All Goldendoodle Colors & Coat Types Guide [With Pictures] – 2023

ByCanine Bible

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This is the ultimate guide on Goldendoodles’ colors and coat types.

Goldendoodles have surged in popularity due to their affectionate, intelligent, low-shedding nature and adorable appearance. These dogs inherited some of the best traits from their parent breeds (the Poodle and Golden Retriever).

Due to the rising demand for this breed, breeders have bred Goldendoodles into colors you probably wouldn’t have imagined. From a rare multi-color Goldendoodles, parti Goldendoodles or phantom Goldendoodles, to Apricot Goldendoodles or even Blonde Goldendoodles. But with so many Goldendoodle colors out there, how do you pick the right one?

Today, we show you every Goldendoodle coat color variety so you can pick your favorite. We also teach the important aspects of coat color health, types, and more. Let’s dive right in!

CONTENTS
Chapter 1

Ch 2 | Ch 3

Goldendoodle color and coat 101

The Breed

The Goldendoodle is a “designer dog,” a hybrid dog breed resulting from mixing the Poodle with the Golden Retriever. The main traits people find attractive about the Goldendoodles are the low shedding, hypo-allergenic coat, coat color varieties, and the adorable ragamuffin look of this breed.

Why Are There So Many Goldendoodle Colors?

The answer to this question lies in the Goldendoodle’s parents.

According to the American Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever has three standard colors: dark, golden, and light.1 While the Poodle has seven officially recognized colors by the AKC: apricot, blue, brown, café-au-lait, cream, grey, and silver. So it’s not surprising that Goldendoodles come in so many colors and patterns.

Based on our research, we’ve been able to identify up to 32 Goldendoodles coat colors. There might be more we have yet to discover, but we will keep this article updated as we find more.

The Goldendoodle is for you if you’re looking for a rarity and uniqueness in your dog’s coat color. Below, we look at different Goldendoodles colors (with pictures) and the differences in each. We also discuss what makes each color unique and so recognizable.

Goldendoodle Coat Pattern & Appearance

There are three prominent types of coat patterns in Goldendoodles: curly, straight and wavy.

Your Goldendoodle coat type will depend on the kind of curl gene they inherit from each parent. If you are curious to know what coat type and color coat your Goldendoodle puppy will have, you can perform an at-home DNA test to find out. A swab of your dog’s cheek is all you need to determine your Goldendoodle’s puppy adult coat type scientifically.

Curly Coat

Curly coats are present in Goldendoodles when each parent passes down a curl gene, also known as KRT71. Curly coats are the most popular coats in Goldendoodles and are seen more frequently in F1B and F3 breedings. These types of coats are considered to be the most non-shedding kind.

Straight Coat

Goldendoodles get a straight coat when a non-curl gene is from each parent. However, some furnishings and a “fluffy” texture will still be visible in some body parts.

Wavy Coat

You can expect wavy coat doodle when Goldendoodles get one curl gene from one parent and a non-curl gene from the other.

Goldendoodles With Improper Coat

Did you know the RSPO2 gene is responsible for the “Furnishings” on your Goldendoodle? Furnishings are the longer facial hair, including eyebrows, mustache, and beard, which give the Goldendoodle that “scruffy dog” look. A characteristic trait, if you will, of this hybrid breed.

When the RSPO2 gene is not present in your doodle is what’s known as “improper coat” Goldendoodle. They tend to have more shedding than Goldendoodles, who carry furnishings, and they look more like Golden Retrievers. To ensure you have a proper coated Goldendoodle, you need to DNA test the parents or puppy before getting one. You can use Wisdom Panel, a reputable dog DNA test company. If you have a family with allergies, a Goldendoodle with an incorrect coat is not the best match for you.

Goldendoodle Coat Length

In most dogs, coat length is controlled by a single gene called FGF5. Long hair is a recessive trait, which means that for a dog to be long-coated, the FGF5 gene needs to be inherited from both parents. This is exactly what happens with Goldendoodles, both parent breeds are long-coated, and all Goldendoodles carry two genes for a long coat (L/L). The Goldendoodle coat should be about 2 to 3 inches in length.

