Mini Goldendoodle Pros And Cons

Being the proud owner of a Mini Goldendoodle, I have come to love this crossbreed more and more each day. I have often written about my dog on this website and her crazy antics that keep me entertained regularly. Having owned my Mini Doodle for over 14 years now, I would like to discuss some of the pros and cons of this amazing crossbreed.

A Mini Goldendoodle is an exceptional pet that will be a loving member of any family. They fit in well with most anyone and are great for families with children or those seeking a smaller dog. They are small and less active than a Standard Goldendoodle making them great for apartment living.

While it’s difficult to bring up anything bad about my dog, I’ll try to bring up some qualities about the breed that might be considered negative.

If you are seeking a Mini Goldendoodle or a better understanding of the breed before committing, hopefully, the pros and cons list below will give you some food for thought. These are my thoughts but they are based on my day-to-day experience with a Mini Goldendoodle that has been a large part of my family since she was 7 weeks old. She is now well into her senior years and has become one of the biggest blessings of my life.

Pros

They Are Small

Some people like big dogs and won’t even consider a smaller one. However, a smaller dog has some benefits over a larger one. Our Mini Goldendoodle weighs in at around 18 pounds and she’s the perfect lap size dog. She doesn’t always like to sit in our laps but when she does, she does so without making it uncomfortable. She will lay on your chest as you sleep and ask you to pick her up regularly. This can all be done without making it hard to breathe or throwing your back out.

Besides that, a small dog is easy to travel with, requires less food and water, has less energy, and requires less grooming as we’ll discuss next.

They Have Less Hair To Maintain

If you are concerned about maintaining your dog’s hair, a Mini Goldendoodle will make a great option. Since they are so small, their hair is more manageable than that of their larger counterparts. The larger the dog, the more hair you will have to contend with.

People often take their Goldendoodle to the groomer regularly but I have never found this to be necessary with my dog. She would be quite stressed on a groomer’s table with a complete stranger. It’s better that we do it at home regularly in a place she knows and around people that make her feel safe.

Of course, cutting her hair is one thing. Maintaining it in-between cuts is another. This isn’t difficult to do either although if you don’t keep up on it, it will develop mats and lose the shine if not bathed enough. You’ll have all of these same issues with a larger dog but with the Mini, you’ll have less of it, making it easy to work with.

They Don’t Shed Very Much

You are probably already aware of the non-shedding nature of this crossbreed. Depending on the generation of Mini Goldendoodle you have, you are likely to see a low-shedding dog or one that barely sheds at all. As an example, an F1B Mini Goldendoodle will be comprised of 75% Poodle and will inherit the non-shedding nature of that breed. An F1 Mini Goldendoodle will have 50% Poodle so it won’t inherit as much of the genetic makeup.

In this example, the F1B will likely shed less. Our Mini Goldendoodle is an F1B and I can say from experience that she barely sheds at all. She can sit in your lap or lay on your chest and you won’t have to worry about getting the lint roller out afterward. This can be great for those who have allergies.

They Are Mostly Hypoallergenic

Being a severe allergy sufferer for most of my life, I can attest to the hypoallergenic quality of this type of dog. Since there isn’t much shedding, there isn’t much dander flying around the air. This perfect for those who want a dog but suffer from allergies.

Just know that no dog is going to be completely hypoallergenic. Also, some people may be affected more than others. The more a dog sheds, the more it will create a problem for those with allergies so keep this in mind when considering the generation of dog.

They Are Active, But Not Too Active

Need a dog that will get you out of the house but won’t require you to jog for miles and miles with them? A Mini Goldendoodle has some energy for sure but they can generally work it off with a short brisk walk. They will also benefit from a fenced yard where they can go out and play.

Our dog gets some exercise chasing rabbits and birds around our back yard. She can’t catch them and I think she knows that by now but she loves to hunt for them, sneak upon them, and then take off in a full sprint towards them.

This keeps her both entertained and exercised. It also is a great way for her to make use of her instincts of hunting down prey. Between our short walks, which are usually a mile or less, and her playtime in the backyard, she is usually spent. This makes for a calmer and more well-behaved dog in the end.

They Tend To Be Very Healthy

It is well-known that crossbreeds tend to be healthier than their parent breeds. A Mini Goldendoodle is no exception and you can expect a healthy pup other than a few issues that could develop. Fortunately, our dog has been very healthy her whole life with only the smallest issues occasionally that any dog could be susceptible to.

There are a few serious problems that could show up including the following:

• Hip dysplasia
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Hereditary cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Addison’s disease

Fortunately, many diseases can be tested for and a breeder should always include a proper health check.

It’s also helpful to have a DNA test done on your dog if you really want to discover any red flags.

However, no matter how good the health report is on a puppy, you never know what will develop as the dog ages. That’s just a risk you’ll have to take no matter what the breed.

They Are Extremely Smart

I have written before about how smart my Mini Goldendoodle is. She almost seems human at times with the way she understands us. She is calculating and seems to think through situations and act accordingly in a way that will benefit her the most. We have always been impressed with how smart Mini Goldendoodles are and their ability to learn nearly anything you want to teach them.

Every dog will be different so my experience may not be what you will experience. However, I have never met an owner of one who didn’t brag about their intelligence level.

They Form a Strong Bond And Are Very Loyal

As with many dogs, Mini Goldendoodles form strong bonds with their families and become an integral part of it. They are loyal and will be protective of those who are part of their pack. They don’t pose much of a threat to strangers and aren’t good guard dogs but they will put themselves in harm’s way to protect the ones they love.

