Adorable, and blessed with stunning looks, the beloved Mini Goldendoodle is a rather popular dog mix between the Golden Retriever and Poodle dogs. And one of the questions commonly asked by those looking to raise these cute mini pooches is how long they are expected to live.
Mini Goldendoodles, on average, are expected to live for between 10 to 15 years. Also, these mini pooches are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia, cataracts, bloat and progressive retinal atrophy, among others.
With proper care and maintenance, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the majority of the diseases enumerated above in Mini Goldendoodles, and this article provides valuable tips on how you can go about that. However, before we go further, let’s take a look at factors that typically affect the lifespan of a Mini Goldendoodle.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Mini Goldendoodle?
Mini Goldendoodles are a mix between the Golden Retriever and Miniature Poodle dog breeds; Hence, you can expect a Goldendoodle’s lifespan to be hugely dependent on that of the parent dog breeds.
Generally, Golden Retrievers tend to live for between 10 to 12 years, while Miniature Poodles, with a lifespan of between 12 to 16 years tend to live longer. Consequently, and judging from the lifespan of the parent dog breeds, you can expect a Mini Goldendoodle to live for between 10 to 15 years.
However, this age range is not set in stone, and there are several factors that ultimately determine how long a Mini Goldendoodle will be around for. And some of these lifespan deciding factors include:
Genes
As we’ve stated earlier, the Mini Goldendoodle is a mixed dog breed, with there being considerable differences between the lifespan of both parent pooches; Hence, you can expect the Mini Goldendoodle’s lifespan to be greatly influenced by the predominant parent genes.
Consequently, if a Mini Goldendoodle inherits most of its Poodle parent’s genes, you can expect the pooch’s lifespan to be on the higher end of the age range. And if you have a Mini Goldendoodle that is more Golden Retriever than Poodle, its lifespan may fall within the lower ranges.
Gender
It is widely believed that female pooches tend to outlive their male counterparts, and this holds true for the Mini Goldendoodle.
Consequently, you can expect a female Mini Goldendoodle to live longer than a male Goldendoodle, although the lifespan difference is mostly negligible.
Size
Small-sized dogs typically tend to have longer lifespans, when compared to medium and large-sized dogs. And the Mini Goldendoodle, being a small-sized dog breed, is favored by this fact.
Consequently, you can expect a Mini Goldendoodle to live long, if the pooch’s weight is kept at an acceptable level and it is prevented from becoming obese.
What Do Most Mini Goldendoodles Die From?
Some of the leading causes of Mini Goldendoodle deaths worldwide include cancer, heart diseases and trauma.
Cancer
Golden Retrievers are one of the dog breeds with the highest rate of cancer-related deaths, and unfortunately, a high percentage of Mini Goldendoodles die from this killer disease as well.
Cancer is mostly seen in aged Mini Goldendoodles, but it is quite possible for a younger pooch to fall prey to this disease as well. That said, common occurrences of cancer in Mini Goldendoodles include mast cell tumor, skin cancer, lymphoma and mammary gland tumors.
Heart Diseases
Heart diseases are one of the most reported causes of Mini Goldendoodle deaths, and the reason for this isn’t far-fetched.
Mini Goldendoodles are prone to gaining weight unhealthily when fed without restraint. And one of the outcomes of allowing a Mini Goldendoodle to become obese is the development of several health conditions, including mild health diseases that are typically complicated by the pooch’s excess fat, thereby degenerating into something more serious.
Trauma
Miniature Goldendoodles are typically small in size, and a large number of these pooches typically tend to die from varying degrees of injuries sustained from physical trauma, particularly when they’re puppies.
This trauma can occur when the Mini Goldendoodle is accidentally trampled on, hit by a moving vehicle or falls from relatively high distances.
Do Mini Goldendoodles Have Health Problems?
While it is true that Mini Goldendoodles were bred to eliminate some of the health issues commonly found in Poodles and Golden Retrievers, and also to significantly increase lifespan, these pooches are prone to certain health conditions, if proper care isn’t provided.
That said, some of the diseases that Mini Goldendoodles are prone to include:
- Addison’s Disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- von Willebrand’s disease
- Cataracts
- Canine allergies, among others
How Do You Know If Your Mini Goldendoodle Is Dying?
Most dogs typically exhibit certain signs when they are getting close to the end of their lives, and the Mini Goldendoodle is no different.
By paying close attention to, and being able to deduce that your Mini Goldendoodle is dying, either from natural causes or due to an untreatable medical condition, you can make arrangements early to ensure that the pooch’s last days on earth are as comfortable as possible.