Coat Color Changes In Goldendoodles

Dogs of any age, gender, or breed can experience pigment changes in their skin and coat. Medications, sunlight, nutritional status, and skin disease can also change a dog’s coat color. 

Generally, puppies will change color as they mature, especially light and medium color Goldendoodle coats. The exceptions are black and darker brown Goldendoodles. However, these can still change to grey, silver, or blue if they carry the recessive gene.

A good tip is to get a Goldendoodle color that is slightly darker than your anticipated dog coat color, as it’s very likely that your Goldendoodle will lighten as it grows.

Goldendoodle coat changes pictures.

What Color Will My Goldendoodle Puppy?

Goldendoodle puppy coat colors will fade or lighten or dull to another color, known as “clearing.” If your puppy keeps the same color coat into adulthood, this is known as “holding.” Goldendoodles tend to hold their puppy colors around their ears and muzzle.

Typically, the final coat color of a Goldenpoodle will settle and stay when they reach 4 to 6 months of age. That is when puppies lose their puppy coats, according to the AKC. However, this time frame varies from breed to breed and can start at 12 weeks or wait until they’re one year old. 

Did you know feeding the wrong diet (kibble) to Goldendoodles can dramatically affect their coat, skin and health, and overall health? Learn Goldendoodle dietary, nutrition, tips, and tricks you can use to keep your doodle’s coat healthy and shiny.

Chapter 2

Ch 1 | Ch 3

All Goldendoodle colors in pictures

Goldendoodle Colors

Here is a compilation of the most popular, not-so-popular and rarest Goldendoodle colors.

Brown Goldendoodle

Brown Goldendoodles are the most popular coats for a Goldendoodle. These dogs have a deep brown color and are very noticeable in light areas. According to the AKC, the brown Goldendoodle is its type of dog breed.

White Goldendoodle

White Goldendoodles resemble a cream Goldendoodle but actually have a lighter coat, giving them snow-colored fur. The coat comes with two recessive traits from the parents given to the puppies.

Silver Goldendoodle

Sliver Goldendoodles are a dog that seems black when they are puppies, but later their color shows. Sliver Goldendoodles have their color come from their poodle side. They are mistaken for grey doodles, but their coat is much lighter than their grey counterpart.

Apricot Goldendoodle

Apricot Goldendoodles are most wanted within the Goldendoodle breeds and shades. This Goldendoodle color is among the most wanted. It’s a color that is increasingly becoming more popular on social media.

Apricot Mini Goldendoodles

Apricot And White Goldendoodle

Red Goldendoodle

The red Goldendoodle is just as popular as the Apricot Goldendoodle. It has a rich shade of dark brown-red and fiery appearance and is the brightest among all other Goldendoodle colors.

Reddish Goldendoodle

The reddish Goldendoodle is just a slightly lighter version of the red one.

Cream Goldendoodle 

Cream Goldendoodles and white Goldendoodles are often mistaken for each other because of their similar appearances. Other multi-colored Goldendoodles are bred from cream Goldendoodles through cream is an official color.

Black Goldendoodle

Can Goldendoodles be black? Yes! Black Goldendoodles are a rare color of Goldendoodles, mainly because of a recessive gene found in a golden retriever or Poodle. Both the parents must carry the gene to pass it on to the offspring. This makes this one of the rarest coats.

Black Phantom Goldendoodle

Like the phantom Goldendoodle, this dog has the same marking as the phantom doodle, except that its markings are white instead of tan. Like the other rare coats, this gene is a recessive gene both parents must have.

Black Tuxedo Goldendoodle

These doodles have a white nose, chest, and paws and their main being black, looking like a suit on the dog, recessive genes passed onto the offspring.

f1b Black Goldendoodle

F1B Goldendoodle is a product of “backcrossing” where an F1 (first generation) Goldendoodle is crossed with a poodle, resulting in 75% poodles and 25% Golden Retrievers, which results in unique coat color and coats that shed less.

