The Ultimate Guide to English Goldendoodles (A Poodle + English Golden Retriever Cross)

Last Updated on June 4, 2024

The adorable, fluffy appearance of English Goldendoodles is known to warm the hearts of everyone it encounters.

If you’re considering bringing an English Goldendoodle into your home, this article has everything you need to know.

Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or just considering adding one of these pups to your family, you’ll find valuable information on their temperament, behavior, health concerns, nutrition, and more.

We’re even going to discuss why you might not want to get yourself an English Goldendoodle, because as much as we love them, they aren’t the right dog for everybody.

English Goldendoodle Quick Facts

English Goldendoodle Characteristics
Height	20 to 25 inches
Weight	55 to 85 pounds
Lifespan	10 to 15 years
Color	Gold, cream, white, black, brown, grey, red, apricot, and copper
Coat type	Long and wavy coat that grows up to two to three inches
Temperament	Loyal, friendly, eager to please, easily trainable, and intelligent
Price	$1,000 to $3,500

What is an English Goldendoodle?

An English Goldenoodle—also known as an English Doodle—is a low-shedding dog that is a cross between an English Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. It differs from an American Goldendoodle, which is a cross between an American Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.

Temperament

Now, before we dive into the temperament of the English Goldendoodle we need to learn a bit about its parents—mixed breeds inherit the characteristics of both their parent dogs so understanding the parent breeds is essential for learning about the pups.

Poodle

Poodles are athletic, regal, and highly intelligent. Fun fact: that fancy haircut (pictured above) is actually for function, not looks. The cut protects the athletic Poodle’s joints and increases its speed as it hunts in the water.

And yes, many are surprised to know that Poodle was originally bred as water retrievers. Originating in Germany (not France!), these dogs quickly became popular throughout Europe due to their beautiful appearance.

Poodles come in three sizes: mini, toy, and standard. Toy Poodles grow only up to 10 inches and weigh around 4 to 6 lbs. Miniature Poodles grow up to 15 inches, and Standard Poodle grows up to 18 to 24 inches.

Due to a heavy curly coat, Poodles look similar to a living teddy bear, and this is also the reason it’s one of the most preferred dog breeds among pet lovers.

Apart from the English Goldendoodle, there are many other Poodle mixes like Sheepadoodles, American Goldendoodles, and Bernedoodles.

English Creme Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs with Scottish roots where they were first bred in the 19th century.

These popular dogs have since been embraced by American breeders, who have added their own unique touch to the breed. Despite their similarities in appearance, there are subtle differences between English and American Golden Retrievers, including variations in size and color. Here are some of the key differences between American and English Creme Golden Retrievers:

• Size: English Golden Retrievers tend to be bulkier and heavier than their American counterparts.
• Coat: English Golden Retrievers have a thicker, creamier coat that is often wavier, while American Golden Retrievers have a thinner, silkier coat.
• Temperament: English Golden Retrievers are known for their calm, laid-back personalities, while American Golden Retrievers tend to be more energetic and active.
• Purpose: English Golden Retrievers are working dogs who were originally bred for hunting and retrieving, while American Golden Retrievers were bred primarily as companion dogs.

English Goldendoodle

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Now that we know about the parent dogs, let’s learn about the temperament of an English Goldendoodle.

Intelligent

English Goldendoodle’s inherit their smarts from both parents, but mostly the Poodle. Training is easy with English Goldendoodles and they’ll pick up commands fast.

Eager to please

On top of being intelligent, English Goldendoodles are also eager to please their families. They are studious learners who are eager to please, and they love training as much as their love playtime!

Loyal

English Goldendoodles adore being near their families. They are loyal and form deep bonds with their loved ones.

Friendly

Thanks to its parents, the English Doodle has a loving and sociable temperament. They’re the perfect combination of playful, loving, and smart. They’re known for their friendly and outgoing personalities, always ready to make new friends (both human and canine), and they love to play and have a great time, making them a hit with kids and other pets.

Appearance

Coat

English Goldendoodles inherit a mix of wavy to curly coats from their parents. The English Cream Golden Retriever has a straight wavy coat type, while the Poodles have a thick, coarse coat.

Usually, the mixed breed pup shows fur inherited from both its parents, but in some puppies, you may notice a strong influence of one of the parents.

English Goldendoodles have complete fur-covered floppy ears, legs, and faces, making them look like a teddy bear.

The coat grows up to three inches long and needs regular brushing to keep it tangle-free. These dogs have low-shedding furs, all thanks to their Poodle parent.

Height and Weight

English Goldendoodles have a muscular build thanks to their English Golden Retriever parents. However, they can take after their Poodle parent and have a lean body. English Doodles can grow up to 20 to 25 inches and weigh around 55 to 85 pounds.

Colors

English Goldendoodles come in colors like black, white, cream, golden, apricot, brown, gray, red, and more. Usually, they have solid-colored bodies, but in rare cases, you may see multi-colored pups.

Socializing an English Goldendoodle

English Goldendoodles are social dogs owing to their parent breeds. However, Poodles can be skittish and scared and require solid socialization from birth. As such, it’s not uncommon to see a slightly skittish English Doodle. With the right socialization, your pup will be confident and not scared or standoffish.

Exercise & Training

English Goldendoodles have a perfect balance of energy, meaning they’re ready for some playtime but also like to relax.

