Groodle Adoption on the Sunshine Coast

What Sunshine Coast rescue Groodles look like

Across the Sunshine Coast rescues we aggregate, Groodles are uncommon at any one time, and Groodle puppies are rare. Most that come through are adolescents and young adults from the doodle boom. Many are listed simply as “Poodle cross”, so search for that as well as “Groodle”.

• Mostly six months to four years old: the teenage stage is when most are surrendered.
• Medium to large: a Standard Poodle parent makes a big dog, a Miniature parent a medium one; the listing gives the real adult size.
• Energetic and friendly: both parent breeds are active and people-focused.
• Coat varies: some shed little, some shed like a retriever; a foster carer can tell you which you are getting.

For the general doodle picture, including coat types and why doodles reach rescue, see our Cavoodle adoption guide and the Poodle adoption guide. This page sticks to what is different about the bigger Groodle.

Where to look on the Sunshine Coast

• Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge (SCARS): the region's independent, non-euthanasia refuge at Tanawha. It takes Sunshine Coast Council pound dogs and owner surrenders, and every dog is vet checked, vaccinated, desexed and microchipped. Listings at sippycreek.com.au.
• RSPCA Queensland: the nearest adoption centres are at Gympie to the north and Dakabin to the south, both by appointment. Browse at rspcaqld.org.au.
• Foster-based and doodle rescues: South East Queensland volunteer groups, including doodle-focused ones, see Poodle crosses more often than the big shelters. A foster carer knows how the dog behaves at home.
• PetRescue: one search across many smaller Queensland rescues, at petrescue.com.au.

What a rescue Groodle costs

SCARS does not publish a dog fee, so check each listing; rescue fees run a few hundred dollars, all-inclusive, and puppies usually cost more than adults. A Groodle puppy from a breeder costs several thousand dollars, often with a long waiting list. The rescue fee already covers:

• Desexing
• Vaccinations to date and a microchip
• A vet check, with any known condition disclosed
• For an adult, a known size, coat and temperament

Grooming is the big ongoing cost. A Groodle needs a professional clip every six to ten weeks and brushing in between, and a large dog costs more to groom than a small one. Budget for that before you apply.

Energy, training and the teenage stage

A young Groodle is a big, clever, bouncy dog; it needs a daily walk or run, play, and training that keeps its mind busy. Without that, it jumps, chews and pulls, which is exactly when many are surrendered.

The good news is that the retriever side wants to please. Short, reward-based sessions work well, and a puppy or adolescent class helps with manners around people and dogs. An adopted adult often arrives past the worst of the teenage phase, which is a real advantage.

Groodles are usually gentle with children and sociable with other dogs; their size and bounce mean play with small children should be supervised. A foster carer can tell you how a particular dog behaves with kids and visitors.

Health to ask about

A Groodle can inherit conditions from either parent. Ask the rescue about hips and elbows, eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy, and ear infections, which floppy, hairy ears make more likely in humid weather. A rescue dog arrives vet-checked, so ask what the check found. The RSPCA Knowledgebase covers ear care and general health, and the Golden Retriever guide covers the retriever side in more depth.

A big curly coat in Sunshine Coast heat

A thick curly coat holds heat, so keep a Groodle clipped shorter through summer. Walk early or late, carry water, and give the dog a cool spot indoors. Many Groodles love water, and a swim is a good way to burn energy in the heat. Never leave a dog in a parked car.

The paralysis tick is a year-round danger along the Sunshine Coast and through the hinterland, and it can be fatal. A dense curly coat hides ticks, so keep a vet-recommended prevention product going all year and search the coat after bushland or long-grass walks. Animal Emergency Service at Tanawha and SASH Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs are both open 24 hours.

Sunshine Coast Council changed its dog rules on 3 July 2026, with new on-leash buffers and some bushland reserves closed to dogs. Check the council's off-leash areas page before an off-leash beach run.

Registration and the Queensland scam check

Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, dogs must be microchipped before 12 weeks or before they change hands, and registered with your council from 12 weeks. Sunshine Coast Council charges $63 a year for a desexed dog, or $35 for pensioners. Noosa sets its own fees for the north of the region.

Doodles are prime scam bait. Any Queensland dog born on or after 26 May 2017 that is sold, given away or advertised must show a supply number from the Queensland Dog Breeder Register. Check it, and the microchip number, before you pay anything. A cheap Groodle puppy or a transport fee for a dog you have not met is a red flag that Scamwatch warns about.

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