Goldendoodles are some of the most sought-after designer dogs today. This has to do with their charming personality and their ease of maintenance. They come in different sizes ranging from mini, medium, and standard.
Moyen Goldendoodles are medium-sized Goldendoodles, a crossbreed of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. ‘Moyen’ translates to ‘medium’ in English, which, in this case, describes a Goldendoodle that is larger than a mini Goldendoodle but smaller than a Standard Goldendoodle.
If Goldendoodle tickles your fancy, a Moyen Goldendoodle should be top of your list. These intelligent and low-shedding dogs can be perfect for you and your family. Read on to understand Moyen Goldendoodles more.
What Is A Moyen Goldendoodle?
A Moyen Goldendoodle is a medium-sized Goldendoodle crossed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. The word ‘Moyen’ described an additional size of Goldendoodles that are too big to be classified under mini Goldendoodles yet smaller than the standard size.
The size of Goldendoodles varies from mini to standard depending on the size of the Poodle used. That said, the Golden Retriever comes in one standard size and does not play a role in how big or small a Goldendoodle turns out to be.
Poodles are recognized in three sizes: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. The difference in height and weight across these sizes varies widely. As breeding evolved, breeders started breeding Poodles that are somewhat in the middle of these sizes.
These resulted in more uniform puppies that fell in none of the recognized sizes Toy, Mini, and Standard. Breeding the Golden Retriever and this ‘medium-sized’ Poodle then resulted in the Moyen Goldendoodle.
A Moyen Goldendoodle could occur if a larger than average Golden retriever were crossed with a Minature Poodle. Both extremes of weight and height will result in a medium-sized dog balancing the Poodle’s mini size and the Retriever’s large stature.
What Is Moyen Size?
The Moyen size of Goldendoodles is between a Miniature Goldendoodle and a Standard Goldendoodle. That means that Moyens are slightly smaller than standards but bigger than miniatures.
It is important to note that weight and height can slightly overlap between miniature and Moyen and between Moyen and Standard. Here is how weight and height vary across these sizes to understand the Moyen size better.
Height:
- Toy – 8” to 13”
- Miniature – 13” to 20”
- Moyen -19 to 21”
- Standard – 20” to 24”
Weight:
- Toy – 7lbs to 15lbs
- Miniature – 15lbs to 35 lbs
- Moyen – 30lbs to 40 lbs
- Standard – 50lbs to 90lbs
From the height and weight, you can see that a Miniature can easily be confused with a Moyen if it is on the heavier and taller end. On the same note, a Moyen can easily be confused with a Standard, mainly for height.
These sizes are not cast on stone and can differ from one Goldendoodle sibling to another. Of course, each sibling gets the genes that make it slightly different from another.
What Is An F1B Moyen?
The best way to understand what an F1B Moyen is, it to break down F1 first. F stands for filial, which means a dog is a crossbreed and not a purebred dog. In this case, Goldendoodles are a crossbreed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
The ‘1’ in the term means this is the first generation offspring between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. An F1 Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever meaning it is bred from 100% Poodle and 100% Golden Retriever.
So, what does F1B mean? F1B describes taking a dog that is F1 (50% Poodle and 50% Retriever) and breeding it back to a parent, either a purebred Retriever or a Poodle. If mated with a Poodle, it will be 75% Poodle and 25% Retriever.
Therefore an F1B Moyen Goldendoodle results from an F1 Moyen Goldendoodle crossed with a Poodle. This brings about a dog with more Poodle qualities than the Retriever.
Moyen Goldendoodle Appearance
The appearance of Moyen Goldendoodles depends on the breeding generation. This means that first-generation Moyen Goldendoodles will differ from F1B Moyen Goldendoodles. This is a result of the varying Poodle gene between both generations.
On this note, Some Moyen Goldendoodles will appear more like Poodles and take dominant characteristics of the Poodle, such as its low-shedding quality.
Generally, Moyen Goldendoodles have a round skull, a broad snout, a thick-furred tail, dropped ears, and oval-shaped eyes. The coat is dense and can be straight, curly, or wavy, depending on how dominant the Poodle gene is.
Moyen Goldendoodles come in various colors, dominant from any of the parents. They can be red, cream, brown, black, and apricot.
Moyen Goldendoodle Temperament
Like other crossbreeds, Moyen Goldendoodles will feature temperaments similar to their parents. That said, yours may behave more like a Poodle or closer to a Retriever, depending on the dominant gene.
The Poodle’s intelligence and trainability and the mild and docile personality of the Golden Retriever result in a companion dog that suits any family or individual setup. This combination makes Moyen Goldendoodles ideal service or therapy dogs.
These dogs are loveable and friendly, making them ideal for different family dynamics. On this note, they are great with kids and are unlikely to develop aggressive behavior towards children or pets. They are energetic and playful and will comfortably settle in a family with an active lifestyle.
Their adorable, charming personality makes them perfect cuddle buddies. The Moyen Goldendoodle comes in an ideal size to carry comfortably without losing it in the blankets. Thanks to their craze for human attention and interaction, you can surely enjoy one following you around.
In a Moyen Goldendoodle, you have a dog that you can snuggle with in the evenings or take out for a walk early in the morning.
