The Black Goldendoodle: 15 Things You May Not Know (2024)

Can Goldendoodles be black? AbsoDOODly! 🤩 Discover everything you’ve been wondering (and some surprises too) about the black Goldendoodle.

As a self-professed Goldendoodle crazy dog mom for almost nine years, I’ve gained my fair share of knowledge about these teddy bear dogs with slightly derpy personalities and silly antics. I’m always tracking down the latest news about Goldendoodles including the black Goldendoodle.

So, if your heart belongs to a black Goldendoodle or you have your sights set on adding a black Goldendoodle puppy to your pack, hold on to your dog leash!

You’re in for a treat as we discover everything you’ve been wondering about these adorable dogs.

Black Goldendoodle origin

First, let’s get a quick overview of the Goldendoodle dog. A hybrid breed or cross breed between the Poodle and the Golden Retriever, Goldendoodles are gaining in popularity as friendly, intelligent family companions.

Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs. They may have a purebred Poodle as one parent and a purebred Golden Retriever as the other parent.

Or, they may be some mix of the Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds. In other words, they may have a Goldendoodle as one parent and a Poodle as the other parent. Or, they may have two Goldendoodles as parents.

Since Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs, they are not on the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry. That’s why, unlike the the purebred Poodle and purebred Golden Retriever, you won’t find an AKC Goldendoodle. There is no such thing.

But Doodle moms and dads don’t seem to care. Nor do they care that the media call these lovable, comical dogs “hybrids” or “crossbreeds” or “mutts.” In fact, most Goldendoodle parents refer to their teddy bear dogs as “family members.”

And like family members, every Goldendoodle is unique. You’ve probably seen all sorts of Goldendoodles trotting around neighborhoods—minis, giants, curly coated puppers, chocolate Goldendoodles, etc. From coat color to size, the Poodle and Golden Retriever parent heritage brings variety to the Goldendoodle breed, including variety in coat color.

15 things you may not know about the black Goldendoodle

So without further a-dood-le 😉, let’s discover 15 things about the black Goldendoodle that may make you say “P’awwww.”

1. Black is a less common Goldendoodle coat color.

If you’ve been researching Goldendoodles, you’ve probably seen many cream Goldendoodles. But black Goldendoodles? Probably less so. There is a reason why the black Goldendoodle is less common than their white and cream counterparts—and it’s a logical one.

If you look at the coat color of the parent breeds (the Poodle and the Golden Retriever), the Golden Retriever heritage doesn’t bring a black coat color to the mix. Golden Retriever coat colors are variations of dark golden, golden, and light golden.

Logic (i.e. genetics) tell us that there will be more cream Goldendoodles since the Golden Retriever isn’t a black-coated dog. So where do black Goldendoodles get their night sky, inky, jet black coat color?

Let’s look at the Poodle parent breed to discover our next fact…

2. The black Goldendoodle gets its coat color from the Poodle side of the family.

So, we’ve established that Goldendoodles can be black. But how? The Poodle heritage is the key.

The black Goldendoodle gets its coat color from the Poodle side of the family. As a purebred, Poodles come in a variety of colors that are established as part of the breed standard.

According to the AKC, Poodle coat colors can be apricot, brown, red, white, gray, cream, white, silver, and black.

Since the Golden Retriever brings various shades of gold to the mix but not black, it’s the power of the Poodle that gives us the black Goldendoodle.

The chart below shows how the colors play out with the Poodle and Golden Retriever parent breeds.

With this visual in mind, you can see two things:

1. The Poodle side of the Goldendoodle family has almost a rainbow of coat colors.

2. The black Goldendoodle gets its coat color from the Poodle side of the family.

To understand how, let’s move on to our next point: generations of Goldendoodles.

