Double Doodle

The Double Doodle is a second-generation hybrid produced by crossing a Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever × Poodle) with a Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever × Poodle), meaning all three of the world’s most consistently popular family breeds — the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Poodle — contribute to its makeup. The result is a medium to large dog with a reliably gentle temperament, high trainability, and a low-shedding coat that combines the best qualities of all three founding breeds.

Sometimes called the North American Retriever, the Double Doodle suits active family households that can provide consistent daily exercise, mental stimulation, and human company. It is one of the most family-friendly crossbreeds available — patient with children, sociable with other pets, and genuinely warm with strangers — making it an excellent choice for first-time owners who can meet its activity requirements.

The Double Doodle emerged from North America in the 1990s and early 2000s as the Doodle movement expanded beyond the original Labradoodle and Goldendoodle crosses. Breeders began crossing Goldendoodles with Labradoodles to produce a dog that drew on three complementary breed lines rather than two, with the aim of reinforcing the low-shedding coat potential and genial temperament common to all three. The Golden Retriever was developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 1860s as a gundog; the Labrador Retriever in Newfoundland as a water retriever; and the Poodle across Europe over centuries as a hunting and retrieving dog.

All three breeds share a working heritage involving cooperation with humans, water work, and retrieving — qualities that contribute to the Double Doodle’s trainable, people-oriented temperament. The cross is not Kennel Club recognised and has no formal breed standard; coat type, size, and exact temperament vary between generations and individuals.

The Double Doodle is a medium to large dog typically standing 50 to 63 cm at the shoulder and weighing between 20 and 36 kg, with some variation by individual and generation. The build is athletic and well-proportioned, reflecting the working retriever heritage of all three founding breeds. The head is soft and expressive with warm, rounded eyes. Ears are pendant and feathered.

The coat is the breed’s most variable feature: it ranges from loosely wavy (stronger retriever influence) to tightly curled (stronger Poodle influence), with most individuals falling somewhere between these extremes. Low-shedding coats are common but not guaranteed in every litter. Colours include cream, golden, apricot, chocolate, black, and parti-colour combinations drawn from all three parent lines. The coat grows continuously and requires regular professional trimming to prevent matting and maintain a manageable length.

The Double Doodle combines the Golden Retriever’s gentle patience, the Labrador’s easy-going sociability, and the Poodle’s sharp, responsive intelligence to produce one of the most consistently warm-tempered large crossbreeds available. Double Doodles are friendly with almost everyone they meet — family, visitors, children, and other pets. They lack territorial instincts, are rarely reactive or aggressive, and adapt well to different household environments.

The Poodle’s intelligence makes the Double Doodle quick to learn household routines and eager to engage with training. Its strong emotional sensitivity — inherited from all three parent breeds — means it responds poorly to harsh handling and forms deep bonds with its family. This attachment, while one of the breed’s strengths, also makes separation anxiety a genuine risk: Double Doodles do not cope well with long periods of isolation and require gradual alone-time conditioning from puppyhood.

The Double Doodle is among the most trainable medium to large dogs available. Drawing on the Poodle’s problem-solving ability and the Golden and Labrador Retrievers’ strong food motivation and desire to please, these dogs learn new commands quickly, retain them reliably, and actively enjoy the training process. Positive reinforcement is highly effective; the Double Doodle engages enthusiastically with reward-based learning and does not need or benefit from harsh correction.

Training should begin from day one and continue throughout the dog’s life. The combination of intelligence and sensitivity means that gaps in early training or inconsistent rules become entrenched quickly. Socialisation is straightforward given the breed’s natural warmth toward people and animals, but it should still be conducted systematically in puppyhood to ensure confidence in varied environments. The Double Doodle excels at obedience, agility, therapy work, and canine sports, providing excellent outlets for its intelligence and energy.

The Double Doodle is one of the most reliably child-friendly large crossbreeds available. With the Golden Retriever’s patience, the Labrador’s easy-going tolerance, and the Poodle’s gentle, family-oriented temperament all contributing to the cross, this breed is consistently warm, playful, and safe around children of all ages.

The breed’s larger size and enthusiastic energy mean that supervision is sensible around very young toddlers who could be knocked over by an exuberant Double Doodle, but the breed’s gentle temperament means this is a risk of over-enthusiasm rather than aggression. With older children who can engage the dog in active games and outdoor play, the Double Doodle is an outstanding companion that forms strong, lasting bonds with younger family members. It also gets on exceptionally well with other family pets.

The Double Doodle draws on three breed lines, each with known genetic health concerns. Hip dysplasia is a shared risk across all three parent breeds; BVA hip scores for the Golden Retriever and Labrador parent lines should be on record. Elbow dysplasia is an additional concern from the Labrador line. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is present in the Poodle line and can be screened for via DNA test. Cardiac conditions — particularly subvalvular aortic stenosis — are a risk in the Golden Retriever line and should be assessed via cardiac examination.

