Breed guide
Goldendoodle Breeding Guide: Litter Size, Whelping, Puppy Weights and Health Testing
Updated September 6, 2026 · 6 min read · By the BreedBloom team
Goldendoodles are not a registered breed, which means the standards are set by breeder associations and by what buyers ask for. That makes documentation the whole game: a doodle program with both parents fully tested to their respective breed-club recommendations stands apart from the majority that are not.
Goldendoodle at a glance
Typical litter size
4–9 puppies (average around 6–7)
Birth weight
8–14 oz (230–400 g)
Adult weight
Standard 45–75 lb; medium 30–45 lb; mini 15–30 lb, depending on the poodle parent
Gestation
About 63 days from ovulation (57–72 from breeding)
Whelping
Usually free-whelping. Litter size and puppy size track the smaller parent breed; mini litters are smaller and the pups need more warmth.
Breeding and whelping notes
Generation labels (F1, F1b, F2, multigen) matter to buyers for coat and allergy expectations. Furnishings testing predicts the "improper coat" flat-faced doodle that surprises families.
Health-test to the stricter of the two parent breeds' requirements. A doodle inherits Golden and Poodle conditions alike.
Mini and petite lines use small Poodle sires; birth weights and litter sizes follow the dam's size, and the size spread within a litter can be large.
Grooming is a lifelong cost for families; cover coat care in the go-home packet.
Health testing before breeding
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Both parents: hips (OFA/PennHIP), elbows, annual eye exam, cardiac exam
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DNA: prcd-PRA, PRA1/PRA2 (Golden), ichthyosis (Golden), vWD1 and NEwS (Poodle), DM
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Coat testing: furnishings (F locus) and curl (Cu) to predict shedding and coat type
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Multigenerational breeders often run a diversity panel
Keep the paperwork attached
Test results are only useful when they travel with the dog. Keep certificate numbers and dates on each dog's record and include copies in every go-home packet.
Tracking a Goldendoodle litter
Enter the ovulation or tie date and BreedBloom builds the Goldendoodle litter timeline: ultrasound window, X-ray count reminder, temperature checks, the day 3–16 ENS/ESI schedule, deworming and vaccination tasks, and per-puppy weight curves you can compare against the whole litter. Families follow along in the BloomPetz portal, and the go-home packet is assembled from the same records.
About these figures
Figures on this page are typical ranges drawn from breed club and veterinary references; individual lines vary. Confirm health-testing requirements with your breed's parent club, and whelping plans with your reproductive veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
How many puppies do Goldendoodles have?
Typically 4–9, average around 6–7 for standards. Mini litters are smaller.
What health testing should Goldendoodle breeders do?
Everything the Golden Retriever and Poodle clubs recommend for the parent breeds: hips, elbows, eyes, heart, and the DNA panels (PRA, ichthyosis, vWD, NEwS, DM), plus coat testing for furnishings.
What is the difference between F1 and F1b?
F1 is a Golden × Poodle first cross. F1b is an F1 doodle bred back to a Poodle (usually), giving more Poodle coat and lower shedding on average.
Run your program on BreedBloom
Dogs, litters, puppy weights, ENS/ESI tasks, waitlists, contracts and go-home packets in one connected record, with a family portal built in. Free for up to 3 dogs.
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