You made the decision to start a family. Maybe you have kids. A two-car garage. Huge backyard.
But your life still isn’t quite complete. You decide to extend your family by four legs and a tail, all attached to one perfect puppy. Now, the only question is deciding on which breed to bring home.
You’ve come across our page and read up on all of our wonderful doodles. You are considering a Mini Goldendoodle. But… is a Mini Goldendoodle the right choice for your family?
The Pros of Mini Goldendoodles
Let’s be honest. They’re adorable. Just because they’re smaller in size, they’re no less adorable. And it’s possible that they’re even more so because of it. We should also note that mini goldendoodles are among the most popular, in-demand doodles around.
Weighing between 15 to 30 pounds (some can get up to about 40 pounds) and standing between 13 and 20 inches tall, their smaller build is perfect for those without a ton of space in their abode.
You might expect a Goldendoodle to be just that - Golden! The genetic math doesn’t add up in that way, however. Poodles come in solid white, black, blue, various shades of gray/silver, various shades of blonde from cream to red and various shades of brown.
Since, hereditarily speaking, the doodle gets its color from its poodle parts, the parent breed will dictate what color your loveable four-legged friend may be. Even then, over time, a doodle's colors can fade with age. For all the in and outs on why doodles are the colors they are, check out our tinted blog entry here.
Looks aren’t everything though. Let’s ignore their loveable outsides and get into what really makes a Mini Goldendoodle the pet for your family.
Why your family will like a Mini Goldendoodle
Very much like their parent breeds, the Mini Goldendoodle is eager to please. Their intense intelligence begs them to be engaged. You don’t want your adult, full-grown dog to have all of the prior “cute” puppy behavior. This’ll grow old quickly.
Puppies will watch your every move and gesture. The Mini Goldendoodle is no different. If you reinforce good behavior while curbing their less attractive “bad” behaviors, they’ll listen.
This will also translate to an easier time with leash and crate training. While you may not require your dog to be crated in a smaller area during the day, at some point, a visit to the vet will become a necessity. As Mini Goldendoodles don’t manage as well in a car as some larger doodles, a crate could be a lifesaver.
All in all, as long as you're a consistent and patient puppy parent, you’ll find that your Mini Goldendoodle will be one of the easiest breeds to train.
Your Family Will Enjoy These Social Butterflies
Mini Goldendoodles will demonstrate that there’s rarely a person that they meet that’s a stranger. It's the other side of this same coin that will not allow them to be the best guard dogs. They’re more likely to lick a robber to pieces than to bark and warn you of a stranger.
Like any other creature, they might get their feathers ruffled on a very rare occasion if they feel threatened. Please note that this is VERY rare and generally speaking, not unlike humans, the Mini Goldendoodle is a social dog.
Not to mention they can be utilized as service animals. Mini Goldendoodles have been employed as guide and smell dogs. This is just another way that they’re truly socially exceptional.
Loveable
Should these little balls of fluff be called Mini LOVE-adoodles? We’ve already mentioned their penchant for training and social behavior. They love most anything and anyone they come into contact with. It’s this same affectionate attitude that allows them to remain by their owners’ side at all times.
Granted, it’s this same attachment that, if not properly addressed can lead to separation anxiety. They’ll follow you everywhere you go. And we mean everywhere. Creative scheduling and boundaries will allow them to have a great sense of self while not losing any of the vital warmth that also makes them who they are.
Hypoallergenic
Just to be clear, there is no dog that is truly 100% hypoallergenic. But due to their genealogy, the Mini Goldendoodle is a fantastic dog for those with allergies.
As a quick refresher, a hypoallergenic dog sheds little to none and creates very little dander. You can make sure that your Mini Goldendoodles won’t set your allergies into a tizzy by grooming and maintaining their fur regularly.
Brush their fur once every other day and take them to the groomer every six to eight weeks. Your nose and throat will love you for it and everyone can live a sneeze and sniffle-free existence.
Mini Goldendoodles are Good with Kids
Yes! Mini Goldendoodles love to play and cavort. Depending on their size and age, your children will need to know how to properly interact with these Minis..
Even though we like to think of these puppies as a member of the family, they are animals and will react like any other animal if hurt or threatened.
Not to harp on any single aspect, but with training, your Mini Goldendoodle will become a happy and healthy part of your pack. Properly socialized, your children and Mini will live happily ever after.
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Why you may want to consider a different size or a different doodle for your family
One statement made by those considering adding a Mini Goldendoodle or Mini doodles, in general, is, “I want a Mini because I want my kids to be able to help, and they will be closer to their size.” Is that good thinking though?
Makenzie from our team outlines it like this:
“While they are smaller, Minis can tend to be less tolerant of unwanted or ‘too much attention.’ They can also be wary of being SO SMALL around children that they feel like they may get hurt. With kids running around, reaching down quickly to pick them up or simply just being kids, that can be a lot for a Mini puppy and even a Mini adult.”
If this sounds like your family or your kids specifically, there is a doodle for you. You might want to reconsider the size or breed. A standard Goldendoodle might be in the cards as they can be even more patient with younger children.
Minis can become aggravated and agitated by irregular movements that they can’t control from other small ones in the house. This may end in snapping at fingers and toes or the occasional nip at the heels.
Regarding exercising, Mini’s don’t have big legs and will fall behind on most runs and hikes. Not unlike healthier dieting, smaller portions more frequently throughout the day is the best type of exercise and mental stimulation for these playful pups.
Overall, we think that Mini Goldendoodles are an almost perfect family dog. Make sure that you’re requiring the same responsibility and responsiveness by others in your household that you’d expect of this Mini pooch. Between socialization and training with your children and family, everything should be copacetic with your Mini Goldendoodle.
While we’ve discussed the specifics of how this wonderful puppy would fit into your household, you might want a deeper dive into the ins and outs of the Mini Goldendoodle. Don’t worry. We have you covered with our Mini Goldendoodle personality blog.
Thinking about becoming a puppy parent?
Jenna and the JLDD Team