Gold Labradoodle Colors, Traits and Care

What is a Gold Labradoodle?

The gold Labradoodle is a color variation of the Labradoodle hybrid designer dog. As it comes from two different parent breeds of the Poodle and Labrador Retriever, puppies will not all have the same characteristics, and it is difficult to predict the outcome. As well as gold, you can find Labradoodles in various other colors and shades.

Gold Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle

People often confuse the gold Labradoodle as being the same as the Goldendoodle. However, the Goldendoodle is another hybrid designer dog, a Poodle and Golden Retriever mix, while the gold Labradoodle is a Poodle and Labrador Retriever mix with a golden-colored coat. Checkout our guide to read more about the differences between Labradoodles and Goldendoodles

Grooming a Gold Labradoodle

Because the Labradoodle comes from the non-shedding Poodle and the double-coated Labrador, they can have three coat types: hair, fleece, and wool.

A hair coat will shed all year round, while a fleece or wool coat will require frequent trips to the groomer for clipping and trimming. Although they are potentially low allergy dogs, there is no guarantee they’ll be hypoallergenic.

Gold Labradoodle Color Genetics

It is quite fascinating to understand how genetics work to create the beautiful gold color coat of a Labradoodle. Dog colors come from eumelanin (black) and pheomelanin (red/yellow) pigments and are found in every breed, whether they be purebred or mixed. But you may wonder how a Labradoodle ends up with a gold coat based on these pigments?

When discussing the gold Labradoodle, we need to look at the pheomelanin pigment, making the red/yellow color. Because although the base color is red, it defaults to a yellow color when no other genetic influence is present to change it. But neither of the parent breeds comes in a standard gold color.

However, Poodles can come in a cream or apricot color and the Lab in a yellow color, influencing the Labradoodle’s gold coat. Therefore, the genes a puppy inherits from its parents can impact how light or dark the shade of gold is in its coat. The other base pigment, eumelanin, controls your Labradoodle’s eye and nose color. The nose is usually black for a gold Labradoodle, while the eyes can be brown or hazel.

Dominant and Recessive Genes

Every coat color of a dog is the work of either a dominant or recessive gene. For example, black is a dominant color, whereas brown is a recessive color. A puppy inherits a coat color gene from each of its parents, so it will have two coat color genes. But it is how these two genes interact that determines the dog’s coat color.

Dominant genes will always overpower the recessive gene, meaning they will be the ones expressed. But to express a recessive gene, a puppy will need a recessive gene from each parent.

The Recessive Gene of the Gold Labradoodle Coat

For a Labradoodle to end up with a gold coat, it must inherit particular gene variants from its parents, which in this case are the E Locus and the D Locus.

E Locus

The E Locus is responsible for the red/yellow color in domestic dogs, but it is only in the recessive form. To produce a gold coat, the Labradoodle must inherit a copy from each parent breed.

D Locus

The D Locus contains a recessive dilution gene and is responsible for lightening the red/yellow color in the dog’s coat. A Labradoodle must have this gene from both parents, resulting in a lighter gold coat. You can probably now see why it is difficult for breeders to breed Labradoodles with a gold coat.

Are Gold Labradoodles Friendly?

Labradoodles have a great reputation for having an open and happy temperament. There are no findings yet to suggest that the gold-colored coat affects the temperament of the Labradoodle. These dogs have a kind and playful nature and are easy to train.

Gold Labradoodle Health

The lifespan of a Labradoodle is 12 to 15 years. A reputable breeder will test their breeding dogs for genetic diseases associated with the Poodle and the Labrador. There is no evidence of any specific health issues linked to the Labradoodle. Your dog may be prone to some health conditions common in the parent breeds, which include:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Eye conditions
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Epilepsy
• Sebaceous Adenitis
• Addison’s Disease

Finding a Golden Labradoodle Puppy

If you are looking for a Labradoodle puppy, you must go to a reputable breeder. But many breeders of gold Labradoodles won’t refer to their coats as golden, describing them instead as either cream, apricot, red or caramel, so they are not confused with Goldendoodles.

Because the Labradoodle has become so popular over the last few years, unethical backyard breeders and puppy mills are taking advantage of this and producing poorly bred puppies.

As a potential owner, it is up to you to do your research and find a breeder whose top priority is to produce high-quality, healthy, and happy offspring with excellent temperaments. You may also consider adopting a Labradoodle from an animal shelter or rescue center.

More About Labradoodle Coats and Colors

• Red Labradoodle
• Apricot Labradoodle
• Fleece coat Labradoodle
• Teddy bear Labradoodle
• How often should I groom my Labradoodle?

References and Resources

• Armstrong, J. ‘Color Genes in the Poodle’, University of Ottawa (1999)
• Animal Labs. Dog Coat Color – Genetic Tests
• Labradoodle Coat Colours. Australian Labradoodle Association
• Williams, K et al. ‘Genetics Basics – Coat Color Genetics in Dogs’, VCA Hospitals (2021)