With a Golden Retriever's friendly and gentle nature and a Poodle's intelligence and low-shedding coat, the Groodle is a winning combination!
This is your go-to Groodle guide, perfect for first-time and experienced pet parents.
Lyka’s holistic approach covers the ins and outs of your Groodle's health, from choosing the best food to supporting their physical and mental health.
Top breed takeaways
Breed history
Driven by the search for a hypoallergenic dog with the Golden Retriever’s loyal heart and playful spirit, breeders in the 1990s created the Groodle (also known as the Goldendoodle). Beloved by individuals and families alike, this modern mix has become popular among Oodle breeds, thanks to its smarts, charm, and versatility.
Key characteristics
Playful and easy-going, Groodles have become increasingly popular with families looking for a hypoallergenic dog that sheds minimally. They’re sharp and clever minds make them trainable with a desire to please.
Health considerations
Groodles are a generally a healthy breed. Like any dog, they can inherit health conditions from their parents like skin problems, sensitive stomachs, and anxiety. A real food diet that’s high in protein and avoids common food allergens can support their health and wellbeing.
Appearance and size
Groodles have three sizes, depending on the size of their Poodle parent: Miniature, Medium, or Standard. Their coat type can be curly wool, wavy, or straighter hair, depending on which genes are dominant.
Groodles are usually light-coloured (cream, apricot, gold, or caramel) but can also be chocolate brown, black, ruby, or red and they sometimes have white patches.
Groodle personality and temperament
Playful, affectionate, and social, Groodles love to meet new people and pups.
They’re gentle and patient, making them the ideal breed for families with children. Groodles are also highly trainable and often used as hypoallergenic service or therapy dogs.
They’re an energetic breed with bright and alert minds, so they need equal amounts of physical and mental exercise to keep them stimulated and happy.
At the end of the day, they’re content to curl up on the sofa with you or snuggle into their own comfortable bed.
Real insights from a Groodle parent
For a real glimpse into life with a Groodle, hear what George has to say about his experience being a dog-parent to Pepper.
"My Groodle Pepper is the most affectionate companion — her gentle, friendly, playful nature makes her a perfect family member who fills our home with joy & love, whether she's playing at the beach, chasing balls, or snuggling up with us."
– George, Pepper’s dog parent (she’s on Lyka)
Groodle size guide
A Groodle will be fully grown by the time they're 12-18 months old, but they may take longer to mature into adults. Their size and weight differ depending on the size of the breeding Poodle used.
How long do Groodles live?
Groodles have an expected lifespan between 12-15 years.
As dog parents, we want our pups to live their happiest, healthiest lives for as long as possible – and there’s a lot we can do to help them thrive. Every dog deserves a long, vibrant life, and it begins with a thoughtful, holistic approach to their wellbeing.
A nourishing real food diet (like Lyka), regular exercise, mental stimulation, training, grooming, and proactive vet care all work together to help your pup feel their very best.
Groodles need a complete and balanced diet and benefit from real food to promote a healthy gut microbiome. They also benefit from ingredients containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, like omega-3 fatty acids, to support skin, coat and joint health. Lyka’s real food is vet-formulated to put your Groodle’s health and wellbeing first.
— Dr Alexander England, Lyka Veterinarian, BVetMed MANZCVS (Small Animal Veterinary Practice)
Buying dog food can feel overwhelming. Between busy schedules and a hundred options on the shelves, it’s easy to fall back on what’s familiar.
But have you ever wondered if those choices truly support your dog’s health?
Your dog’s meals shouldn’t just fill their belly — they should nourish their body and mind, enabling them to feel their best every single day.
Lively Groodles need nutritious food to fuel their mind and body.
The best Groodle diet is made with real food ingredients, like high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fresh vegetables. We know that our mind and body thrive when we eat healthy food and the same goes for our pups.
Lyka’s human-grade meals are gently cooked to retain the tastes, textures, and nutrients of each carefully selected ingredient. They’re easy to digest, help keep your pup hydrated, and they’re delicious – perfect for even the fussiest eaters.
Maintaining the right weight and body shape is crucial for a Groodle’s health and wellbeing. Excess weight or obesity can lead to other diseases and affect your dog’s joints, mobility, quality of life, and lifespan.
That’s why Lyka meals are custom portioned to meet your pup’s specific needs, helping you keep them at their healthiest and happiest.
Bringing a new puppy home is such an exciting milestone — for both you and your pup! But it can feel a little overwhelming too.
