Mini Goldendoodle vs. Mini Labradoodle: The Differences (With Pictures)
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If you’re looking for a small, lovable dog that’s highly intelligent, loves being around you, and is relatively easy to train, the Mini Goldendoodle and the Mini Labradoodle are both excellent (and surprisingly similar) choices. They’re designer dogs bred from Miniature Poodles and Golden or Labrador Retrievers, and they exhibit the traits that make their parent breeds some of the most popular, including their affectionate nature, intelligence, and eager-to-please attitudes.
Are there differences between the two breeds? Yes, but not many, as they have very similar bloodlines and gene pools. Still, there are a few slight differences between the Mini Labradoodle and the Mini Goldendoodle, all of which you will discover below. To find out more and make your decision about which dog to choose a little easier, read on!
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Average height (adult): 13–20 inches
- Average weight (adult): 15–35 pounds
- Lifespan: 12–16 years
- Exercise: < 1 hour a day
- Grooming needs: Moderate to high
- Family-friendly: Yes
- Other pet-friendly: Often
- Trainability: Easily trainable but can become destructive when not trained correctly
- Average height (adult): 14–24 inches
- Average weight (adult): 15–30 pounds
- Lifespan: 12–14 years
- Exercise: 1.5 + hours a day
- Grooming needs: Moderate to high
- Family-friendly: Yes
- Other pet-friendly: Usually
- Trainability: Trains easily, but training sessions should be kept short
Mini Goldendoodle Overview
Mini Goldendoodle Overview
Personality
One of the main reasons Mini Goldendoodles are so popular is that they’ve inherited the wonderful traits of their parent breeds: the Golden Retriever and Miniature Poodle. Mini Goldendoodles are affectionate, people-oriented canines that thrive on interaction with their family members. They form extremely strong bonds with them and get along well with other pets and dogs.
Training
The same reason Mini Goldendoodles are so sweet is also why they’re so easy to train; their parent breeds are both easy to train. Mini Goldendoodles are the epitome of “eager-to-please” dogs, and because of their high intelligence levels, they learn new commands and tricks quickly and easily. One thing to note, however, is that a Mini Goldendoodle can become distracted quite easily. That’s why it’s best to keep training sessions short and sweet.
Health Issues
The good news is that Mini Goldendoodles don’t suffer from many health issues. The most common health issues your Mini Goldendoodle will likely face include the following:
- Hip dysplasia: This common health issue affects the hip joint and makes it painful for your dog to walk and run.
- Von Willebrand’s disease: This is a condition that prevents your dog’s blood from clotting if they get injured, thus causing them to bleed excessively.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: This degenerative eye disease affects the photoreceptors in your dog’s eyes and can cause blindness.
- Patellar luxation: When one or both of the patellas over your dog’s knee joints are dislocated, it can be as painful as hip dysplasia.
Grooming
Because of their Miniature Poodle bloodlines, Mini Goldendoodles are nearly hypoallergenic and shed very little. However, they need daily brushing to prevent their coat from becoming tangled and matted. Grooming sessions with a pro dog groomer should also be arranged at least once a month.
Suitable for:
Mini Goldendoodles are incredible little dogs with bright, friendly, and affectionate attitudes, tons of energy, and a high level of devotion to their pet parents. They are also easy to train and, because of these reasons, make excellent first-time pets.
Small and large families will love owning a Mini Goldendoodle, as well as singles and seniors. However, you should keep in mind that they need a lot of attention and exercise. If you’re away from home many hours a day, a Mini Goldendoodle might not be a good choice because it can become destructive if left to its own devices.
- Affectionate and adorable
- Low maintenance
- High energy, love to play
- Shed very little, almost hypoallergenic
- Make wonderful family pets
- Expensive
- Can have health issues if bred by a disreputable breeder
- They tend to bark a lot
- Prone to separation anxiety
Mini Labradoodle Overview
Personality
Like the Mini Goldendoodle, the Mini Labradoodle is an affectionate, happy dog with a beautiful attitude. You can thank the Labrador Retriever and Miniature Poodle for those traits, of course, and also for your Mini Labradoodle’s friendly nature. One difference between the breeds is that the Mini Labradoodle tends to be warier of strangers and can become defensive, but that behavior isn’t often seen.
Training
Mini Labradoodles make great pets, especially for first-time dog owners, because they’re highly intelligent and relatively easy to train. One thing to note, however, is that Mini Labradoodles need to be well-socialized with other dogs, pets, and humans. This will help significantly in their training and reduce their protective overreactions significantly.
Health Issues
Not surprisingly, Mini Labradoodles suffer many of the same health issues as Mini Goldendoodles.
- Hip dysplasia
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Patellar luxation
Grooming
Another trait shared between the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Goldendoodle is that, while they don’t shed very much, they still need daily brushing to prevent their luxurious coats from becoming badly tangled and matted. Besides that, however, this beautiful breed demands very little in terms of time-consuming grooming.
Suitable for:
If you’re a first-time dog owner looking for an easy-to-care-for, affectionate, and fun dog who will be your best friend and bring joy into your life, the Mini Labradoodle is practically perfect. They get the best traits from their pet parents, the Labrador Retriever and the Miniature Poodle. Mini Labradoodles are sweet, charming, and intelligent dogs who love being with their family 24/7. That’s the main drawback, as Mini Labradoodles, like Mini Goldendoodles, tend to suffer from separation anxiety.
- Sweet as sugar
- Highly intelligent
- Very low shedding
- Almost hypoallergenic
- Highly social
- Easy to train
- Good watchdogs, lousy guard dogs
- Need a lot of daily activity
- Can be expensive
- Suffer from separation anxiety
A Word About Designer Dog Breeds
Mini Labradoodles and Mini Goldendoodles are just two breeds on a growing list of so-called “designer” dog breeds that have become very popular since the 1980s. The problem is that today, many breeders are breeding these wonderful little dogs (and many other “oodles” with a disregard for their overall health, health issues, and bloodlines.
That’s why you must research your options thoroughly, whether you decide to adopt a Mini Goldendoodle or a Mini Labradoodle. Be sure to research the breeder you plan to use and ensure they run a respectable, caring, and above-board breeding facility.
Which Breed Is Right for You?
If given a choice between a Mini Labradoodle and a Mini Goldendoodle, most people would have a challenging time making up their minds. Both of these dogs are similar thanks to their nearly identical lineage and genes.
Because of these not-so-surprising similarities, the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Goldendoodle are intelligent, affectionate, easily-trainable dogs that shed very little but need almost daily brushing. They are ideal dogs for first-time owners, large families, or seniors. Both are highly adaptable dogs that feel at home in practically every situation.
With either breed you decide to adopt, you’re almost guaranteed to end up with a beautiful pet and an amazing friend furry friend that will brighten your days and bring joy into your life.
See also:
- Aussiedoodle vs Labradoodle: The Main Differences (With Pictures)
- Mini Goldendoodle vs Goldendoodle: The Differences (With Pictures)
- Mini Goldendoodle Lifespan: Average Life Expectancy, Data & Facts
Featured Image Credit: (L) Tanya Consaul Photography, Shutterstock | (R) KariDesign, Shutterstock
