The amount that a dog’s coat sheds is vital to consider when deciding whether or not you want to get a dog, for reasons such as cleaning and upkeep or allergies being at the top of the list.
If you want to pick up a mini Goldendoodle, being prepared for how much they shed is essential.
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Do Mini Goldendoodles Shed?
Yes, they do. Mini Goldendoodles are half Golden Retriever and half miniature or toy Poodle, so they shed less than a purebred Golden Retriever but more than their Poodle parent.
Golden Retrievers shed a lot, but Poodles don’t shed as much, so a mini Goldendoodle will inherit half of each trait.
Goldendoodle Coats
Another factor that will influence how much a mini Goldendoodle sheds is its coat type; each coat will also necessitate a different kind of grooming routine.
If you want a particular coat type, make sure you select from a breeder who does adequate DNA testing on their parent dogs so they can predict the coat their Goldendoodle puppy will inherit.
Curly coats
This is the second most common coat type and the most similar to a Poodle coat. The density of a curly coat can vary from resembling wool to looser and wavier.
This coat displays a similar amount of shedding as the wavy coat, from minimal to none at all, though it requires more thorough brushing.
Shaggy or wavy coats
This coat type will experience minimal to low shedding.
The most common kind of coat in this dog breed, a wavy coat type, is easy to maintain with brushing once or twice a week, focusing on areas like the collar or neck region and around their ears.
Flat or improper coats
Often considered the least desirable coat as it lacks the ‘teddy bear’ look that makes mini Goldendoodles so beloved. However, this coat type is the easiest to maintain as it resembles a Golden Retriever’s straight coat.
The straight coat is best avoided for people prone to allergic reactions as it experiences the most moderate shedding frequency.
How Much Do Goldendoodles Shed?
Miniature Goldendoodles are low shedders, so they are suitable for people with low allergies, but they’re not a hypoallergenic dog breed, despite what you might have heard.
They will shed year-round but, like most double-coated dogs, will experience excess seasonal shedding during the winter and summer.
In the winter, they shed hair they grew in summer to keep them cool, and then when winter comes around, they grow additional hair and shed their summer coat to keep them warmer.
A miniature Goldendoodle will generally shed much less than other double-coated dog breeds.
What Triggers Shedding?
Besides seasonal shedding, which is unavoidable, other situations may cause mini Goldendoodles to shed excess hair.
Allergies and Skin Problems
Conditions like dermatitis are common in mini Goldendoodles, and a pup with this condition will shed more dog hair from the affected area.
Bacterial infections of adverse reactions to certain shampoos can also lead to inflamed skin and excessive shedding.
Make sure to choose a gentle shampoo with eco-friendly, soothing ingredients such as coconut oil or honey to reduce shedding. Human shampoo isn’t suitable for your dog’s sensitive skin.
Excessive bathing can also irritate their skin, so no matter how gentle your shampoo is, it’s important not to overdo your bathing routine. To keep the oils in your dog’s skin balanced, try not to bathe them more than once a month.
Nutrition
Just like with us, a lot of what makes a dog healthy on the outside depends on what goes on inside. Spending extra money on healthy food full of natural proteins and fatty acids instead of cheap food with low-quality filler ingredients will directly impact their coat health.
Foods rich in omega fatty acids such as Omega 3 and 6 are essential to a dog’s healthy skin and coat.
You can also use supplement products to add to their diet, which are rich in vitamins and fish oils. These come in the form of tablets, chews, or a liquid that you can add to their kibble.
Stress
Just like stressful times can cause physical symptoms like hair loss in people, the same can apply to your mini Goldendoodle. If there’s been a stressful period in your home or your dog has had a run-in with another dog that has upset them, this might lead to unexpected shedding.
If this problem persists, consult your vet to see if they can suggest a course of action to soothe them and get their excess shedding back to normal.
Managing Your Goldendoodle’s Shedding
Whether your dog is shedding more or less than usual, there are several things you can do to make it more manageable.
Brushing
To reduce the risk of skin allergies, brushing your dog with a high-quality slicker brush can stop their coat from matting, promote skin health, and minimize shedding.
You can also use a de-shedder brush to tease out fur that regular brushing misses. Use these brushes carefully though as they are potentially abrasive tools that might irritate your dog’s skin.
Diet
Making sure your dog receives a healthy balanced diet is critical to ensuring a healthy double coat and giving them strength in every aspect.
Feed them food with a high protein density from natural sources and plenty of healthy fats. You can also supplement fatty acids with a good fish oil supplement.
Regular fruit and veg can also provide a healthy antioxidant boost which can help boost your dog’s immune system and supply the nutrition that isn’t available in meat.
Clipping
Many mini Goldendoodle owners like to get their pups trimmed once every few weeks. This serves many purposes, such as keeping them presentable, preventing matted hair and stopping excess shedding.
Goldendoodles are active dogs, so clipping their hair to keep them clean and well-groomed will keep them more hygienic overall.
Keep your house clean
Yes, this isn’t directly linked to how to solve shedding, but your dog will shed whether you like it or not, so keeping your house clean is essential, especially if you’re in a home where people live with pet allergies.
Use a vacuum cleaner to pick up dander and fur from the carpet, as well as other bits that get left behind, like saliva or urine. You’ll need to mop the kitchen floor after you vacuum it as well to minimize any allergic reactions. Stick to these routines a minimum of twice a week.
Think about buying a lint roller to pick fur off fabric surfaces, and consider getting blankets and throws if you’re going to let your dog up on the couch. That way, the quickly removed and washable blanket picks up the brunt of your mini Goldendoodle’s fur.
FAQS
When do Goldendoodle puppies shed their coat?
A mini Goldendoodle’s softer puppy hair will shed less than its adult coat.
Once your Goldendoodle reaches a year of age, you will tend to see them begin to shed its softer puppy coat though this can happen as early as 6 months. The change will take a few months and their new coat will be thicker and stiffer than their puppy hair.
Which mini Goldendoodles shed the least?
If getting a Groodle that sheds less is important to you, purchase from a breeder who has done proper genetic testing. This can be expensive, so breeders will rarely be knowledgeable of it but it will let you know exactly how much they will shed.
Failing this, curly-coat and wavy-coat Miniature Goldendoodles will always shed less than straight-coated dogs.
An F1B mini Goldendoodle is one that has been bred from a mini Goldendoodle and a Poodle. This dog will inherit about 75% of the Poodle’s genes and will shed much less than a first-generation Goldendoodle as it has minimal Golden Retriever heritage.
In any case, it’s not so much dog hair that causes allergic reactions but dander, the skin that all dogs shed. While a dog that sheds less hair means less dander, there is still a chance that its hair will aggravate allergies.
Are mini Goldendoodles high maintenance?
Yes, mini Goldendoodles and their standard-sized cousins are high-maintenance dogs. The Poodle hair and double-coat mean that a Doodle will have to be groomed (preferably professionally) every six to eight weeks to prevent matting from occurring.
You can also groom your Goldendoodle at home if you have the right know-how and grooming tools.
Final Thoughts
If you or someone you live with is allergic to dogs, then the low shed rate of mini Goldendoodles makes them well suited to your home.
Goldendoodles shed less than most double-coated dogs, and those with curly or wavy coats shed less still. Avoid mini Goldendoodles with straight coats and go for second-generation canines, as they will have more robust Goldendoodle genes.
Not only that, but their tighter curlier coat will have the teddy bear look, which makes this breed so popular with the team at barksinthepark.co and countless others!