Moyen Goldendoodle Care and Maintenance
Moyen Goldendoodles are generally easy to care for; therefore, ideal for a busy family. However, they still need keen attention to what and when they feed, grooming and exercise.
Grooming
Moyen Goldendoodles need daily brushing of the coat. The coat is generally soft and curly and can be prone to matting and tangling. Therefore, brushing down to the skin will minimize the development of tangles and mats, reducing shedding significantly.
Generally, Moyen Goldendoodles are low-shedding and will hardly leave lumps of fur on furniture. But, like other low-shedding dogs, they need regular brushing to keep the coat tangle-free and neat.
You can start grooming your Moyen Goldendoodle from five months of age. Around this time, puppies shed their puppy coats and start developing their firmer, adult coats. This is the stage where you can point out which of the parents your Goldendoodle takes after as far as fur goes.
On this note, the coat can be straight like that of the Golden Retriever, which means less maintenance and fewer tangles. Or, it could be curly and wavy like the Poodle coat, which means more brushing to prevent tangling.
When it comes to bathing your furry friend, a bath once a month is advisable. Bathing your dog too much may dry the skin causing uncontrollable itching. If you have to clean your dog regularly, consider a moisturizing or hypoallergenic shampoo to prevent drying the skin.
Exercise
Like other Goldendoodles, Moyen Goldendoodles need at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity. This will help them stay in shape while expending built-up energy. Again, keeping your dog active is essential in managing and preventing destructive behavior.
Moyen Goldendoodles are highly energetic and enjoy a stroll in the neighborhood or a frisk walk in the park. They love to play with other pets; therefore, you can always drop your doodle in a doggie center for a bit of interaction.
At home, you can introduce interactive and mentally-stimulating toys to keep your dog engaged. Goldendoodles are intelligent and appreciate a few challenges here and there, so an interactive game will keep them in high spirits.
Diet
Moyen Goldendoodles are pretty playful and active, meaning they need a diet that supports their energy levels. An ideal diet should consist of high-quality protein and essential fatty acids to nourish your dog adequately while managing weight throughout.
If you are unsure of the right food for your dog, talk to your vet for advice on what suits your Moyen Goldendoodle best. Your vet will recommend high-quality dog food specially formulated for medium-sized energetic dogs.
Moyen Goldendoodle Health Issues
It is essential to understand the health issues that your Moyen Goldendoodle is prone to. That way, you can lay out measures to prevent them and keep your dog healthy. Below are common health issues that Moyen Goldendoodles are susceptible to.
Hip Dysplasia
This condition affects medium to large dogs affecting the ball and socket of the hip. When a dog develops this condition, the ball and socket are poorly aligned, preventing the smooth movement of the hips. This, in turn, results in difficulty in running and jumping.
As the condition progresses, your dog might find walking difficult, especially an older dog. Additionally, it could lead to arthritis, a condition that would render your dog immobile.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This condition is common among crossbreed dogs. It is a late-onset degenerative condition whereby the photoreceptor cells deteriorate over time. This results in partial or complete blindness as the disease progresses.
The disease can be hard to detect, but with regular visits to the vet, it can be your vet might notice early signs. If you see your dog bumping into things in a dimly lit room, it may be a sign of this condition. The best approach would be to seek vets’ attention to rule it out or manage it if present.
Other health issues to look out for are ear infections, canine cancer, skin infections, and obesity. The best way to keep your dog healthy is to ensure a healthy, nourishing diet, regular exercise, and timely vet visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Moyen Goldendoodles Live?
A Moyen Goldendoodle can live up to 15 years with proper care and maintenance. Moyen Goldendoodles are designer dogs with a diverse genetic build-up which means they benefit from the hybrid vigor. This lowers the risks of inheriting or developing purebred health issues.
Do Moyen Goldendoodles Bark A Lot?
Moyen Goldendoodles are generally calm and quiet; they do not bark a lot. If you are worried about creating a nuisance with your newly-acquired dog, you do not have to with a Moyen Goldendoodle.
Of course, your Goldendoodle will bark for obvious reasons, such as communicating a threat or alerting you of an unusual occurrence. And even so, the bark is not aggressive and does not last a long time.
Do Moyen Goldendoodles Shed A Lot?
Moyen Goldendoodles do not shed a lot. They are considered hypoallergenic since they take the Poodle coat, which is low-shedding. They require less brushing; the coat does not tangle often; therefore, it is suitable for people prone to pet allergies.
How Much Does a Moyen Goldendoodle Cost?
Moyen Goldendoodles can be quite an investment, costing anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000. The price can be less or more than this, depending on the reputability of the breeder as well as the generation of the puppy.
F1 puppies are generally cheaper than F1B puppies. The F1B puppies have a higher Poodle gene percentage, making them more desirable than F1 puppies. Therefore, if you suffer from pet allergies, your best bet would be an F1B puppy, a more hypoallergenic generation.
Final Thoughts
Moyen Goldendoodles are loving, friendly, and gentle dogs, making them some of the best companion dogs. Their high intelligence and caring nature make them ideal as therapy dogs. And, their hyper personality transmits to their human family, a trait that every individual and family would appreciate.
