Do you love Golden Retrievers, but HATE how much they shed? Do you wish that loveable Golden Retriever personality came in a smaller sized dog?
No need to wish! America’s favorite dog now has a smaller counterpart — the Miniature Golden Retriever.
The Mini Golden Retriever is a mix of both American and English Cream lines along with Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and King Charles Cavalier.
When bred correctly, you get the benefits of all four breeds:
- Poodle genes can help Mini Golden Retrievers shed less.
- The great personalities of Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels combine with the fun personality of Golden Retrievers for a truly loveable furry friend.
- By doing intense genetic and health testing, there is the added benefit of genetic diversity and hybrid rigor that reduces the risk of several medical concerns.
Why was each breed selected to create the Miniature Golden Retriever?
- Cocker Spaniels are loyal, outgoing dogs that make wonderful family companions. They are generally smart, happy dogs that are good with young children and other dogs. They are also fairly open to strangers and like a good balance between playing and resting. Cocker Spaniels are very eager to please, which makes them easier to train. They have a medium shedding level and usually weigh 26-35 lbs.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known as cuddle bugs. They enjoy long walks and snuggling on the couch watching a show, as long as they are with their humans. Historically, this breed was often found in the Royal Court. This type of spaniel is good with other dogs and children of all ages, making this breed a great choice for a family. They are moderate to low shedders and usually weigh 13-18 lbs.
- Poodles are extremely intelligent, generally easy to train, and eager to please. Catering to their intelligence with mental stimulation is a must and keeps them from getting into trouble. Poodles are great family dogs and get along with young children. Poodles are open to strangers and love to play. They are light shedders, but need frequent grooming. Poodles come in a variety of heights and weights.
- Golden Retrievers are one of the most beloved breeds in the world. They have an outgoing and sometimes goofy personality. American Golden Retrievers do have a higher risk of cancer and are known to be heavy shedders. The normal weight for a Golden Retriever is 55-95 lbs.
Why not just mix the Poodle and Golden Retriever to create a Goldendoodle? A Mini Golden Retriever has straight hair that requires much less grooming and upkeep compared to a Goldendoodle’s curls. Mini Goldens also maintain some of the genes that help reduce shedding and increase the breed’s hypoallergenic qualities. While Min Golden Retrievers have a different look, it’s often a good match for dog owners that prefer less time at the groomers.
What percent of each breed makes up the Miniature Golden Retriever? There is no perfect answer; however, some Mini Golden breeders prefer 50% Golden Retriever, 25% Poodle and 25% Spaniel. The main goal is to keep the personality and the Golden Retriever look intact.
What type of dog owners might be interested in a Miniature Golden Retriever? Mini Goldens appeal to a wide range of people. Their personality, ease in grooming, lower shedding levels, and smaller size are the perfect combination of traits many hopefully dog owners are looking for.
Do Miniature Golden Retrievers do well with young children? Mini Goldens interact well with kids of all ages. Their smaller size is often ideal to not overwhelm young children. Mini Goldens also have an even temperament which handles the louder and more active play around them well.
Do Miniature Golden Retrievers get along with other dogs? Miniature Golden Retrievers normally get along with other dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds. If you already have a dog, and are looking to add another dog, Mini Goldens could be a good choice for you.
Do Miniature Golden Retrievers need a lot of living space? A Miniature Golden Retriever is a great dog for a family that lives in an apartment, townhome, or small home. Because Mini Golden Retrievers have a smaller frame, they often fit more comfortably in smaller spaces.
Do Miniature Golden Retrievers make good emotional support, therapy and service animals? They make excellent emotional support, therapy and service animals. When bred right, Mini Goldens keep the outgoing and sometimes goofy personality of Golden Retrievers that America has come to love. They are normally eager to please, which makes training Mini Goldens easier. They also love to be around people and receive attention. Petting a dog for 10 minutes or more has been shown to correlate with stress reduction. Often, Mini Golden Retrievers have a smoother, softer coat thanks to poodle genetics, making it even more enjoyable to pet them.
Are Miniature Golden Retrievers generally healthier than Golden Retrievers? Yes. Introducing genes that are less proportionately susceptible to cancer can reduce the overall risk of cancer. “Hybrid vigor” is a term that refers to increasing the health of a breed by bringing in a different gene pool. This provides more genetic variety and can help avoid pitfalls specific breeds face. Of course, this all hinges on excellent breeding practices that include genetic and health testing.
What colors do Miniature Golden Retrievers come in? Miniature Goldens Retrievers come in the standard Golden Retriever whites, creams, and tans. Some Mini Goldens have slightly red or apricot coats as well as different markings from other breeds. Some Miniature Golden Retriever Breeders go beyond solid colors and have parti and blaze markings.
Should I get a male or a female Miniature Golden Retriever? Personality should be considered above gender to get what you’re looking for. When picking a Mini Golden puppy, focus most on the temperament you are looking for. Listen to the breeder because they generally know personalities best.
Can I see Miniature Golden Retrievers in a dog show? Yes, you could see Miniature Golden Retrievers competing in obedience, scent trials, and rally. However, Miniature Golden Retrievers are not shown in conformation shows yet.
Why aren’t the Miniature Golden Retrievers in conformation shows? AKC (American Kennel Association) and UKC (United Kennel Club) do not recognize Miniature Golden Retrievers as a “pure bred” yet. Although almost all dogs in the AKC and UKC are mixed breeds, the AKC and UKC wait until there are enough breeders breeding a particular dog to warrant setting breed standards. Once that number is met, the new breed is accepted. This can take decades, and sometimes centuries, of consistent breeding before the AKC or UKC considers accepting the new breed.
Should I get a Miniature Golden Retriever? Mini Golden Retrievers make a wonderful alternative to traditional Golden Retrievers. Their smaller size, potentially stronger health genetics, and easier grooming are attractive to many prospective pet owners and families.
Where can I get a Miniature Golden Retrievers? Right here at Big Hearted Breeders! Hi, I’m Heather. I’m am a foster/adoptive parent who has children with a variety of mental, physical, and learning challenges. As I watched what an amazing impact animals had in my kids’ lives, I knew I needed to share that magic with others. I bred a variety of dogs, but found that Mini Golden Retrievers were my favorite. I love their personalities! I love their outgoing and loving natures as well as their willingness to please. I love that slightly smaller size that is more inviting to young children. I love the lower grooming needs of a straight (flat) coat while still keeping some of the hypoallergenic properties of the Poodles. I saw that they made excellent emotional support, therapy, and service dogs and decided that this was a breed I wanted to champion in the world.
Does a Mini Golden sound like the perfect fit for your household? Fill out the form below to get more info or check out our available puppy page HERE.