Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle – The Surprising Differences

One glance at both these breeds, you are likely to be slightly confused about which is which. They might both look very similar and might both carry somewhat equal temperaments. However, there are subtle differences that you should pay attention to. These little details can give you that one little deciding factor to pick the ideal companion for your family. 

The Labrador, Golden Retriever and Poodle Stories You Should Know About

When you ask someone about a dog’s nature, they tell you to study its lineage and how it was bred. This can help us understand the core traits of the dog breed. 

• Poodles were bred as duck hunters. These were breeds that had the unfaltering trust of hunters for being some of the most intelligent breeds. It is the national dog of France, and it has its history tracing back to Germany. These majestic looking dogs were soon seen as a symbol of sophistication, and smaller hybrids of the poodle came into the picture. There are standard poodles, mini poodles, and toy poodles, all with the intelligence of the mother breed. All these size differences that you see in poodles are also reflected in the mixed breeds that come from the poodles. 
• Golden retrievers were bred for their ability to lead an active lifestyle in rugged unpredictable terrain. Known to be strong dogs, these have also been popular for their calm temperaments. Coming from Scotland, these dogs were officially registered in the American Kennel Club in the year 1925. 
• The Labrador retriever looks very much like a short furred version of the golden retriever, and it is the most popular dog breed in the world rounding up all the traits of this dog. Registered with the AKC in 1917, this breed was bred to retrieve ducks in Canada. Like the poodle was a loyal companion for the hunter’s Labradors were popular with the fishermen. 

As you can see, all three breeds have defined purposes for which they were bred. This makes them easily trainable too. The core traits of the parents are passed on to the mixed breeds, and therefore both labradoodle and Goldendoodle are known for being intelligent and trainable. 

How Are They as Puppies?

It is hard to tell apart a Goldendoodle puppy from a labradoodle puppy. They both look furry and cuddly with their charming attitude as pups. Pups of both these breeds can be a handful. From being nippy during playtime to demanding your attention, these are puppies with a personality of their own. 

How Do They Look When They Grow Up?

One of the distinct differences between these breeds is their color combinations. With the labradoodle, you can find some blacks, yellow, red, cream, chocolate, and even white. The Goldendoodle, on the other hand, can come in some subtle hues of golden, red, and caramel colors. The fur is shorter in the labradoodle coming from short-furred Labrador parents.

The color is more golden in the American golden doodle, while the bone structure is more prominent in the English doodle. There could be such minor trait differences in the breeds depending on the origin of the parents. 

In terms of size, the actual difference and body weight of the breeds depends on the parents. While the minis in both Goldendoodle and labradoodle measure anywhere between 14inch to 17inch the standard sizes show slight differences. This comes from the minute size difference between Golden Retriever and Labrador.

The Goldendoodle measures around 20inch to 26inch as a fully grown adult while the Labradoodle measures 21inch to 24inch. The weight of the labradoodle remains between 15 to 65 pounds while that for the Goldendoodle could be between 15 to 100 pounds. This is one area where you can draw a visible line between the breeds. 

Breeding Scenario

When you choose a standard-size Goldendoodle or Labradoodle, gender differences could be anything. In the case of the mini and medium-sized breeds, the breeding is done with the larger breed as the mother. This is also trickier breeding where the cross takes place between distinct-size breeds.

Golden retriever or Labrador would be the female dog in the breeding process, while the toy or mini poodle would be the male dog. This is the case where size differences are slightly difficult to predict.

You do not, however, get something as small as a toy poodle or something as big as a standard Goldendoodle or Labradoodle. The puppies are somewhere in between in their size, but they carry the same traits as their larger-sized hybrids. 

Can These Be Excellent Guard Dogs?

Because of their friendly nature, all three parent breeds are not brought to the limelight when talking about guard dogs. These dogs are known to be very alert, however.

They can warn you when there is someone at the door or welcome your family members with their excitement even before they ring the bell. However, these do not come as guard dogs in any sense.

The same traits apply to both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. They are both friendly dogs. 

How Are They With Kids and the Elderly?

The Goldendoodle and labradoodle are both very playful with kids. These cannot be easily drained out of their energy levels, much like the hyperactive kids at home. Therefore they can become the best of friends and partners in crime in raiding the house and running all day. They can entertain each other and amuse the others in the family with their antics. 

With the elderly, the sweet temperament of both these breeds comes into the picture. These can be wonderful companions to the elders at home. The only problem would be the exercise needs of these dogs. These are not breeds that you can restrain at home. Skipping everyday walks is not an option with these breeds. They both need at least an hour of active time each day besides playtime.

They might, therefore, not be suitable for households where there are older adults living by themselves and who might be unable to take these dogs for long walks. They might find the energy of these dogs to be exhausting to handle. Goldendoodles are slightly less when it comes to exercise needs than Labradoodles. However, they do need their daily walk and need ample space to run around to keep them healthy and hale. 

