As many seek a Goldendoodle puppy, we explain the various types of Goldendoodles that one will encounter in their search and hopefully help others make an educated decision.
Goldendoodles have become a beloved choice for dog lovers worldwide, thanks to their friendly nature, intelligence, and hypoallergenic qualities. However, not all Goldendoodles are created equal. There are several Goldendoodle generations, each with unique characteristics. Understanding these differences can help you choose the perfect Goldendoodle for your family.
F1 Goldendoodles
What is an F1 Goldendoodle?
F1 Goldendoodles are the first generation of this hybrid breed. They are a direct cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle, making them 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. This is the puppy mix that turned the purebred world upside down starting in the early 2000s. Its initial claim to fame was that it’s “the best of both worlds” or “allergy-friendly”.
Characteristics of F1 Goldendoodles
F1 Goldendoodles became the favored cross of those seeking to avoid congenital health issues found in purebred dogs while maintaining a low to non-shedding coat and keeping as much of the loveable Golden Retriever in the mix as possible. Good parent selection was invaluable for maintaining personality, coat quality and historical health. This 50/50 hybrid Goldendoodle puppy has an improved chance of a long healthy life due to the hybrid vigor and genetic diversity of its mixed breed genetics. However, since hybridization is not a silver bullet for all genetic defects, we still emphasized the importance of testing for health issues to make the healthiest Goldendoodle puppy possible.
One challenge the 50/50 Goldendoodle puppies face is the incidence of cancer. Unfortunately, cancer is prevalent in Golden Retrievers and this trait does pass on to their hybrid offspring. While advances in cancer research are phenomenal, there are no genetic tests available to pinpoint the risk a dog carries. Sunshine Acres has been able to choose lines of Golden Retriever using the CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) database where health and mortality are tracked so we have lines that are much less susceptible. When it comes to the best choice for a healthy Goldendoodle puppy with high health, a beautiful coat, and a sweet personality, an F1 Goldendoodle is clearly the cross of choice.
When Sunshine Acres bred its first F1 Goldendoodle puppies in 2002, we discovered through trial and error that some Poodle lines made gorgeous Goldendoodles and some didn’t. We have carefully maintained the Poodle lines that made exceptional Goldendoodle puppies, and today, our poodle studs exclusively go back to the “Gorgeous” lines. Their F1 Goldendoodle puppies have a distinctive Sunshine Acres style. New advances in DNA testing for coat quality in Poodles have recently been released. When we DNA tested our foundation Poodle lines, we found that all of them genetically carry the non-shedding coat type genes, as we expected from over 20 years of observation. We love our F1 cross with its gorgeous coat, ease of trainability, good health and distinctive Sunshine Acres appearance.
F1B Goldendoodles
What is an F1B Goldendoodle?
F1B Goldendoodles are a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a purebred Poodle. This makes them 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever. Since this cross necessitates the breeding back to a poodle, some hybrid vigor and genetic diversity is lost in the F1B cross. However, as long as the breeder is carefully testing their lines and paying attention that the Poodles in the family tree are not closely related, the risk is still favorable for an F1B Goldendoodle puppy’s long term good health and predictable traits.
Characteristics of F1B Goldendoodles
Due to the higher percentage of Poodle genes, F1B Goldendoodles are more likely to have a tighter curl to their coats, which can be the best choice for allergy sufferers. Each individual puppy is not necessarily more allergy-friendly as we can be led to believe, but a larger percentage of the litter will have characteristics that make them more suited for someone with dog allergies. However, their curly coats require more extensive grooming to prevent matting, so if kinks are not for you, the F1 Goldendoodle puppy may still be a better choice.
F2 Goldendoodles
What is an F2 Goldendoodle?
An F2 Goldendoodle, also known as a multigenerational Goldendoodle (or multigen for short), is when a Goldendoodle is bred to a Goldendoodle. This scenario usually happens when someone wants to mate their beautiful F1 Goldendoodle because he or she is the best dog ever. However, F1’s do not breed true. This means they will fall back to their original parents’ genetics. Statistically, the F2 litter will be 25% purebred Golden Retriever, 25% purebred Poodle, and 50% like the F1 parents. “Genetic succotash” is what this F2 is termed – or unknown genetics.
Characteristics of F2 Goldendoodles
While there is value in breeding an F2 Goldendoodle puppy to breeders committed to making the Goldendoodle into a purebred dog, F2 Goldendoodles can be a bit of a genetic lottery. F2 Goldendoodle puppies may shed just like the Golden Retriever or have all the qualities of the Poodle. Their coats can range from straight to curly, and their shedding levels and hypoallergenic qualities can vary widely. They are less predictable in terms of appearance, personality, and coat type compared to F1B Goldendoodles.
