A Mini Goldendoodle is a Miniature version of the popular Standard Goldendoodle which is a mixture between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The Miniature version of this crossbreed is bred using a Miniature Poodle which results in a smaller dog.
I have been blessed to have a Mini Goldendoodle in my life for the past 14 years. She has been an absolute joy. She has been one of the best things that I have ever had in my life. All of the years that I have been blessed to spend with her have taught me a lot about her and the nature of the crossbreed.
I have a list of reasons why a Mini Goldendoodle might also be right for you. If you are seeking a Poodle mix and Goldendoodles or Mini Goldendoodles have crossed your mind, you might want to consider the following before deciding on whether a Mini Goldendoodle is right for you or not.
1. You Like Small Dogs – Perfect Lap-Sized
The most obvious reason that a Mini Goldendoodle may be right for you is that you want a smaller sized dog. If you like the standard breed and the hypoallergenic qualities often found in the dog but want a smaller version, the Miniature version may be right up your alley. Not everyone wants a large dog and not everyone wants a small dog. Fortunately, dogs come in every shape and size and the Mini Goldendoodle is the perfect example of a small lap-sized dog that will be a pleasure for anyone who wants a dog that is on the smaller side of the scale.
With most Mini Goldendoodles ranging from 15 to 35 pounds, this dog isn’t tiny but it isn’t large either. My Mini Goldendoodle weighs around 18 pounds and she is the perfect size to sit on my lap, lay on my chest, and keep me warm on a cold winter day. She is small enough to pick up and pack around with no issues. She is also too small to jump onto counters and get into mischievous trouble. However, that’s not to say that she doesn’t do any mischievous work. In her younger days, she found other ways to be mischievous and she often outsmarted me in the process.
With a large dog, you may have to be a little more in control of your countertops and spaces where a large dog could easily climb up onto.
2. You Want A Dog That Sheds Very Little
Most Mini Goldendoodles will shed very little and are often considered hypoallergenic. While I wouldn’t say that any dog is 100% hypoallergenic, the Mini Goldendoodle certainly is great for those who don’t want dogs that shed or who may have allergic reactions to pet dander.
I have always been allergic to dogs and cats and had a lot of problems with it growing up since we often had pets in our house. However, I have never had an issue with my Mini Goldendoodle so her hypoallergenic qualities have been great for me. She does not shed and leave hair all over furniture or all over your clothes. Some people don’t mind this but if you’d rather have a non-shedding pet, this crossbreed may be a great solution for you.
A Mini Goldendoodle will typically shed less than most dogs since it maintains the qualities of the Poodle. Poodles do not have an undercoat and shed very little. Their shedding consists of small amounts of hair that falls out from time to time, similar to humans.
This isn’t the case with all of them and certain first generations will likely shed more than first generation backcross doodles. Backcross Doodles have more Poodle mixed in so the hypoallergenic nature of the Poodle is often inherited with the Mini Goldendoodle.
3. You Want A Healthy Dog
The Mini Goldendoodle is generally very healthy and might only be predisposed to a few health issues. These include Von Willebrands, joint dysplasia, allergies, and ear infections to name a few. My Mini Goldendoodle has lived a long and healthy life and has only been sick a few times. For the most part, her sicknesses have been caused by vaccine reactions and she has had numerous urinary tract infections which are often common in female dogs. These are generally simple to combat with a round of antibiotics.
Another potential problem that you might have to watch out for is ear infections. Since these types of dogs have ears that flop over and cover up their ear canals, it’s often a place for bacteria to grow and cause infections. My dog had a lot of issues with her ears when she was younger but as she has aged and we understand better how to maintain her ears, she hasn’t had an ear infection in a long time. Occasionally, after a bath or other activity that might leave dampness inside her ears, she does come up with an infection but if caught in time, it’s easy to remedy the problem before it gets out of hand.
We have used various natural products to help her to avoid ear infections. Other than that, Mini Goldendoodles tend to be healthy and active for a small dog.
4. You Want A Dog With A Long Lifespan
Indeed, a smaller dog often has a longer lifespan than a larger one. A Mini Goldendoodle can usually be expected to live 15 years or more. My dog is currently 14 years old and has shown no signs of slowing down yet. I know that health problems can sometimes come on suddenly and anything can happen and I shudder to think about the time when she has reached the end of her life.
However, it is a fact of life and none of us will escape the end of this wild ride. This is true with dogs as well as humans or any other animal that walks the earth. A smaller dog will generally outlive a larger dog as long as they are healthy throughout their lives.
