The Goldendoodle is usually bred to be a family companion dog.Some are bred and selected for careers in service to humans as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs and other types of assistance dogs.

Many people select a Goldendoodle because they love Golden Retrievers, but would prefer a dog that shed less hair. Some have lost their Golden Retrievers or Poodle to cancer or inherited disease, and hope that the hybrid cross will give their new pet a better chance of avoiding those risks. Others may desire a dog that doesn’t affect their allergies. However, not all Goldendoodles will exhibit the low shedding coat type of the Standard Poodle. They are a hybrid dog, and therefore while most Goldendoodles will shed less than a Golden Retriever, the degree of shedding can vary. Grooming requirements are as varied as coat types, with the least shedding coat types requiring more regular grooming than the coat types that shed. While some breeders claim that the Goldendoodle is a hypoallergenic dog, many allergists believe that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic animal, and there have been no studies to date verifying whether any canine is completely hypoallergenic. Goldendoodles also make excellent bird dogs. Goldendoodles also can retrieve water fowl, and may be very good swimmers.

Appearance

The Goldendoodle, because it is a mix of purebreds, varies in size, coat type, and color.

A Goldendoodle's size is generally somewhere between that of the Poodle and the Golden Retriever parents, and the range includes Standard, Medium and Miniature. A general rule of thumb is to add both the parents weights together and divide by 2 to obtain the average adult weight of the puppies, although within any litter there may be puppies that fall above or below the projected adult weights. Some Standard sized Goldendoodle have weighed over 100 pounds. Sizes range as follows:

Standard: 45 lbs or more at adulthood. Medium: 30-45 lbs at adulthood. Miniature: 15-30 lbs at adulthood.

Some breeders specialize in specific traits, for example, Millpond Doodles produces "Petite Doodles" as small as 4lbs. Regardless of the size of the dog, they retain their great personality and temperament.

Goldendoodles also have different coat types, and can be curly, wavy or straight. Common colours are White, Cream, Apricot, and Red, a few are Black and rarest are Brown, Phantom, and Parti-colored.