Double Doodle

The Double Doodle places three of America's most beloved breeds in a single dog: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Poodle — the most consistent trio of family-friendly, easily trained, warmly social breeds in AKC history. Produced by crossing a Goldendoodle (Golden × Poodle) with a Labradoodle (Lab × Poodle), the Double Doodle carries the complementary temperament and genetic diversity of three breeds whose separation into distinct types has produced three different expressions of the same essential family-dog temperament. The result is a medium to large dog that reliably delivers low-shed coat, outstanding trainability, and exceptional child safety — at a price point and with a health testing obligation that serious buyers should approach with full attention.

The Double Doodle emerged from the first-generation Goldendoodle and Labradoodle waves of the 1990s-2000s as American breeders began crossing these established designer dogs for what they described as greater hybrid vigor and coat consistency. The International Designer Canine Registry recognized the combination in 2009. The American breeding market has produced Double Doodle litters ranging from rigorously health-tested programs with full OFA and DNA documentation to casual crossings without testing; the distinction matters significantly given the Golden Retriever's cancer predisposition in the pedigree.

The Double Doodle is a medium to large dog: males typically stand 21-25 inches and weigh 50-80 pounds; females proportionally smaller. Coat type reflects the balance of three parent-breed influences: most individuals show wavy to loosely curled, low-shedding coats in cream, golden, apricot, chocolate, or black. The triple Poodle heritage (two Poodle grandparents in the pedigree) generally produces more consistent low-shedding coats than first-generation doodle crosses. Color and coat type predictability is higher from multi-generation programs.

Three breeds that American families and professional trainers consistently rank among the most reliably gentle, trainable, and child-safe contribute to the Double Doodle's temperament. The result is not surprising: the Double Doodle is consistently warm, responsive, and family-oriented. American owners describe a dog that is simultaneously easy to manage, quick to learn, and genuinely joyful in its interactions — the triple-retrieving heritage producing a dog whose fundamental orientation is toward positive engagement with its people.

Training a Double Doodle is among the more enjoyable experiences in the American designer dog world. Three breeds with excellent trainability combined produce a dog that picks up new behaviors quickly, retains reliably, and works enthusiastically. Therapy dog certification, AKC CGC, competitive agility, and obedience titles are all natural targets for prepared Double Doodle owners.

The Double Doodle's three founding breeds are all independently recommended for families with children. The combination amplifies each breed's child-safe qualities. American families consistently rate the Double Doodle among their top choices for households with children — reliably gentle, appropriately sized, and trainable enough to maintain the calm greeting behaviors that large-dog safety with children requires.

Health testing must cover the full three-breed heritage: OFA hip evaluation for all three contributing breeds, PRA DNA for the Poodle parent, EIC and DM DNA for the Labrador parent, and cardiac evaluation for the Golden Retriever parent. Cancer risk from the Golden Retriever line is the most significant long-term health consideration. Annual CAER eye examinations are recommended throughout life. Request comprehensive documentation covering all parent breed lines before purchasing.

Request the full testing panel covering all three contributing breed lines. Verify that the litter is a true Goldendoodle × Labradoodle cross — not all "Double Doodle" litters in the US market meet this definition. Ask about the generational makeup of each parent for coat type prediction. Evaluate breeders by their transparency with health documentation rather than their website quality or puppy photography.