• READ MORE: 10 REASONS DOODLES ARE GOOD FAMILY DOGS

What is the Temperament of These Breeds Like?

Both are amiable dogs and can easily mingle with people of all age groups. The Goldendoodle is one step ahead as it can readily befriend even any stranger. The Labradoodle, on the other hand, might be slightly hesitant with strangers. It is not as outgoing as the Goldendoodle.

This is one striking difference between the breeds. These breeds are both social and can also be introduced to other pets. They are gentle with the kids and with other pets. One common trait that both these dogs have is that they are least prone to aggression.

When it comes to aggressive behavior in dogs, Golden retrievers and Labradors are the last breeds that one would talk about. The same nature is passed on to the crossbreeds. They tend to be very playful and love to jump on their master begging for cuddles, but they do not display aggression. Training the dog can also make it calmer and easier to control during stressful situations. 

Both breeds do not like to be left alone. Separation anxiety can cause them to behave mischievously or resort to other ways to show their disappointment. These are breeds that cannot sit idle for several hours and cannot bear it spend time alone either. Within 3 to 4 hours, these breeds tend to start yearning for human interaction, which is standard with both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. 

When trained well and when given a lot of playtimes, these dogs do not easily get stressed. Some dogs, especially puppies, might find long car travel or exposure to the new atmosphere to be stressful, which can be tackled with their favorite treats or by spoiling them with cuddles. 

Unless you have the mini breeds, the size is moderate. Because of the size the dog playfully approaches someone, it can create fear. Therefore these dogs are best guarded in a leash when you take them out in public. 

How is Life With a Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle?

Both of these dogs are responsive to training. Start training them when you bring them home as puppies. These are fast learners, and they love to please their masters. This is a common trait exhibited by all three parent breeds involved. Therefore one easy way to make life simpler with either of these breeds at home is to start an early training schedule.

Be consistent with your training. Start with simple commands, and don’t hesitate to teach a set of different skills to your pooch. Retriever breeds are good at understanding and following commands, even some complicated ones. 

Positive reinforcements work well with both the breeds. Being people-pleasers, these breeds can also be spoiled with treats and cuddles for responding to commands. They would be more than willing to learn new commands and grab them within a few repetitions. 

The lifespan is anywhere between 10 to 15 years or at least 12 years on average for both the breeds. As with all other dog breeds, these breeds live longer when you keep them happy, healthy, and active. Look out for the common health concerns that these breeds are vulnerable too. Addressing them on time can also help increase the lifespan of the dog. 

A Better Pick for People With Allergies

As a common fact, dogs with longer fur tend to shed slightly lower than those with shorter fur. However, the actual breed, the breed quality, and health conditions also determine the actual levels of shedding. You should always remember that no dog breed in this world can be labeled as “fully hypoallergenic.” 

The Labradoodles tend to have a slightly shorter fur size than the Goldendoodle. Carrying the mane traits of the golden retriever, the Goldendoodle has long fur, which could be wavy or curled. You cannot expect straightness as you see in the pure golden retriever breeds. Like the golden retrievers, the Goldendoodle also needs regular grooming. Brushing regularly can help remove the shed hair and make sure that you do not find fur everywhere around the house.

The curly texture of the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle fur also can attract matts if you do not groom them well. Schedule trips to the groomer can help maintain the health of the fur and keep your dog’s fur looking healthy.  Weekly grooming should not be postponed in any case with both the breeds.

There are different generations of Goldendoodles and Labradoodles you can find with your breeder. One is the first generation with a different breed of parents. The other is the second and further generations where the parents are doodles. The latter would be a better choice, especially for those with allergies. The hybrids that come from both doodle parents tend to shed slightly lower than the first generation dogs. 

• READ MORE: ARE LABRADOODLES HYPOALLERGENIC

What are the Health Problems That You Should be Aware of?

A proper diet can help extend the lifespan of the dog and also reduce the frequency of vet visits. Small-sized doodles might need calorie intake equivalent to 40 calories for each pound of their body weight. This number changes to 30 and twenty for medium and large-sized doodles.

Giving them quality dog food without fillers and proper dietary supplements as recommended by the vet can help keep them healthy and playful. The food intake might vary from one day to another, depending on the level of activity. 

Elbow, as well as hip dysplasia, are hereditary conditions that could come from the parent breeds. Vision difficulties can arise in some older dogs due to progressive retinal atrophy. In general, both the breeds are healthy, and they take after their healthy parents. However, you should always be on the watch out for telltale signs that indicate that your dog is acquiring any of the above-mentioned health problems and take them to a vet without delay. 

One of the best ways to pick healthy dogs would be to work with credible breeders. These are the ones that choose healthy parents for breeding. The excellent health passes down to the hybrid pups as well. Some of the breeders would also be willing to let you know the health condition of the parents to know what to expect from the puppy you take home. 

Age-appropriate exercises are essential for both the breeds to stay fit and healthy. You should also be aware of the size-specific health problems like the mini doodles that suffer from patella luxation.