Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle – Dog Breed Comparison!

Labradoodle and Goldendoodles are often confused as being the same hybrid breed. While they both have the same Poodle parent, they are different in a several ways. However, one thing they do have in common is that they inherited their curly coat from their Poodle parent which is one of the things that makes them so appealing. 

Here are main differences and similarities between a Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle:

1. Goldendoodles will have fluffer and softer coat than the Labradoodle. This is due to the fact that the Golden Retriever has thinner hair follicles than a Labrador. Labradoodles often times inherit the thick and coarse coat from a Labrador Retriever. 
2. A standard Labradoodles will be slightly bigger in size than a standard Goldendoodle. This is due to the fact that a Labrador Retriever is slightly larger than a Golden Retriever. 
3. Both the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle come in a variety of coat colors. You will see all sorts of colors including yellow, chocolate, apricot, cream, and red. There can also be multi-colored Goldendoodle or Labradoodles parti, merle, sable, or brindle. 
4. The Labradoodle and Goldendoodle both need regular grooming sessions. Since their coat tends to be mostly nonshedding and hypoallergenic, you can expect to have to brush your dog thoroughly 2 to 3 times a week. You will also have to give them haircuts every 6 to 12 weeks.

Other articles you would like: Best Dog Crate for a Goldendoodle and  Goldendoodle vs Bernedoodle.

What is a Labradoodle? 

A Labradoodle is a combination of a Poodle and Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the world: #1 according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). This is due to the fact the are extremely friendly dogs that will get along with families, children, and even strangers. This is where the Labradoodle gets its easygoing temperament and affectionate personality.

On the other hand, the Poodle is one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world and comes with a nonshedding coat that is hypoallergenic. Few dog breeds possess these genetic traits which is why the Poodle is popular to crossbreed with. Typically, multiple generations of Labradoodle that are backcrossed with the Poodle will also have a coat that doesn’t shed and is great for people with pet allergies.

The Labradoodle is known for its cute facial expressions, curly shaggy coat, and friendliness. During the breeding process, a standard or miniature Poodle is used to help determine the size of a Labradoodle. There are three major sizees of the Labradoodle (mini, medium, and standard) which we will discuss more in-depth later on.

What is a Goldendoodle?

The Goldendoodle is a combination of the Poodle and Golden Retriever. According to the AKC, the Golden Retriever is the #3 most popular purebred dog breed in the world. Again, this is primarily due to the fact they are an extremely friend dog breed. You’ll see many Golden Retrievers become therapy dogs, service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and search and rescue dogs. This speaks to their high intellect and friendly personality.

Poodles stand tall and add length to the Goldendoodle. They also pass on their favorable genetic traits to the Goldendoodle making them even smarter and nonshedding. The downside of having a highly intelligent dog is that you will have to constantly mentally and physically stimulate them or they will get bored and destroy objects around the house.

Overall, the Goldendoodle is moderately active, friendly, and intelligent and known for inheriting the best characteristics from their parents. 

Which breed is bigger? 

In general, the same size Labradoodle is going to be slightly larger than Goldendoodle due to the fact that a Labrador Retriever is slightly larger than a Golden Retriever. However, since these are hybrid dog breeds, there is no purebred standard for sizing and both the breed come in three major sizes: mini, medium, and standard.

In general, an adult Labradoodle and Goldendoodle stands anywhere between 14 to 24 inches. Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are about the same size with the exception of the standard size that can vary in height and weight depending on their DNA.

Here are the three major sizes of Goldendoodles and Labradoodles:

• Miniature Goldendoodle or Labradoodle: Weighs 15 to 30 pounds. Stands approximately 14 to 19 inches.
• Medium-size Labradoodle or Goldendoodle: Weighs between 30 and 45 pounds Stands approximately 19 to 22 inches.
• Standard Goldendoodle or Labradoodle: Weighs between 45 and 100 pounds. Stands approximately 23 to 25+ inches tall.

Temperament: How do they behave? 

The temperament of a Labradoodle depends on a variety of things including the temperament of their parents. The most common traits that create a dog’s temperament are related to the mother, DNA, and socialization. 

Generally, Labradoodles are devoted to their owner and families. They are considered super friendly and sweet when they are properly socialized. Labradoodles that come from a good breeding program are not aggressive towards other animals or people.  