3. Generations of Goldendoodles like F1b are more likely to produce black Goldendoodles.

Genetics tell us that producing a black Goldendoodle is more likely when both parents have genes for the black coat color. This is why it’s more likely that black Goldendoodles will be F1B Goldendoodles, meaning that one parent is a Poodle and the other is a Goldendoodle. Or they are more likely to be F2 Goldendoodles, meaning that both parents are Goldendoodles.

Now that we’ve established how Goldendoodles get their black coats, you may have seen more black LABRAdoodles trotting around your neighborhood than black Goldendoodles. This gets us to our next point.

4. Black Labradoodles and black Goldendoodles are easily mistaken.

Is that a black Goldendoodle? Black Labradoodle? Which?

Black Goldendoodles and black Labradoodles are easily mistaken for each other. But there is a difference.

A Labradoodle is a hybrid breed between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. As mentioned earlier, a Goldendoodle is a hybrid between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.

This is interesting because the purebred Labrador Retriever coat color can be golden, cream, OR black. This is unlike the Golden Retriever heritage (remember, all gold coat colors).

Therefore, a Labrador Retriever and Poodle parent both bring black coat colors to the genetic party! Here’s a side-by-side comparison of coat Labrador Retriever and Poodle coat colors:

5. A black Goldendoodle’s coat color may lighten with age.

Like my own red Goldendoodle who has gained a sprinkling of white in her red coat during adulthood, the black Goldendoodle coat color may lighten over time. Again, the coat color change goes back to the Poodle heritage. Some Poodles change color dramatically as they mature and others stay closer to their puppy coat color.

6. Black Goldendoodles, like all Goldendoodles, need consistent grooming and brushing.

Have you heard that Goldendoodles have coats that are easy to care for? If so, it’s a myth! While there are exceptions (i.e. Goldendoodles who have coats that are flat or very Golden Retriever-ish), the majority of adult Goldendoodles have coat types that require frequent brushing and combing to avoid matting.

That’s why many Goldendoodle owners opt for keeping the coats trimmed shorter. You may see black Goldendoodle haircuts ranging from shaved down to long and wavy. Some Goldendoodle parents opt to keep maintenance to a minimum by keeping the hair trimmed very short. Other Goldendoodle parents visit a groomer every six weeks to keep the longer coats maintained and mat free.

Now that we’ve got a pretty good look at the Goldendoodle’s coat color and grooming requirements, let’s see why you may have noticed black Goldendoodles ranging in size from pint-sized pups to giant lap setters. Next, let’s look at the range in size of black Goldendoodles.

7. A full grown black Goldendoodle can range in size from mini to standard.

You’re at the park and you see a black Goldendoodle that’s mini and then another that’s almost the size of a small horse. What’s up with that?

Can black Goldendoodles vary in size that much? Turns out yes.

Again, the reason there is so much variation in size can be credited to the Poodle heritage. Since the AKC breed standard for the Poodle breed includes three sizes—standard, miniature, and toy—the black Goldendoodle size can vary too.

According Goldendoodles of North America (GANA), there are four sizes of Goldendoodles:

Petite Goldendoodle—25 pounds or less

Miniature Goldendoodle—26 to 35 pounds

Medium Goldendoodle—36 to 50 pounds

Standard Goldendoodle — over 51 pounds

While we’re on the topic of size, GANA also points out that the estimated size of a puppy at adulthood by a breeder is an educated guess. The final size of a Goldendoodle is determined after the puppy has become an adult!

8. Black Goldendoodles can inspire fun dog names.

So, by now you may be imagining holding a black Goldendoodle puppy in your arms. What would you name him or her? A black Goldendoodle name can be anything from clever to cute to beautiful. Here are a few ideas to help you name your black Goldendoodle puppy…

Looking for popular black Goldendoodle names? The dog names above with a trophy 🏆 were sited by Rover.com as some of the most popular Goldendoodle names.

