Mini Goldendoodle Lifespan: How Long Do They Live?

Last Updated on February, 2025

Born from the union of a Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle, the Mini Goldendoodle is a pint-sized bundle with a gentle temperament, friendly nature, and a fluffy coat with low shedding qualities. 

As a Mini Goldendoodle parent or a to-be parent, have you ever wondered, “how long would it live?”

Well, the answer is complex. Why? A Goldendoodle’s lifespan depends on numerous different factors. 

Here, I will explain to you all about the Mini Goldendoodle lifespan and some tips for you to help it live a longer life.

Quick Summary

The average lifespan of a Mini Goldendoodle is 12-16 years, with the potential for longer lifespans in more Poodle-dominant dogs.

Factors such as size, gender, breeding process, and overall health can all impact the lifespan of a Mini Goldendoodle.

As a Mini Goldendoodle ages, its needs may change and require adjustments in diet, exercise, and care in order to maintain a comfortable and healthy life.

Mini Goldendoodle Lifespan

A Mini Golden Doodle Sitting in front of a brick wall

A Mini Goldendoodle’s life expectancy is 12-16 years, while Petite Mini Goldendoodles can live up to 13-17 years. 

Usually, large dogs have a shorter lifespan compared to small-sized dogs. 

Mini Goldendoodles having a more significant percentage of Poodle genes tend to live longer. 

How? I’ll explain everything in detail later. Keep reading. 

Different Stages of a Mini Goldendoodle’s Lifespan

A Miniature Goldendoodle goes through five life stages as follows.

Puppy phase: This stage lasts from birth to 6-8 weeks. The puppy depends on its mother for food and nourishment. 

Juvenile phase: The juvenile stage is the period between the end of the puppy phase to 6-7 months.

The dog starts to develop senses in this stage, so this is the ideal time for training.

Young adult phase: This stage lasts from seven months to one year. The dog keeps growing physically and mentally.

A Brown mini goldendoodle sitting between two pumpkins

Mature adult phase: The period between 1 to 10 years. The dog completes physical and mental maturation. 

Senior Phase: Starts from 10 years up to the death of your dog. The dog starts to show signs of aging during this period. 

Ways to Determine a Mini Goldendoodle’s Age

Below are some methods to estimate your Mini Goldendoodle’s age: 

  • Check The Mini Goldendoodles’ Teeth. The number, size, and appearance of teeth can indicate the age. 
  • Observe The Coat. Gray fur starts to appear when dogs age. However, Gray hair can be due to stress, too.
  • Determine Whether The Dogs Are Sexually Mature. Mini Goldendoodles sexually mature in 8-9 months. 
  • Observe The Dog’s Eyes. Eyes appear cloudy and develop discharge as dogs age. 

Factors Affecting the Mini Goldendoodles Lifespan

As promised, let’s dive into the factors affecting the life of a Mini Goldendoodle. 

Parent Dog Breeds

A Mini Goldendoodle is a hybrid of a Golden Retriever and a Miniature Poodle.

Generally, a Golden Retriever lives up to 10-12 years, and a Miniature Poodle lives up to 12-16 years.

So, the average lifespan of this dog depends on the genes inherited from each parent dog breed.

If the Golden Retriever gene is dominant in your Mini Goldendoodle, then its lifespan will be on the lower end of the range.

A Fluffy mini goldendoodle Sitting in the forest

If the Miniature Poodle gene is dominant, then the lifespan will be at the higher end. 

Size

Usually, small dog breeds live longer than large dog breeds. As these dogs are small in size, they have a longer lifespan than other Goldendoodle types like the Standard Goldendoodles. 

To know more about the size, check out our article on Mini Goldendoodle size chart. 

Gender

Female Mini Goldendoodles tend to live longer than male Goldendoodles. This rule applies to most dogs, but the lifespan difference is negligible. 

Generation

These are hybrid dogs. Hybrid dogs have F1, F2, and F3-like generations formed by backcrossing. Each generation increases breed-specific health conditions, leading to a shorter lifespan. 

