Get to know the red Goldendoodle
Are you curious about the red Goldendoodle? Or maybe you’ve recently added a little firecracker red Doodle dog to your family. Either way, if you’d like the tea on the red Goldendoodle, you’ve come to the right place. So let’s get started.
The red wrapping is just the beginning…
First, I admit it. While I love all dogs, I’m over the moon for red Goldendoodles—especially one slightly derpy, lovable, gingersnap red Doodle dog named Chloe. Her cinnamon-red curly locks are the furry wrapping around her comical personality and her heart of gold. And our little red Muppet dog fits right in with our pack. (Some of our human family members are gingers too.)
Yes, I’m a self-professed, Goldendoodle-obsessed dog mom who’s dedicated the last 10 years to learning everything I can about Goldendoodles.
Additionally, I’m an avid researcher and have gained my fair share of knowledge about the Goldendoodle dog and what it means to live the Goldendoodle lifestyle. (I call it a lifestyle because with Doodle romps, meet-ups, doggolingo, and Goldendoodle gear for both dogs and pawrents, the Doodle life is non-stop.)
Inspired by two red Goldendoodles, Chloe and Ruby (Chloe’s dog cousin), here are eight things you’ll want to know about red Goldendoodles.
1. Red Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs.
First, to understand where that gorgeous red coat color comes from, we need to look at the Goldendoodle’s origin story.
What is a Goldendoodle? Where do Goldendoodles get their adorable good looks? It may surprise you that Goldendoodles are not actually a true dog “breed” at all.
These comical, fluffy Muppet dogs called Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs.
Rather, they are an intentional cross between two other breeds: the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Some call Goldendoodles “hybrids” or “crossbreeds,” but most Goldendoodle parents call them “family members.”
A Goldendoodle puppy may be the offspring of a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. Or they may be the offspring of some mix of these two breeds. In other words, the offspring may have a Goldendoodle as one parent and a Poodle as the other parent. Or they may even have two Goldendoodle parents.
Since Goldendoodles, including red Goldendoodles, are not purebred dogs, you won’t see them fluffing their stuff at breed conformation events like the Westminster dog show. Also, since they are not purebred dogs, there is no such thing as an AKC Goldendoodle. And if you run across the term AKC-registered or AKC-papers as you’re researching Goldendoodle puppies, this should raise a red flag. Something is fishy here, and it’s not your dog’s breath.
Now that we have an overview of Goldendoodles and their parent breeds, you’re probably starting to see how the parent breeds bring a lot of coat color variation to the party.
2. Red is one of many colors of Goldendoodles.
If you look at the characteristics of the Goldendoodle parent breeds, both Golden Retrievers and Poodles bring some variation of red coat color to the mix.
The Poodle sports both apricot and red (and 11 total official Poodle colors, according to the AKC) coat colors. The Golden Retriever sports variations of golden—from creamy golden to a deeper red golden. Since cream, apricot, and reddish coat colors are found in both the purebred Golden Retriever and the purebred Poodle breeds, the Goldendoodle can sport a range of red coat colors, too.
Additionally, red is just one of many colors of Goldendoodles. Why? You can thank the Poodle (well, actually the Poodle gene pool) for that. The Poodle brings colors like black, chocolate, silver, white, and even parti colors to the mix.
Here are some common Goldendoodle coat colors:
- Red
- White
- Cream Goldendoodle
- Apricot
- Black Goldendoodle
- Brown or chocolate Goldendoodle
- Parti (a combo of brown or black and white)
- Other combinations such as phantom
I like to say that no matter the shade of a Doodle’s coat, a Goldendoodle will add color to your life!
3. A red Goldendoodle’s coat color may change as they grow.
As you can see in the photos below, both the red Goldendoodles in our pack (Chloe and Ruby) had red puppy coats. Also, you can see in the photos that the coat color lightened over time. For our Goldendoodles, the coat color change was very gradual and happened into adulthood.
From my research and years of connecting with other Doodle moms, this seems typical of many red Goldendoodles. Coat colors may fade or lighten even through adulthood. Even a deep, dark red Goldendoodle puppy’s coat may lighten or fade.
Interestingly, if you look closely at the photo on the right below, you can see that the full grown adult Goldendoodle’s (Chloe’s) ears and tail stayed the deepest red (almost true to her puppy coloring) while her body lightened over time.
I like comparing a Goldendoodle to opening a box of Cracker Jacks. While you don’t quite know what the surprise inside will be (from coloring to coat type to personality), you know there’s fun and happiness in store.
4. Color changes are gradual.
When Chloe was a puppy, I noticed that around five months of age, some white hairs started popping up in her red coat. Over time, her coat lightened from a radiant red to a color I describe as cinnamon red. (Now as a mature adult and into her senior Goldendoodle years, I’ve noticed more tiny white hairs popping up around her eyes.)
Also, it’s worth mentioning that the red Goldendoodles in our pack both have black toenails. Learning how to cut your dog’s black nails can be more challenging than trimming light nails because it’s harder to see the quick (the blood and nerve supply) on dark-colored nails.
Before we move on, I can’t help but say, while a red Goldendoodle dog’s coat color may change as they grow, their loveable and energetic personalities just keep pulling tighter on the heartstrings.
5. Red Goldendoodles are so much more than their teddy bear good looks.
No matter the coat color, type (wavy, curly, or fleece) or size (mini Goldendoodle or 80-pound lap sitter), Goldendoodle dogs are so much more than their teddy bear good looks.
Because they tend to be smart, social, and easily trained, many Goldendoodles become working dogs including therapy dogs or service dogs.
If you’re interested in learning more about therapy dog certification, the McSquare Doodles blog provides a comprehensive overview of how to certify your doodle dog as a therapy dog.
Or, take a peek into a day in the life of Harley and Jaxson, two Goldendoodle therapy dogs who comfort patients at a hospital.
6. Many Goldendoodles love exercising, energy burns, adventures, and brain games.
Red Goldendoodles, like most Goldendoodles are smart. They require daily exercise and plenty of brain games or mental stimulation. Introducing canine enrichment—giving your dog the opportunity to sniff, chew, play, explore, etc.—will go a long way in reducing boredom and increasing your Goldendoodle’s emotional well-being.
Typically, Goldendoodles are active dogs and love to play. Whether it’s walking through a neighborhood, hiking on nature trails, or jogging through a park, you and your furry sidekick can explore the world and lead an active lifestyle together.
7. A Goldendoodle can spark joy in your life.
Bringing a Goldendoodle into your home is exciting as well as filled with new responsibilities.
The most important things you can do? Give your new family member lots of tender loving care, socialization, time with the family, age-appropriate exercise, positive training, ongoing veterinary care, and your time and attention.
As with any puppy, the more joy you put into making his or her life the very best it can be, the more joy you’ll receive.
Related: 10 Signs You Might Be a Doodle Dog Fanatic
8. Red Doodles are “Golden” too.
Autumn leaves. Cinnamon. Rubies. Red delicious apples. So many amazing things are red…including our dear Goldendoodle dogs. These comical crimson Doodles tend to be quick to learn, eager to fit in with the entire family, and ready to adapt to life with you. You’ll likely fall in love with the happy, slightly goofy, smart, loveable Goldendoodle.
Finally, there is one Goldendoodle universal that many parents know. No matter whether the Goldendoodle coat color is red, cream, white, or black, they are definitely “Golden” in our hearts.
Do you have a red Goldendoodle?
We’d love to hear! Please comment below.
Editor’s note: This blog post was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to include more information about red Goldendoodles.
