Can Goldendoodles be Black? Rare Black Goldendoodle 101

Although uncommon, there are definitely black Goldendoodles. A black Goldendoodle is a visually striking puppy with deep piercing eyes and a luxuriously soft black coat.

Black Goldendoodles are just as playful, joy loving, and great with kids. Their coat is soft and can be no-shedding. Depending on the coat type, black Goldendoodles can be about as close to hypoallergenic as possible.

Black Goldendoodles can come in any size. From a medium Goldendoodle, right down to a Toy or Teacup Goldendoodle.

Why is my Goldendoodle black?

Whether or not your Goldendoodle is black is due to genes passed down from the parent breeds. The parent breeds of the Goldendoodle are the Poodle and the Golden Retriever.

The gene that causes the black coat is said to be a recessive gene. It is most commonly carried on the Poodle side. Genetically a few matches need to be made before a full black coat is present.

Because the Poodle side is more commonly the cause of the luxurious black coat – a Goldendoodle that has more Poodle genetics is more likely to be black.

This means that an F1B generation Goldendoodle (75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever) is more likely to be black than an F1 first generation Goldendoodle (50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever).

Any generation of Goldendoodle can have a black coat.

What do you call a black Goldendoodle? 10 names for Black Goldendoodles

If you have adopted a Goldendoodle with a glorious black coat – they deserve an apt name to boot! Here are fifteen of the best names for black Goldendoodle dogs.

As always, when picking a dog name, you should choose an easy to call the name of one or two syllables. This makes learning recall much more straightforward. A name that ends in a vowel or y-sound is also a bonus. Finally, choose a name that does not sound like a command word. (e.g., calling your dog Gray, which sounds like STAY.

The 15 best black Goldendoodle names

Any dog name will suit, but if you want a dark or shadowy name to match your black Goldendoodle’s fantastic coat, consider these top 15 black dog names.

1. Ace (like the Ace of Spades)
2. Blackjack (can call Jack)
3. Carbon
4. Domino (three syllables but rolls off the tongue)
5. Ember
6. Knight
7. Ninja
8. Onyx (black stone)
9. Oreo
10. Phantom
11. Shadow
12. Smokey
13. Spade
14. Stormy
15. Vader (see 50+ other actually good Star Wars dog names)

If you are worried that your black dog will gray with age – consider a name that meets both the criteria. Check out the list of gray dog names (there are lots of great crossover names that will suit black and also gray dogs).

How much does a black Goldendoodle cost?

In general, a black Goldendoodle will cost less than a golden Goldendoodle. People really covet the lighter color coats of a Goldendoodle.

Given that black Goldendoodles have the same zany and delightful personality, any reduction in adoption cost is a great bargain!

Depending on the coat type, a black Goldendoodle can be non-shedding and super close to hypoallergenic. Black Goldendoodle coats come in three types.

1. Straight coat
2. Wavy coat
3. Curly coat

The wavy and curly coats are the most non-shedding. They also have the closest association with being hypoallergenic. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but they do come close. You can find out how to tell which type of coat your Goldendoodle will have in our complete coat type identification guide.

Are Black Goldendoodle rare?

Because Black Goldendoodles are unique – people sometimes wonder if they are rare. They are not as desired by many buyers as other light and bright colored coats. The root cause of the black coat is also genetic. These factors make Black Goldendoodles uncommon.

So black Goldendoodles are uncommon rather than rare. You will frequently encounter them in most dog parks.

Do Black Goldendoodles Change Color?

Will a black Goldendoodle coat change over time? Yes, black Goldendoodles will lighten over time in most cases. Their coat will not change to a different color altogether, but most owners of black Goldendoodles will see a noticeable coat change in time. 

There are black and white Goldendoodles also – which will also see a lightening in the coat over time. It is very common to see this ligthening across any of the dark Groodle coats.

The most common color change is that there will be grey or light-colored hair growing in certain parts of the coat. This can occur as early as before one year of age. It is like getting grey hair at an incredibly young age. Given that a one-year-old small Goldendoodle is only about 10-12 adult years (see dog years for small dog calculator) – it can be surprising to see some grey!

The most common spot to see this coat lightening is on the back of the neck and down the dog’s end. It can also occur on the paws and even on the ears. All coats are unique!

How to tell what kind of coat a Black Goldendoodle will have?

Goldendoodles can have any type of hair coat – from straight – to wavy – right through to dense Poodle-like curly layers.

Black Goldendoodles can inherit any of these coat types. There is no particular predisposition to any coat type.

If you want a non-shedding coat – go for a wavy or curly coat. Straight haired Goldendoodles typically will shed. This can lead to problems for asthma or allergy sufferers. Not to mention the mess! Black hairs can also be noticeable on light-colored floors and on couches and linens.

Grooming needs of a Black Goldendoodle

Like any Goldendoodle, you will need to groom your Goldendoodle appropriately. This means semi-regular shampoos, occasional ear cleaning, and regular clipping.

Grooming a black Goldendoodle to keep the coat shiny and consistent will mean slightly more regular trimming. If your dog is mainly black and wants to maintain the dark jacket than a shorter haircut is usually appropriate.

It is relatively easy to groom a Goldendoodle at home. DIY grooming is made easy by

1. First washing with a quality shampoo formulated to match a Poodle cross coat
2. Consider buying a sturdy or communal grooming table (particularly for medium or large Goldendoodles)
3. Using a quality clipper to speedily whip your Goldendoodle coats into shape
4. And finally, use a budget-friendly steel comb WITH a top-notch slicker brush
   • You will need to brush at least weekly to keep your black Goldendoodles coat in top-notch shape
   • Straight haired (shedding) coats can be brushed less frequently