F1 Goldendoodles are a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle. Dog breeders refer to these dogs as “first generation” (F1) Goldendoodles and they get 50 percent of their genes from each breed. F1B Goldendoodles are a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a purebred Poodle or a purebred Golden Retriever.
Although all Goldendoodles will be part Golden Retriever and part Poodle, personality traits and appearance will differ based on how much Poodle or Golden Retriever the Goldendoodle offspring inherited. Dog breeders enhance certain temperament and appearance characteristics of the offspring by choosing to weigh more heavily on either the Golden Retriever genes or the Poodle genes.
Do F1 Goldendoodles have a different appearance than F1B Goldendoodles?
They can. F1 Goldendoodles have furnishings — the longer hair that surrounds a dog’s beard area and eyebrows — and gives the Goldendoodle the signature fluffy look. Poodles have the furnishing gene and Golden Retrievers do not. Furnishings are a dominant gene, so F1 Goldendoodles will always inherit furnishings from the Poodle parent. F1B Goldendoodles may not always have furnishings if two non-furnishing coat genes (also referred to as improper coat or IC) are present from a Goldendoodle crossed with a Golden Retriever. Breeders can test for these genes and share results with potential owners.
Are F1 vs F1B Goldendoodle personality traits different?
The F1B Goldendoodle’s personality traits will depend on which purebred was crossed with the F1 Goldendoodle. If a Poodle was used, the offspring may show a high sensitivity and alertness to its environment, high intelligence levels and an ultra-high trainability level. If a Golden Retriever was used, expect an extremely social and loyal dog, who needs lots of physical and mental stimulation through service jobs, socialization and retriever games.
The F1 Goldendoodle is a 50-50 combination of its parents’ purebred genes, so personality traits are less predictable as with any mixed breed.
How do I know if I’m getting an F1 or F1B Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodle breeders should be able to provide lineage. The Goldendoodle Association of North America, the Goldendoodle’s breed club, lists nationwide breeders they’ve accepted into their club.
Still unsure? Start by making a list of questions to ask Goldendoodle dog breeders. And take your time — patience will help you find the right Goldendoodle for your lifestyle.
