more than 12 variations based on coat type, coat color, and overall size.

These types of Goldendoodle are what we’ll be looking at in this guide. Let’s dive right in. 

Goldendoodle types overview

Goldendoodle is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle both being very popular dogs. But since they have different genetic makeups, the offsprings may vary widely based on;

• Size
• Color of the coat
• Coat types
• Generations

The variations notwithstanding, you will easily fall in love with these dogs as they are super adorable but are a huge commitment.

You should get the Goldendoodle type best fit for you and one you are ready to take care of.

So, let begin with types of Goldendoodles based on size.

Learn more about this Poodle and Golden Retriever mix.

Goldendoodle sizes

The Poodles and Golden Retriever mix can come in 3 different sizes as summarized below;

Standard Goldendoodle	Mini Goldendoodle	Toy Goldendoodle
Weight:50-90 pounds	Weight:40-50 pounds	Weight:15-35 pounds
Height:20-24 inches	Height:17 -20 inches	Height:13-18 inches
Cost:$1,500-$2,500	Cost:$1,600-$2,600	Cost:$900-$2400
Lifespan:10-15 years	Lifespan:10-15 years	Lifespan:10-15 years

Some Goldendoodle sizes are easier to manage than others and you should get one suitable for your lifestyle.

For example, since the Toy Goldendoodle is not as demanding where exercise is concerned, he is more suited for apartment dwellers. Meanwhile, the Standard Goldendoodle will need the most spaceand exercise of the three and while the Mini Goldendoodle is a nice in-between.

Golden Retriever Poodle mix generations

The Goldendoodle is a crossbreed. His looks and qualities will mainly be affected by the generation as each generation will be genetically different from the other.

The generation of the dog will also affect the initial buying price.

F1 (filial 1) Goldendoodle

The first Goldendoodle generation results from the direct crossing of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. This is known as the F1 Goldendoodle.

It is the generation that forms the foundation for the creation of the F1b Goldendoodle or the first generation backcross.

A first-generation backcross is created when an F1 Golden Poodle is crossed with either a Poodle or a Golden Retriever to emphasize certain qualities.

For example, for a more hypoallergenic and low shedding Golden Poodle, an F1 Golden Doodle is crossed with a Poodle. The result is a mixed dog that is 3/4 Poodles and 1/4 Golden Retriever.

F2 and F2b Goldendoodle

F2 Goldendoodle is the second generation that results from crossing 2 F1 Poodle Retrievers . Their qualities are similar to those of the F1 generation.

The F2b Goldendoodle or the second generation backcross is an offspring of the F1b and the F1 Goldendoodles.

This second-generation backcross is less common but is a great generation.

Doodle generations comparison chart

Goldendoodle colors

Goldendoodle colors are determined by recessive and dominant color genes.

Genetics is a broad topic that is beyond the scope of this guide but I’ll try to make the basics easy to understand.

When you breed two dogs, the offspring will inherit color genes from both parents. A puppy’s final color is determined by how these genes interact.

Dominant genes always beat the recessive genes when it comes to color expression in Goldendoodles with a few exceptions.

For a puppy to have a certain color, he needs recessive genes of the said color from both of the parents. However, if there is a dominant gene for a particular color, that color will be expressed instead.

However, there are cases where a double(2) recessive gene can cause the dilution of the color by the dominant gene.

The common colors and color combinations;

1. Brown Goldendoodles

This is one of the most popular Goldendoodle colors and is described as a dark walnut color to rich and deep mahogany.

You will often see brown Poodle Retrievers around the park or in people’s homes.

This color comes from a dominant gene in the Poodle but in some cases, brown dogs may have silver or black recessive genes.

What this means is that when two brown doodles are mated, there is a possibility of getting either a silver or a black colored Goldendoodle masking the brown coloring.

2. Cream Goldendoodle color

This color is prevalent in multi-colored Goldendoodle coats that can be phantom, merle, or even parti, which we are going to talk about later in this article.

The cream shades in these canines can vary widely and you may often see cream Goldendoodles with lighter toenails, light brown noses, and even lighter eye shades.

However, some could also have pinkish skins under their adorable cream coats.

The chances of spotting cream Goldendoodles with the same looks and shades are low.

3. Red Goldendoodles

Red is the most sought-after color in these Doodles.

One reason for this is the coat’s resemblance to a teddy bear and it’s also the brightest Goldendoodle color.

These dogs are developed by the crossing of a standard-colored Golden Retriever with a darker Poodle producing an offspring with a red mahogany coat.

4. Apricot Goldendoodles

This is another highly sought-after Goldendoodle color. And just like the red Poodle Golden Retriever mix, it’s because of the teddy bear appearance.

You will often see this color in Goldendoodles but in most cases, they may have black patches on body parts such as the eye rims, toenails, noses, and even eyes.

However, as time goes the apricot color becomes lighter making the Doodle look more like a Cream Goldendoodle.

