Goldendoodle Colors Guide (Black, Red, Apricot, Merle, Parti etc.)

As a mixed breed dog, Goldendoodles come in a wide range of coat colors from solid coats to complex multi-colored markings. They can inherit their coat color from either parent breed – the Golden Retriever or the Poodle. The AKC only recognizes three coat colors for Golden Retrievers: dark golden, golden and light golden. Poodles on the other hand come in 11 colors including black, black & white, brown, white, sable, silver, apricot, grey, red, cream and blue.

If you want to know more about Goldendoodle coat colors, keep reading this article to find out about every color they can come in.

Cover image credit: @loverdoverdoodles

What Colors Do Goldendoodles Come In?

Goldendoodles come in many different colors including:

• Black
• Red
• Apricot
• Merle
• Parti
• Chocolate
• English Cream
• Black and White
• Silver

What Is The Most Common Goldendoodle Color?

The most common Goldendoodle colors are apricot, cream and red. Black and brown (chocolate) and silver coats are also pretty common. Merle and parti coats are the rarest.

Do Goldendoodles Change Color?

Goldendoodles can change color as they mature. In most cases, Goldendoodles’ coats lighten or fade with age. This usually occurs within the first two years of life. Coat color changes may happen to their whole coat or just certain sections. They can also go through minor seasonal coat color changes such as their coats lightening in summer from the sun.

Black Goldendoodle

Black Goldendoodles feature a solid black coat. They may have small white patches over their body like on their chest or paws however these as technically Black and White Goldendoodles. Goldendoodles can only be this color if they inherit it from the Poodle as purebred Golden Retrievers are never black.

Are Black Goldendoodles Rare?

Black Goldendoodles are quite rare and you only really find them in second or third generation litters. This is because the gene for a black coat can only be introduced from the Poodle side and the black gene is recessive.

Do Black Goldendoodle Puppies Change Color?

Yes, many Black Goldendoodle puppies change color if they have inherited the ‘fading’ gene from the Poodle side. Black Goldendoodles may fade into a dark blue or silver color as they mature. While their coat may fade, their nose and paw pads will still be jet black.

Black Goldendoodle Price

Black Goldendoodles usually sell for prices between $2500USD and $4200USD. They have a similar price range to Chocolate Goldendoodles. They are a bit more expensive than Apricot, Red or Cream Goldendoodles as they are a rarer coat color.

Black Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: Goldendoodle Lifespan – How Long Do Goldendoodles Live?

Red Goldendoodle

Red Goldendoodles come in a variety of shades from light red to dark red. Their coats can be anywhere from a reddish cream to a rusty brown color. Goldendoodles with lighter red coats are usually called Apricot Goldendoodles.

Are Red Goldendoodles Rare?

Red Goldendoodles are not rare. Red is a dominant Poodle gene so if a Golden Retriever is bred with a Red Poodle it is likely that many of the puppies in the litter will inherit this coat color.

Do Red Goldendoodles Fade?

Red Goldendoodles may fade as they mature. If this happens, it will occur within the first two years of their life. They may end up looking more like an Apricot Goldendoodle.

Red Goldendoodle Price

Red Goldendoodles sell for prices between $2000USD and $4200USD. They are a darker shade of red than Apricot Goldendoodles and are not as common as Apricot Goldendoodles which is reflected in their higher price point.

Red Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: F1b Mini Goldendoodle Guide: Size, Price, Temperament etc.

Apricot Goldendoodle

Apricot Goldendoodles have very light red coats with a peachy tone. They are somewhere between a light red and a cream. Only the Poodle carries the genes for an apricot coat so Apricot Goldendoodles are usually created by breeding an Apricot or Red Poodle with a light Golden Retriever. They are one of the most sought after Goldendoodle coat colors.

Apricot Goldendoodle Price

Apricot Goldendoodles sell for prices between $1800USD and $3500USD. Their coat is a very light red coat that has a peachy tone. It is quite a common Goldendoodle coat color which is why they are cheaper than other Goldendoodles.

Apricot Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: How Much Are Goldendoodles? (Real Breeder Prices)

Merle Goldendoodle

What Is A Merle Goldendoodle?

A Merle Goldendoodle carries the merle gene which dilutes certain sections of their coat into mottled patches. This gene also affects eye color and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws so Merle Goldendoodles often have very light eye colors such as blue and often have pink patches on their nose and paws. They can either be a Blue Merle or Chocolate Merle (Red Merle) Goldendoodle.

Are Merle Goldendoodles Rare?

Merle Goldendoodles are very rare. Only the Poodle can carry the merle gene and it is very rare if they do. It is extremely unlikely for a Merle Poodle to pass on the merle gene to a Goldendoodle.

They’re also rare as breeders often avoid breeding this coat color due to the health issues merle dogs often suffer. This includes ocular defeats and auditory issues – especially for Double Merles.

Merle Goldendoodle Price

Blue Merle Goldendoodles are the most expensive coat color as it is the rarest one you can find. They usually sell for $4000USD to $4500USD. Make sure you purchase a Blue Merle Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder as merle breeds can suffer from deafness and ocular defects, especially if they are a Double Merle.

Merle Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: Toy Goldendoodle Guide: Price, Size, Lifespan, Pictures & More

Parti Goldendoodle

What Is A Parti Goldendoodle?

A Parti Goldendoodle has a white base coat that covers at least 50% of their body with a secondary color marbled through it. Most of the time the secondary color is apricot, red or cream. It’s also relatively common for the secondary color to be black.