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) is a Labrador-specific condition manageable via DNA test of the Labrador parent in the breeding programme. The Golden Retriever’s elevated lifetime cancer risk may be partially inherited by the Double Doodle. Ear infections are a recurring concern given the pendant, feathered ear structure. A healthy Double Doodle typically lives 12 to 15 years.

The Double Doodle is an adaptable breed that fits well into suburban and family homes with outdoor access. A securely fenced garden is beneficial but not essential provided the daily exercise quota is met through structured walks and outings. As a companion breed with strong bonds to its family, it should not be left alone for more than four hours without prior gradual conditioning; separation anxiety is a real risk if alone time is not managed carefully from puppyhood.

Mental enrichment through training sessions, interactive toys, and puzzle feeders should be part of the daily routine alongside physical exercise. Regular ear care — weekly inspection and cleaning — is important to prevent the moisture build-up that encourages infection under the feathered ears. Routine dental care, nail trimming every three to four weeks, and ongoing grooming attention complete the care requirements for this otherwise straightforward and rewarding breed to own.

Double Doodle grooming requirements depend on the coat type inherited. Curly-coated individuals need daily brushing to prevent tight curl patterns from matting, and professional grooming every six to eight weeks to maintain coat length. Wavy coats require brushing three to four times per week and professional grooming on a similar schedule. As with all Doodle crosses, the coat grows continuously and will become matted and uncomfortable without consistent attention.

A slicker brush and metal comb are the essential home tools; introducing puppies to the grooming table and professional groomer early ensures calm handling throughout the dog’s life. Ears should be checked and cleaned weekly. Bathing every four to six weeks keeps the coat clean. Nail trimming and regular teeth brushing complete the routine. The Double Doodle’s low-shedding coat makes it more practical to maintain in the home than many large breeds, but the professional grooming commitment is a genuine ongoing cost that should be budgeted for before purchase.

The Double Doodle requires at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise per day, split across two or more outings. All three founding breeds were developed for sustained physical work, and the Double Doodle retains high energy levels that need consistent daily outlets. Long walks, running, swimming, fetch, and off-lead play in safely enclosed spaces all suit this breed’s working retriever heritage.

Structured canine activities including agility, obedience, and swimming competitions are strongly recommended both to channel the breed’s intelligence and to provide the combined physical and mental challenge it thrives on. An under-exercised Double Doodle becomes restless, vocal, and destructive quickly. Puppies under 12 months should have exercise limited to shorter, more frequent sessions to protect developing joints. Access to a securely fenced outdoor space for free play between walks is a significant benefit for this active, outdoor-loving breed.

The Double Doodle does well on a high-quality complete diet appropriate to its size and life stage, fed twice daily. As a medium to large, active breed combining Labrador food motivation with Golden Retriever appetite, it benefits from a protein-rich food that supports muscle and joint health. Both retriever parent lines are prone to weight gain, making portion control important from puppyhood. Obesity places additional strain on the hips and elbows, both areas of known genetic concern in this cross.

Avoid free-feeding. Adjust portion sizes seasonally based on the dog’s activity level. Large meals immediately before or after vigorous exercise should be avoided to reduce bloat risk. Training treats, used generously given this breed’s active training schedule, should be counted against the daily calorie allowance. A diet supporting coat health — with adequate omega-3 fatty acids — is beneficial for maintaining the Double Doodle’s characteristic coat condition.

Double Doodle puppies from health-tested parents in the UK typically cost between £1,000 and £2,500. The breed’s high demand drives elevated prices, with premium coats and multi-generation lines commanding the upper end. The breed is not Kennel Club recognised and has no assured breeder scheme; health credential verification falls entirely on the buyer.

Initial setup costs — vaccination, microchipping, neutering, crate, bedding, collar, lead, and toys — typically add £500 to £800. Ongoing monthly costs include quality food (£55 to £75 for a medium-large adult), professional grooming every six to eight weeks (£60 to £80 per appointment), routine veterinary care, parasite treatments, and pet insurance. Insurance is important given the cardiac and orthopaedic health risks; monthly premiums typically range from £35 to £60. Total lifetime ownership costs over a 12 to 15 year lifespan are typically in the region of £25,000 to £35,000.

When purchasing a Double Doodle, request BVA hip scores for the Golden Retriever and Labrador lines in the breeding programme, a PRA DNA test for the Poodle line, a cardiac examination for the Golden Retriever line, and an EIC DNA test for the Labrador line. Always view the puppy with its mother in the home environment, and never purchase through a pet shop or third-party agent.

The Double Doodle’s popularity means irresponsible breeders are common. Quality varies enormously: some breeders carefully health-test across all three parent breed lines; others produce puppies with no health documentation at all. Price is not a reliable indicator of quality. Research individual breeders thoroughly, ask for references, and be prepared to wait for a puppy from a genuinely responsible source. Goldendoodle and Labradoodle rescue organisations occasionally have Double Doodle crosses available for rehoming.