As a Goldendoodle breeder, you have the unique opportunity to blend the best traits of two beloved breeds—the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Known for their intelligence, affectionate nature, and low-shedding coats, Goldendoodles are one of today’s most sought-after mixes, and the most popular purpose-bred or crossbreed types in Europe in Wisdom Panel testing.
Thanks to hybrid vigour, first generation or F1 Goldendoodles are often at lower risk for genetic disease than their purebred parents. However, they still have genetic disease risk, and subsequent generations of Goldendoodles are subject to the same kinds of health risks as purebred Goldens and Poodles. That’s why health testing is a vital part of your breeding programme. Genetic testing, as well as other health and temperament screening, allows you to preserve the best qualities of the doodle whilst minimising the chances of passing on inherited health conditions.
Understanding Goldendoodle generations
Goldendoodle generations refer to the genetic makeup of a dog and how closely it is related to its parent breeds. These classifications help breeders anticipate health risks and inherited traits like coat type, size, and temperament. Here's a quick overview:
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F1 (First Generation): A direct cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. F1 Goldendoodles often benefit from the greatest hybrid vigour, resulting in a healthier genetic profile, but have what is called a wavy or loose curl coat.
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F1b (First Generation Backcross): An F1 Goldendoodle bred back to a purebred Poodle or Golden – usually the former – to create more consistent traits such as a curlier, consistently low-shedding coat, and roughly 75% Poodle ancestry.
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F2 (Second Generation): The offspring of two F1 Goldendoodles, with approximately 50% ancestry from each breed. These dogs may show less hybrid vigour and greater variability in traits, including possible “furnished improper coats,” emphasising the need for thorough health testing.
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Multigenerational ("Multigen"): Breeding across several generations to achieve predictability in coat, temperament, and size. However, multigenerational Goldendoodles often have increasing relative percentages of Poodle ancestry, and approach traditional purebred dogs in terms of genetic disorder risk, underlining the importance of genetic testing to manage health.
In addition, although the FCI and AKC recognise the Poodle as a single breed, most registries including RKC distinguish between types of Poodle, including toy, miniature, +/- medium, and standard sizes. Genetically, Poodles sizes come with different health risks and recommended health screening tests, and the large and small sizes in practice are not commonly interbred. In a Goldendoodle, it is not always clear what Poodle size subtypes were used in breeding, but this information may influence prioritisation of types of health screening. Knowing your dogs’ generational background allows you to plan better pairings and address health concerns from both sides of the family tree.
The importance of health testing in crossbreed dogs
Hybrid vigour, or increased genetic diversity, often reduces the prevalence of inherited conditions in first generation crossbreed Goldendoodles. However, it doesn’t eliminate health risks entirely. Goldendoodles still inherit their genetic makeup from two parent breeds, meaning they can pass on conditions common to Golden Retrievers and Poodles, and as it so happens, Poodles have some of the same genetic diseases as Goldens. Doodles should not get a ‘get out of jail free’ pass on health testing.
Health testing allows you to identify structural and genetic risks before they become problems. By regularly screening your breeding dogs and those destined for pet homes, you can learn more particularly around complex disorder predisposition in your breeding lines, including disorders that may crop up later in life, or with variable penetrance. With physical health screenings, you can catch issues like hip dysplasia early. With DNA testing, you can pinpoint inherited risks that might affect future litters. By combining these approaches, you can plan thoughtful pairings that reduce the likelihood of health problems whilst preserving the Goldendoodle’s loveable traits.
At its core, health testing is about giving your puppies the best possible start in life. It’s about ensuring the dogs you bring into the world are healthy, happy, and ready to thrive with their families. And it’s about strengthening your breeding programme with every decision you make.
Genetic screening vs health testing
When it comes to maintaining the health of your breeding programme, both genetic testing and health screening play vital roles. Understanding their distinctions helps clarify how they complement each other in your efforts to produce healthy, happy puppies.