Parti Goldendoodle Colors

• Red and white
• Apricot and white
• Cream and white
• Black and white

Are Parti Goldendoodles Rare?

Parti Goldendoodles are rare as the coat comes from a recessive gene that comes from the Poodle side. Parti Goldendoodles are never found in first generation litters. You’re more likely to find a Parti Goldendoodles in cross-back generations e.g. F1b, F1bb or F2b.

Are Parti Goldendoodles More Expensive?

Parti Goldendoodles are usually more expensive because they are rare. Breeders have to go through a very selective breeding process and it often takes multiple generations of Goldendoodles to get the Parti coat.

Parti Goldendoodle Price

Parti Goldendoodles usually sell for prices between $2500USD and $4200USD. They sell for similar prices to Black, Silver and Chocolate Goldendoodles as they are about as rare as each other.

Parti Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: Goldendoodle Sizes Guide (Micro, Teacup, Toy, Miniature, Medium & Standard)

Chocolate Goldendoodle

Chocolate Goldendoodles have a solid brown coat that can range from a very light shade to a dark brown. They inherit this coat color from the Poodle side. Brown coats were originally a result of a mutation of the gene that produces a black coat. It is a recessive gene so both parents need to carry it to get a Chocolate Goldendoodle. That is why Chocolate Goldendoodles are more commonly found in back-cross generations such as an F1b, F1bb or F2b Goldendoodle.

Chocolate Goldendoodles often fade or ‘clear’ with age. This means that they may become more of a beige or silver color as they get older.

Are Chocolate Goldendoodles Rare?

Chocolate Goldendoodles are not as common as apricot, cream or red Goldendoodles however they are not as rare as merle or parti Goldendoodles. Goldendoodles can only get a brown coat from the Poodle side so they are only ever really found in second or third generation litters.

Chocolate Goldendoodle Price

Most Chocolate Goldendoodles sell for prices within the range of $2500USD to $4200USD. They sell for similar prices to Black Goldendoodles.

Chocolate Goldendoodle Names

English Cream Goldendoodle

English Cream Goldendoodles have an off-white coat. Some English Cream Goldendoodles have black noses while others have light brown or beige noses. English Cream Goldendoodles are often mistake for Labradoodles because they are so light in color.

Are English Cream Goldendoodles Rare?

English Cream Goldendoodles are not rare as they can inherit this coat color from either the Poodle or the Golden Retriever. In most cases a Golden or Light Golden Retriever is crossed with a Cream Poodle.

English Cream Goldendoodle Price

English Cream Goldendoodles sell for prices between $1800USD and $3500USD. They are cheaper than other Goldendoodle coat colors as they are very common.

English Cream Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: Goldendoodle Generations Guide (F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, F3 etc.)

Black and White Goldendoodle

Black and White Goldendoodles feature a mainly white coat with black patches. The black patches are usually located on their chest, legs, muzzle, paws or above their eyes. Black and White Goldendoodles are a type of Parti Goldendoodle. They are sometimes called Tuxedo Goldendoodles if their black and white patches are in a pattern that makes it look like they’re wearing a suit.

Are Black and White Goldendoodles Rare?

Black and White Goldendoodles are very rare as they can only inherit the coat from the Poodle. Breeders have to get a black and white Parti Poodle and hope that the genes pass on to the Goldendoodle. You’re more likely to find Black and White Goldendoodles in cross-back generations e.g. F1b, F1bb or F2b.

Black and White Goldendoodle Price

Black and White Goldendoodles are usually priced between $2500USD and $4200USD. They are about the same price as Black, Chocolate and Silver Goldendoodles.

Black and White Goldendoodle Names

Read Also: Full Grown Goldendoodle Guide (Size & Age Fully Grown)

Silver Goldendoodle

Silver Goldendoodles have a salt and pepper colored coat like an old persons hair. They are usually born a darker color and start to fade to silver around 10 weeks of age. At this age, the roots of their hair will start to lighten to grey. In fact, Silver Goldendoodles go through the most dramatic coat color change out of all the Goldendoodle colors.

Are Silver Goldendoodles Rare?

Silver Goldendoodles are pretty rare as they can only inherit this coat color from the Poodle side. You will only really see this coat color in second or third generation Goldendoodles and are more likely to see it in cross-back generations e.g. F1b, F1bb or F2b Goldendoodles.

Silver Goldendoodle Price

Silver Goldendoodles sell for prices within the range of $2500USD to $4200USD. They sell for similar prices to Black Goldendoodles as in most cases they would have been Black Goldendoodles to start with but faded to silver.

Silver Goldendoodle Names

Further Reading

• Goldendoodle Lifespan – How Long Do Goldendoodles Live?
• How Much Are Goldendoodles? (Real Breeder Prices)
• Goldendoodle Generations Guide (F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, F3 etc.)
• Toy Goldendoodle Guide: Price, Size, Lifespan, Pictures & More
• Mini Groodles (Golden Retriever & Mini Poodle Mix) Facts, Info, FAQs & More
• Goldendoodle Coat Colors Guide (Black, Red, Apricot, Merle, Parti etc.)
• Merle Goldendoodle Guide (Blue Merle vs Chocolate Merle)
• Mini Goldendoodle Guide: Price, Size, Temperament, Lifespan etc.
• F1b Mini Goldendoodle Guide: Size, Price, Temperament etc.
• Full Grown Goldendoodle Guide (Size & Age Fully Grown)
• Goldendoodle Sizes Guide (Micro, Teacup, Toy, Miniature, Medium & Standard)

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