Do Mini Goldendoodles Shed?

Mini Goldendoodles are a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle.

They are somewhat smaller than the standard Goldendoodle and will grow to between 14 – 17 inches.

They weigh between 26 – 35 pounds at full adulthood.

A Little About the Mini Goldendoodle

This breed ranks as one of the most popular breeds right now. This is possibly something to do with the temperament as well as the adorable looks of the dogs.

They were bred to be companion dogs and have turned out to be exactly that! They are friendly, smart and look very much like a small teddy bear.

The minis are a smaller version of the standard Goldendoodle, and they came into being after breeding a Golden Retriever and a miniature or Toy Poodle.

Goldendoodles were first bred in the 1990’s and minis not long after that. They are popular because they are relatively low shedding, making them great pets for allergy sufferers.

What are Mini Goldendoodles?

The mini Goldendoodle comes from breeding a purebred Poodle and a Golden Retriever. They inherit the gentle nature from the Golden Retriever side and the intelligence from the Poodle.

As with any mixed breed it is not possible to fully guarantee which of the pups gets what traits but generally speaking the breed is known for its adorable looks and gentle nature, making them perfect companion dogs.

The poodle parent of the mini Goldendoodle is very smart although they can be a little standoffish with strangers. They are very loyal to their owners and are in fact a little shy.

This shyness gives the impression that they don’t want to get to know people, so Poodles need to be socialised at an early age.

Golden Retrievers are very friendly with strangers, they are also smart and become devoted to their owners. They have marvellous temperaments and kind natures.

When these two breeds are mixed, we get the perfect combination of smartness, cuteness and sweet nature – the mini Goldendoodle!

What is a Mini Goldendoodle’s Coat Like?

The coat length varies greatly depending on the genes the pups inherit from their parents.

Poodles have thick curly coats, while Golden Retrievers have coats which are thick, long and straight. The Mini Goldendoodle will have everything in between these options.

You may find that the Poodle curls are in one or two places and the Retriever straight hair predominantly in other areas.

The mini Goldendoodle has three different types of coat, namely wavy, curly or straight. The straight coat is the least common although you do get them in most litters.

The wavy coat

This is the most common type of coat. It is this coat that gives the nickname of ‘teddy bear’ to the breed. When they are brushed, they look just like large teddies.

This fur must be brushed regularly to keep it from becoming knotted and tangled but conviently this coat is low shedding.

The curly coat

This coat has more of the Poodle tight curls. The length of the curls depends on the Poodle parent.

This coat is the second most common type for the mini to have. It is the most non-shedding of all the coat styles. If any coat can be classed as hypoallergenic, it is this one.

The straight coat

This coat looks very much like the golden Retriever parent in the breed. It is not very common, but it is very easy to take care of. This type of coat is great for people who do not have very much time to spend grooming a dog.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to predict the type of coat on each puppy because the fur changes all the time from birth to adulthood.

Possibly the closest to predicting the coat is to look at the nose area. Excess hair on the top of the nose very often makes a curly coat. A straight coat will be shown as smooth hair over the nose area.

Yes, Mini Goldendoodles do shed. The good news is that they shed far less than other breeds, but they still shed.

They are classed as low shedders and because of this they are popular with people with allergies.

Shedding depends on the number of genes the pup has from the parents.

A pup who has more retriever genes will have longer hair and shed a small amount, while a pup who inherits the Poodle gene will shed very little.

When do Mini Goldendoodles Shed the Most?

Golden Retrievers shed twice a year in spring and autumn and Poodles shed once a year in the spring so the pups of these two will shed either once or twice a year.

As with most other breeds, the mini Goldendoodle will shed in the spring and at the end of summer. This is to prepare for the growth of the winter coat and then to shed it for the lighter summer coat.

If your mini Goldendoodle is predominantly kept inside, then you can expect less shedding than you would from a dog who gets outside more often.

A dog who is kept mostly indoors will have a more constant exposure to light and this will reduce shedding, however, getting adequate sunlight is essential to the health of your dog.

Do Mini Goldendoodles Shed More or Less Than Goldendoodles?

The only reason why a mini Goldendoodle sheds less than a standard Goldendoodle is because of the size difference.

Obviously, the amount of shed hair from a standard Goldendoodle is going to be more than a mini. Apart from this, they shed proportionally the same as their standard doodles.

Compared to other breeds such as Spaniels and Labradors, the mini Goldendoodle sheds almost nothing, although there is still hair when it is brushed, simply not piles of it.

Is the Mini Goldendoodle Hypoallergenic?

Strictly speaking no dog is totally hypoallergenic. They all shed to a certain degree.

What the word ‘hypoallergenic’ means is that the dog does not shed any visible hair. This means that if your dog has a shake in front of you, you won’t see fur flying around.

Mini Goldendoodles shed a very small amount so are probably as close to being hypoallergenic as you can get. How much they shed depends on whose genes are dominant in the pup.

How to Combat Mini Goldendoodle Shedding

The best way to reduce shedding is to brush your pooch every day. This will keep allergic reactions to a minimum and your house as tidy and hair free as possible.

If you keep your pooch indoors as much as possible you will also see a reduction in shedding. This is because sunlight and seasonal light affect the amount of hair which a dog sheds.

This involves upsetting your dogs natural rhythms and I personally do not believe this is worth it for a little bit of hair.

Keeping the hair relatively short will also prevent excess shedding. It will certainly prevent knots and tangles forming.

It is a good idea to keep a record of your mini Goldendoodles shedding so that you know if there are any other things related to shedding such as allergies and skin infections.

Unbalanced diets can also cause excessive shedding, as can stress.

Equipment Help to Combat Mini Goldendoodle Shedding

The most important equipment in your grooming tool collection is a brush, in fact you will need different types of brush to groom your pooch.

A slicker brush will make sure that your dog’s coat is soft and fluffy. This will help to remove any mats and knots in the coat nearest to the skin.

A metal comb or grooming rake will help to remove the tangles. Metal combs work best on curly coats, while grooming rakes will handle wavy coats better.

A pair of round-tipped scissors will be needed to trim out stubborn knots which you may find under the ears and around the throat. You will also need the scissors to trim the fur around the eyes and mouth.

We have created an article here for best grooming tools for goldendoodles to help you combat shedding.

Final Thoughts

If you have set your heart on having a mini Goldendoodle, even though you may suffer from allergies, it is nice to know that there are some things tat you can do to keep the allergies to a minimum.