If you’re in the middle of searching for a Goldendoodle dog breed, then you probably know that there are a variety of coat colors to choose from. Choosing a dog breed is difficult, but selecting a desirable color could be even more challenging for some people. We see discussions about light brown Goldendoodles, but what about the chocolate Goldendoodle?
The most common Goldendoodle colors are golden, cream, and apricot. However, you can find less common Goldendoodle colors such as chocolate, black, and even gray. In this article, we’ll focus primarily on chocolate Goldendoodles and any important information about this coat color.
Other articles you might like: Mini Goldendoodle Breeders in the United States and Goldendoodle Generations.
History of the Chocolate Goldendoodle
Numerous people around the world perceive the Goldendoodle dog breed as a golden brown color. It’s a misconception that prevents people from searching for rarer colors like the chocolate Goldendoodle. The Goldendoodle dog is a designer breed that’s mixed between the Poodle and the Golden Retriever. Now, you’re probably wondering how did the chocolate color coat come to be?
Believe it or not – the chocolate coat color was passed down from the Poodle parent because its gene is more dominant. For a better perspective, Golden Retriever purebred colors are always golden, cream, or red. As for Poodles, they come in a variety of colors, such as white and darker shades. Yes – there are darker colored Poodles! In fact, there are over 10 standard Poodle colors including black, brown, blue, grey, and silver.
With that in mind, you might come across Goldendoodles that appear closer to a faded brown or brown with silver. This silvering process is typical among chocolate Goldendoodles as they become older. There no official name for dark brown Goldendoodles, but most people assume their color is chocolate.
Grooming and Coat Types
Not all Goldendoodles will have the same coat type. There are different colors and hair (wavy, curly, straight, etc.). Even some Goldendoodles have straight hair, which makes their appearance remarkably similar to the Golden Retriever. And there are some with many Poodle features. There are three main types of coat colors that chocolate Goldendoodles can have. Different coats might require different grooming methods. After all, you want your companion to appear and feel healthy.
- Straight Coat: Chocolate Goldendoodles with this type of coat resembles the Golden Retriever the most. Finding a chocolate Goldendoodle with straight hair can be challenging because of how rare it is. Without a doubt, they have a beautiful appearance but keep in mind that they’re more likely to shed. Straight hair chocolate Goldendoodles require weekly grooming to avoid matting.
- Curly Coat: Curly-coated Goldendoodles will have a Poodle-like appearance. The curly coat has a high interest throughout the Goldendoodle community because of its teddybear-like appearance and not shedding as much. If you plan to bring home a chocolate Goldendoodle, one thing to keep in mind is that they require daily brushing due to their curly hair. By brushing it daily, you’re helping your companion remove mats. Another way to prevent matting is to trim and cut your chocolate Goldendoodle’s hair to make it shorter.
- Wavy Coat: This type of coat is also known as a shaggy coat. Chocolate Goldendoodles with shaggy coats are the perfect in-between of their parents. Out of the three on the list, wavy coat Goldendoodle is the most common type. Many people prefer this type of coat because of how easy it is to groom. Between curly and straight coats, a wavy coat would be in the middle. Wavy coat Goldendoodles shed minimally and only requires weekly brushing.
Related: Goldendoodle Grooming Guide
Temperament and Personality
Goldendoodles are notoriously intelligent, affectionate, and patient dogs. These dogs are perfect for families with young children because they have fitting temperaments. Their friendly and thoughtful nature makes them an ideal breed to become service and therapy dogs. As mentioned above, chocolate Goldendoodles are extremely intelligent and affectionate. After all, intelligence is an excellent trait to have when you’re searching for a companion dog. Training wouldn’t be as challenging as training a Chihuahua. The Goldendoodle dog adapts and learns quickly.
Additionally, the affectionate nature of these dogs makes them easy for novices and beginners to train. They love attention. The caring personality of chocolate Goldendoodles make them a suitable companion for anyone to flip the page into the next chapter in their life. Since they love attention, they love interacting with people they’ve never met, animals, children, and elders. Children sometimes do not know how to act appropriately around dogs. The great thing about the chocolate Goldendoodle is that they’re generally patient and gentle towards children as they grow and learn.
Related: Are Goldendoodles Good With Kids?
Size
Even though Golden Retrievers have an average size that’s uniform across the breed, chocolate Goldendoodles do not. The Poodle parent of your Goldendoodle will contribute significantly to the size of your Goldendoodle companion. There are three sizes of chocolate Goldendoodles to keep in mind when choosing your companion.
The three chocolate Goldendoodle sizes are:
- Miniature Chocolate Goldendoodles
- Medium Chocolate Goldendoodles
- Standard Chocolate Goldendoodles
When you’re choosing a chocolate Goldendoodle breed, you should inquire about the Poodle used for breeding. When you know the Poodle parent’s size, it’ll help you predict the size of your potential chocolate Goldendoodle when it becomes a full-grown adult.
