Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Which is Best for You? (Comparison & Quiz)
The Goldendoodle and Labradoodle are arguably the two most popular doodle breeds. With both of these fantastic options, how can you decide between the Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle? They have a lot of similarities, but they also have some differences that may help you in your decision making process.
The doodle breed you choose is a huge factor to consider when getting a puppy. Finding a doodle that matches your personality and will mesh with your lifestyle is important! While the Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle can both make great pets, one may be better suited for you than the other. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between these two breeds!
Should You Get a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle? Take the Quiz!
While quizzes are fun, please only use this as a quick reference and read the entire article for more context on the pros and cons of these breeds.
Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Puppy Selection
Availability / Popularity
There is very little difference in this category between the Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle. These are arguably the two most popular doodle breeds, so breeders are plentiful and easy to find.
Regardless of which breed you choose, remember to ensure you find a reputable and ethical breeder. Due to the popularity of these breeds, you may also find a decent number in rescues or shelters that need to find the forever homes! Keep in mind that they may be identified only as a “poodle mix” instead of a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle.
Litter Size
Both the Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle have very similar litter sizes. Litters usually range between 2-10 puppies. Toy or Mini Labradoodle or Goldendoodle litter sizes tend to run a little smaller than the Standard sizes.
There is only a slight variation in size between the Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle. Both breeds come in five sizes—Teacup, Toy, Mini, Medium, and Standard. There’s the perfect size for every family!
Let’s compare a couple of the more common sizes directly. A Toy Goldendoodle and a Toy Labradoodle have the exact same average measurements at 20-40 pounds and 16-20 inches. The Standard sizes are also fairly close with the Labradoodle averaging 40-75 pounds while the Goldendoodle comes in between 40-85 pounds.
Overall, a pretty negligible difference and not a huge factor to base a decision on.
Appearance
Can you tell the difference between a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle? It’s tougher than it sounds…just try taking our quiz! While they look extremely similar, there are just a few slight differences. Labradoodles tend to have broader bodies, and may have slightly shorter snouts. Another difference is that Goldendoodles almost always have black noses, while Labradoodles may have black or brown noses!
Colors
The Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle both come in a wide array of colors. The Goldendoodle may come as a single color, bi colored, or tricolored. It’s most commonly seen as cream, red, or black, but can also include brown, apricot, or white! Labradoodles are most commonly seen as chocolate, cream, or black, but they can also appear in other colors such as cream or white!
Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle: Grooming & Maintenance
Coat
Both the Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle could have a straight, wavy, or very curly coat. Each of these breeds obviously have some Poodle in them, which means they may have a curlier or wavy coat. The largest determining factor of how curly their coat is the percentage of Poodle DNA in them compared to their Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever DNA.
If you’re new to doodle generations, they can be tricky to understand. As a quick run down, an F1 Goldendoodle or Labradoodle has approximately 50% Poodle and 50% of the other parent. Because their DNA is 50/50 it’s a toss up on what their coat will look like, it could be straight, wavy, or curly! However, if you have a doodle with a higher percentage of Poodle DNA in them, such as an F1BB, which is 87.5% Poodle and 12.5% the other breed, there is a higher likelihood that their coat will be curlier.
The Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle both have a high-maintenance coat. The individual coat more directly determines the amount of maintenance needed than the breed of doodle. Both contain some Poodle in them, which generally requires more grooming than other breeds. The more Poodle in your doodle, the more maintenance their coat will be to avoid matting.
Frequent brushing is an easy and effective way to prevent matting! Both Goldendoodles and Labradoodles should be brushed at minimum once a week, but I highly recommend every other day or possibly every day. This also depends on the length of the coat, as shorter coats may be able to go longer in between brushings.
Just as important as frequency is using the right tools. My Goldendoodle, Chewie, has a very curly coat which gets matted easily despite brushing him almost daily. It wasn’t until I made the decision to upgrade to the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush that I realized it wasn’t just me—brushes can really make or break your dog’s grooming experience! While this brush is more expensive than a lot of other brushes, splurging on this brush to keep my pup free of matting was worth it!
The Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle technically aren’t hypoallergenic dogs, but they are allergy friendly. What does that mean exactly? Well, they both still have the potential to shed some, so they cannot be classified as “hypoallergenic.”
The Goldendoodle and Labradoodle both have one hypoallergenic parent and one non-hypoallergenic parent. If a dog is 50% Poodle and 50% a shedding breed, it’s impossible to predict whether or not they’ll shed. Typically, a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle won’t shed as much as a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever, but they may still shed. Their amount of shedding may be tolerable for those with mild allergies, and they may be a better alternative to the Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever.
Allergies and shedding is another area where Goldendoodle generations or Labradoodle generations play a big role. The higher percentage of Poodle in the doodle means the less likely they are to shed. If this subject is an important factor for you, opt for a doodle generation that contains more Poodle in it such as an F1BB, F2BB, or F1B. This isn’t a foolproof plan, as genetics are impossible to predict, but it does increase the chances of a doodle with an allergy-friendly, low-shedding coat.
Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle: Temperament
Personality
These breeds are both so popular because they’re known for being friendly and affectionate companions. Both are considered to be great family dogs. The Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle are not aggressive breeds at all. Because of their friendly personalities, neither would be considered a phenomenal guard dog, but they both make average watch dogs.
Goldendoodles often have exuberant personalities and are friendly towards everyone. Labradoodles, while still exceptionally friendly, tend to be a little more reserved at first. Of course, all this depends on the individual dog more than anything!
Goldendoodles may be more prone to separation anxiety when left alone too often. Proper training can help prevent this, but alternative breeds may be better if you know you are out of the house often. Labradoodles tend to have slightly less issues with separation anxiety as they have a more independent nature.
Exercise should include a wide variety of options including walks, jogs, swimming, or games of fetch. Without proper mental and physical stimulation, these active breeds are prone to engaging in destructive behavior.
These breeds are both highly intelligent and eager to please, so trainability isn’t a huge difference in the debate between the Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle. It’s debatable that Labradoodles may be just slightly harder to train because of their more independent nature. That being said, both are considered some of the easiest dog breeds to train, making them a great option for first time dog owners!
These highly intelligent breeds require regular mental stimulation. It can keep them from getting bored and engaging in destructive activities. With fun brain games, walks, or learning new tricks, it’s easy to keep both breeds occupied!
Both the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle can make great family dogs! They’re both loyal and affectionate. Both breeds tend to get along well with children and other pets well though they are known to be a bit “mouthy” with play-biting and chewing.
The Labradoodle and Goldendoodle both come in multiple sizes, and some may be better suited for different families. Teacup/Toy Labradoodles or Goldendoodles may be accidentally injured by a rambunctious youngster.
There are some pros and cons to a larger size as well. These dogs are high energy and may not realize their own size causing them to accidentally knock over a small child or an elderly adult. This can also be helped with proper training, but even well-trained dogs can let their excitement get the better of them.
Mixed breeds, such as the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle, are often sought out because they’re thought to be less likely to develop hereditary conditions than purebreds. The mixed breeds genetic diversity makes this true, but it does not eliminate the risk completely.
Either breed, any dog for that matter, is susceptible to developing health issues at some point in their life. Unfortunately, many of these issues cost thousands of dollars to treat. All dog owners should make the decision to get quality pet insurance. This way, you’ll never need to choose between your dog’s life and your wallet because pet insurance covers up to 90% of vet bills. I personally recommend Healthy Paws as they have low prices and great coverage.
