10 Types Of Goldendoodle Colors

Meet the Goldendoodle: a delightful mix of Golden Retriever charm and Poodle smarts. This friendly hybrid has quickly become a favorite among pet lovers everywhere, and it’s not hard to see why.

Goldendoodles are celebrated for their wonderful mix of traits – they’re not just smart and healthy but also incredibly gentle and full of fun. Their adorable appearance is just the cherry on top. Plus, they’re known for their hypoallergenic coats, making them perfect companions for families with allergies. Their amiable nature also makes them excellent pets for households with kids.

But did you know that Goldendoodles aren’t limited to just the golden hues their name suggests? Thanks to modern DNA testing, breeders can now bring to life a kaleidoscope of colors in Goldendoodle coats.

So, let’s dive into the colorful world of Goldendoodles together and discover the shade that captures your heart!

Why Are There So Many Colors of Goldendoodle?

Why do Goldendoodles come in so many colors? It’s all about genetics! Goldendoodles get their coat colors from their Golden Retriever and Poodle parents. The mix of genes they inherit determines their coat’s color.

Golden Retrievers typically have shades of gold, but Poodles bring a whole palette of colors to the mix, including apricot, red, black, chocolate, silver, and white. With the Poodle’s wide range of colors and the Golden Retriever’s golden hues, Goldendoodles can have a rainbow of different coat colors.

Types of Goldendoodle Colors

From the sunny shades of cream to the rich depths of chocolate, let’s explore the dazzling array of colors found in the Goldendoodle’s fluffy coat.

1. Red

The red Goldendoodle, with its teddy bear look, is a favorite among many. This color comes mainly from the Poodle’s side, though some Golden Retrievers also have a warm, golden-red hue.

The red in Goldendoodles can vary from a light cinnamon to a deep, rich mahogany, making it the brightest coat color in Goldendoodles.

While the AKC doesn’t officially recognize red for Poodles or Golden Retrievers, breeders often achieve this sought-after shade by pairing a darker Poodle with a standard-colored Golden Retriever.

2. Apricot 

The apricot Goldendoodle stands out as a highly desired color, thanks to the AKC’s recognition of the apricot Poodle. This makes the apricot a common and beloved choice among Goldendoodle breeds.

While it might seem close to red, apricot Goldendoodles boast a distinct, lighter, and brighter hue that earns them their own category. These dogs often feature black accents, including their nose, eyes, toenails, and eye rims, adding to their unique appearance.

Over time, the apricot coat may lighten, sometimes making them resemble tan or cream Goldendoodles.

3. Cream

Cream Goldendoodles are often mistaken for white due to their very light coats, yet they distinctly stand apart. These dogs are popular choices for breeding unique patterns like merle or parti coats.

The cream is a classic color for Goldendoodles, rooted in the wide range of cream shades found in both the Golden Retriever and Poodle lineages, with the latter’s cream color officially recognized by the AKC.

This mix leads to a diverse array of coat shades, from light to dark cream, and can include various features like dark or pinkish noses and paw pads, as well as light or dark eyes. Many cream Goldendoodles also have pinkish skin beneath their fur, adding to their unique look.

4. Brown or Chocolate

Brown Goldendoodles are among the most sought-after coat colors, ranging from rich mahogany to dark walnut. Since the AKC recognizes “brown” as an official color for Poodles, brown Goldendoodles are quite common at dog parks. This beautiful brown shade usually comes from the Poodle’s dominant genes.

Despite their popularity, finding a true chocolate, liver, or brown Goldendoodle can be rare. The brown color often hides a recessive gene for black or silver, needing a pup to inherit one from each parent to display this hue. Breeding two brown Goldendoodles doesn’t always result in brown puppies due to the masking of these recessive genes.

Chocolate Goldendoodles, in particular, are often born very dark, almost black, but their coat can lighten significantly as they grow older.

5. Black

Black Goldendoodles stand out as a particularly unique variant within their breed. Despite their rarity, black Goldendoodles share the same intelligence and playful spirit as their more commonly colored counterparts. It’s not unusual for the deep black of their coats to gray or fade somewhat, particularly around their face and muzzle, as they age.

The striking black coat is the result of a recessive gene present in both the Golden Retriever and Poodle parents. For a Goldendoodle to sport this sleek black fur, both parents must carry and pass on this specific gene, making black Goldendoodles a rare find.