To keep this pup healthy and happy, dedicate about 30 to 45 minutes daily to exercise and training. This can include short walks in the morning and evening, or even some fun games like frisbee and catch.

English Goldendoodles also love swimming—seek out safe places to take your pup swimming. Just make sure the water is safe and doesn’t have strong currents.

Grooming

The English Goldendoodle is a high-maintenance dog when it comes to grooming. From brushing to teeth cleaning, this dog will keep you busy.

First, let’s talk about their hair (and yes, Doodles have hair, not fur).

Hair

While you can always groom your Doodle at home, it’s a lot of work. Regular visits to the groomers are essential, and you must take time in between trips to the groomers to keep your dog’s coat in good shape. Here are a few quick points to keep in mind:

1. On average, you’ll want to visit the groomer every 6-8 weeks.
2. If you plan to keep the hair long, you’ll likely need to spend 30 minutes every second day brushing and combing it out.
3. If you don’t have that kind of time, you will need to shave your Engish Goldendoodle and keep their hair short, otherwise, your dog will get mats. Mats are painful and can cause irritation and infections.

Teeth

Now onto their teeth. You should also brush their teeth regularly. Poodles are known for having dental issues, and this can get passed down to English Doodles as well. We take our poodle-mix dogs in for annual teeth cleaning with a company that does anesthesia-free teeth cleanings for dogs. It’s absolutely worth checking around to see if you have something like that in your area. As a bonus, if you get your English Goldendoodle puppy used to you brushing their teeth, they’ll be fine with anesthesia-free teeth cleanings.

Ears

Poodles are prone to ear infection due to their curly, thick hair that grows inside the ears, trapping moisture and bacteria. Excessive wax build-up can cause ear infections, which is why you should clean it at regular intervals. A groomer will help keep the ears free from too much hair.

Some vets and groomers advise plucking the hair from the ears, but both our vet and our groomer don’t advise this—instead, they trim the hair from the ears to keep it from getting too long. I recommend speaking to a vet you trust for their opinion on hair plucking.

Diet Requirements

When it comes to food quality, your pup deserves the best, and following your vet’s advice on dry and wet foods will keep them healthy and happy.

And don’t forget to avoid feeding your pup too many table scraps. Your English Goldendoodle may drool at the sight of you chowing down, but just because it’s good for you doesn’t mean it’s good for your pup. Stick to healthy and natural options to keep your furry friend feeling their best.

Just watch the portion sizes and steer clear of spicy or oily foods. Overfeeding can lead to an unhealthy pup, and nobody wants that.

Health Issues

One good thing about mixed-breed dogs is that they tend to have less risk of genetic diseases. But they are not completely immune to them.

The following are the health issues English Goldendoodles may experience:

• Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is an inherited disease that may sometimes occur due to malnutrition. It’s a skeletal disease where the thigh bone does not fit properly into the hip joint. This medical condition becomes more apparent as the dog grows older. Not all dogs show signs of discomfort; if they do, the symptoms to notice are lameness in the rear legs, pain, and walking difficulty.
• Ear Infection: Ear infection, like I said, is pretty common because of their floppy ears. They trap moisture, leading to wax and bacteria build-up.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This is a family of eye diseases. At the initial stage, dogs lose their night vision, and gradually, they become fully blind.
• Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow Dysplasiais a joint disease that causes malformed and weakened joints. Elbow Dysplasia can cause arthritis or lameness. Dogs can be treated for this condition with surgery, anti-inflammatory medications, or weight management.
• Allergies: English Goldendoodles are prone to food allergies. Many are allergic to chicken. If you notice your dog is licking their feet or gets frequent ear infections, it’s time to speak to a vet and evaluate their diet.

Cost

Breeder

The cost of English Goldendoodle puppies varies depending on the size, breeder, and pedigree of the dog. If you buy from a reputable breeder who follows ethical breeding and has done primary health checkups, you can expect to pay anywhere around $1,000 to $3,500.

But while getting a pup, you must consider other expenses like grooming, vet checkups, food, toys, and other stuff. And to keep these dogs healthy, you must feed them good quality puppy food.

Rescue

While you’re unlikely to find an English Goldendoodle puppy in a rescue, you can find lots of Adult poodle-mix dogs in rescues. In fact, we adopted our Labradoodle from a local rescue. It’s always worth a shot to bookmark some rescues and check them for Poodle mix dogs.

Cons of Owning an English Goldendoodle

I promised I’d discuss why you may want to reconsider owning an English Goldendoodle. Although they’re fantastic dogs, they aren’t for everybody, and here’s why:

Separation Anxiety

Both the English Golden Retriever and the Poodle need people around them often, otherwise, they might begin to suffer from separation anxiety.

If you work a lot, you’ll want to speak with a trainer to help you learn ways to prevent separation anxiety in your pup and also consider things like daycare or a trusted dog walker to keep your dog company throughout long days alone.

Grooming

Grooming a Doodle is expensive and time-consuming. If you aren’t up for all that work, you may want to consider a different dog. There are lots of other large “hypoallergenic” dogs to consider. (No dog can be truly hypoallergenic, which is why I put this word in quotations.)

There are many Poodle mix dogs. Click here to learn about the different kinds.

Final Thoughts!

Dogs are the best companions humans can ever have. They always show their selfless love, and English Goldendoodles are no exception.

If you want to get a loving, affectionate, and easy-to-train dog, the English Goldendoodle is worth considering.

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