Fluffy Overload: This New Dog Trend Is Making Us Want To Squish Our Faces In Fur — Meet The Double Doodle

Rocky Kanaka |

Dec 15, 2023

Whoa, whoa, whoa—we’ve heard a lot about Doodles, but what is a Double Doodle?

A Double Doodle dog is a “designer dog” with three parent breeds: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles.

How exactly does this work? Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything there is to know about Double Doodles in this guide. Learn how dog breeders produce Double Doodle Puppies, browse photos of Double Doodles from Instagram, and get the deets on what life with a Double Doodle looks like from temperament and training needs to health and finding reputable breeders.

Meet 8 Double Doodles from Instagram

So what does a designer mixed breed dog with three different parent breeds look like? Do Double Doodles look like Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, or do they have a look all their own? Can Double Doodles come in different colors?

If your head is spinning with questions about this fascinating mix, slow down! Before we do a deep dive into the complicated world of Double Doodles, let’s meet a handful of these interesting dogs whose humans have generously shared photos of them on Instagram.

Take a look at the differences between these pups, whether they look like regular Doodles or not, and how their humans have worked hard to keep their relatively high-maintenance coats looking gorgeous!

1. Theo

Meet Theo, an 8-year-old Double Doodle from Saarland, Germany who has a smile that could light up a room! Theo is a sweet boy who shares his home with a kitty and a baby. This pup loves to be outside in rain or shine and even braves the cold German winters to enjoy a romp in the snow now and then.

2. Rambo

Rambo is still a young pup with more maturing to do since he’s just a year old! A gorgeous dark-gold Double Doodle, Rambo takes after his Golden Retriever grandparent in the looks department. Keeping a Double Doodle’s fur long and fluffy like Rambo’s is a lot of work, but we love how cute and teddy-bear-like it looks!

3. Nala

Beautiful Miss Nala is a Double Doodle who loves to go camping, hiking, and traveling with her humans! An “ambiguous” dog whose breed would be hard to guess, Nala is a good example of how unique Double Doodles can look and how much variation there is in mixed-breed dogs.

4. Kylo

Kylo is a super cute one-year-old mini Double Doodle who is besties with a cat! As you can see—compared to the cat—mini Double Doodles aren’t that small, but they are smaller than standards. This adorable boy loves to play with toys, snuggle up in bed, and keep an eye on the neighborhood.

5. David

David the Double Doodle from Michigan looks a whole lot like a Poodle, which just shows how amazing genetics are! Dogs that are the same mix of three breeds can look vastly different from each other from color to body type to fur.

6. Enzo

This big boy is Enzo, a four-year-old black Double Doodle dog from Illinois who loves nothing more than a good nap! Did you think that when you saw photos of the Double Doodle black would be a coat color available? Well, both Poodles and Labrador Retrievers can have naturally black coats, so Enzo could have inherited his fur from either of those parent breeds.

7. Eddie

Eddie is a super handsome four-year-old chocolate Double Doodle with a zest for life! Like a lot of Doodle breeds, Eddie likes water, but he’ll also happily go adventuring anywhere else as long as he’s with his people. Social and friendly, Eddie makes friends wherever he goes and loves to have playdates with other dogs.

8. Bruce

Believe it or not, this adorable little dog is actually a mini Double Doodle! Bruce might look like a tiny Golden Retriever with chocolatey-brown fur, but he’s a Double Doodle through and through, just like the other pups on this list. Remember that there’s no guaranteeing which traits Double Doodle puppies will get from which parent breed and it looks like Bruce got a lot of his traits from his Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever ancestors.

Double Doodle Basic Info

The Double Doodle—sometimes also called the North American Retriever—is a mixed-breed dog with not two but three parent breeds. A mix of Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, Double Doodles are a relatively new arrival to the world of designer hybrids.

Double Doodle Ancestry Chart
Grandparents	Golden Retriever	Standard Poodle	Labrador Retriever	Standard Poodle
Parents	Goldendoodle		Labradoodle
Puppy	Double Doodle

While there isn’t much data on the Double Doodle, the philosophy behind their breeding is thought to be an attempt to create excellent family dogs with all the qualities of Doodles that people love: friendliness, low-shedding coats, and easy-going temperament. Do Double Doodles measure up to the expectation, or is this another designer hybrid dog to avoid and just get a Poodle instead?

Double Doodle Temperament

Double Doodles have very similar personalities to Labradoodles and Goldendoodles and are generally friendly dogs who are affectionate with their humans, playful, and energetic. Often recommended as good family dogs, Double Doodles usually have no trouble keeping up with the chaos of life with kids and enjoy adventuring, playing, and taking part in the activity.

While they can make great family pets, some Double Doodles may exhibit signs of being mouthy, impatient, and reactive especially when stressed, bored, or anxious. Sometimes neurotic, many Double Doodles suffer from separation anxiety and can be destructive and/or bark excessively when left alone. Highly physical dogs that like to roughhouse, most Double Doodles do best with a canine companion that has similar energy levels.