Health
Chocolate Goldendoodles are considered a relatively healthy breed. They have an average lifespan ranging between 10 to 15 years, which is determined by the parent dogs’ typical ages. Even though chocolate Goldendoodles are known as healthy dogs, they can suffer from genetic predispositions to specific health conditions.
We listed the potential health problems that chocolate Goldendoodles might encounter throughout its life. You should be aware of symptoms to ensure your dog lives the healthiest and happiest life possible. Below is a list of health conditions that are common among Goldendoodles. These conditions are not present in all Goldendoodles. Still, it would be best if you were mindful of symptoms to ensure your dog lives the healthiest and happiest life possible.
- Cataracts: Common among older dogs, cataracts affect your dog’s vision. This condition will become apparent as a dog’s eyes become cloudy. For older dogs, this condition may go untreated. However, your dog will lose its vision. If this becomes apparent in your younger chocolate Goldendoodle, you can enlist a professional veterinarian to perform surgery to clear the eye of cataracts.
- Hip Dysplasia: Common among larger dogs, such as Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles, hip dysplasia is a health condition that could affect your chocolate Goldendoodle. This condition is diagnosed when your dog’s hip becomes displaced from the socket. Hip dysplasia can limit your dog’s range of motion and cause pain. Medication is typically used to treat this condition, but severe cases may require surgery.
- Skin Sensitivities: It is common for Goldendoodles to have sensitive skin. This sensitivity can result from multiple factors, but it is typically an easy ailment to treat. There are foods and shampoos specially made for dogs with sensitive skin. Providing your dog with these simple solutions will let them look and feel their best.
Related: How Long Do Goldendoodles Live?
Price of a Chocolate Goldendoodle
Over the years, Goldendoodles overall have been increasing in popularity and demand around the world. Since the chocolate Goldendoodle is quite a rare color, the price tag is slightly higher than that of the Goldendoodles of other colors. Standard Goldendoodle colors such as cream, gold, and apricot generally cost between $1,000 to $2,000. Rare Goldendoodle colors like chocolate, black, and grey can cost you between $1,500 to $3,000.
Related: How Much Does a Goldendoodle Cost?
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re thinking of adopting a chocolate Goldendoodle or a brown Goldendoodle, you probably have questions! Here are a few of the most frequently sought after answers to our readers’ questions.
What are the rarest Goldendoodle colors?
Blue, grey, and silver are the rarest of the Goldendoodle colors. Because of this, you may find that breeders charge more for these pups. If the prices of these pups is out of reach, consider adopting from a reputable Goldendoodle rescue, or from your local animal shelter.
Remember that no breeder can predict the color of the pups in a litter! For the best possible chance of adopting a chocolate Goldendoodle, ask to see pictures of – or to meet – the Poodle parent. Darker colored Goldendoodles inherit their coloration from the Poodle parent.
Do all chocolate Goldendoodles fade in color?
As your dog grows older, you may find that he or she begins to “grey” a bit. This is normal, but the greying typically doesn’t occur over the pup’s entire body. You’ll begin to notice your dog’s muzzle and face changing in color, and you may even notice that his coat is changing in texture a bit. This is all normal!
Where can I buy a chocolate Goldendoodle?
Before you shop, consider adoption! There are thousands of Goldendoodles (and other dog breeds) that are placed in the care of shelters each year. These dogs are usually in rescues through no fault of their own – they’re victims of abuse, neglect, or even divorce or a cross-country move.
If you’re certain you’d like to buy a new puppy, though, seek out reputable breeders in your area. Ask to see the parents’ papers and health records, and to view pictures of past litters. Again, no breeder can guarantee the color of a dog, but you can predict coloration a little more easily when you know what the Poodle parent genes may carry.
Do chocolate and brown Goldendoodles make good family pets?
In a word, yes! Goldendoodles are loyal, faithful, intelligent, and fun dogs that generally get along well with children and other pets. Teach your kids how to handle puppies, and if you have existing pets it’s a good idea to make that introduction slowly.
Goldendoodles need a fair amount of exercise, so if you’re the outdoorsy type the breed may be a good fit. If you’re not, it’s best to ensure that your pup has a safe, fenced area to play outside. You’ll find that your half-retriever will chase squirrels, play fetch, and generally get the zoomies in his own backyard, giving him the exercise he needs to thrive.
Conclusion for “Chocolate Goldendoodle: The Complete Guide”
That’s it. Everything you need to know about chocolate Goldendoodles is in this guide. Are you ready to bring home a chocolate Goldendoodle companion? WeLoveDoodles have several things for you to keep in mind. During your finding a companion, we recommend that you do your research before making any decisions. There are numerous Goldendoodle puppy mills out there that you should avoid. To prevent unethical breeding practices, you should support a reputable, caring, and loving chocolate Goldendoodle breeder.
To learn more about the Goldendoodle dog breed, check out our related content:
To see the Chocolate Goldendoodle in action, watch “Chocolate Goldendoodle Male” from Cherry Blossom Goldendoodles down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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