Understanding Goldendoodles
Before reaching out to us, we kindly ask that you take the time to research the Miniature Goldendoodle breed thoroughly. Understanding both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle is essential, as the traits and characteristics of both breeds will be present in your Goldendoodle puppy. This breed is a combination of two highly intelligent, very active, and affectionate dogs, and it’s important to ensure that the Goldendoodle is the right fit for your lifestyle.
Ask yourself:
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Do you have the time and commitment to train and care for a Goldendoodle?
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Are you prepared to provide the mental and physical stimulation that this breed needs and deserves?
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What do you really want from a puppy or dog? Are you looking for a loving family companion, an active playmate, or a well-trained pet?
Here is a brief overview of both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle to get you started, but we encourage you to do your own additional research to make sure the Goldendoodle is a good fit for your family.
Goldendoodle - Crossbreed
Understanding this crossbreed, where it came from, its heritage and the makeup of a Goldendoodle is very important. You need to fully understand both breeds (Golden Retriever and Poodle) that make up a Goldendoodle and the behaviours you might face as an owner. While it may be cute as a puppy, if you're not clued up on the traits and behaviours typical to both breeds it can be a different story for you when they become an adult dog and it is paramount that you understand them fully before becoming an owner as these are the behaviours and traits that you will have to live with and the puppy is not a blank canvas when you get it home.
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Goldendoodles need their minds and noses stimulated in order to express their natural behaviours. Scent work is a great one for this. That is why it is a good idea to take part in gun dog training to fully engage your Goldendoodle's brain as they need to use their minds and noses and you can do right by your dog by giving them that opportunity. Remember, an enriched and stimulated dog is a happy dog with fewer behavioural issues and therefore makes your life easier. And the best part is it's fun for both dog and owner! They also have grooming requirements. They are double coated meaning they are made up of a tight curly coat and a flat wavy coat. Both have different textures and the combination means that it is important that you maintain a grooming regime at home in order to keep them free from knots and mats in order to remain comfortable in addition to regular visits to the grooming salon. Have you factored this in?
Golden Retriever - Gundog
The Golden Retriever is ultimately a working Gundog that was originally bred to find, flush and retrieve game. This breed is very social, intelligent, trainable, fun-loving, tolerant and makes a good family dog. However, you need to also think about the traits in this breed that may not be so desirable to you. They have a lot of energy, a strong prey drive meaning they like to chase furry things (squirrels, rabbits, deer), and are hyper-social which can lead to separation anxiety and therefore have the potential to be destructive. Their biggest issue is recall because they instincively like to go off hunting and have a need to satisfy that behaviour. They can become obsessed with toys as they like to have something in their mouth and can be quite full on with it - be it a tennis ball or a stick.
Poodle - Utility Breed
The Poodle is a member of the Utility breed group. They were originally bred to retrieve game from water for duck hunters in Germany. They are curious, fun, energetic, smart and easy to train. They need plenty of exercise for both mind and body as they are adventurous and playful and prefer to be with people most of the time. They do however have their unfavourable side and that can look like excessive barking, separation anxiety and resource guarding. They are easily aroused, can be super excitable and high energy with conflicting behaviours. And as a water dog guess what...they quite like water! Can you deal with your Goldendoodle potentially running off to find the nearest muddy, smelly, green pond?!
The Generations of Goldendoodle Explained
What do all the F's and numbers mean? Understanding the terminology is important, and quite simple once you understand what the letters and numbers mean. Here is a breakdown:​
•F stands for Filial Hybrid.
•The number stands for the the generation the dog is.
•B stands for Backcross (usually with a Poodle but sometimes with a Golden Retriever.