Genetic testing: the science of specificity
Genetic testing involves analysing a dog’s DNA to identify specific variants associated with hereditary conditions. For Golden Retrievers, this means detecting breed-specific risks like progressive retinal atrophy (GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2) and muscular dystrophy, or in Poodles, osteochondrodysplasia and GM2 gangliosidosis. Standard and Medium Poodles have differing health risks than Toy or Miniature Poodles. These tests provide precise, actionable information about a dog’s genetic makeup, enabling you to identify carriers or at-risk individuals.
Health screening: the bigger picture
Health screening, in contrast, focuses on assessing broader health factors. Techniques such as radiographic evaluation for hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiac exams, and eye certifications give you a more comprehensive understanding of a dog’s overall health. Screening addresses traits influenced by both genetics and environment, such as orthopedic or cardiac conditions.
Why both are important
Whilst genetic testing pinpoints specific hereditary risks, health screening ensures that you’re accounting for multifactorial conditions that genetic testing alone can’t detect. By combining both, you create a thorough health strategy for your breeding program—one that minimises risks whilst preserving genetic diversity.
Recommended non-genetic health screening
Goldendoodles inherit traits from both their Golden Retriever and Poodle ancestry, making a comprehensive health testing strategy essential. Physical health screenings recommended by Golden and Poodle clubs registered with registries and health databases worldwide help provide a baseline for evaluating structural and functional health. These evaluations complement genetic testing and are vital for addressing inherited risks and ensuring long-term well-being.
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Hip dysplasia (HD): Both Golden Retrievers and medium and standard Poodles are prone to hip dysplasia, which can lead to mobility issues and pain, especially in standard and larger Goldendoodles. Miniature and toy Poodles are predisposed to Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP), a condition that causes the head of the femur to disintegrate. It is also discovered by hip imaging.
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Elbow dysplasia (ED): Both Golden Retrievers and medium and standard Poodles are can have elbow dysplasia, leading to joint pain and decreased mobility. Screening helps breeders select dogs with healthier joint structures.
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Patellar Luxation (PL): Goldendoodles of all sizes, particularly smaller varieties, may inherit a predisposition to patellar luxation from their miniature and toy Poodle lineage. Early identification of this condition allows breeders to mitigate risks in future generations.
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Heart Disease: Golden Retrievers are predisposed to heart conditions such as subaortic stenosis, whilst standard Poodles are more commonly predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Screening breeding dogs ensures cardiovascular health and minimizes the risk of passing congenital heart issues to offspring.
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Eye Disease: Both parent breeds are susceptible to hereditary eye conditions, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts. Regular ophthalmologic exams detect and address these issues early.
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Autoimmune Disease: Standard Poodles are known to be at higher risk of sebaceous adenitis, an autoimmune condition targeting the oil glands of the skin, and autoimmune thyroiditis, in which the dog’s immune system targets their thyroid gland. These are typically detected with various blood or biopsy tests.
The following are recommended screenings for the parent breeds of Golden Retriever and Poodle by various global registries:
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Screening |
Recommended for Golden Retrievers by*: |
Recommended for Toy and Miniature Poodles by*: |
Recommended for Medium and Standard Poodles by*: |
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Hip evaluations – OFA or FCI type (including risk of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease) |
OFA (after 2 years of age), RKC, ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs |
RKC, ENCI, VDH, UKC club |
OFA (after 2 years of age), RKC, ENCI, VDH, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
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Hip evaluations – PennHIP type |
OFA (after 4 months of age) |
UKC Club |
OFA, UKC club |
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Elbow evaluations |
OFA, RKC, ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs |
VDH |
VDH |
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Patellar luxation exam |
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OFA (after 1 year of age), ENCI, VDH, UKC club |
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Veterinary ophthalmologist eye exams |
OFA, RKC, ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs (within 12 months of breeding) |
OFA, RKC, ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
OFA, RKC, ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
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Veterinary cardiologist cardiac exam |
OFA (after 12 months of age), ANKC clubs |
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OFA, UKC club |
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Autoimmune Thyroiditis Evaluation |
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OFA, UK Poodle Clubs, UKC club |
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Sebaceous Adenitis evaluation
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|
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OFA, UK Poodle Clubs, UKC club |
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Dental Exam |
VDH |
SCC |
SCC |
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Conformation Exam |
VDH |
SCC |
SCC |
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Temperament testing |
VDH |
SCC |
SCC |
*OFA: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (US), RKC: Royal Kennel Club (UK), ENCI: Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (IT), VDH: Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (DE), SCC: Société Centrale Canine (FR), ANKC: Dogs Australia/Australian National Kennel Council (AU), UKC: United Kennel Club (US).