F3 Goldendoodles
What is an F3 Goldendoodle?
F3 Goldendoodles, which are also Multigenerational Goldendoodles, are the result of breeding F2 Goldendoodles together or breeding F2 with an F1B or another F3 Goldendoodle. This cross (as well as F4, F5, and so on) would be a multigenerational Goldendoodle bred to another multigenerational Goldendoodle. The higher the generation number, the higher the degree of purebred.
Characteristics of F3 Goldendoodles
The multi-gen Goldendoodles join their purebred parentage as the inbred coefficient of the multigenerational Goldendoodle puppy skyrockets and congenital health is of the greatest concern. There are not any advantages over the F1 or F1B, only disadvantages. Actually, I would have to say, that the more inbred or multigenerational they are, the greater the predictability of the outcome. I would not cross two Goldens and expect to get poodle puppies. So inbreds are more predictable than hybrids.
Our Take on Multi-Generational Goldendoodles
A multigenerational Goldendoodle defeats the purpose of the original reason the Goldendoodle puppies became so popular. Wasn’t their popularity due to the attraction of knowing the puppy did not carry the genetic health risks found in their purebred parents, since the puppy had the advantage of hybrid vigor and genetic diversity? Unless there has been careful selection, a close watch on pedigrees, and a good dose of accountability through purebred registries, the risks of passing on congenital health issues take on a new dimension in multigen breedings. Just think, those who deal with purebreds can at least use a 4-generation pedigree at a minimum to make mating decisions. My question for the multigenerational doodle breeder is, ”Can you provide at least a 4-generation pedigree with genotypic and phenotypic testing results?” Your responsible purebred breeders can. The purebred breeders have more resources for maintaining a purebred at their disposal than a mixed breed breeder, if they choose to use them.
We have found that a carefully bred Poodle is a better choice than a multigenerational Goldendoodle puppy. Sunshine Acres realized this nearly 20 years ago as we started noticing the direction the Goldendoodle was going, splitting between inbred and hybrid. Some breeders greatly valued the reduced risk of genetic defects found in an F1 hybrid puppy. Other breeders valued turning the Goldendoodle into a purebred – going back into a higher level of inbreeding. Since most multigenerational Goldendoodles are a very high percentage of poodle, and since these multigen Goldendoodle puppies very rarely have the pedigree and genetic testing to back them up that a purebred poodle breeder would have for their puppies, perhaps a purebred poodle would be the better option, especially for those families who have severe dog allergies.
Choosing the Right Goldendoodle Generation for You
After learning about the types of Goldendoodles and deciding which of the Goldendoodle generations is right for you, consider the following factors:
- Allergies and Shedding: Our F1 Goldendoodle puppies are usually non-shedding and can be a good option for those with dog sensitivities. For those with more severe dog allergies, an F1B with a curlier coat may be the best option, since they are 75% Poodle, and can have more hypoallergenic Poodle-type characteristics than an F1 Goldendoodle.
- Coat Maintenance: Curly-coated Goldendoodles, such as F1B, require regular grooming to prevent matting. If you prefer a lower-maintenance coat, an F1 with a wavy coat might be a better fit. Typically, the multigenerational Goldendoodles have the most difficult coat to maintain since genetically they are usually a high percentage Poodle.
- Health: The hybrid vigor of F1 and F1B Goldendoodles provides the best outcome for optimal long-term health of these puppies. Those concerned with choosing the healthiest dog should opt for one of these Goldendoodle generations.
Conclusion
Understanding the different types of Goldendoodles is crucial in choosing the right companion for your family. Whether you opt for an F1, F1B or Multigenerational Goldendoodle, each offers unique traits that can fit various lifestyles and needs. By considering your dog allergies, coat maintenance preferences, and desire for optimal health you can find the perfect Goldendoodle to bring joy and companionship into your home. Our experience has been that the hybrid vigor found in the F1 Goldendoodle and the F1B Goldendoodle give the puppies the best chance for a long healthy life, without the inherent genetic defects found in their purebred parents, which is why we choose to only breed these two Goldendoodle generations. After all, this sweet-natured, fun-loving, smart, family-friendly puppy is our designer dog of choice. Fill out our puppy application today if you’re ready to start your journey with a new Goldendoodle puppy.
