Golden Australian Mountain Doodle:
"The Stokeshire"
The Golden Australian Mountain Doodle (GAMD), called "The Stokeshire," is our signature four-breed companion, bred at Stokeshire since 2020. It brings together the Golden's warmth, the Bernese calm, the Aussie's quick mind, and the Poodle's lower-shedding coat.
Also known as: The Stokeshire · GAMD · Golden Aussie Mountain Doodle
View GAMD Litters Why Four Breeds
Golden Australian Mountain Doodle Quick Facts
| Breed Type | Stokeshire signature four-breed cross, bred at Stokeshire since 2020. Not AKC recognized. |
| Parent Breeds | Golden Retriever × Australian / Mini American Shepherd × Bernese Mountain Dog × Poodle |
| Also Called | "The Stokeshire," GAMD, Golden Aussie Mountain Doodle |
| Size Classes | Standard (current flagship) and an emerging Medium line, per The Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard |
| Coat Types | Wavy or curly furnished coats today. An unfurnished Medium line is in development. |
| Shedding | Low to moderate in furnished dogs. Unfurnished dogs shed more. No dog is allergen-free. |
| Temperament | Affectionate, intelligent, balanced energy, family-oriented |
| Exercise Need | Daily activity plus mental engagement |
| Trainability | Very high. Many suit therapy-adjacent work. |
| Typical Lifespan | 10 to 15 years expected (smaller and medium dogs tend toward the upper end) |
| Best Suited For | Active families, families wanting a lower-shedding coat, therapy candidates |
| Where We Breed | Stokeshire Designer Doodles, Medford, Wisconsin. Nationwide transport available. |
| Pricing | Varies by size, coat genetics, color, and program tier. See Stokeshire Puppy Pricing. |
What Is a Golden Australian Mountain Doodle?
The Golden Australian Mountain Doodle is a four-breed cross developed at our family-run program in Wisconsin. It combines the Golden Retriever, the Australian Shepherd (including the Miniature American Shepherd), the Bernese Mountain Dog, and the Poodle.
Each breed was chosen for one contribution. The Golden brings warmth with people. The Bernese brings calm and an off switch indoors. The Aussie brings a quick, trainable mind. The Poodle brings intelligence and the coat genetics behind lower shedding.
"The Stokeshire" is a promise: a dog that looks beautiful, lives healthy, and loves deeply.
Why Four Breeds
Crossing distinct breed lines can increase genetic diversity and may reduce the likelihood that some recessive inherited conditions are expressed. It does not eliminate genetic disease or the health considerations present in the parent breeds.
Four breeds with little shared ancestry give the GAMD a wide gene pool to work from. We measure it on every pairing, and we pair it with health testing on every parent. Diversity never replaces testing.
The number we hold ourselves to. No Stokeshire pairing exceeds 15% estimated coefficient of inbreeding (eCOI), and we publish the figure on every pairing. See our position on hybrid vigor and COI.
The Four Parent Breeds
Each foundation breed contributes something distinct, and each brings health considerations we screen for before pairing.
Golden Retriever
Friendly, tolerant, and eager to please. The "people dog" foundation.
Cancer and hip health are important considerations in Golden lines. Every Golden line is screened before pairing.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Steady, affectionate, and quietly devoted. The natural off switch indoors.
Cancer and elbow health are important considerations in Bernese lines. Bernese lines are screened and paired within our COI ceiling.
Australian Shepherd
Herding intelligence and athleticism. Quick to learn and happiest with a job.
MDR1 drug sensitivity is a recognized genetic risk in Australian Shepherd lines. Merle also comes from this side. Both are tested before pairing.
Poodle
One of the most intelligent breeds, and the source of the furnishings and curl genetics behind a lower-shedding coat.
Also the source of the broad color palette and much of the cross's genetic diversity.
A Steady, Social Family Dog
GAMDs tend to be affectionate, outgoing, and closely connected to their families. They are as happy on a hike as on the couch.
The mix of working and companion breeds gives them balanced energy: the Golden's play and the Aussie's drive, settled by the Bernese calm. Breed ancestry explains only a modest share of individual behavior, so early socialization and training matter more than the cross alone.
* Furnished coats. Unfurnished dogs shed more. No dog is allergen-free.
Who the GAMD Is Not Ideal For
- Homes where the dog is alone for long stretches. GAMDs do best woven into daily family life.
- Anyone wanting a no-grooming dog. A furnished coat needs regular brushing and professional grooming.
- Families unable to provide daily exercise and mental engagement.
How Big Is a Golden Australian Mountain Doodle?