9. A black and white Goldendoodle is one type of “parti” Goldendoodle.

Life is always a party when you have a Goldendoodle! 🥳 But when we’re talking “parti Goldendoodles” specifically, we’re actually talking about a type of coat that has two colors. The term “parti Goldendoodle” refers to a Goldendoodle that has a black and white coat or a brown and white coat.

10. It’s harder to see the quick on a dog’s black toenails.

If you’re new to dog parenting, you may not have given much thought to clipping a dog’s toenails. Just like humans, our furry pals need their nails trimmed regularly. Also, you may be interested to know that many people dread trimming dog toenails, especially dark toenails because you cannot see the quick—the dog’s blood and nerve supply.

If you cut the quick, it’s not only messy but it can hurt your dog. He or she will remember and may fear future nail trims.

That’s why, for all Goldendoodle puppies, it’s important to start gentling handling the paws as part of your daily care routine. Keep it positive with lots of happy talk and praise. This will help your puppy get comfortable having the paws touched.

Also, if your black Goldendoodle puppy has dark toenails, never fear! There are many resources to help you learn how to trim dark toenails. (I took an online course on cutting black dog nails.) You may also choose to have your dog’s toenails trimmed by a groomer or veterinarian.

11. Photographing a black Goldendoodle can be a bit tricky.

Planning a photo session for your dog’s Instagram? If you love taking photos of your puppy, you may have found that capturing your adorable black Goldendoodle dog’s good looks isn’t exactly easy.

Black Goldendoodles can look super stunning when the lighting is right. But if not, the coat color, texture, and highlights can all blend together. This makes black fur one of the harder dog coat colors to capture with a camera.

Especially for our black Goldendoodles with furry faces, capturing the happy glint in their eyes can be challenging. One hack is to use natural lighting (outdoor lighting) when the sun is lower in the sky. Midday sun casts particularly harsh shadows, so choose morning or evening sun.

Then use a treat or squeaky ball held upward to attract your dog’s attention and allow the light to catch your dog’s bright eyes as you snap the pic. Tips like these can help you quickly learn how to take cute photos of your dog.

12. Some black Goldendoodles become therapy dogs.

Black Goldendoodles—like all Goldendoodles—may have the demeanor to become therapy dogs. While I couldn’t find any statistics on the number of Goldendoodles who are therapy dogs, there are plenty of examples daily in the news. Goldendoodles are working in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and even dentists offices providing comfort and companionship to humans.

13. Mud that collects on paws doesn’t show up as much on black Goldendoodles.

Muddy puppy paws are “fur real” when you have a fluffy Goldendoodle! Since a Goldendoodle’s paws tend to be fluffy, they also tend to collect dirt and mud when outdoors. Fortunately, black Goldendoodles don’t show the mud and dirt like their lighter cream Goldendoodle counterparts.

14. Goldendoodle health and temperament trumps everything else.

Of course, while it’s fun to think about coat colors, your dog’s good health and happiness are #1.

Choosing a reputable Doodle breeder who cares about the future of the Goldendoodle breed and who places the upmost importance on temperament and good health is primary. Unfortunately, unscrupulous breeders will breed without regard to health and genetics, among other things.

That’s why it’s so important to find a reputable breeder who focuses on health and temperament first. (Or adopt from a reputable shelter.) After all, we want our puppies to grow into healthy adults and then become senior Goldendoodles living happily along beside us.

15. Black Goldendoodles have “golden” personalities.

Cream. Red. Parti. Black. Goldendoodles—no matter the coat color—tend to have happy-go-lucky, friendly personalities that make them suitable for most families. With the proper amount of love, attention, and care, they will fill your heart and home with love.

Enjoy tail wagging happiness with your pupper

Now that you know that Goldendoodles can have black coat colors and many other amazing qualities, you may be weighing all the Goldendoodle pros and cons before you bring a Muppet dog into your pack.

No matter what dog you choose, we wish you endless love and tail waggy happiness together. Thanks for stopping by and joining us as we live the Goldendoodle lifestyle with our lovable, comical Doodle dogs.