Of course, there are outliers and some large dogs live very long lives. You just really never know but the only thing you can do is work with the cards that you are dealt. Keeping your dog as healthy as possible will go a long way towards ensuring that they can live as long as they can.
5. You Want A Dog With A Loving Temperament
A Mini Goldendoodle has such a loving temperament and is a very loyal breed. They inherit the qualities of both breeds from which they come from. They are cuddle bugs and some of them, but not all, love to cuddle. My dog is one that would rather be left alone but she does have her moments. She chooses the time that she wants cuddling and it’s always easy to tell when she is okay with it. After 14 years with her, it is easy to see when she has chosen to show us her loving temperament.
Either way, whether she wants to cuddle or not, her loving temperament always shows through and we know without a doubt that she loves and admires us.
6. You Don’t Need A Protective Watchdog
While a Mini Goldendoodle might inherit some of the protective qualities of a Poodle, they are generally more bark than bite. Don’t expect them to be the guard dog that is going to protect your house. They often have a loud bark but there is not much bite to go along with it.
It is often funny to watch my dog bark at things and attempt to protect us knowing that if something were to happen, she would probably depend on us to protect her instead. However, she means well and we certainly appreciate it. We know that she is not a guard dog and we don’t expect her to be. She is a large part of our family and we love and care for her and we are committed to protecting her instead.
She is very good at alerting us to noises or any other strange energies or people that might be around. In a way, this does provide us with protection as she quickly alerts us of possible problems.
7. You Want A Dog That Is Easy To Train
If you don’t have experience training a dog, you will have an easy time with a Mini Goldendoodle. Their intelligence level is off the charts and they respond to training very well. We were able to train our dog very quickly and teach her to do the basics and even more advanced commands.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all Mini Goldendoodles will be super easy to train. After all, each one is an individual and has a different personality just like humans. No two are the same so yours may not respond to training as well as mine. In general, you can expect this breed to be easy to train in basic and advanced commands.
8. You Don’t Need A Super Active Dog
Mini Goldendoodles are active but since they are a small breed, they are not ones who will go jogging long distances with you. Their little legs can only go so fast whereas a big dog will have more energy and have an easier time with keeping up on a jog or other activity. The little legs of a Miniature Goldendoodle will not be ideal for someone who wants an active dog that will be a jogging partner.
This doesn’t mean that they are not active at all. I am an active person myself and jog often. I walk my dog regularly and sometimes we go through spurts of running. However, it isn’t very far and during the short spurts, she is able to outrun me. She gets plenty of exercise on a short walk. She runs and plays in our backyard which is plenty for her energy needs. If you have a large dog, it may be more difficult to suit the needs for them in order to release their energy. With a larger dog, you may find yourself having to go on long walks multiple times a day.
9. You Want A Dog That Can Travel Easily
Having a smaller dog typically means having an easier time when traveling with that dog. If you intend to take your dog with you, they may be able to fly with you in the airplane cabin. Driving with them will also be an easier task. A smaller dog is easier to manage and some travel restrictions require your dog to be less than a certain size.
However, just know that some dogs aren’t going to be good travelers. My dog doesn’t like to travel at all. She does not like riding in cars and it is often a stressful experience for her. We take her on trips as little as possible because it generally makes our trips more stressful. I can’t imagine how much that would be magnified if we had a dog that was two or three times her size.
10. You Want A Dog That Is Low Maintenance
A Goldendoodle does require some maintenance which includes brushing, grooming, and bathing regularly. The bigger the dog the more labor-intensive this will be. Whether you do it yourself or have it done by a professional, the process will be easier with a smaller dog.
The price of a professional groomer will be less and the amount of time that you will have to spend on the job will be significantly less as well. Either way, as long as you keep up with the hair and do not let it get out of hand, either is easy to maintain. Of course, there are always exceptions and different types of coats may require more work than others.
We have always done the grooming work ourselves for our dog. It isn’t always but I often think about how much more difficult it would be if she was a larger dog. The haircut, bath, and other routine maintenance would take a lot more time.
Bottom line
The Goldendoodle breed is an excellent breed that is generally a pleasure to own. The Miniature version is better in some ways especially if you are seeking a smaller dog but want the same qualities are often found in the big dogs.
A Mini Goldendoodle is right for you if you want a small dog that has the qualities listed above. They make great companions and I have been blessed to have my Bailey as a valuable family member for over 14 years now. I can’t imagine life without her. The joy and happiness that she has brought to my life has made any negative part of the experience worthwhile.