Today the GAMD is bred as a Standard dog, with a Medium line in development. Sizes follow The Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard, measured at the withers. Adult size is an estimate, not a guarantee.
| Class | Adult Weight | Height at Withers | Status | Expected Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | 36 to 50 lb | 17 to 21 in | Unfurnished line in development | 12 to 15 years |
| Standard | 51 lb and up (typically 70 to 90) | Over 21 in | Current flagship | 10 to 14 years |
Coat Color in "The Stokeshire"
Most GAMDs carry the Poodle's wavy or curly, lower-shedding coat. Color range is wide: Bernese tri-color, Golden red and cream, Aussie merle, and the Poodle's chocolate and dilute variants. Both parents are genotyped before every pairing.
Why the Poodle Opens the Palette
Poodles carry variety at nearly every major pigment gene. That unlocks hidden recessives in the other three breeds. Read the full coat-genetics guide.
Two "e" copies hide black pigment, producing gold and cream.
KB is solid. ky lets tan points and sable show through.
at/at gives tan points, the basis of tri-color.
Two "b" copies turn black pigment brown.
Turns black to blue or silver, and brown to café au lait.
The marbled pattern from Aussie lines. Always tested.
Controls white markings, from small trim to parti.
Merle safety. Two merle-carrying dogs are never bred together. Merle status is confirmed by genetic test before any pairing to prevent double merle, which can bring hearing and vision defects.
Grooming, Exercise & Home Life
Grooming. A furnished coat mats without regular care. Brush several times a week and book professional grooming every few months. Trim nails regularly and check ears weekly, especially after swimming.
Exercise. GAMDs need daily exercise and mental work. A fenced yard helps, but walks, play, and training matter more than square footage.
Health and lifespan. Every parent is screened genetically and orthopedically. With good nutrition and routine veterinary care, a GAMD has an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 years. See the Stokeshire Health Guarantee.
Health, Diversity & Testing
Cancer is an important health consideration in both Golden Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog lineages. Breed-specific cancer incidence has not been established for Golden Australian Mountain Doodles.
What we can measure, we publish. No Stokeshire pairing exceeds 15% estimated coefficient of inbreeding, and no two carriers of the same recessive condition are paired.
The Stokeshire Health-Testing Standard
Each dog considered for the Stokeshire breeding program undergoes comprehensive, breed-appropriate health screening, including OFA-recorded evaluations, PennHIP hip evaluations where completed, genetic health testing through Embark, and cardiac and ophthalmologic examinations as appropriate.
Every Stokeshire breeding dog receives genetic screening through Embark, including MDR1 status, so that result is known before a pairing is planned.
No health-testing program can eliminate every genetic or developmental risk. These screenings are used to inform pairing decisions and reduce avoidable inherited risk wherever current testing and pedigree information allow.
The Medium, Unfurnished Stokeshire
We are developing a medium-sized GAMD with an unfurnished coat: no doodle beard or eyebrows, an open face, and simpler grooming. Before breeding toward it, we defined exactly what we are breeding toward.
What unfurnished means for shedding
Unfurnished dogs shed more than furnished dogs. That is the trade for the open face and lighter grooming, and we do not describe this line as low-shedding. The genetics below keep shedding at the lighter end of what an unfurnished coat can do.
- FurnishingsRSPO2 · IITwo unfurnished copies. This is what gives the open, smooth face.
- SheddingMC5R · TTWith furnishings gone, this becomes the main genetic lever. We select parents that carry the low-shed variant.
- CurlKRT71 · CTA soft wave holds some loose hair. A straight coat drops it.
- Coat lengthFGF5 · LongA long coat holds shed hair rather than releasing it into the home.
- UndercoatNo DNA testNo genetic panel predicts undercoat. We judge it on each parent's adult coat.
Realistic expectation: moderate shedding, with less grooming than a furnished doodle, in a Medium frame of 36 to 50 lb. When these litters are ready, each pairing profile will publish both parents' coat genetics and the expected outcome. Learn more about unfurnished doodles.
GAMD vs. Golden Mountain Doodle vs. Australian Mountain Doodle
The GAMD is the four-breed evolution of our mountain-doodle line. Here is how it compares with its three-breed siblings.
| Trait | Golden Australian Mountain Doodle | Golden Mountain Doodle | Australian Mountain Doodle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Breeds | Golden × Aussie × Bernese × Poodle | Golden × Bernese × Poodle | Bernese × Aussie × Poodle |
| Foundation Breeds | Four | Three | Three |
| Temperament | Warmth with working intelligence | Social, steady | Calm with working drive |
| Genetic Diversity | Broadest (four breeds) | Broad | Broad |
| Trainability | Very High | Very High | Very High |
| Size Focus | Standard now; Medium emerging | Mini / Medium / Standard | Toy through Standard |
| Best For | Families wanting the signature Stokeshire companion | Families torn between a Bernedoodle and a Goldendoodle | Families wanting calm sharpness for therapy or an active life |
Compare the three-breed crosses directly: Golden Mountain Doodle · Australian Mountain Doodle
Breeding Better Family Dogs
Our goal is a modern American family dog: intelligent, steady, and attuned to the people around it. Since 2020 we have built toward that through intentional pairings, genetic testing, and temperament evaluation, with therapy-relevant temperament as a goal rather than an afterthought.