Mini Goldendoodle Health Issues

These dogs are generally healthy dogs, but they are a cross between Golden Retrievers and Miniature Poodles.

Hence, they inherit specific health problems from Golden Retrievers and Poodles. 

We’ll look at some of the common health conditions. 

Von Willebrand’s Disease 

Von Willebrand’s disease is a blood clotting disorder where a Mini Goldendoodle doesn’t have enough plasma proteins for blood clotting. 

A Brown mini goldendoodle Sleeping under a couch

This disease is usually diagnosed at the age of 3-5 years, and the symptoms include excessive bleeding with minor cuts, bleeding gums, and nose bleeding.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA, is passed from parents to the offspring. PRA causes gradual degeneration of the retina, leading to the loss of daytime vision and night blindness. 

Ear Infection

Many dogs with floppy ears, including these dog breeds, are prone to ear infections. 

Even though ear infections don’t shorten the lifespan of Mini Goldendoodles, they can lead to hearing loss if you don’t treat it properly as soon as possible. 

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is when the hip joint grows abnormally, displacing it from the thigh bone. This condition develops during the growth phase of puppies. 

Dogs with hip dysplasia face difficulties doing regular physical exercise, climbing stairs, and sometimes getting up. 

Gastric Dilations

Gastric dilation, or bloat, is when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, fluid, or food, exerting excessive pressure on the surrounding organs. This condition can cause death in less than an hour. 

IMPORTANT

Purchase your Pooch from a reputable breeder to prevent hereditary health issues and ensure your dog’s long life.

Generally, a reputable breeder will offer the following:

  • Genetic test.
  • Veterinary records and vaccination reports.
  • Two-year health guarantee.
  • Socialization training for Mini Goldendoodle Puppies.
  • Reasonable price. 

What Can You Do to Increase the Mini Goldendoodle’s Lifespan?

As mentioned earlier, genetics play a significant role in deciding a Mini Goldendoodle’s lifespan, but it’s not limited to this alone.

A healthy lifestyle is also vital for your dog to live a long and happy life. 

Now, let’s discuss what dog owners can do to increase their pooch’s lifespan. 

Healthy Diet

A balanced diet is crucial for a Mini Goldendoodle’s health.

Choose high-quality dog food that includes carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

A mini goldendoodle Swimming in a pool

Follow a fixed feeding schedule rather than free feeding. Feed it in 2-4 servings throughout the day. 

Don’t feed your dog any food supplements without the vet’s consent. Moreover, avoid feeding human food. 

Foods that are high in calories can cause obesity, leading to diabetes and affecting bone and joint health. 

Ideally, these dogs must eat 1- 4 cups of food daily, but this amount can change slightly according to your dog’s age, size, and physical activity. So, discuss with your vet and make proper dietary adjustments. 

Physical and Mental Exercise

We require regular exercise and a proper diet to live a healthy lifestyle. The same goes for your furry friend, too. 

Research shows that dogs with obesity tend to have shorter lifespans compared to dogs with standard weight. 

So, you must exercise your dog daily for at least 20-30 minutes. 

The Goldendoodle is an active breed. You don’t have to exert much effort to make your Mini Goldendoodle exercise.

It loves to walk, run, swim, and play. 

A mini goldendoodle Standing in the grass with a ball

Take your dog on regular walks to familiarize the dog with different sights and smells and train for proper social interaction. Exercise has many benefits. It improves both the physical and mental health of your dog.

Note: Mini Goldendoodles have a high likelihood of developing separation anxiety. So don’t leave your dog alone at home for too long.

Dental Care

Do dogs get toothaches? Yes, they do. 

So you must brush your Goldnedoodle’s teeth regularly. If not, your dog’s teeth will rot, leading to gingivitis and gum disease. 

Take your dog for regular checkups, and do a professional cleaning if there are signs of tartar. 

Regular Grooming

Goldendoodles have a hypoallergenic coat but are prone to skin allergies if you don’t take proper care of it. 

A mini goldendoodle Sitting in the grass

Keep your pup clean all the time. Bathe your dog, cut excessive hair, trim nails, and always keep your dog’s ears dry to prevent ear infections. 

