Though a miniature Goldendoodle may be small, their activity level may surprise you. Having owned a Mini Goldendoodle for over 14 years at the time of this writing, I can say for sure that they will keep you on your toes. However, they are not at the same level as their standard counterparts. While they may be active, you won’t have to go out of your way too much to satisfy their physical activity needs.
Mini Goldendoodles are active dogs but they do not have the same physical needs as larger Goldendoodles. They do not make great running or exercise partners but do require daily exercise and playtime. They make great dogs for apartment living since their activity needs can be satisfied easily with short walks.
The size of a Mini Goldendoodle can vary with some weighing as little as 15 pounds. The smaller the dog, the easier it will be to satisfy his or her physical needs. No matter the size, they are generally healthy and active and will keep you on your toes. Even though you won’t have as active of a dog on your hands as you would with a larger Goldendoodle, you can still expect a fairly active dog. This is especially true in the younger years. As with any dog, the older the dog gets, the less active they will be.
Are Mini Goldendoodles Hyper?
Sometimes a smaller dog can lean more towards the hyper side. This can also be the case for larger breeds but small dogs are often highly energetic and display an undesired hyper attitude. Is this the case for a Mini Goldendoodle?
A Mini Goldendoodle is usually calm and well-mannered but can have a hyper and anxious temperament. While it’s common for a puppy to be hyper, as a Mini Goldendoodle ages, he or she should become less hyper and have a calmer demeanor.
It’s important to note that because a dog may be active and energetic, they won’t necessarily be hyper. My Mini Doodle is active and has always had lots of energy but she has never been a hyper dog. She was a handful as a puppy but only during playtime.
After playtime was over, she has always been a lap dog that would rather chill with her mom and dad. She is not over the top with her energy level to a point that it causes any problems.
Only thing is, our dog has a protective personality and often barks for no reason other than to alert us of some invisible force. It could be a passing person or a passing leaf blowing in the wind. Whatever it is, she is on top of letting us know about it. She often barks excessively when others are around which can be an undesired behavior.
This is not to say that all Mini Goldendoodles are this way but they do tend to be well-behaved dogs overall.
5 Ways To Exercise Your Mini Goldendoodle
1) Walking Your Mini Goldendoodle
The best way to exercise a Mini Goldendoodle will be to take it for long walks. These walks should be brisk but not too fast for their little legs to keep up. Depending on the size of the Doodle, it may have a difficult time with fast walks or slow jogs. You’ll need to be mindful of this as you walk and make sure they are not falling back and having a difficult time. Your Mini Doodle will likely be like mine and be one step ahead of you the entire time.
This was true when my dog was younger but as she has aged, she has gradually slowed down and has become a great walker. I can always expect her to be right by my side as we walk and she only pulls ahead when I allow her to by releasing her extendable leash. She listens for the release and when she hears it, she runs ahead of me and enjoys her freedom for a few minutes.
At 14 years old, she can still go on a 3-mile brisk walk and still have lots of energy after we are finished. She is in great shape and has stayed active her entire life so she is used to these kinds of walks.
In general, Mini Goldendoodles should go on walks every day. This will depend on the energy level of your dog but is usually a great way to keep them active and healthy.
2) Playing Fetch With a Mini Goldendoodle
If your Mini Doodle is anything like mine, it won’t care a thing in the world about playing fetch. You can throw something but you will likely never see it again unless you go pick it up yourself. She will go get it but she will run off with it and expect you to chase her rather than bringing it back to you. I can’t speak for all Mini Goldendoodles but mine is not a fetcher.
If your dog does like to play fetch, it’s a great way for them to stay active. This is great to play outdoors or indoors and offers some exercise no matter where you are. If you are in an area where you can play outdoors, your dog can get quite tired from running and bringing back whatever you are throwing. This is a great way to satisfy the physical needs of your Doodle.
3) Hide & Seek
Although my dog does not care for playing fetch, she loves to play hide and seek with me. We have a fantastic time inside playing this daily. She runs throughout the house trying to find me as I sneak off and hide. I usually whistle and make noises to give her a hint about which side of the house I am on. She does a great job at finding me but it usually involves her running around the house and up and down the stairs before she realizes where I am.
Of course, with her high intelligence, she has discovered almost all of my hiding spots and checks on each one of them every time I hide. I’m running out of places to hide but it is still fun to hide from her and watch her wander around curiously about where I am at. She gets great exercise doing this and it’s a great way to keep your dog active when you can’t be outdoors. Of course, you can also play hide and seek outdoors if you have space and the obstacles to hide behind.
4) Playing With Toys
Playing with toys can be a fun way to keep your dog active. My dog runs to her toybox in the evening expecting me to get her a toy out and play with her. She usually takes the toy and runs around the house expecting me to chase her. Since she does not fetch, I have to be the one to run around with her trying to take her prized possession from her. She loves doing this and also gets great exercise from it. She will run around the house, jump up on the couch, chairs, and other areas in an attempt to get away from me.
If I quit playing with her, but she still wants to play, she will gently bring her toy to me and push it up against my leg wanting me to continue playing with her. This is a great exercise for her and sometimes for me as well. If you have multiple dogs, they can satisfy some of their energy needs by playing with each other.
There are many toys that are designed to keep your dog busy physically as well as mentally.
5) Agility Training
Perhaps one of the best ways to add additional activity to an active dog’s life is through agility training. Agility training is great for stimulating the mind and it’s also a great workout for dogs and humans alike. Not only that but it’s also a great way to bond with your dog and train them to be obedient to your voice and commands.
Agility courses don’t have to be anything fancy. You don’t need to set up a professional course in your backyard. In fact, you don’t have to do it in your backyard. With a Mini Goldendoodle, you can set up obstacles in your home that will serve as a way for your dog to add activity and mental stimulation to their day. You don’t need anything special or expensive to do this. The video below shows how you can set up a simple agility course in your home using common household items.
An indoor agility course will work great for a smaller dog like a Mini Goldendoodle. It’s great for getting in some additional exercise without having to leave the house. It’s perfect for cold, rainy days when you aren’t able to take your dog for a walk.
Bottom Line
While a Mini Goldendoodle is an active and healthy dog, don’t expect it to be your running partner. My Mini Goldendoodle can run in short spurts with me but I’d never take her running for long distances. Her little legs are only 8 inches long and she stands at a height of 12 1/2 inches at the shoulders. A brisk walk with a few short runs thrown in from time to time is plenty to exhaust her energy reserves.
This is great news for anyone looking for a smaller dog who doesn’t need excessive amounts of exercise. Our dog enjoys her regular walks but we also find other ways to satisfy her activity needs. The items listed above are things we have tried and do regularly and suggest for others who own a dog of this size.