Every established breed was once built this way, by thoughtful combination and careful selection. The GAMD follows the same path, while keeping a wide gene pool and every pairing within our published 15% COI ceiling.
Golden Australian Mountain Doodle Puppies
Every puppy is raised in our family home and socialized before going home. If "The Stokeshire" sounds like your companion, we would be glad to talk.
Golden Australian Mountain Doodle FAQs
What is a Golden Australian Mountain Doodle?
The Golden Australian Mountain Doodle (GAMD), called "The Stokeshire," is a four-breed cross developed by Stokeshire Designer Doodles. It combines the Golden Retriever, Australian / Mini American Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Poodle.
Why breed four breeds instead of two or three?
Four breeds with little shared ancestry give the widest gene pool in our program. Crossing distinct breed lines can increase genetic diversity and may reduce the likelihood that some recessive inherited conditions are expressed. It does not eliminate genetic disease, so we pair diversity with health testing on every parent and keep every pairing at or under 15% eCOI.
How big do Golden Australian Mountain Doodles get?
Today's GAMD is a Standard dog: 51 lb and up (typically 70 to 90 lb) and over 21 inches at the withers. A Medium line (36 to 50 lb, 17 to 21 inches) is in development. Adult size is an estimate, not a guarantee. See The Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard.
Are GAMDs a good fit for allergy-sensitive homes?
No dog is allergen-free. Furnished GAMDs with wavy or curly coats tend to shed less and hold loose hair in the coat, which many allergy-sensitive families find easier to live with. Unfurnished dogs shed more. Individual response varies. Read our lower-shedding doodles guide.
How long do Golden Australian Mountain Doodles live?
The expected lifespan is 10 to 15 years, with smaller and medium dogs tending toward the upper end. Genetics, weight, diet, exercise, and routine veterinary care all play a part.
What colors do GAMDs come in?
GAMDs range from solid gold and cream to tri-color, merle, chocolate, and parti. Both parents are genotyped before pairing, and two merle-carrying dogs are never bred together.
Are Golden Australian Mountain Doodles good family dogs?
Yes. GAMDs tend to be affectionate, patient with children, and good with other pets, with energy that can settle. Early socialization and training shape the adult dog more than breed alone.
How much grooming and exercise do they need?
A furnished coat needs brushing several times a week plus professional grooming every few months, with regular nail trims and weekly ear checks. Plan on daily exercise and mental work.
How is the GAMD different from a Golden Mountain Doodle or Australian Mountain Doodle?
The Golden Mountain Doodle (Golden, Bernese, Poodle) and Australian Mountain Doodle (Bernese, Aussie, Poodle) are three-breed crosses. The GAMD combines all four breeds for the widest genetic diversity in our program.
Do unfurnished GAMDs shed?
Yes. Unfurnished dogs shed more than furnished dogs, and we do not describe them as low-shedding. For our Medium unfurnished line we select parents carrying the MC5R low-shed variant, with long coats and lighter adult undercoats, to keep shedding moderate. No DNA test predicts undercoat, so that part is judged on the parents. Learn more about unfurnished doodles.
Is a Golden Australian Mountain Doodle right for me?
The GAMD fits active families wanting a loyal, trainable companion with balanced energy. Take the Stokeshire Dream Dog Quiz or start an application.
Ready to Meet "The Stokeshire"?
Every Stokeshire placement begins with a conversation. Tell us about your home, and we will help you find the right companion.
Start Your Application Take the Match Quiz
James G. Stokes
Founder & Breeding Program Director, Stokeshire Designer Doodles · DATCP #514401-DS
James G. Stokes founded Stokeshire Designer Doodles, a therapy-grade doodle program in Medford, Wisconsin, with dogs placed in 36 states and Washington, D.C., plus Canada and Mexico. The GAMD is the signature result of intentional breeding since 2020. Every breeding dog is Embark-tested and hip-evaluated, and puppies are raised in a family home with Early Neurological Stimulation from Day 3.
Reviewed by the Stokeshire Breeding Team · Updated October 2026 · Reconciled to The Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard