Whether you are looking to get a Toy Goldendoodle or you just want to learn more about them, you have come to the right place.
In this post we will talk about what a Toy Golden doodle really is, how big they get and what you should know about them. We will also cover how to care for one, how much they cost in 2024 and where to find one.
What is a Toy Goldendoodle?
The Toy Goldendoodle is a smaller version of the Mini Golden doodle. Both are bred using a Golden Retriever and a small poodle. In the case of the toy Golden doodle, a toy poodle is used for breeding. Goldendoodles that are between 10 to 20-pounds and 11 to 14-inches tall at the shoulder are considered to be part of the toy class. Anything smaller is a Teacup Goldendoodle.
Quick Facts About the Toy Golden doodle
| Mix | Golden Retriever and Toy Poodle |
| Height | 11 and 14 inches tall at shoulder |
| Weight | 10 to 20 pounds |
| Life span | 12 and 18 years |
| Traits | Affectionate, loyal, intelligent and easy to train |
| Colors | Cream, apricot and red, black, chocolate (dark brown), silver and gray |
| Groom | Regular grooming is needed, but the toy’s small size will make it easy |
What how big do Toy Goldendoodles get?
The size of a Toy Goldendoodle varies by breeder. If you look at our Size Chart by Breeder below, you will see that the Toy can range in size between 10 to 20 pounds. One breeder listed their toy size as up to 30 pounds which starts to fall into the mini size range.
If you look down our list of Toy Sizes by Breeder, you will notice that breeders use different names for dogs that overlap the size range of the Toy. The most common name used for this size range is Petite. But mini and micro-mini can also fall into the size range of the Toy.
Ultimately, how big your Toy Golden doodle will get, is determined by the breeding parent’s size, plus the size of the grandparents and even great grandparent. The genes that affect size can stay dormant for a couple of generations before they show themselves again.
Small Goldendoodle Sizes by breeder
| Breeder | Size Name | Weight |
| A | Toy | 10 to 20 |
| B | Toy | 13 to 20 |
| C | Toy | under 30 pounds |
| D | Petite | 12 to 19 |
| E | Petite | 10 to 13 |
| F | Petite | 10 to 20 |
| G | Petite | 10 to 25 |
| H | Petite | 12 to 25 |
| I | Petite | 15 to 25 |
| J | Petite | 15 to 30 |
| K | Mini | 15 to 30 |
| O | Mini | 15 to 25 |
| M | Micro Mini | 10 to 20 |
| N | Micro Mini | 17 to 25 |
| O | Micro Mini | 8 to 12 |
| P | Micro Mini | 8 to 15 |
Goldendoodle Sizes
Because Goldendoodle sizes can vary but breeder, the Goldendoodle Association of North American (GANA) came up with size standards for all Goldendoodles. The recognized sizes of the Goldendoodle are the:
- Standard Goldendoodle,
- Medium Goldendoodle,
- Miniature Goldendoodle
- Petite Goldendoodle.
GANA does not recognize any size smaller than petite. But the toy, teacup, and micro mini are included in the petite category.
GANA Goldendoodle Size Chart
| Size Range | Height Range | Typical Weight Range |
| Petite | Below 14 inches | 25 lbs. or less |
| Miniature | Over 14 but under 17 inches at wither | 26-35 lbs. |
| Medium | Over 17 but under 21 inches at wither | 36-50 lbs. |
| Standard | Over 21 inches at wither | 51 or more lbs. |
Toy Goldendoodle Breeding
As you can see by the size chart above, the mini Goldendoodle is not that small, especially when compared to a mini Poodle which is less than 15-inches tall and weighs between 10 to 15 pounds.
To make a smaller doodle, breeders started to use a toy poodle in the cross. Take look at our Toy Golden doodle Size Comparison Info-graphic below. You will see that the F1B Toy Doodle is larger than the toy poodle, but still smaller that a mini Doodle.
But, creating a tiny dog from a large dog takes more effort than just breeding a Golden Retriever to a Toy Poodle.
To safely reduce the size of the Goldendoodle, a good breeder understands that they need to reduce the size gradually over a few generations. This is where Goldendoodle generation classifications come in.
Goldendoodle Generations
Goldendoodle Generation Classes are a simple a way to show breed genealogy over time. For example:
- A F1 Goldendoodle is a first generation cross between a Poodle and a Golden resulting in a dog that is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever.
- A F1B Goldendoodle is a second generation cross between a F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle, resulting in a dog that is approximately 75% poodle and 25% Golden.
- A breeder could also cross back to a Golden and still call it a F1B
- A multigeneration doodle is any generation after the first two.
Most Toy doodles you find will either be a F1B or Multi-gen doodle. The multi-gen is the safest route that leads to the most predictable sizes.
That’s not to say you can’t find a breeder that breeds first generation crosses between a Golden and a Toy poodle. I found a few while researching this post. But if you choose this route, you may end up with a dog that is much larger than expected or one that is out of portion.
I just came across a real-life example of this. The dog is larger than what the owners expected and it has a long back with short legs. This is an unnatural combination for either breed and can lead to back issues for the dog later in life.