From settling them into their new space to figuring out how to meet their needs, there’s a lot to think about.
Many breeders recommend a particular dog food brand to create some consistency and familiarity for the puppy. But you’re not obliged to continue with the same puppy food, if you have a different preference.
Contrary to popular belief, puppies don’t need special puppy food if they’re getting the right portion of nutrient-dense real food.
Groodle puppies need a diet containing high-quality protein for tissue growth, essential vitamins and minerals for bone development and brain function, and low GI carbohydrates for slow-release energy, like Lyka.
Groodles from reputable breeders are generally known to be healthy, but like all dogs they can develop health issues or inherit conditions from their parents.
Before planning a litter, ethical breeders will consider the health, temperament, and genetic history of their breeding pairs to select good characteristics. Always check the health of the parents before choosing your new pup.
1. Skin allergies
Groodles can be prone to skin allergies. While food may be a trigger, so can environmental factors like grass or pollen.
Addressing allergies starts by removing the trigger. If it’s food-related, an elimination diet is the only way to identify the problematic ingredient. Environmental allergies can be harder to control, but a thorough wipe-down after outdoor exercise can help.
A real food diet can help to reduce skin sensitivities by promoting a healthy immune response to allergens and strengthening the skin's defence against irritants.
Look for real ingredients full of skin-loving properties, like:
🌱Hemp seeds: rich in omega-3 with anti-inflammatory properties to calm skin irritations. 💛Safflower oil: full of Vitamin E for nourished and moisturised skin. 🐟Fish oil: has potent omega-3 to address inflamed and dry skin.
Each Lyka meal contains bioavailable ingredients gently cooked so they’re easy to digest.
Look for real ingredients to aid digestion like:
🥦Prebiotic fibre: Lyka meals contain soluble and insoluble fibre from vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots and cabbage, to nourish good gut bacteria and promote healthy bowel movements. 🐟Omega-3 fatty acids: meals enriched with omega-3 from fish and fish oilmay reduce intestinal inflammation1, leading to more settled stomachs. ❌Free from pro-inflammatory ingredients: dogs with gut issues may be intolerant to ingredients like wheat, corn, soy, dairy, and lectins. Lyka avoids these pro-inflammatory ingredients that can irritate the gut and may contribute to chronic enteropathy2.
3. Anxiety
Groodles are intelligent and affectionate dogs that create strong bonds with their families. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods as this can trigger separation anxiety – a challenging condition for pups and parents alike.
You can build up your dog’s tolerance over time but always use positive reinforcement, so they associate your absence with good things, like praise and rewards.
Did you know that many of the brain’s neurotransmitters affecting mood and behaviour are created in the gut?
Support your pup’s gut-brain axis with a real food diet that includes ingredients like:
🍄Mushrooms: contain beta-glucan to improve your Groodle’s microbiome and metabolism. 🥬Spinach: rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that creates serotonin, and folate that produces dopamine – the good mood hormone. 🧡Turmeric: curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, acts as a mood stabiliser.
Grooming your Groodle is about more than just a neat and tidy coat – it’s essential for their overall health.
A consistent grooming routine helps maintain healthy skin, trim nails, and clean teeth. By investing a little time in their hygiene, you ensure your dog stays healthy and happy.
Coat types and shedding
Groodles are usually low-shedding – a highly-valued trait that dog parents desire and breeders selectively breed for.
As this breed adopts the dominant genes of their Golden Retriever and Poodle parents, their coats can be found in three different forms:
A wavy or slightly curly fleece (most common)
A thick and curly wool coat
A flat, straight coat that can shed like a Golden Retriever
They’re also known for their cute teddy-bear appearance found in most oodles, especially when they’re puppies.
Grooming
Groodles with fleece or wool coats will need to be brushed and clipped regularly to keep them from matting or cording.
If your Groodle has a flat coat, use a pin brush to remove the loose, dead hair and minimise shedding.
They only need a bath every 6-8 weeks, unless they’ve rolled in something particularly dirty or smelly. Remember to use dog-friendly shampoo, as human products can irritate their skin.
Groodle hygiene tips
A dog's nails can grow surprisingly fast and if they're not trimmed regularly can become uncomfortable and even affect how they walk.
Introduce your Groodle to nail trims from an early age so they’re used to the sensation and the tools. Don’t forget to reward them with a high-value treat at the end, so they develop a positive association with the process.
Routine ear checks are important to spot signs of infection, wax buildup, or irritation. You can give them a gentle wipe with a clean, damp cloth, but be careful not to reach too far into their ear, as this can cause damage.