That said, some of the ways by which you can tell that your Mini Goldendoodle is dying and how you can potentially help to make the pooch feel better include:
Loss Of Appetite
Mini Goldendoodles typically have a healthy appetite, and one of the first observable signs that something is wrong with this pooch, is a refusal to eat or a considerable reduction in the amount of food consumed.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Try hand-feeding the Mini Goldendoodle to encourage the pooch to eat.
- Consult your vet to prescribe healthy appetite stimulants.
Lethargy
A dying Mini Goldendoodle tends to lose interest when participating in activities that used to be exciting, and instead spends most of the time sleeping or being idle. Also, dying Mini Goldendoodles may no longer groom as they used to before.
What Can You Do To Help?
- You can assist the Mini Goldendoodle with its grooming.
- Respect the pooch’s desire not to partake in activities.
Loss Of Weight
Weight loss goes hand in hand with a dying Mini Goldendoodle’s refusal to eat, but a pooch suffering from terminal health conditions typically also becomes thin and emaciated.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Seek your vet’s help to draw up a special weight management diet plan.
Incontinence
Aging Mini Goldendoodles typically lose control of their bladder muscles, and this typically results in the pooch soiling itself more often.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Consider the use of special doggie diapers for the Goldendoodle.
- Clean up the pooch as soon as it soils itself.
Breathing Difficulties
Labored or irregular breathing is another sign that a Mini Goldendoodle may be dying, especially if the pooch has no prior history of respiratory diseases.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Consult your vet as soon as you notice that your Mini Goldendoodle is having a hard time breathing.
How To Take Better Care Of Your Mini Goldendoodle?
Diet plays a huge impact on the quality of a Mini Goldendoodle’s life, and it is also important that you include an exercise routine for a healthier and fuller life your pooch will enjoy.
Feed An Appropriate Diet
When feeding your Mini Goldendoodle, you can’t afford to compromise on quality, as this can be quite detrimental to the pooch’s health. And this is why you should only go for well balanced, high-quality dog food products such as the Pet Plate diet, when choosing food for your Mini Goldendoodle.
The Pet Plate diet features a healthy, nutritious blend of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other nutrients that are crucial for a Mini Goldendoodle’s development. And in addition, the Pet Plate diet is also specially formulated for small dog breeds such as the Mini Goldendoodle.
Also, high-quality dog food products typically contain the micro-elements essential for a Mini Goldendoodle’s development; Hence, you don’t need to supplement this pooch’s meals, unless it is specifically prescribed by a vet.
How Much Should You Feed Your Goldendoodle?
To prevent your Mini Goldendoodle from becoming obese and developing other weight-related issues, you should adopt a structured feeding schedule, rather than free feeding the pooch.
Ideally, it is recommended that you feed a Goldendoodle between 1 to 4 cups of food per day, but this is largely dependent on the pooch’s size, age, and activity level.
However, regardless of how much you decide to feed the Goldendoodle, you should divide the pooch’s meals into between 2 to 4 servings daily, to maintain caloric levels. Generally, the younger a Mini Goldendoodle, the more frequently the pooch will need to eat.
Adequate Exercise
Mini Goldendoodles aren’t the most energetic dog breed out there, but regardless, frequent and quality exercising is vital to ensuring this pooch lives its life to the max.
That said, 20 to 30 minutes of quality exercise per day is enough to keep the Mini Goldendoodle from becoming bored, while also maintaining the pooch’s natural fitness levels.
This exercise can come in the form of daily walks, but a good romp in the backyard will also work well to keep a Mini Goldendoodle exercised. Also, Mini Goldendoodles are known for their love of water, therefore, swimming can also provide a great form of exercise for this pooch.
Related Questions
Why Are Mini Goldendoodles So Expensive? Generally, the price for a Miniature Goldendoodle typically ranges from between $1,600 to $2,600. These mini pooches are quite expensive, mainly because of the amount of effort and money that is typically devoted to breeding miniature dog versions. In addition, the mixed breed status of a Mini Goldendoodle is a major reason behind the significantly high prices for this pooch.
Can Mini Goldendoodles Stay Home Alone? While Mini Goldendoodles are family dogs that enjoy being around humans, these pooches are fine with solitude, and can handle being left alone at home for a couple of hours, up to between 5 to 9 hours for adults. However, to ensure that a Mini Goldendoodle copes with being left alone at home, the pooch should be left with enough food, treats and water, and potty breaks should be made easy.
Why Mini Goldendoodles Are The Best? Mini Goldendoodles make for one of the best family pets due to strong qualities of loyalty, affection and devotion to family members. In addition, these dogs are excellent with children and they have no issues coexisting with other household pets. And if you’re looking for a pooch that can handle being left alone at home for considerable periods, the Mini Goldendoodle is worth looking at.
