Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard
In the world of retriever and poodle crossbreeds, there are a lot of interesting variations. Few comparisons are as fun to draw as that between Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle vs Aussiedoodle, however. So, which doodle is the best pet for you? What are the key characteristics of each of them you should keep in mind? What even are their parent breeds?
Table of Contents
Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle Vs Aussiedoodle Origins
As you’d guess from the names, all three of these crossbreeds share one parent, and that’s the poodle. The other three parents are different, however. The Goldendoodle is a Poodle cross with a Golden Retriever, the Labradoodle – with a Labrador Retriever, and the Aussiedoodle – with an Australian shepherd. This naturally means that the Aussiedoodle is the odd one out – the only cross with a shepherd breed in the mix.
Poodles, just like Golden and Labrador Retrievers, are a water retriever breed. Such breeds are gun dogs bred to help hunters retrieve prey such as duck and quail from the water. Aussie shepherds, on the other hand, are purely a shepherd breed – not bred for hunting at all.
This does inform the different crossbreed’s characteristics and temperament a little bit. Although, the difference probably isn’t as significant as you might imagine.
Aussuedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle Size And Appearance
The first thing you’ll notice when looking at all these doodle breeds is that they actually look quite similar. Most dogs of either crossbreed have the wavy, curly, or wiry look of the Poodle. In fact, if you see a Labradoodle, a Goldendoodle, and an Aussiedoodle standing side by side, you’d be forgiven to think that they are all of the same breeds.
There are some differences, however, such as the coat’s color and length. Goldendoodles will usually have much longer coats than Labradoodles and Aussiedoodles because of their Golden Retriever parent. As for the color, here’s what you can usually expect:
- Goldendoodle – gold, yellow, red, brown, grey, white, black
- Labradoodle – black, chocolate, yellow, silver, cream, blue, caramel, gold, apricot
- Aussiedoodle – black & white, black & red, black & merle, sable, merle, red merle, blue
Another Key Difference Is These Crossbreeds’ Size
Labrador and Golden Retrievers have similarly sized dogs, so Goldendoodles and Labradoodles typically come in the same height and weight ranges too. Aussie shepherds are typically smaller, however, so Aussiedoodles are shorter and lighter too.
The average height and weight of a Goldendoodle and a Labradoodle is 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm) and 50 to 64 pounds (22 to 34 kg). Aussiedoodles, on the other hand, will usually range between 15 and 20 inches (37 to 50 cm) and 25 to 50 pounds (11 to 22 kg). Of course, neither of these crossbreeds is purebred or has specific standard breeders need to comply with. So, there can be a lot of variation, including below and above the averages we outlined here.
Plus, there are miniature versions of each crossbreed. The mini Australian golden doodle, for example, can be as short as 10 inches (25 cm). Mini Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can also be as short as 13 or 14 inches (33 to 35 cm). We’d generally recommend against buying such a dog unless you’re 100% sure of how it’s been bred and how healthy it is – there really is just no standard when it comes to breeding miniature versions of unrecognized crossbreeds.
Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle Vs Aussiedoodle Shedding And Grooming Needs
The shedding of either breed can vary greatly as Poodles typically don’t shed much, but the other three parent breeds shed a lot. So, with a Labradoodle and an Aussiedoodle, you can expect an average shedding potential. The same goes for the Goldendoodle, but you will need to do more grooming there because of the long hair.
Overall, each of these crossbreeds can either be a pain to groom, or it can be pretty manageable – get ready for either eventuality.
Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle Vs Aussiedoodle Personality
Despite one of the four parent breeds here being a shepherd breed, all three of the resulting crossbreeds have very similar personalities. Especially with good obedience training and socialization early on, you can expect Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Aussiedoodles to all be excellent family pets.
These dogs should get along perfectly with other dogs and even with other pets such as cats. They should also be perfect for families with kids of all ages (again, with good socialization). They should get along with strangers and guests too. All three crossbreeds should also be highly intelligent, gentle, loyal, playful, and easy to train.
Breeding And Recognition
All four of the parent breeds here are purebred dogs. However, none of their crossbreeds are recognized by the AKC, the FCI, or other major kennel clubs. Some kennel clubs do recognize them due to their popularity, but they are rarely considered purebreds.
So, can you breed an Aussiedoodle with a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle with an Aussiedoodle? Sure, just make sure that the two dogs you’re breeding are healthy and come from good stock. All four of these breeds are generally healthy but still – you don’t want to pass on undesirable genetic traits.
So, Goldendoodle Vs Labradoodle Vs Aussiedoodle – Which Should You Choose?
This is a toss-up for us. Whichever crossbreed you go for, you’ll be getting a smart and playful companion. There are some minor differences in the personality between these three – Aussiedoodles are supposed to be smarter as the Australian shepherd is the smartest breed in the world.
On the other hand, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are meant to be easier to train as they come from a purely gun dog lineage. But such differences really are minor, especially compared to the differences between pups on an individual level. The size difference between Aussiedoodles and the other two may also matter for you, but it also isn’t all that major.
All in all, we’d much rather emphasize finding a healthy dog with an individual personality that suits you rather than focusing on a specific crossbreed.
Read more about Australian Labradoodle vs American Labradoodle – Which Is The Right Doodle For You?