We have a deep bond with our dog and you can always find her near us. She follows us around everywhere we go and seems to admire us. We are her best friends and we are proud to call her our best friend as well.

They Are Great With Children

In our experience, these dogs are excellent with children. For the most part, our dog is gentle and welcoming and will bond with a child just as much as with adults. A lot of this will depend on the environment the dog is raised in. If your Mini Doodle is raised with children, they will likely be more accepting of them. On the other hand, if there are no children in your household, they may be skittish of them when they do encounter them.

Just remember that it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure children are not doing things that will make the dog react in a bad way.

As long as your child shows respect and love to a Mini Goldendoodle, the dog will give that love back tenfold.

They Get Along With Other Pets

Our dog likes cats more than she does other dogs but she gets along just fine with either. We often babysit other dogs in my family and they just lounge around together. Our dog is a senior so she’d rather just have her space at this point. She wants to chill and does get a little grumpy if a young puppy annoys her too much. However, for most of her life, she has gotten along well and has played with other pets with no issues.

They Live Longer

When comparing the Miniature Goldendoodle to a larger one, you will find a longer lifespan. This is great since time is so precious and it slips away so fast. The Mini Goldendoodle is expected to live about 10 – 15 years on average. This time goes by quicker than you might think. However, having longer to spend with your best friend is welcomed even if it’s just a little bit.

A lifespan is just an average and any dog can develop health issues that rob them of life. However, the opposite is also true. A dog may be so healthy that they continue to live far beyond what the lifespan would suggest. We all want our dogs to live as long as possible and a small dog will generally outlive a larger one.

Cons

Their Coat Requires Maintenance

Unlike a dog that has shedding fur and doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, a Mini Goldendoodle will require some upkeep. This was listed as a pro above since they are small and their coat is much easier to manage than a larger Goldendoodle. However, it still requires you to maintain it.

This means you will need to tackle the challenge yourself or spend money for a groomer regularly. Even though they are small and easy to manage, you must stay on top of this if you expect them to have a healthy coat.

They Tend To Be Barkers

Perhaps Mini Goldendoodles love the sound of their own voice. They like it and they want to make sure everyone around them gets a chance to hear it. Well, maybe it’s not that bad but they do tend to bark at situations a little more than they should. Our dog barks at people walking by our house, something moving in the distance, family hugs, and when we are playing.

However, it’s important to note that while our dog does bark more than we would like at times, she doesn’t bark when outside to the point where she is a nuisance to neighbors. She rarely barks when out in the back yard and we correct her when it happens. She’s also not a yapper. She has a strong, loud, ear-piercing bark that can be quite startling when inside the house or other closed areas.

They Often Have Separation Anxiety

Mini Goldendoodles bond closely with their family and don’t like to be excluded. They want to be right in the middle of it all and have a say. This can be a problem when you need to go somewhere without them. They may resort to destructive behaviors while you are gone as a way to ease their anxiety.

Our dog has never damaged anything or shown any behavior like this. She does cry a lot of the time we are gone, as we have heard while monitoring her on camera.

The real problem for us has been leaving our dog with family while we vacation. She has bonded so closely with us that even time with her grandparents doesn’t satisfy her. She misses us and cries for us the entire time we are gone. Once we return and reunite, she is back to normal and can finally relax again.

They Are Expensive

There is no doubt that this crossbreed has become very expensive. They’ll continue to get more and more expensive as long as people will keep buying them. Some pay multiple thousands of dollars for these dogs and it’s not that they aren’t worth every penny.

The real issue is that there are so many homeless dogs that go unwanted in this world. Even Goldendoodles and other mixed Poodle breeds are looking for adoption while designer dogs fetch such a steep price.

They Tend To Be Jealous

Jealousy is common in dogs especially those that bond closely to their family. They become such a part of the family that they get jealous when outsiders enter the scene. Our dog wants our attention anytime we are around strangers or other family members trying to have a conversation.

This can sometimes be annoying as she wants to be picked up, or brings us a toy and won’t leave us alone until we acknowledge her and play with her. She has to be the center of attention or she causes a fuss about it.

I often find this funny but it’s bad behavior that is best corrected at a young age.

They Don’t Live Long Enough

A small, healthy dog like a Miniature Goldendoodle tends to live longer than a larger Goldendoodle or any other large dog. However, it’s still not enough. Of course, this isn’t a negative to this type of dog alone but with any dog. Dogs are only here with us for a short while and it just isn’t fair that they have to move on so early. I wish it were not so but what can we do?

Summary

A Mini Goldendoodle makes a great family pet and will offer so many benefits for those looking for a small dog. You’ll be surprised by how smart they are and how easily they can pick up most anything you teach them. Even as a senior, our dog is still learning new things.

You can definitely teach old Miniature Goldendoodles new tricks!

If you are interested in making one of these fine dogs a part of your family, make sure you have done your homework. I am amazed at how smart these dogs are but remember that they are still dogs. You will have to train them and take the bad with the good. Raising and owning a dog isn’t an easy task and if you expect it to be a well-trained and highly-functioning member of your family, you’ll need to put in the work.

See if you can find one at your local shelter or other rescue organization before seeking out a breeder. If you choose to go with a breeder, be sure to find a reputable and honest one. There are a lot of bad breeders out there so it will be helpful if you can seek out other owners of this type of dog and get recommendations.