Though they are often highly intelligent, the Double Doodle is not easy to train. Hyperactivity and inattention can be big issues for the breed, and because most are produced by unregulated backyard breeders and puppy mills, their parents are rarely temperament tested. While some may enjoy and thrive in training, others will completely ignore their humans.

Remember: the more parent breeds a dog has, the less predictable their adult temperament will be. It is very hard to know what a mixed-breed puppy will be like as an adult, and personalities vary enormously.

Double Doodle Size

A full-grown Double Doodle stands around 22–29 inches tall at the shoulder and typically weighs between 50–80 pounds. Keep in mind that most breeders of mixed-breed dogs have no idea how big their puppies will be as adults, so be prepared for your puppy to be bigger or smaller than their predicted full-grown size should you purchase a Double Doodle.

Double Doodle Health

Like temperament and size, health can be unpredictable for mixed-breed dogs like the Double Doodle. While they may inherit health problems common in their parent breeds, many Double Doodles have strange or anomalous health problems seemingly unrelated to one specific genetic background.

Some things to look out for if you own a Double Doodle include:

Joint issues (e.g. hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation)
Eye and vision problems (e.g. retinal dysplasia, cataracts)
Ear infections
Skin infections
Allergies
Bloat
Epilepsy
Diabetes
Pancreatitis
Von Willebrand disease (a clotting disorder)
Addison’s disease (adrenal gland disorder)
Hypothyroidism
Heart issues (e.g. mitral valve dysplasia)

Where To Find a Double Doodle Puppy

No reputable breeders exist for Double Doodles, and for this reason, we do not recommend buying a Double Doodle puppy. Unregulated breeding is dangerous to the health of the dog, and supporting unethical breeders only contributes to higher rates of animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment. If you see an advertisement for a Double Doodle for sale, it is safe to assume that the breeder has not done proper genetic testing, health screening, or temperament assessments.

Because of overbreeding and unregulated breeding, there are lots of Doodle breeds—including Double Doodles—available for adoption. Start by visiting your local shelter or animal rescue to see if they have any Doodles or Poodle mixes that need homes.

You can also look for adoptable Double Doodles at breed-specific rescues like IDOG Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Rescue.

Double Doodle FAQ

When we encounter a new dog breed, we also have a lot of questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries from people learning about Double Doodles and what it takes to own them.

What is a mini Double Doodle?

A Double Doodle miniature is a mix of a mini Goldendoodle and a mini Labradoodle.

Mini Goldendoodles are bred by crossing a Golden Retriever with a miniature Poodle to reduce the adult size of their puppies. The same breeding process is used to produce mini Labradoodles.

Standard Double Doodles are a mix of standard Goldendoodle and standard Labradoodle, which are produced by mixing Golden Retrievers/Labrador Retrievers with Standard Poodles.

Do Double Doodles shed?

Yes, but usually very little. Double Doodles are a mix of a low-shedding breed and two moderate to high-shedding breeds, which means they often fall somewhere in the middle. Phenotype outcomes can be difficult to predict for hybrid dogs and mixed breeds, so there is no guarantee that a Double Doodle puppy will be low shedding.

Are Double Doodles hypoallergenic?

No. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Low-shedding dogs may drop less dander than other dogs, but they still produce the same amount of allergen.

Do Double Doodles need haircuts?

Yes. Because of their Poodle parentage, Double Doodles have constantly growing fur that needs to be trimmed regularly in addition to daily brushing to prevent matting Read: Unveiling the Perfect Teddy Bear Goldendoodle Haircut

How much do Double Doodles cost?

Advertisements for Double Doodles for sale typically ask around $2,500–$3,500 for puppies. Keep in mind that we do not recommend purchasing from a Double Doodle dog breeder, since they are typically not following ethical guidelines for breeding.

Are Double Doodles easy to train?

Sometimes. While in theory Double Doodles should be highly trainable, mixed-breed dogs are unpredictable. You don’t know which traits from their parent breeds they’ll inherit, and when you mix breeds, you can get unexpected results. Some Double Doodles are eager to please and happy to participate in training—others are stubborn, hyperactive, and inattentive, making them difficult to work with.

How much exercise do Double Doodles need?

Double Doodles are usually energetic dogs with relatively high exercise needs and should have around 1–2 hours of vigorous exercise daily. Both Poodles and Labradors are athletic, intelligent dogs that need physical and mental stimulation. Some Double Doodles inherit high energy from all three parent breeds and may need as much as 2.5–3 hours a day.

Do Double Doodles like to swim?

Sometimes! All three parent dog breeds of the Double Doodle are considered good and often enthusiastic swimmers, and many Double Doodles inherit a love of the water, swimming, and retrieving toys. These qualities make Double Doodles good candidates for canine sports like dock diving.

What is the lifespan of a Double Doodle dog?

The average life expectancy of a standard Double Doodle dog is 12–15 years. Miniature Double Doodles have a similar life expectancy.

Do Double Doodles have sensitive stomachs?

Often, yes. Inherited from their Poodle parents, many Doodles including Double Doodles suffer from gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and food sensitivities. If you notice that your Double Doodle vomits or has diarrhea often, experiences abnormal amounts of gas, or seems to get itchy after eating, speak with a vet about a food change.