If you are a new Goldendoodle parent, take your dog to a professional groomer for haircuts. 

Signs That Your Miniature Goldendoodle is Dying

Mini Goldendoodles show sure signs when they are at the end of their lives. Below are some of the significant ones:

  • Your dog refuses to eat or consumes less food.
  • Weight loss.
  • Some dogs may become very thin and emaciated. 
  • Your dog acts lethargic and sleeps often.
  • It loses interest in participating in the usual activities like playing.
  • Refusal to groom itself. 
  • Irregular breathing. If you notice labored breathing, take your dog to a vet immediately.
  • Your dog starts to poop in unusual places due to the loss of bladder control.

Common Causes of Mini Goldendoodle Death

Heart conditions, cancer, and trauma are the widely reported causes of Mini Goldendoodle death. 

Heart Conditions 

Weight fluctuation is typical among most designer breeds, including these breeds. 

If you feed excess calories, your Mini Goldendoodle will gain excess fat, leading to obesity. Obesity causes various heart conditions. 

A healthy diet and exercise are crucial to maintain a healthy weight.

brown mini goldendoodle Sitting in the wooden table top

Cancer

Mini Goldendoodles are prone to various types of cancers, such as lymphoma, skin cancer, mammary gland cancer, and mast cell tumors. Cancer is common among aged Mini Goldendoodles; however, puppies can also develop this disease. 

Did you know? Many Golden Retrievers tend to die of cancer. It’s one of the dog breeds that reports a high number of cancer-related deaths. (1)

Physical Trauma

Miniature Goldendoodles are petite in size. So they are prone to accidents. 

They can get trampled or fall off to the floor while you carry them if you don’t have a firm grip. 

Most of these breeds tend to die from injuries caused by physical accidents. 

How to Care for an Aging Mini Goldendoodle?

As your dog ages, you must change its routine to maintain overall health.

Here are some tips for caring for your senior Mini Goldendoodle in its golden years:

  • Adult dogs have different nutritional needs based on their size and health issues. So adjust your dog’s diet. 
  • Senior dogs may not be able to do vigorous exercises like they used to do at a young age. So, you must adjust the exercise routine to gentle activities that don’t stress joints and muscles.
  • Make the living conditions as comfortable as possible. Ensure your dog has easy access to food, water, a bed, a potty pad, and outdoor access for mental stimulation.
  • Treat your dog with lots of love and care. Play and spend time with it. Your emotional support has a lot of impact on its mental well-being.

End of Life Medical Needs and Care for Mini Goldendoodles

When your Mini Goldendoodle reaches its last days, you must take steps to make its life pain-free:

  • Hand-feed your Goldendoodle.
  • Help your dog with grooming.
  • Don’t force your dog to take part in physical activities. 
  • Don’t shout at your Goldendoodle for soiling. Instead, clean up the pee immediately.
  • Use doggie diapers if necessary.
  • Visit your vet and ask him for medications if required. You can also create a diet plan if your dog has health problems like heart disease.
  • Have an open discussion with your vet, understand your dog’s needs, and act accordingly. 

Other guides and tools you might need when training your dog:

FAQs

The price range for a Mini Goldendoodle is between $1600 and $2600.

No, Goldendoodle is not a high-maintenance dog breed. However, it does need regular grooming.

Mini Goldendoodles stop growing around two years of age.

Low-impact activities like short walks and gentle play sessions are ideal for senior Mini Goldendoodles.

The longest-living Goldendoodle type is Toy Goldendoodles, which are a mix of Golden Retrievers and Toy Poodles.

How Old is Your Mini Goldendoodle? 

The average lifespan of a Miniature Goldendoodle depends on various factors such as the genes inherited, size, gender, breeding process, overall health, and lifestyle. 

You must provide your puppy with a balanced diet, regular physical exercises, proper mental stimulation, consistent grooming, and regular checkups for it to live a happy, long, and healthy life.

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Author
Laura Vinzy
Laura Vinzy is one of our contributors. She is also a certified professional dog trainer & currently lives in San Francisco with her husband and her two rescue dogs.

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