​​F1 - First Generation of Goldendoodle
50% Golden Retriever + 50% Poodle
The F1 Goldendoodle is the first generation Goldendoodle that is a cross between a purebred 100% Golden Retriever and a purebred 100% Standard Poodle. The result is a Goldendoodle that is 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle.The F1 Goldendoodle is the classic Goldendoodle that most people think about when they hear the term “Goldendoodle”. However, F1 Goldendoodle genetics can vary quite extensively which will affect how they look. For instance, they can have coats that shed and some coats that are non-shedding. In addition, these coats can be smooth like the Golden Retriever, wavy, or curly like the poodle.​​
F1B - First Generation Goldendoodle Backcrossed to a Poodle
25% Golden Retriever + 75% Poodle
An F1B Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and one of the original purebred lines — either a 100% Standard Poodle or 100% Golden Retriever. An F1B Goldendoodle is usually a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a 100% Standard or Miniature Poodle as breeders prefer a non-shedding and hypoallergenic dog coat. Since an F1B Goldendoodle is a mix between an F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle, it is referred to as a Backcross and hence the reason why it’s called F1B.The F1B Goldendoodle generation is typically referred to as the Hypoallergenic Golden Retriever because it inherits a larger amount of Poodle traits. This includes the signature hypoallergenic and non-shedding coat that many owners seek. This means that the F1B Goldendoodle typically produces a curly coat and would be an excellent choice for owners with moderate dog allergies. However, Goldendoodles with curly coats require a significant amount of grooming to prevent matting of the fur.​​
F1BB - F1B Goldendoodle Backcrossed to a Poodle
12.5% Golden Retriever + 87.5% Poodle
The F1BB Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1B Goldendoodle (25% Golden Retriever + 75% Poodle) and an original purebred 100% Poodle or 100% Golden Retriever. Most owners will typically choose to breed the F1B Goldendoodle with a 100% Standard or Miniature Poodle to make the Goldendoodle even more hypoallergenic and non-shedding. Since this is the second Backcross with a purebred Poodle, it gets a second “B” in its name and is referred to as an F1BB Goldendoodle. An F1BB Goldendoodle is the most hypoallergenic and non-shedding of all the first generation Goldendoodles due to a large amount of Poodle genetics. This means that Goldendoodle will likely come with an extremely curly coat that will need to be brushed every day and groomed every couple of months to prevent the fur from matting. However, this Goldendoodle generation is great for people with pet allergies and don’t want to have to pick up dog hair everywhere.​​
F2 - Second Generation Goldendoodle
50% Golden Retriever + 50% Poodle
The F2 Goldendoodle is the second generation of Goldendoodle. This is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and another F1 Goldendoodle. They are are the most varied generation of the Goldendoodle. The F2 generations produce dogs that are somewhat similar to the F1 generation since they are the same percentage of Golden Retriever and Poodle. However, most breeders will not breed an F2 Goldendoodle due to this generation being the most unpredictable generation of genetics in terms of coat type, coat hair, and variation of shedding.​
F2B - Second Generation Goldendoodle Backcrossed to a Poodle
37.5% Golden Retriever + 62.5% Poodle or 25% Golden Retriever + 75% Poodle
The F2B Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and an F1B Goldendoodle. Alternatively, some breeders will choose to breed an F1B Goldendoodle and another F1B Goldendoodle which would result in the...This F2B Goldendoodle generation has significant poodle genes which results in a mostly wavy or curly coat. This means that it’s likely the Goldendoodle will have less shedding and be more hypoallergenic. However, like most hybrid dogs there are always exceptions to the genetic rules. The F2B Goldendoodle generation is often referred to as a Multi-generation Goldendoodle since they are the 3rd generation of offspring.​
F2BB - F2B Goldendoodle Backcrossed to a Poodle
18.75% Golden Retriever + 81.25% Poodle
The F2BB Goldendoodle is a cross between an F2B Goldendoodle and a Standard or Miniature Poodle. Since this is at least the second Backcross with a purebred Standard Poodle and part of the 2nd generation, it gets a second “B” in its name and is referred to as an F2BB Goldendoodle. An F2BB Goldendoodle is the most hypoallergenic and non-shedding of all the second generation Goldendoodles due to a large amount of Poodle genetics. This Goldendoodle also has the 2nd most Poodle genetics after the F1BB Goldendoodle. It is extremely likely an F2BB Goldendoodle will a curly coat that will need to be brushed every day and groomed every couple of months to prevent the fur from matting. However, this Goldendoodle generation is great for people with severe pet allergies and don’t want to have to pick up dog hair everywhere.The F2BB Goldendoodle generation is going to be referred to as a Multi-generation Goldendoodle since they are the 4th generation of offspring. Many breeders won’t use the term F2BB but will use the term Multi-generation Goldendoodle.
F3 - Multi Generation Goldendoodle
The F3 Goldendoodle is also called the Multi-generation Goldendoodle. This is the 3rd generation or greater of Goldendoodle. Typically, F3 Goldendoodles are bred with an F1B or Greater Goldendoodle and another F1B Goldendoodle. F3 Goldendoodles contain a significant portion of Poodle genetics so it is great for people with pet allergies. The F3 Goldendoodle generation coat can vary from a heavy wave to very curly which makes them very allergy-friendly. Multi-generation Goldendoodles are used to describe any Goldendoodle beyond the 2nd generation. This includes some of the Goldendoodle generations listed above like F1BB, F2B, and F2BB.​
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The Generation of Our Puppies
(28% Golden Retriever + 72% Poodle)
Bonnie is a cream F3 Multi Generation Goldendoodle and Bertie is an F1B Goldendoodle. Bonnie & Bertie’s puppies are therefore F3 Multi Generation Miniature Goldendoodles.
Bonnie (Dam) - F3 Miniature Goldendoodle (31% Retriever + 69% Poodle)
Bertie (Sire) - F1B Miniature Goldendoodle (25% Golden Retriever + 75% Poodle)
Puppies - F3 Miniature Goldendoodle (28% Golden Retriever + 72% Poodle)