Typically, black Goldendoodles feature an all-black appearance, encompassing their noses, paw pads, eyes, and other physical traits, contributing to their distinctive and elegant look.

6. White

White Goldendoodles are as enchanting as they sound, with their coats reminiscent of soft summer clouds or plush marshmallows. This white color stands out as lighter than cream, offering a cooler, crisp look.

Originating from the Poodle side, since white is an officially recognized breed color for Poodles, white Goldendoodles inherit their pristine coats through specific genetics. The creation of a white Goldendoodle requires two recessive alleles, making this color uncommon in first-generation crosses, as Golden Retrievers do not carry this gene.

Contrary to cream Goldendoodles, whose color can change over time, white Goldendoodles are born with their bright, white coats, which they maintain throughout their lives, providing a constant visual delight.

7. Champagne

A champagne Goldendoodle showcases a unique coat color, born from a diluted version of the recessive red gene, resulting in a soft cream or pale yellow shade.

This elegant hue is a touch darker than the classic cream seen in Goldendoodles but can still be subtle enough to make telling them apart a bit challenging.

8. Blue

Blue Goldendoodles, with their unique steely shade, stand out from their gray counterparts by displaying a darker and more varied coat that can feature both darker and lighter patches. This intriguing blue appearance actually comes from a mix of black and gray fur, giving them a distinctively blue hue.

Achieving this color is quite the feat, as it is the result of a recessive gene and requires several generations of careful breeding to manifest. Blue Goldendoodles are born with a dark coat that gradually fades over the first two years of their life, revealing the blue shade more clearly.

9. Silver

Silver Goldendoodles offer a fascinating lighter variant of the blue or gray Goldendoodles, distinguished by their remarkable transformation over time. Initially born with a much darker coat, silver Goldendoodles undergo a significant color fade, becoming lighter as they age.

Signs that a puppy will develop into a silver can often be spotted from around six to ten weeks, indicated by lighter roots and possibly white or silver hairs between their toes.

The color transition from black to silver is among the most striking changes seen in Goldendoodle coats, turning the puppy into what seems like a completely different dog by the time the process is complete.

10. Grey

Grey Goldendoodles share a likeness with silver Poodles, often starting life with a dark black coat that gradually lightens to gray by the age of 2 years. Beyond this age, they typically adopt a rustic silver appearance, moving away from their original black coloration.

Indications of whether a Goldendoodle will develop into a grey shade can usually be seen after the first 6 weeks, as their hair begins to clear. The grey color is a result of genetics inherited from the Poodle side of their lineage, specifically from the black gene line.

Rare Goldendoodle Colors

Goldendoodles boast an almost endless palette of coat colors, with the rarest hues emerging from multigenerational breeding. In these cases, recessive color traits come to the forefront rather than being overshadowed by dominant genes.

Among these uncommon colors are grey, blue, and silver. Additionally, achieving multi-colored Goldendoodles, like parti or phantom Goldendoodles, is quite rare. It’s important to note that these unique colors can significantly affect the price, potentially costing two to three times more than the typical Goldendoodle.

Types of Goldendoodle Patterns 

Parti Goldendoodles have a two-tone coat, typically white and another color, with the second color appearing in random spots or patches, making each one unique.

Phantom Goldendoodles feature two colors with the secondary color in specific areas like eyebrows, muzzle, chest, and legs, creating a distinct look.

Merle Goldendoodles are rare, with a coat that may include blue or chocolate patterns. Their coat lightens over time, but the Merle gene can be associated with health issues, making them more expensive.

Brindle Goldendoodles display a striking pattern that resembles tiger stripes, with a mix of dark and light colors. This pattern is due to a recessive gene, making it rare and unpredictable in puppies.

Conclusion

Goldendoodles come in an impressive range of coat colors, each adding to the breed’s appeal. From the deep, dark brown hues and striking black Goldendoodle coats to the softer shades of a cream Goldendoodle, the variety is vast.

Red Goldendoodles offer a vibrant option, while the anticipated dog coat color can often be a delightful surprise, given the genetic diversity. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of a black Goldendoodle puppy or the warmth of a cream Goldendoodle, the spectrum of Goldendoodle coat colors ensures there’s a perfect match for every preference.

With so many Goldendoodle colors, the beauty of a Goldendoodle’s coat is truly in its diversity, making each Goldendoodle puppy uniquely captivating.