They inherit their Poodle parent’s superior intelligence and are highly trainable. History has proven they are capable of being trained as early as 8 weeks old, if not sooner.

The temperament of the Goldendoodle is very similar to the Labradoodle especially when it relates to inheriting the Poodle parent’s high level of intelligence. However, Goldendoodles tend to be even more sweet and friendly towards their families and are excellent around children. They are easy to train and have moderate energy that makes them perfect playmates for children. 

Lifespan: What is their life expectancy? 

The life expectancy of the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle is 10 to 15 years. Genetics and a healthy diet play a large role in the life span of these two family-friendly dog breeds. 

However, it’s not uncommon for small sized Goldendoodles or Lanbradoodles to live longer than 15 years. Typically, the smaller the dog breed the longer they will live because aren’t prone to the larger dog diseases.

Health: Are they prone to health conditions? 

Since all dog breeds, even crossbreeds have the potential to develop health conditions based on their genetics just like humans are, the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle are no different. 

Labradoodles are susceptible to experiencing the following health issues that are known to the breed and often inherited from their pet parents. 

• Ear Infections – Since Labrador Retrievers and Poodles are both prone to ear infections their offspring is too. The Labradoodle inherits adorable floppy ears that trap moisture inside and require frequent cleaning to prevent chronic infections.
• Elbow and hip dysplasia – Both of these ailments are genetic and result in a malformed or weakened joint in the elbow or hip. Dysplasia is a condition that involves the bone not fitting snug into the joint. This condition often causes pain in the area and lameness. Veterinarian care is required to treat this condition. 
• Epilepsy – This condition is a neurological condition that causes dogs to experience seizures. While the sight of a dog having a seizure is disturbing there is usually a good prognosis when veterinarian care is involved. 
• Allergies – Almost all dog breeds have allergies that are caused by food, contact, or topical. The severity of the allergy depends on DNA and the dog’s immune system. Allergies range from mild to severe. 
• Addison Disease – This condition is when the body is unable to regulate cortisol productions and is unable to manage anxiety and stress. This disease runs in the DNA of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. Labradoodles have the possibility of inheriting the same condition and experiencing it during their lifetime. 

Health conditions in Goldendoodles include the following: 

• Hip Dysplasia – As mentioned earlier under health conditions for Labradoodles, this ailment is an orthopedic genetic disease that affects the hip joints. Common symptoms of this disease are short strides of the hind legs, bunny hopping and favoring one leg, running with both hind legs together, and slowly getting up. 
• Sebaceous Adenitis – This is a skin disease that causes the glands to become inflamed which results in progressive hair loss. The cause of the condition is unknown but is known to be hereditary. The hair loss is usually noticeable on the neck, head, and back. Common symptoms include sores, hot spots, scabs, scaling skin that appears white, musty odor. Lesions, matted hair, and hair loss. 
• Sub Valvular Aortic Stenosis – This heart condition is inherited and often detected at birth. The aorta is too narrow and makes it difficult for oxygenated blood to pump into the body. It makes the heart work harder to produce normal function. This condition ranges from mild to serious. Common symptoms include sluggishness, poor growth, fainting, and sluggishness. 
• Addison’s Disease – As mentioned earlier the Labradoodle also is at risk of inheriting Addison’s Disease. It’s actually not a common disease but it sometimes appears as the dog ages. Common symptoms include depression, weakness, loss of appetite, shivering, shaking, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive urination, and increased thirst. 
• Cataracts – This condition affects the lens and is often found in both eyes. The cataract is usually located behind the pupil, or in front of the retina while being bounded by the iris. The most common treatment available for cataracts is surgery. 

Appearance: What do they look like? 

Both breeds look similar in height, weight and the density of their coat but their facial features vary depending on the looks they inherited from their parents. The standard or miniature Poodle is noticeable in both the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle. 

In addition, both the Labradoodle and Goldendoodle can have similar coat colors. The Golden Retriever standardized colors according to the AKC are dark golden, golden, and light golden. Meanwhile, the Labrador has black, chocolate, and yellow. However, since the Poodle comes in over 10 standardized colors, this can have a significant impact on the color of your dog. We suggest read our article on the Types of Goldendoodle Colors and Types of Labradoodle Colors.