Check out the info-graphic we created to explain the generations.
Toy Goldendoodle Temperament
The Toy Goldendoodle is an active, intelligent dog, that is easy to train and loves to be the center of attention. Their silly, playful nature makes them the class clown, hence why they are used in circus acts. They are also born athletes that excel in agility, and obedience training.
They prefer to be around their family most of the time. If left alone or ignored for too much time they may start to experience separation anxiety or destructive behaviors.
The Toy Golden-doodle needs to be properly handled and socialized as a puppy to avoid developing fear related issues due to their small size.
Toy Goldendoodle Exercise Requirements
As intelligent dogs, Toy Goldendoodles need both mental stimulation and physical activity to keep them happy and out of trouble.
For mental stimulation, daily training sessions that involve games like hide and seek or agility training will do. As small dogs they don’t need an excessive amount of exercise. Some play time in the yard or a couple of short daily walks should suffice.
Toy Goldendoodle Maintenance
The Toy Goldendoodle requires a lot of maintenance to keep their wavy locks looking their best. Doodle coats that are not properly cared for will mat, making the pup very uncomfortable.
The good news is, since they are so small it shouldn’t take that much effort.
Your toy doodle will need to be groomed every six to eight weeks. The price of professional grooming for a small dog can range between $50 to $100 based on where you live.
In addition to frequent haircuts they will need to brushed every day or two. Of course, all this grooming also means that they will have less hair to shed.
You can choose to groom your doodle yourself. The cost to buy the required grooming equipment is between $200 to $1000. There are DIY Doodle Grooming Facebook groups that can help you get started.
Are Toy Goldendoodles Trainability?
As intelligent, social dogs they want your approval and enjoy treats as rewards, Toy Goldendoodles are easy to train with the right motivation. If you are consistent with your commands, and train often, your toy doodle will quickly learn. This includes potty training them.
Like most other dogs they do not like to be scolded. Using negative reinforcement will most likely backfire, resulting in a dog that is scared of you.
Are Toy Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic
The Toy Goldendoodle is naturally hypoallergenic. This is due to their low-shed to non-shed coats. Plus, their small size means they will have less pet dander, which carries the protein that causes the allergy.
The allergy inducing protein is also found in a dog’s saliva or urine. This means you can still be allergic to a dog just by being licked or cleaning up after them.
The best way to know if you are allergic to a dog is to spend time with them or the parents. Another option is to ask for a piece of clothing that the dog has worn for a while. If you react to the clothing then you will react to the dog. But this option is not foolproof.
Toy Goldendoodle Colors
A Toy Goldendoodle can inherit any of the coat colors that either the Golden or Poodle have. Though the most popular colors are cream and apricot. See the chart below to see all the colors possible.
| Golden Retriever Coat Colors | Poodle Coat Colors |
| Cream | Cream |
| Apricot | Apricot |
| Reds | Red |
| Black | |
| Chocolate (dark brown) | |
| Silver | |
| Gray |
They can also inherit the various color patterns that are common in poodles such as:
- Parti
- Phantom
- Tuxedo
- Plus, poodles can carry the fading gene that can turn their black coats to gray or dark brown coats to a lighter brown.
More recently, I have seen Goldendoodles with Merle patterns, also called a dapple coat. This not a natural coat pattern for either the poodle or Golden Retriever which means it’s being introduced with another breed.
There are health risks with the Merle gene, so make sure to do your homework before getting one.
Toy Goldendoodle Health
The Toy Goldendoodle can live a long life. But they are susceptible to health conditions that effect both the Golden Retriever and Toy Poodle. Here are some of the conditions that may affect them.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy – PRA is an inherited disease. There are currently no effective treatments available. But breeders can test for it. So, make sure you only buy from a breeder that does genetic health testing.
- Patellar Luxation – Is caused when the patella moves outside of its assigned groove when the knee is flexed.
- Ear Infections – All doodles are prone to ear infections
- Skin conditions – both the golden and poodle are susceptible to various skin conditions including ones caused by allergies.
- Tracheal Collapse – Toy poodles are likely genetically predisposed to this condition
- Von Willebrand’s disease – a blood condition that affects clotting
- Various eye diseases – Common eye diseases include cataracts and glaucoma
This is not a complete list. Please see the Petmd health pages for the toy poodle and Golden Retriever for additional information.
Toy Goldendoodle Lifespan
Toy poodles are a generally healthy breed that can live to 18 years old. Since a F1B Toy Goldendoodle is more poodle than golden, you can expect most will live between 12 to 17 years.
Breed is only one of the many factors that go into how long a dog will live. To learn more read “Goldendoodle Lifespan: How long do Goldendoodles live“
Toy Goldendoodle FAQ
1. How Much Does a Toy Goldendoodle Cost?
To find out much a Toy Goldendoodle puppy cost, we surveyed independent breeders with toy or petite litters. We found that the cost of a Toy Golden doodle ranged from $2,000 up to $5,000, with the majority of breeders charging from $3,000 to $4,000. Factors that effected the price included, genetic health testing, color, and gender.
