Micro Goldendoodle: 5 Facts Breeders Won’t Tell You About the Smallest Goldendoodle Size
Everyone loves puppies, so who wouldn’t want a Goldendoodle that looks like a puppy forever? That’s the idea behind the Micro Goldendoodle and why this size has quickly increased in popularity!
So, how big do Micro Goldendoodles get?
Micro Goldendoodles are the smallest Goldendoodle size. On average, a full-grown Micro Goldendoodle will weigh 8-13 pounds and stand 9-12 inches tall at the shoulders.
Also referred to as a Micro Mini Goldendoodle, Teacup Goldendoodle, or Petite Goldendoodle, this tiny Golden Retriever and Poodle crossbreed is incredibly adorable. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not without some faults.
While there are plenty of trustworthy, reputable breeders out there, like any profession, there will always be bad apples. Unfortunately, there are many less-than-honest Micro Goldendoodle breeders out there who won’t always tell you both the pros AND the cons of this size.
To help you to make the best decision possible, today we’ll reveal the top 5 facts potential owners of the smallest Goldendoodle size need to know BEFORE bringing a puppy home!
1. The term “Micro Goldendoodle” is mostly a marketing tactic.
While there aren’t “official” sizes of Goldendoodles, there are three officially-recognized Poodle sizes—Toy, Miniature, and Standard. It would be logical to assume that you’d describe Goldendoodles using the same three sizes depending on which type of Poodle was used.
While that’s true, many breeders have started using a handful of different terms in addition to the three original size categories.
“Medium” or “Moyen” Goldendoodles, for example, describe the size range between Miniature and Standard. “Micro,” “Teacup,” and “Petite” Goldendoodles, on the other hand, describe the size range smaller than a Toy.
While these additional terms may be useful in some cases, keep in mind that they are mostly a marketing tactic designed to sound adorably cute and tiny.
Since no universal standards exist for sizes in a crossbreed such as the Goldendoodle, every breeder uses them differently. What one breeder calls a Petite Goldendoodle, another may call a Teacup Goldendoodle. What one breeder calls a Toy Goldendoodle, another may call a Micro Mini Goldendoodle.
The takeaway from this is don’t just base your decision on vague terminology. If having a particular size of dog matters to you, ask your breeder for their best full-grown size estimate when comparing potential puppies.
2. Your Micro Mini Goldendoodle is mostly a Poodle.
When most people think of Goldendoodles, they think of a dog that is 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. That assumption is often correct. However, when it comes to the Micro Goldendoodle, your puppy is probably at least 75% Poodle, if not more!
This increase in the percentage of theoretical Poodle DNA happens through a process called “backcrossing.” Since the Golden Retriever is a much bigger dog than a Toy Poodle, you typically cross it with a Mini Goldendoodle first, creating Mini Goldendoodles. Then you take a Mini Goldendoodle and breed it with a Toy Poodle to create an even smaller, Toy Goldendoodle.
You can continue this backcrossing multiple times. Doing so increases the percentage of theoretical Poodle DNA your Goldendoodle puppy has.
F1B Micro Goldendoodles, F1BB Micro Goldendoodles, and Multigenerational Micro Goldendoodles are all fairly common generations you’ll come across.
Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing! There are pros and cons to every generation. In fact, many people prefer backcrossed Goldendoodles.
3. Micro Goldendoodles aren’t guaranteed to be non-shedding or hypoallergenic.
This is where many breeders get caught stretching the truth a bit. Micro Goldendoodles, or ANY Goldendoodle for that matter, can NOT be guaranteed to be completely non-shedding or hypoallergenic.
This is because, even if the percentage is small, they are still the byproduct of the Golden Retriever, a dog breed with fur that sheds and often triggers allergies.
That being said, since the backcrosses used to breed Micro Goldendoodles contain so much Poodle DNA, the odds of them being allergy-friendly and low-shedding are incredibly high. If you’re lucky, your dog may be completely non-shedding and hypoallergenic… it just can’t be guaranteed.
4. Prepare to pay more for a Micro Mini Goldendoodle.
While they may be the smallest Goldendoodle size, the price of a Micro Goldendoodle is definitely not proportional to its stature.
Typically, the smaller in size a Goldendoodle is, the more you’ll end up paying. Since this size is not widely available in rescues or shelters, you’ll be paying full price from a breeder.
The average cost of a Micro Goldendoodle puppy will be about $3,000-$5,000. This is more than double the average price of a Goldendoodle!
The exact amount you pay depends on several factors, including your puppy’s color, generation, location, and the current market demand.
Why are Micro Goldendoodles so expensive? The answer comes down to supply and demand. Many people fall in love with the tiny size of these dogs creating a high demand. However, many breeders choose not to sell this size of Goldendoodle due to health concerns we’ll discuss next, creating low supply.
5. Health issues are more common in Micro Goldendoodles.
Micro Mini Goldendoodles are a controversial topic amongst breeders of these dogs. Many will only go breed dogs as small as Toy or Mini Goldendoodles.
This is primarily due to the health issues that can arise as a side-effect of taking a large breed like the Golden Retriever and making it incredibly small.
In order to accomplish “shrinking” the size of a Goldendoodle down to just a few pounds, many breeders take the “shortcut” of choosing the smallest dogs to keep breeding rather than the healthiest.
If your heart is set on a Micro Goldendoodle, ensure the breeder you use conducts extensive genetic testing on their dogs. Additionally, you’ll want to consider investing in pet insurance to protect yourself against the large vet bills that often go hand-in-hand with many of these health concerns.
I use and recommend getting a quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. Their premiums tend to be relatively inexpensive, and they’ll cover up to 90% of your dog’s medical expenses due to accidents or illnesses!
Micro Goldendoodle vs Mini Goldendoodle: Which Should I Get?
If specific size constraints for housing or traveling are critically important to you, a Micro Goldendoodle may be the better option. However, all else being equal, I’d tend to recommend the Mini Goldendoodle.
While it’s not the smallest Goldendoodle size, the Mini Goldendoodle gives you most of the benefits of having a small dog while avoiding the additional health concerns the Micro size comes with.
However, I’d encourage you to do your own research and compare ALL the pros and cons of both these sizes. We have an article and interactive quiz which compares the Toy and Mini sizes you can take! Since the Toy and Micro sizes are similar (or sometimes the same!) This will be a great starting point in helping you make a decision.
What’s the difference between a Micro Goldendoodle vs Teacup Goldendoodle vs Petite Goldendoodle?
For most purposes, a Micro vs Teacup Goldendoodle are synonyms. Very few breeders will differentiate between these terms—most prefer using one or the other.
The terms Petite Goldendoodle and Micro Mini Goldendoodle are also often used interchangeably to describe the smallest Goldendoodle size.
The curlier your Goldendoodle’s hair is, the more maintenance it’ll require, as curly, Poodle-like hair is very prone to matting and tangles. One of the best options we’ve found for owners of the smallest Goldendoodle size is the Chris Christensen Baby G Brush.
If you’re looking for one of the smallest poodle mix breeds and don’t have your heart explicitly set on a Goldendoodle, there are lots of different options!
You can check out this article where we rank the 15 tiniest doodle breeds. These alternative options will be less prone to the same health issues as Micro Goldendoodles since they come from pairings of two small breeds!
