Goldendoodles are some of the most prized Doodles in the USA. Everyone wants to get their hands on one, and unfortunately, this puts them in jeopardy. Not only are Goldendoodles showing up more and more in shelters, but they are also very prone to lousy breeding and puppy mills. One of the more recent breeder concoctions is the Micro Mini Goldendoodle. Read this before buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle.
What Are Micro-Mini Goldendoodles?
A Micro Mini Goldendoodle is a crossbreed of the Golden Retriever and Toy Poodle. The idea behind the micro-mini was to create the smallest Goldendoodle possible. But what makes this pup different is the ethics behind the breeding. Most Micro Mini Goldendoodles are multi-generational Mini Goldendoodles using only smaller than average or runt parents. The result is generations of health issues and improper breeding.
Occasionally, you might find Micro-Mini Goldendoodles, a hybrid of a Toy Poodle, Golden Retriever, and a Cocker Spaniel. This cross is more ethical than other breeding techniques, but it does produce larger dogs. However, since there are no size standards, and some breeders use the “micro mini” as a ploy to make more sales. So we urge you to be very cautious of this cross. Let’s look at a few red flags with a Micro Mini Goldendoodle.
Temperament
The biggest concern for a Micro Mini Goldendoodle is if the temperament lives up to your expectations. Read this before buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle! Breeders will likely claim that these puppies are very predictable in their dispositions. These puppies grow up to be calm, easy-going, and loving dogs. Most are even good with kids. And this would be perfect for most dog owners.
However, the reality is that these dogs are hard to predict. Multi-generational breeds are harder to predict in temperament. You never know what lineage your puppy could take after more. If you decide to get a Mini Micro Goldendoodle, we highly recommend visiting and playing with the parents. If the parents have even good temperaments, your puppy has better chances of being the best pup.
Intelligence And Discipline
One good thing about any Goldendoodle cross is that they are brilliant. Both the Golden Retriever and Poodle are smart dogs that catch on quickly to learning. And even if you get a Micro Mini with a bit of Cocker Spaniel in the mix, they are still intelligent dogs.
Your Micro Mini Goldendoodle responds well to positive reinforcement. With treats and praise, you can get these puppies to learn anything. Everything from potty training to teaching tricks is a breeze with these dogs.
Energy Levels
A lot of people gravitate to the idea of smaller dogs because their energy levels are lower. The Micro Mini Goldendoodle will love to play and run as much as you want. But when it comes to walks, you will wear out your little puppy after 15-20 minutes. So if you aren’t a very active family, a small puppy like the Micro Mini might be perfect for you.
Coat Types
When it comes to the coat of a Micro-Mini, these little dogs might be the best for allergies. These puppies usually have hypoallergenic coats with curly to wavy coats. That means that they have little to no shedding for most of their lives. But it’s also possible to get a straight coat that sheds like a Golden Retriever.
Since these Goldendoodles are multi-generational, it’s harder to predict the coat types of the puppies. It’s even possible for all the puppies to have different coat types. If getting a puppy with a curly coat is essential to you, you will want to mention it to your breeder. Most experienced breeders will have a pretty good idea about the coat types of all puppies as early as six weeks old.
Grooming
These hypoallergenic coats are high maintenance. But the good news is that since your micro-minis are so small, it won’t take you much at all. You will need to brush your Doodle every day to keep the coat clean and free of tangles. This might seem like a lot of brushing, but if you keep up with it, it will only take 10 minutes. And since it’s a bonding experience for you and your dog, who doesn’t have 10 minutes a day for it?
The next thing you will need to do is take your puppy to the groomer every 6-8 weeks. A Micro Mini Goldendoodle has a continuously growing coat, so that it will need regular cuts. Your groomer will bathe and trim your dog to make them look amazing. And because your dog is so tiny, it won’t take as long and could save you money.
Size And Lifespan
You need to read this before buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle. Most breeders claim that their Micro-Mini gets no larger than 10 pounds. Some of these puppies grow up to only be the size of a sheet of paper. This claim is outstanding but not always believable.
Size is where the integrity of the micro-mini sizes comes into play. If your puppy is only going to get 10 pounds max, it is likely a product of runts breeding. But if your breeder uses Cocker Spaniel into the mix, then your puppy won’t get larger than 15 pounds. That’s still a small size and much more ethical.
The lifespan of these puppies is another sore spot for ethical breeding. Runts usually don’t have long lifespans due to their many health issues. Small breeds typically live as long as 15 years and sometimes more, but these micro-mini dogs typically only live ten years on average. So that’s one crucial factor to consider when buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle.
Health Issues
Now it’s time to talk about all the potential health issues with a Micro Mini Goldendoodle. There are plenty of health problems that come with these breeds. And if you get one that comes from runt lineage, some pretty serious ones come up. Things like:
- hypoglycemia
- Heart defects
- Respiratory infections
- Bloat
- Liver disease
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Deafness
- And joint problems
In most cases, we recommend checking for DNA testing on the parents to rule these health problems out. But the problem with breeding runts is that these defects don’t always show up in genetic testing. Most of these health defects are a direct result of their condition. And that is why ethical breeders speak out against these types of fad dogs.
Cost
And finally, you need to read this before buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle. The price of these small dogs costs as much as $5,000. Yup, you read that right, three zeros behind that five. And you best believe that backyard breeders and puppy mills have caught on to this money mine.
With a race to create the smallest Goldendoodles known to man, many ethics go out the window with these dogs. Some breeders will even sell Mini Goldendoodles and label them as micro-mini to up the price. So how do you avoid all of this confusion?
The best way to get a smaller Goldendoodle ethically is to do a lot of research into the breeder. View the dogs and facilities to see if they live up to your standards. If the dogs are clean and happy, you automatically have better luck. However, there is more to this.
You will also want to take particular notice of the lineages your breeder uses. They should be able to prove their breeding dog’s lineage at least three generations back. If they aren’t capable of providing some family tree, there might be something fishy going on. But this isn’t a tell-all sign.
The next factor to consider is if your breeder does DNA testing. Although some genetic factors you can’t see in these DNA tests, they can help a lot. Most breeders that perform these types of tests are legitimate and take better care of their dogs. These breeders are also more likely to breed Micro Mini Goldendoodles ethically.
Are Runts Really That Bad?
Under the right conditions, runts can grow up to thrive and grow to standard sizes. But the process of breeding runts together is what brings risk to your puppy. Runts often have higher chances of producing more runts. If this happens, the puppies are born weak and prone to disease. They also have a hard time eating and have to be hand-reared. Not to mention such small dogs have a hard time carrying a litter to term.
Are There Better Alternatives?
So you might love the idea of Micro Mini dogs, but the idea of having something so fragile is off-putting. A good compromise is to get a Mini Goldendoodle. These small dogs are a cross between the Golden Retriever and Toy Poodle. And the best part is that these dogs can be as small as 15 pounds. If that sounds like a dream, then you aren’t wrong.
These dogs are reliable, predictable, and bred ethically. And they are everything you like about the Micro-Mini but healthier.
What Do You Think?
After reading this before buying a Micro Mini Goldendoodle, what do you think? Are they the right dog for you? Or do you think you will pass on these small forever puppies?
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!