We did not include prices from on-line puppy-for-sale sites. These puppies are generally cheaper but often come from puppy mill farms.
2. Where to find a Toy Goldendoodle?
One of the easiest ways to find a breeder that conducts genetic health testing is through the Goldendoodle Association of North America. They maintain a list of reputable breeders that must meet certain standards to be included on the list.
You may also be able to find a Goldendoodle at a rescue. Here is a list of the Goldendoodle rescue groups throughout the U.S.
3. What is the difference between a Toy Goldendoodle and a Mini Golden doodle?
The main differences between the mini Golden doodle and the Toy Golden doodle is their size, personalities and activity levels.
1. Size
Toy Goldendoodles are between 15 to 25-pounds and 11 to 14-inches tall at the shoulder, where the mini Goldendoodle is supposed to range between 26 to 25 pounds and stand between 14 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder.
Noticed I said “supposed to”. Goldendoodles are well-known for not matching the size they were breed for. Especially with first generation doodles. To learn more about this see my article on Goldendoodles Full-Grown Size
2. Personality
While the toy and mini Golden doodle are both breed from a Golden Retriever and a poodle, the size of the poodle used makes a difference in the personality of the Golden doodle.
- Toy poodles can develop fear aggression issues. Meaning they may growl or even bite out of fear if they believe they might get hurt. This is caused by their small size and the desire to protect themselves.
- Miniature poodles on the other hand are larger and tend to be sturdier making them a more confident pup.
- Add to that, Toys tend to be more poodle than golden, which means they will have a personality that leans more to the poodle’s personality than Golden.
3. Activity Level
Mini Goldendoodles are an active breed that like to be social and on the move. As a combination of two retriever breeds, the mini doodles like to run, retrieve and swim.
The toy Golden doodle is part lap dog (the toy poodle) therefore they will have less energy that they need to burn off. They will still need exercise and mental stimulation, but not as much as a mini.
4. Are Toy Goldendoodles good for young families?
No, due to their small size Toy Golden doodles they do not make good pets in a household with young children. While they are active dogs that love to play with children, they can be easily hurt by a child. They also have less patience with a child pulling on their ears or treating them roughly.
5. How does a Toy Goldendoodle compare in size to a Teacup Goldendoodle?
According to the breeders we surveyed, the Toy Golden-doodle generally weighs between 10 to 25 pounds and are less than 15 inches tall. A Teacup Goldendoodle can have a weight range of 8 to 12 pounds and stand less than 13 inches tall.
6. What is the smallest Goldendoodle?
For the longest time the mini Goldendoodle was considered the smallest Goldendoodle. But not anymore. Now the smallest Goldendoodle is the Teacup Goldendoodle. At less than 12 pounds it is smaller than both the toy and miniature Golden doodle.
7. Do Toy Goldendoodle stay small?
If carefully bred a Toy Goldendoodle will stay small. A multi-generation toy Golden doodle is more likely to stay small then a first-generation mix. First generation Toy Goldendoodles will have the widest range of sizes.
8. When does a Toy Goldendoodle stop growing?
Your F1b or multi-generation Toy Golden doodle should stop growing in height between 6 to 9 months. However, they may continue to gain weight for up to a year. If you have an F1 Toy doodle, they can take up to a year to stop growing in height. Of course, this is all based on averages and your doodle may be different.
9. Is a Toy Goldendoodle easy to travel with?
The Toy Goldendoodle makes a great travel companion dog. After all the toy poodle was breed as a companion dog. Thanks to their small size, the Toy is easy to take with you wherever you go, including in the cabin of an airplane.
10. Do Toy Goldendoodles Bark?
The Toy Goldendoodle is prone to bark. But they can be taught not to if done at an early age. Often a stern no when they bark as a puppy is enough to stop it from becoming a bad habit.
Remember, they are very intelligent animals that look to you for clues on appropriate behavior. If you don’t want them to bark when someone comes to the door, you can’t make a fuss either.
11. Are Toy Golden doodles good apartment dogs?
The Toy Goldendoodle is a great choice for an apartment dog. Their small size and desire to be close makes them perfect for apartment living. Just be sure to teach your toy not to bark at a young age.
12. Do Toy Goldendoodles Like to Cuddle?
The Toy Golden-doodle loves to cuddle. In fact, the toy poodle was breed to be a lap dog. Their main purpose was to sit in a person’s lap to provide warmth. So, when you combine the toy poodle with the super, friendly Golden Retriever, the result is a cuddle loving pup.
13. Are Toy Goldendoodles Hard to Train?
The Toy Goldendoodle is a highly intelligent dog with an innate need to please. This makes the Toy Goldendoodle very easy to train. They strive on positive reinforcement and mental games so make your training sessions are fun and rewarding for your pup.
14. Are Toy Goldendoodles Hyper?
While the Toy Golden doodle is active and likes to play, they are generally not considered hyper dogs. However, if not properly trained and socialized at a young age they can develop anxiety which may lead to hyperactivity.