Parti Goldendoodle

Parti Goldendoodles have two different color coats, with the second coat usually being white. Recessive genes breed these adorable dogs, but to get one of these dogs, you need to breed with rare recessive genes with other rare genes, a dominant trait during the breeding can hide the parti-coat.

Red Parti Goldendoodle

Black & White Goldendoodle

These Goldendoodles have white chests and white hair on the head, with the rest of the coat being black, these dogs are often mistaken for Tuxedo Goldendoodles, but they have different and more distinct markings than black and white Goldendoodles. Black and white Goldendoodles are bred from a golden retriever and a parti-poodle and have the traits follow through.

Red & White Goldendoodle

These dogs are almost similar to the black and white Goldendoodle, except instead of its main coat being black, it is red instead, which is a rarer coat color, making it a rare dog. It has a white chest, parts of the face white, and its feet.

Sable Goldendoodle

Sable Goldendoodles are a mystery at birth without a DNA test, as they are born black or dark brown. This fades out as they age, and the rest of the coat becomes a cream color leaving the black color on the face and ears.

Merle Goldendoodle

Merle Goldendoodles are mainly bred from a poodle, and the other parent is an Australian shepherd or Border Collie (not a Golden Retriever). However, merle doodles can also come from two Goldendoodles. This doodle type is not classified as a Goldendoodle but instead called Aussiedoodles.

Unlike the parti-Goldendoodle, the dominant genes overlap the solid coat, and one of the parents must have a merle recessive gene. Due to the dominant traits, breeding two merle doodles can lead to the puppies being blind, deaf, and having other disabilities.

Red Merle Goldendoodle

Chocolate Merle Goldendoodle

Grey Goldendoodle

Like Merle Goldendoodles, Grey Goldendoodle has an unknown coloration at birth, born a darker color than what its genetic makeup states. As this dog matures, this doodle shows through a darker silver color.

Grey doodles are bred from an Australian shepherd and Golden retriever. Even without the Poodle, these are considered Goldendoodles.

Phantom Goldendoodle

Phantom Goldendoodles are confused with its family dog, the black & white doodle, and the part Goldendoodle. The markings resemble a Yorkie/Manchester. The second coat of the dog will appear on its muzzle, eyes, and lower legs.

The colors are often tan but can vary in white, silver, red, and black. Each Phantom doodle is unique. They have an extremely rare coat, and you can instantly tell it’s a phantom Goldendoodle as soon as this dog is born.

Tan Goldendoodle

Our favorite tan Goldendoodles’ parents are an Apricot Goldendoodle and a Cream Goldendoodle. This coat comes in many different shades, resembling a golden retriever.

Blue Goldendoodle

A blue Goldendoodle looks like a mix of black and grey but has a blueish tint, and its parents are a blue poodle and golden retriever. The dog seems blue everywhere except on its stomach.

Blonde Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle Golden

Golden Goldendoodles are some of the most common types of color you will see in Goldendoodles, as both parents have the golden color in their genes. Puppies are a solid golden color, similar to a golden retriever’s coat.

Caramel Goldendoodle

Caramel coat is a dominant trait passed from both parents of the Goldendoodle and is confused with the Golden shade, but this shade is much more orange and darker than the golden Goldendoodle color.

Brindle Goldendoodle

These dogs have stripes on their body, each having different colors and strips varying from dog to dog. Brindle is a recessive color, making it hard to pass on if dominant traits do not override it.

Yellow Goldendoodle

The yellow color comes from Labradors but can come from poodles or golden retrievers, giving a lighter look than the golden coat but darker than the cream/white color.

Tri-Colored Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles get their tri-colored coat from a tri-colored poodle and recessive color traits from both parents resulting in a tri-colored pup.

Mini Goldendoodle Colors

Chapter 3

Ch 1 | Ch 2

Tips, FAQs & more

Goldendoodle Colors: Which One Should You Get?

Picking the right Goldendoodle color will depend mostly on your preferences. There is not a color that’s better than the other.

We hope you enjoyed this colorful article and wish we helped you narrow down your choices.

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[1] AKC


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