What Is An Average Goldendoodle Litter Size?

The Short Answer is:

The average litter size for Golden Retrievers is eight puppies. According to this number, you can expect a Golden Retriever to give birth to as few as four puppies or as many as 12 puppies at the same time.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “What Is An Average Goldendoodle Litter Size?“.

A quick glance at a Goldendoodles loving eyes and slightly curly hair will give you an idea of why this breed is so popular right now.

You might find that some of your friends have already asked you if they can have your puppy if your dog is pregnant.

There are many factors that determine how large a litter of Goldendoodles will be but genetics plays a major role.

The purpose of this article is to examine how the size of your dogs litter is determined and at what age the puppies are ready to move to a new home.

What is a Goldendoodle?

Goldendoodles are the cute offspring of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Its not a breed per se but a designer dog created especially for the purpose of passing on the best characteristics from its parents to its offspring.

The Goldendoodle breed has become so popular in such a short period of time since Golden Retrievers and Poodles are among the most popular dog breeds in the world.

‘Goldendoodles’ are members of the large ‘Doodle’ family which includes all dogs produced by mating a Poodle with another breed.  Most pet owners prefer Doodle dogs because they shed very little so they’re considered hypoallergenic.

In addition to being very sociable and easily trained they are perfect not only as pets but also as guide dogs or therapy dogs.

Cockapoos the first known example of a Doodle first appeared in the 1950s following the union of Poodles and Cocker Spaniels.

It was only in the 1990s that Goldendoodles became popular and now they seem set to become the number one Doodle dog.

How many different types of Goldendoodle are there?

Goldendoodles can be divided into two types based on the size of the Poodle in the mix.

Goldendoodles result from the mating of a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle (22-27 inches tall). In contrast with a miniature Poodle (13 to 15 inches tall) or a toy Poodle (less than 10 inches tall) you will get a Mini Goldendoodle.

Goldendoodles average 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weigh 50 to 90 pounds.

What is the average Goldendoodle litter size?

We must first discuss how the size of a dog affects its litter size in order to understand this.  The body of large dogs allows them to carry more puppies at a time so they tend to have larger litters.

Chihuahua and Pomeranian females usually have one to three puppies per litter while a large Bullmastiff litter averages five to thirteen puppies.

Crossbreeds such as the Goldendoodle have litter sizes that are based on the average of the parents’ breeds.

The average litter size for Golden Retrievers is eight puppies. According to this number you can expect a Golden Retriever to give birth to as few as four puppies or as many as 12 puppies at the same time.

There are different types of Poodles so the average litter size will vary.

Typically a Mini Goldendoodle litter contains three to eight puppies so we average five puppies per litter. In a standard Goldendoodle more than five puppies can be born in one size but you must understand that this is not an exact science and there are other factors at play.

Females’ first litters are usually smaller than subsequent litters for instance. The older the female the larger the litter but the same cannot be said about the father.

The litter that comes from such a union may be small because the older dogs might have mobility issues.

How old should a Golden Retriever/ Poodle be when they have their first litter?

The first time a female dog goes into heat which happens between 6 – 12 months of age she becomes fertile. Although most experts agree an owner should wait until the dog is fully grown and her body can handle pregnancy before allowing her to mate she should be fully grown by the second or third fertile cycle.

Golden Retrievers are recommended to mate for the first time at the age of two which corresponds to the third heat cycle. Poodles of any breed should do the same.

It is common for females who do not mate until the age of five to have small litters for the rest of their lives.

Females can technically have puppies every time they go into heat however breeders are encouraged not to force their dogs to have more than one pregnancy at a time as that can harm the females health.

In some cases a female should be mated twice in a row before giving her a break for a cycle or two to regain her strength.

The following are general recommendations that apply to all dog breeds including Goldendoodles.

How old should a Golden Retriever/ Poodle be when they have their last litter?

Throughout her life a female dog can have puppies but it is not recommended. If you have a Golden Retriever or Poodle you should not mate her until she is at least 8 years old.

The majority of dog clubs would not register a dog if its mother is over the age of 8 in order to discourage continuous breeding. In pregnancy after the age of 7-8 complications can occur putting the life of the mother at risk.

What is the difference between first-generation and second-generation Goldendoodles?

You’ll encounter strange questions when you decide to get a Goldendoodle and do a bit of research on these dogs such as “Which is better an F1 or F2?”.

This is the generation to which the dog belongs.

In laymans terms F1 refers to a Goldendoodle of the first generation. Its parents were a 100% pure Poodle and a 100% pure Golden Retriever.

Goldendoodles of the second generation are called F2. F2 dogs are still half Poodle and half Golden Retriever and their parents are both F1.

F1 Goldendoodles benefit from hybrid vigor which is the main difference between F1 and F2. Because we’re dealing with two completely different sets of genes their offspring will be healthier than dogs from second generations which exhibit varying degrees of inbreeding.

As far as appearance or personality is concerned it is harder to predict which traits will be inherited from F1 Goldendoodles. 

Poodles typically have curly coats while Golden Retrievers tend to have smooth ones. F1s shed more than any other breed too.

Like their Retriever parent some dogs still shed a lot while others are hypoallergenic and shed very little.

Goldendoodles of the second generation tend to shed less than their first-generation counterparts.

The F1B Goldendoodle would be a good choice if you need a hypoallergenic dog. In its name the letter B stands for back cross meaning it is a crossbred F1 dog with a pure Poodle.

Poodles are 75% and Golden Retrievers are 25% so they do not shed at all.   

At what age should a Goldendoodle puppy be weaned?

When you get a brand new litter of Goldendoodles you might wonder when they will grow up a bit and become less dependent on their mother. Weaning begins in Goldendoodle puppies when they are about 4 weeks old.

The process is gradual so expect this stage to last two weeks or so. Approximately 6 weeks after birth your puppy should be weaned completely.

At what age will a Goldendoodle puppy be ready to go to their new home?

When a Goldendoodle puppy is weaned many people wonder if its okay to send him to a new home immediately. Puppy puppies are ready to move on from their mother and siblings at around six weeks of age but they should not be separated from them at such a young age.

A dog begins socializing with his siblings during this time which is crucial in terms of socializing. When a puppy plays with his siblings he learns that biting too hard isnot okay.

The puppy also learns how to get and send signals to other dogs during this period which is important for their future training as well as for their ability to interact with other dogs.

As puppies socialize between 3 and 12 weeks of age it is best to wait until they’re about three months old before separating them from their litter.

Conclusion

Designer dogs Goldendoodles are crossbreds between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle at least if they are first-generation Goldendoodles. Breeders usually breed these dogs to inherit the best traits from their parents.

A Goldendoodle is the perfect pet if you want a dog that looks like a Golden Retriever but does not shed as much.

Remember that there is no guarantee of what your puppy will look like or what traits it will inherit from its parents.

Even within the same litter puppies can differ greatly. You should buy a second-generation Goldennoodle if you’re looking for a dog that has more predictable traits.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.