And don’t forget to inspect your dog’s paws frequently, checking for cuts, debris, or redness between their pads.
Groodle exercise requirements
Bubbly and energetic, Groodles need at least 60 minutes of exercise each day to keep them fit and healthy
Groodles need as much mental stimulation as physical exercise, making them the ideal breed for agility or dog sports like flyball or disc dog.
A high-protein, low-glycaemic index diet, like Lyka’s real food meals, provides steady, nutritious energy to complement their active lifestyle.
Training a Groodle
Groodles are full of beans but don’t let their playful nature fool you – they're also highly intelligent and trainable. They thrive when given opportunities to use their brains, otherwise they can become bored and engage in undesirable behaviour.
Training should continue throughout their life, with enrichment activities and routines to keep them stimulated.
For puppies, toilet training requires frequent breaks (expect one hour of bladder control per month of age), while crate training offers a safe space and helps with house training. Controlled socialisation through puppy school or meet-ups is essential for building confidence and social skills.
Your pup’s receptivity to training can be improved with the right nutrition that helps support consistent moods, steady energy levels, and cognitive development.
So, you’ve fallen in love with the Groodle breed, and you think they’re the perfect match for your life? How exciting! The next step is to find a reputable breeder.
What do we mean by ‘reputable breeder’?
Reputable, ethical breeders establish breeding programs, planning a limited number of litters using breeding pairs carefully selected for their health and temperament. They believe the health and wellbeing of their dogs and puppies are paramount.
Ethical breeders often have an application and selection process and may even have a waitlist. They should be receptive to scheduled visits so you can see their facilities, meet their dogs, and ask them questions about their program.
This is when you should enquire about how they have addressed common health conditions, like hip dysplasia scoring.
A puppy farm (factory, or mill) often operates in poor conditions and on a large scale to maximise their profit. Health and wellbeing are of secondary importance, if at all, leading to puppies that often have long-term health and behavioural issues.
How do I find a reputable Groodle breeder?
Often each state has a recognised breed club that can provide a list of reputable breeders that will usually have a website, social media channels, and direct contact details.
RightPaw is also a helpful site to support you on your puppy journey.
Another approach is to speak to other dog parents. It’s a great way to gain invaluable insight into their first-hand experience and give you even more of a taste of what to expect from the breed.
How much is a Groodle puppy?
You can expect to pay around $2,500 to $5,500 for a Groodle puppy from an ethical breeder in Australia. But remember that the ongoing cost of parenting a dog is a significant commitment of money and time. Veterinary bills can be expensive and unexpected, so it’s worth considering pet insurance too.
If you want to adopt a dog from a shelter, we’re right behind you. Try to find out as much information about them as you can but recognise that a lot of their history will be unknown.
When you bring them home, show them love, patience, and consistency to help them settle into a new and secure life with you.
Are Groodles hypoallergenic? Generally speaking, Groodles are low-shedding dogs, regarded as hypoallergenic. But if they have a flat coat, inherited from their Golden Retriever parent, they may shed more often, making them not hypoallergenic.
Always check the coat type with your breeder before you commit to adopting a puppy.
Do Groodles get along with cats and other pets? Groodles are easy-going, social pups that can get on well with other pets. Supervise all early interactions and use positive reinforcement to support their training.
Is a Groodle a good family dog? Absolutely! Golden Retrievers and Poodles are great family dogs, and the Groodle is the best of both breeds. Always supervise small children with dogs.
When should I desex my Groodle? Most pups are desexed when they reach physical maturity. Your vet will consider your dog’s age, size, health, and behaviour to determine the right time for the procedure.
For how long is a Groodle pregnant? A Groodle has a gestation period of around 63 days or nine weeks from conception.
Where should my Groodle sleep? This is completely up to you. Be consistent in your expectations from the start as it’s much harder to change your routine later down the line. Wherever they sleep, make sure it’s a warm and comfortable bed away from cold draughts.
When is a Groodle fully grown? Mini or Medium Groodles usually reach maturity and are fully grown by 12 months and Standard Groodles by 18 months. Their height and weight depend on their parentage and gender.
New to Lyka? Let’s rethink dog food together.
Parenting your Groodle comes with many decisions, like choosing the best diet for your new best friend.
Designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, and made with real, human-grade ingredients, our meals are custom-portioned to match your dog’s needs.
Lyka nourishes hundreds of Groodles across Australia – from energetic pups to seniors in their golden years – they’re all thriving on Lyka.
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