5. Black Goldendoodles

The Black Goldendoodle is a unique and playful Doodle.

This coat color is got by crossing two dogs carrying the black recessive gene. Both the Poodle and the Golden Retriever need to be carriers of the black recessive gene.

Compared to other colors, this coloring is quite rare.

In most cases, this canine friend should be almost fully black on the whole body.

Learn more about the Black Goldendoodle in this guide.

6. Tan Goldendoodles

This coat color in Doodles is often got from the combination of the cream and Apricot Goldendoodle.

You may see some lighter apricot or white shades on their coats.

7. The Grey Goldendoodle variation

These canines are often born with black coats which begin to fade at the age of 2 years.

They look very similar to the rare Silver Goldendoodle which we are going to talk about later in this guide. It is after the 2-year mark that the coat begins to get a rustic silver color and the black coat clears away.

However, by the time they are about 6 weeks old, you should be able to tell if your puppy will turn grey.

8. Blue and silver Goldendoodles

We have already seen that Goldendoodles can come in an insane number of colors. But not many dog lovers know of the rare silver and blue coat colorings.

These colors come when the dominant silver and blue genes mask the recessive genes from being expressed.

Also, keep in mind that these dogs can have a higher price tag when compared to other colors.

9. Parti Goldendoodle color combination

A parti Goldendoodle has two different coat colors which include at least 50% white. The second color can be any color but most of them are either tan or apricot.

Recessive genes are responsible for the parti-color combination which overrides the solid coat color.

Most Parti Goldendoodles are multigeneration doodles with more Poodle genes.

To predict this parti combination earlier, you need a DNA test as predicting it yourself is quite difficult.

10. Sable Goldendoodles

This is one of the most unique Goldendoodle colors but what most people may not know is that they are born with a dark brown or black coat.

As the puppy ages and the coat grows out, these colors fade and eventually mature into a tan or cream-colored coat.

Tips of the white and black Goldendoodle do not fade.

11. Merle Goldendoodles

Merle Goldendoodles occur when Goldendoodles are crossed with other dogs such as the Border Collie or the Australian Shepherd. Thus merle Goldendoodles are not fully Goldendoodles.

The genes that cause the merle color are dominant as opposed to the recessive parti genes.

This means that at least one of the two parents needs to have the merle gene which overrides the solid coat color.

Two Merle Goldendoodles should never be mated as they often bare puppies that are deaf, blind, or with other deformities.

12. Phantom Goldendoodle

These Goldendoodles are considered to be rare.

In this case, the doodle needs to have 2 colors that are in specific parts of the pooch with a primary color that covers most parts of their bodies. This second color may appear on the muzzle, lower parts of the legs, or the eyes.

Most Phantom Goldendoodles are commonly tan and black but may vary at times.

These puppies are born with these markings and it’s easy to tell if your Doodle is going to be phantom. The color combination does not develop over time.

Why is my Goldendoodle’s coat color changing?

Goldendoodle color change is a common occurrence.

Some Goldendoodles are born with solid coat colors that change or fade to a lighter color with age. This is known as “clearing” but when he retains one color to adulthood it is known as “holding.”

The muzzles and ears of a Goldendoodle tend to hold more of the original colors as other parts change.

Goldendoodle coat types

There are 3 Goldendoodle coat types;

• Curly coats
• Wavy or fleece coats
• Straight or hairy coats

Curly Goldendoodle coats

These are some of the curliest Doodle coats and are almost like those of purebred Poodles.

You may not be able to gauge the length of these curly coats as they are very dense but eventually stop growing.

When brushed, this coat type gives that “afro” haircut vibe and is allergy-friendly but no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.

Wavy Goldendoodle coats

This is the most common Goldendoodle coat type and is also referred to as fleece coats.

These coats grow to around 4 to 7 inches long if they are not trimmed but the facial hair is typically shorter.

They are less dense, are low shedding but not as allergy-friendly as the curly coat.

Hairy or straight coat types

This coat type is similar to that of a Golden Retriever and is referred to as loose coats.

These coats are extremely low maintenance but shed more than the other coat types.

This is not the most suitable Goldendoodle for you if you are an allergy sufferer.

What type of coat will my Goldendoodle have?

The genes that the dogs inherit from both the Poodle and Golden Retriever parents will affect the coat type of your Goldendoodle.

However, it can be more challenging to tell what type of coat your doodle is going to have.

A Goldendoodle’s coat may also change as he matures and you will only be sure of his coat type once he is grown to a big boy.

Goldendoodle types and colors summary

There are several possibilities of how a Goldendoodle may turn out after getting him as a puppy.

However, always get your puppy from a good and reputable breeder to reduce the risks of any health complications arising in the future.

We have come to the end of our Doodle variations guide and I hope you found it helpful.

Share your thoughts and questions in the comment section below. 

There you go, WOOF!

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