Grooming: How much do they require? 

Labradoodles and Goldendoodles inherit their coat from their Poodle parent meaning that it’s typically curly and hypoallergenic. However, some Doodle breeds can have a shaggy look while others have loose curls. Both breeds require brushing every other day preferably with a slicker or pin brush to remove tangles and loose hair. You can find more information on our article called the Best Brush for a Goldendoodle.

Haircuts and clippings are recommended every 8 to 12 weeks but could be more frequent depending on how quickly the hair grows and at the length dog owners prefer to keep their pet’s hair. 

Labradoodles and Goldendoodles both have floppy ears that require regular cleaning especially after swimming in a lake, pond, ocean, or pool and bathing. 

Other basic care includes brushing their teeth, trimming their nails, and cleaning the surface around the eyes. 

Training: Can they be easily trained? 

Yes. Thanks to the Poodle parent passing down their superior intelligence to their offspring, Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are easy to train. Both breeds can begin obedience training at 8 weeks old because they are able to comprehend demands and respond accordingly even at this young age. 

Both breeds are also excellent at agility training and often make a great exercise buddy for pet owners who jog, run, hike or swim regularly. 

Costs: Are they expensive to look after? 

The basics of food, water, treats, bedding, toys, and veterinarian care can be considered expensive depending on the pet parent’s budget. Not to mention other expenses such as crates, kennels, life vests, doggie shoes, sweaters, raincoats, leashes, collars, and identification tags. 

While owning a dog can be expensive it is also rewarding. Things will go a bit smoother when you prepare financially to afford a dog since they will be with you and your family for at least 10 to 15 years. 

The good news is there’s a way to save money by purchasing things in bulk such as food and toys. You can find great deals online for high-quality dog products that are long-lasting and save you money because you don’t need to keep replacing them throughout your dog’s lifetime. 

Another way to save money is to invest in pet health insurance for your dog. Some of the policies are custom made for your dog and cater to their specific health needs during that age. There are great pet insurance companies out there that offer affordable pricing and low monthly payments. It works similar to human health insurance and often covers veterinarian office visits and more. 

Also, keep in mind that most HOA’s and apartment rental companies charge a deposit fee or pet charge for keeping a pet in your apartment or on your property.

This deposit can be $500 or more. An added cost is when some apartment complexes charge $20 or more per month as a pet rental rate that is added to the cost of the rent. Keep in mind if you have more than one dog this rate can add $20 to $60 or more to your rental cost. 

Also, keep in mind that both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles need daily exercise and socialization. If your pet is going to be locked up in the house for 10 hours a day while you are at work, there’s a chance they will experience separation anxiety that will result in your dog destroying your furniture and any other item around them to help get out their frustration. Many pet parents to Goldendoodles and Labradoodles enroll their pet in doggie daycare to help keep them exercised, socialized and their minds busy. 

If you plan to take your Labradoodle or Goldendoodle to doggie daycare there will be a daily, weekly, or monthly charge depending on the daycare centers pricing. These centers also offer grooming, training, bathing, and boarding options. 

It’s wise to add up all the costs of owning a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle to ensure you can easily and comfortably afford to raise them in the best environment with access to veterinarian care when needed. 

Since your Goldendoodle or Labradoodle will need frequent grooming you should add in the cost of professional grooming sessions as well. Then you can find ways to cut back expenses when possible such as bulk buying and grooming your pet at home. 

Conclusion for Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle

Labradoodles and Goldendoodles make excellent family pets that are fun, playful, loving, and loyal. Their hypoallergenic hair is great for those who suffer from allergies. Both breeds require frequent grooming and a healthy diet for their overall well being. 

They are easy to train and can learn from a young age which makes living with them indoors a breeze. In addition, they love being near their family so you can expect them to never leave your side. 

When choosing between the two breeds it really depends on what you are looking for in a pet. If you want a sensitive sweetheart with high intelligence choose a Goldendoodle, but if you are looking for an intelligent and athletic buddy, choose a Labradoodle. Welcome a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle into your family today! 

Other articles you would like:

• 6 Best Mini Goldendoodle Breeders
• How much does a Goldendoodle cost?
• How much does a Labradoodle cost?