Sonia's Hearty Tales
Dec. 18, 2024
A comfy tiny lap dog or a big, warm, wanna-be ‘weighted blanket’, with everything in between.
Due to the wide range of sizes poodles come in, and with the help of artificial insemination, we have raised Goldendoodles from 8 to 108 lbs and bigger.
There is a phenomenon with genetics and crossing with a poodle where some pups in a litter get much bigger than the parents, and sometimes, there are pups that stay smaller than both parents. The majority stay with similar expected size ranges according to the size of the parents and grandparents.
Here are some things to consider:
Large-size Goldendoodle, over 50 lbs.
The range of pup sizes in the same litter can vary by 50 lbs, with differences in adult weight from the smallest to the largest.
The CKC standard size of a male standard poodle is 60-70 lbs. Depending on genetics, these males throw 50-120 lb dogs when crossed with a standard to larger Golden Retriever or Goldendoodle.
My first standard poodle, Dayo, a legend to Hearty K9s, weighed ~47 lbs. When crossed with a standard golden/goldendoodle, his pups ranged from 40 to 90 Lbs. I continue to choose standard poodle males that weigh under 60 lbs. I have had many variables with each stud I have had since.
Medium-sized/ Moyen Goldendoodle, 30-50 lbs
This can be attained in a mini poodle cross or moyen poodle cross with an average Golden Retriever or moyen/standard Goldendoodle.
I had a moyen male poodle, Horton, 25 lbs (who lived to 14 years old), that had mixed standard poodle and mini poodle genes. One of his litters, when bred with a 55 lb Goldendoodle, their pups ranged from 35 to 90 lbs.
Mini-sized Goldendoodles, under 30 lbs.
When using a mini poodle with a 50-60 lb Golden Retriever, sizes can range from 17-52 lbs in the same litter. However, most pups will range in the 20-40 lb range. For F1Bs, using an F1 Goldendoodle, closer to 20-25 lbs, and crossed back to a tiny mini or large toy poodle, this is where you can get some in the litter that stay under that 15 lb mark but can still range over 30 lbs…just because there still are close genes to the Golden Retriever.
Are male Goldendoodles always bigger than female Goldendoodles?
When breeding standard-sized poodles to similar-sized Golden Retrievers or Goldendoodles, the males are generally larger than the females. However, when breeding a Mini-Poodle with a larger Golden Retriever or Goldendoodle, there are more variations on who gets the smaller genes in the genetic pool. Many times, in mini-poodle crosses, there are larger females and smaller males to choose from.
Variables to Consider with Your Goldendoodles’ Size:
Is my Goldendoodle overweight?
Don’t let the fluff fool you!
When hearing back from clients, they and sometimes their veterinarians vary their opinions considerably about what is overweight. I was amazed to hear that the four largest boys in a litter that weighed the same at 7 weeks old varied in size from 60-86 lbs. (parents are both 55 lbs). Later, I discovered that the 86 lb boy seemed “in ‘good’ shape, maybe a little overweight but not bad,” their vet said. It turned out that increasing the exercise and lessening his food intake took him down to a healthy hourglass figure of 70 lbs. This changed the course of this Goldendoodle’s lifespan and joint health considerably.
Goldendoodle Sizes and Ideal Body Condition Score: **
An ideal BCS will help your dog live a longer and healthier life. While humans often struggle with less-than-desirable body scores, we can help our dogs live their best lives with portion control and exercise.
An ideal BCS on a dog has a visible waist or hourglass figure when viewed from above and a slight abdominal tuck when viewed from the side. The ribs are not prominent but can be easily felt with a light palpation.
Goldendoodle Height:
It is often easier to weigh a dog than to measure its height accurately. Most people only update me on their dog’s weight. Even when they say their dog is “about knee height,” that can range 5” depending on how tall the person is and what point of the knee they are measuring from.
I have a 12-inch poodle that weighs 12 lbs and a 12-inch goldendoodle that weighs 23 lbs. I also have two golden retrievers that weigh 75 lbs but range in height by ~5 inches. None of these dogs are overweight.
Understanding Poodle Terminology: Sizes, Standards, and Classifications
According to the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), height measured at the highest point of the shoulder: *
Standard Poodle is 15” (38cm) or larger, more typically 22-26”.
Miniature Poodle is 10-15” (25.5-38 cm)
Toy Poodle is under 10” (25.5cm)
Moyen/Klein/medium poodle is not a recognized term in the CKC, but it is generally used to describe the small standard poodle ranging from approximately 15-20” (38-50 cm)
How To Measure The Height Of Your Dog.
When people try to measure a dog’s height with a measuring tape, they often end up with a dog that shrinks or wiggles too much. A trick is to be relaxed when petting the dog while standing. Mark the dog’s shoulder on your leg, keep your finger there, and then take a measuring stick and measure from that mark to the floor.
At Hearty K9s, we breed F1s (Golden Retriever X Poodle) and F1B (F1 X Poodle) to attain the best hybrid vigour advantage. In doing this, sometimes the size of the dogs is not always easy to guess accurately, but we do take an experienced guess when asked. Often, we are close or even bang on. But when our guesses have been way off, I have learned that genetics will do what they do. I breed different sizes to accommodate the demand of what people want. We can use charts online to guess their size, but I have yet to find them consistently accurate. When considering a Goldendoodle, you do need to be a little flexible. Having a crossbreed is like having kids. You can guess how big they will be, and sometimes you are right, but sometimes you are a little surprised. Good health and temperament are my goals, as when you have a perfect companion, you want them around for a long time. If their exact size is not what you hoped, it is faded mainly by the gift of their impact on your life. If you have any questions about Goldendoodle sizes, feel free to reach out to our team. To explore our current Goldendoodles, click here.
* https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%206/Poodle-Miniature-Standard.pdf