Breed Comparison
Should I Choose a Goldendoodle or an Australian Labradoodle? (2026 Guide)
If anyone in your home has allergies, or you want a more predictable coat, size, and temperament, an Australian Labradoodle is usually the safer choice. If allergies are not a concern, a well-bred Goldendoodle from health-tested parents can be a great family dog too.
Why can we speak to both?
Before we bred Australian Labradoodles, we were a guardian home for a Goldendoodle breeder. Starting in 2022, we helped raise nine Goldendoodle litters. We like Goldendoodles. We moved to Australian Labradoodles because we wanted to be able to describe a puppy honestly before it was born.
What is the actual difference?
A Goldendoodle is a Golden Retriever crossed with a Poodle. Most are first-generation (F1) or first-generation backcross (F1B) dogs. An Australian Labradoodle is its own multigenerational breed. It started with Labrador and Poodle, added Cocker Spaniel and a few other breeds early on, and has been bred Australian Labradoodle to Australian Labradoodle for many generations since.
In other words, a Goldendoodle litter is a fresh mix of two breeds. An Australian Labradoodle litter comes from parents who already look and act like what you are hoping to get.
| Goldendoodle | Australian Labradoodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Golden Retriever and Poodle, usually F1 or F1B | Multigenerational breed with its own registries |
| Coat | Straight to curly, can vary within a litter | Fleece or wool, more consistent |
| Shedding | Low to moderate, depending on the puppy | Low |
| Size | Wide range, harder to predict in early crosses | Mini, medium, and standard, more predictable |
| Temperament | Friendly and outgoing, more variable | Friendly and steady, more consistent |
| Health | Depends on the breeder's testing | Depends on the breeder's testing |
What about coats and allergies?
Three genes explain most of the coat differences in dogs: one for furnishings (the beard and eyebrows), one for coat length, and one for curl. In an early cross, those genes shuffle, so one puppy can have a fleece coat while his brother sheds like a Golden. After many generations, breeders can test for those genes and keep the coats consistent. Every one of our parents tests F/F for furnishings.
No dog is truly allergen-free. The main dog allergen comes from skin, saliva, and dander, not the hair itself. Studies that measured allergen in homes have not found that so-called hypoallergenic breeds leave less of it behind. In other words, a low-shedding coat means less hair on your floor, but allergy results still depend on the person and the dog.
Which one is calmer?
This is the question we hear most. Multigenerational breeding does make temperament more predictable, because the parents already have the temperament you want. However, a 2022 study of more than 18,000 dogs found that breed explains only about 9 percent of the behavior differences between individual dogs. So the parents, the puppy, and how he is raised matter more than the label.
That is why we raise every litter with Puppy Culture and why we encourage you to meet our parent dogs.
What about health?
Neither breed is automatically healthier. What matters is whether the breeder tests the parents. Every one of our parents is tested and cleared for OFA hips, elbows, and eyes, plus a full Orivet genetic panel. Whatever breed you choose, ask for those results.
So which one should you choose?
A Goldendoodle may fit if nobody in your home has allergies, you are flexible on coat and size, and you find a breeder who health tests.
An Australian Labradoodle may fit if someone in your home has allergies, you want a predictable size and coat, and you want a steady family companion.
When is the next litter?
Puppies go home at 8 weeks old. Click here to see when our next litters are due.
Common questions about Goldendoodles vs. Australian Labradoodles
Is a Goldendoodle or an Australian Labradoodle better for allergies?
An Australian Labradoodle is usually the safer bet, because coat type is more consistent after many generations. However, no dog is allergen-free, so spend time with the dogs before you decide.
Which one is calmer?
Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles tend to be more predictable. However, research shows breed explains only a small part of any one dog's behavior, so meet the parents and ask the breeder about each puppy.
Are Goldendoodles and Australian Labradoodles the same size?
Both come in several sizes. Our minis run 15 to 25 pounds and our mediums run 26 to 50 pounds. Ask any breeder how big the parents are, since that is the best guide.
Is one breed healthier than the other?
Health depends more on the breeder than the breed. Ask to see OFA and genetic test results for both parents, whichever breed you choose.
Have you raised Goldendoodles?
Yes. Before we moved to Australian Labradoodles, we were a guardian home for nine Goldendoodle litters starting in 2022.
Want to meet an Australian Labradoodle in person?
Come meet our parent dogs and see the difference for yourself.
Related reading: multi-gen Australian Labradoodle vs F1 Labradoodle and what is an Australian Labradoodle?
Sources
- Cadieu E, et al. (2009). Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. Science 326(5949).
- Vredegoor DW, et al. (2012). Can f 1 levels in hair and homes of different dog breeds: lack of evidence to describe any dog breed as hypoallergenic. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 130(4).
- Nicholas CE, et al. (2011). Dog allergen levels in homes with hypoallergenic compared with nonhypoallergenic dogs. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy 25(4).
- Morrill K, et al. (2022). Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376(6592).