Goldendoodle genetic tests
Thanks to advancements in science, we now understand the underlying genetics of several conditions in Golden Retrievers and Poodles, allowing breeders to proactively manage these risks and promote healthier dogs. Below is a table summarising the most important genetic conditions to test for, the genes associated with each, their inheritance patterns, and clinical impacts. All tests are included standard in MyDogDNA and Optimal Selection kits for Goldendoodles. Frequencies at which these disorders are found in breeding Goldendoodles globally can be found on MyBreedData.
|
Condition |
GR or Poodle |
Associated Gene(s) |
Inheritance Pattern |
Clinical Impact |
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Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Discovered in the Golden Retriever - GR-PRA1 variant) |
GR |
SLC4A3 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A cause of blindness in Golden Retrievers, this condition leads to progressive vision loss and eventual blindness |
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Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Discovered in the Golden Retriever - GR-PRA2 variant) |
GR
|
TTC8 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A cause of blindness in Golden Retrievers, this condition leads to progressive vision loss and eventual blindness |
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Muscular Dystrophy (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) (DMD) |
GR
|
DMD |
X-linked Recessive |
Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, causing muscle weakness and reduced mobility and impacting quality of life. |
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Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) (NCL5) |
GR
|
CLN5 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A devastating neurological disorder found in Golden Retrievers, leading to coordination loss, seizures, and early death. |
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Ichthyosis (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) |
GR
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PNPLA1 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A skin condition in Golden Retrievers that causes flaking and scaling, leading to discomfort and aesthetic concerns. |
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Ichthyosis Type 2 (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) |
GR
|
ABHD5 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A skin condition in Golden Retrievers that causes flaking and scaling, leading to discomfort and aesthetic concerns. |
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Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (prcd-PRA) |
BOTH
|
PRCD |
Autosomal Recessive |
A hereditary condition causing gradual retinal degeneration and vision loss in Golden Retrievers and many other breeds. |
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Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) (CMS) |
GR
|
CHAT |
Autosomal Recessive |
A rare neuromuscular disorder affecting Golden Retrievers, leading to weakness and fatigue. |
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Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) (DEB) |
GR
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COL7A1 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A rare skin condition in Golden Retrievers causing blistering and fragility, impacting comfort and quality of life. |
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Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) |
GR
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SOD1 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A progressive neurological disease affecting Golden Retrievers and several other breeds, leading to loss of mobility in the hind limbs and eventual paralysis. |
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Congenital Eye Malformations (Discovered in the Golden Retriever) |
GR
|
SIX6 |
Autosomal Dominant |
A rare cause of eye abnormalities affecting one or both eyes and can impair vision. |
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Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) and Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Risk |
Small Poodles |
FGF4 retrogene |
Autosomal Dominant |
A common condition causing premature degeneration of the discs of the spine and increased risk of disc herniation. |
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GM2 Gangliosidosis (Discovered in the Toy Poodle) |
Poodle
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HEXB |
Autosomal Recessive |
A progressive nervous system disease, with signs including incoordination of movements and tremors. |
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Hyperuricosuria
|
Poodle
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SLC2A9 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A urinary condition predisposing dogs to stones in the kidney or bladder. |
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Osteochondrodysplasia |
Poodle
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SLC13A1 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A disorder of bone and cartilage development resulting in stunted growth, misshapen limbs, and abnormal movement. |
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von Willebrand's Disease, type 1
|
Poodle |
VWF |
Autosomal Dominant |
Ablood clotting disorder that typically causes mild bleeding tendencies although some affected dogs may have more severe signs. |
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Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures |
Larger Poodles |
ATF2 |
Autosomal Recessive |
A disorder that affects the development of the balance and movement center of the brain. |
The following are recommended genetic screening tests for the parent breeds of Golden Retriever and Poodle by various global registries:
|
Screening |
Recommended for Golden Retrievers by*: |
Recommended for Toy and Miniature Poodles by*: |
Recommended for Medium and Standard Poodles by*: |
|
Genetic diversity |
|
VDH |
|
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Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (prcd-PRA) |
OFA, VDH, SCC |
OFA, RKC, SCC, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
SCC, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
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Golden Retriever Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (GR_PRA 1) |
ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs |
|
|
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Golden Retriever Progressive Retinal Atrophy 2 (GR_PRA 2) |
ENCI, VDH, SCC, ANKC clubs |
|
|
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Congenital Eye Malformations (discovered in the Golden Retriever) |
SCC |
|
|
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Golden Retriever Ichthyosis |
RKC, ANKC clubs |
|
|
|
CDDY |
|
UKC club |
UKC club |
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Osteochondrodysplasia (discovered in the Miniature Poodle |
|
RKC, UKC club |
|
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Rod-Cone Dysplasia 4 (rcd4) |
|
UKC club |
RKC, UKC club |
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Von Willebrand's Disease Type 1 (vWD 1) |
|
VDH, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
RKC, ANKC clubs, UKC club |
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Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEWS) |
|
VDH |
UKC club |
|
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5); mutation originally found in Golden Retriever |
VDH |
|
|
|
Degenerative Myelopathy |
|
ANKC clubs |
ANKC clubs, UKC club |
|
Day blindness / retinal dysplasia (DB/RD); mutation originally found in Standard Poodle |
|
|
UKC club |
*OFA: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (US), RKC: Royal Kennel Club (UK), ENCI: Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (IT), VDH: Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (DE), SCC: Société Centrale Canine (FR), ANKC: Dogs Australia/Australian National Kennel Council (AU), UKC: United Kennel Club (US).
By testing for these conditions, breeders can make informed decisions that reduce the likelihood of passing on genetic health risks.
Conclusion: shaping the future of Goldendoodles
As a breeder, your commitment to health testing not only ensures the health of your litters, but also builds trust with families who value transparency and responsible practices. By prioritising health testing, you enhance your breeding program whilst contributing to the long-term vitality of the Goldendoodle breed.
References:
Goldendoodle Association of North America. About the Breed. https://www.goldendoodleassociation.com/about-the-breed/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. CHIC Program Search by Breed: Golden Retriever. https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=GR. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. CHIC Program Search by Breed: Poodle/Miniature. https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=PO/MIN. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
The Royal Kennel Club. Retriever (Golden) Breed Page. https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-golden/. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
The Royal Kennel Club. Poodle (Miniature) Breed Page. https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/poodle-miniature/. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
The Royal Kennel Club. Poodle (Standard) Breed Page. https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/poodle-standard/. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
The Royal Kennel Club. Poodle (Toy) Breed Page. https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/poodle-toy/. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Verband der Pudelfreunde Deutschland e.V. (VDP). www.verband-der-pudelfreunde.de. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Allgemeiner Deutscher Pudelclub e. V. www.adp-pudelclub.de. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Deutscher Pudel-Klub e.V. (DPK). www.deutscher-pudel-klub.de. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Pudel Zucht Verband 82 e.V. www.pzv82.com. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Club du Caniche de France et des Chiens d'Eau. https://www.centrale-canine.fr/club-du-caniche-de-france-et-des-chiens-d-eau/articles/entree-en-application-nouveau-standard-2024-aupres-de-la-scc. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Retriever Club du France. https://www.centrale-canine.fr/retriever-club-de-france/articles/les-depistages-conseilles. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. www.drc.de. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Golden Retriever Club e.V. https://www.grc.de. Accessed 29 Oct 2026.
Ente Nazionale Canofilia Italiana. Razze: Golden Retriever. https://www.enci.it/libro-genealogico/razze/golden-retriever. Accessed 10 Nov 2026.
Ente Nazionale Canofilia Italiana. Razze: Barboni. https://www.enci.it/libro-genealogico/razze/barboni. Accessed 10 Nov 2026.
Dogs Australia. Officially Registered Canine Health Information Database (ORCHID). https://orchid.ankc.org.au/Home/Index. Accessed 10 Nov, 2026.
