The Goldendoodle is one of the most popular designer dog breeds on the market, and for good reason. They embody all the characteristics of what most people would deem the “ideal” dog. Goldendoodles are friendly, gentle, loving, playful, and great with children. They’ll thrive in just about any lifestyle as long as their basic needs are met, and they’re a relatively healthy mixed dog breed. What more could you want? Before you consider adopting a Goldendoodle, you first need to understand the difference between an F1 and an F1B Goldendoodle. The differences are small but may be very important when choosing a puppy to suit you.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

F1 Goldendoodle Overview

An F1 Goldendoodle is a first-generation Goldendoodle. Breeders use an “F1” to indicate that one of the parents is a Poodle and the other parent is a Golden Retriever.  F1 Goldendoodles tend to be very healthy since they’re genetically diverse, unlike their purebred parents.

Personality / Character

An F1 Goldendoodle has many of the characteristics of the Golden Retriever and Poodle—both good and bad. Golden retrievers are happy-go-lucky, intelligent dogs who are devoted to their families and affectionate with just about anyone. They love other dogs and are highly adaptable. Poodles are a bit more reserved with their emotions but are just as affectionate and intelligent as the Golden. They love their owners, including children, and are very open to strangers. They’re not too keen on other dogs at first but warm up eventually. When you put these characteristics together, you get the Goldendoodle—a fun, loving, intelligent dog who isn’t as hyper as a Retriever but still remains open to strangers and pets. Because they are a genetic mix of a golden retriever and a Poodle, F1 Goldendoodles are not guaranteed to be non-shedding.  They typically shed much less than a golden retriever, but more than a Poodle. Because an F1 Goldendoodle’s DNA is 50% of both breeds, some doodles can end up with more of a golden retriever personality and some can act more Poodle-like.

Physical Characteristics

First-generation Goldendoodles can come in a variety of sizes, depending on whether the Poodle parent is a standard or miniature Poodle. F1 Goldendoodle coats tend to be wavy due to the inheritance of a curly gene from the Poodle parent and a no-curl gene from the golden retriever parent. One of the best things about Goldendoodles is their full spectrum of coat colors, like:

Suitable For:

This Goldendoodle is great for families who are okay with more golden retriever attributes.  They are not guaranteed to be non-shedding and are not hypoallergenic.

F1B Goldendoodle Overview

So, what makes an F1B doodle different from an F1 doodle? The differences are minor, but they’re enough for people to have a strong preference for one or the other. Instead of having one golden retriever parent and one Poodle parent, an F1B Goldendoodle has one Goldendoodle parent and one Poodle or golden retriever parent, i.e. an F1 Goldendoodle is crossed back to one of the original breeds. These doodles crossed back to a Poodle parent are the most popular since 50% of them are non-shedding—which means less time cleaning for you. If the B parent is a golden retriever, the puppies will be genetically more golden retriever than Poodle, in which case they will be more likely to have a straight coat that sheds.  It is clear from this why it is much more common to use a Poodle as the B parent, rather than a golden retriever.

Personality / Character

Since F1B Goldendoodles may be genetically more Poodle than golden retriever  (if the B parent is a Poodle), they may have a more reserved personality like their Poodle parent. They’re still very friendly and love to enjoy the company of other people and pets. F1B Goldendoodles are highly intelligent and are extreme people pleasers, too. They love to learn and excel in training, both for the home and to work as service dogs.

Physical Characteristics

F1B Goldendoodles can have long, thick, curly, wavy or straight fur.  If you want a medium or mini Goldendoodle, you’ll probably end up with an F1B, although F1 Goldendoodles can also come in a variety of sizes. They have the traditional furnishings of a Goldendoodle (scruffy beard, eyebrows, and mustache), but you’ll also notice a pointed nose and a more confident stance with these Doodles. Similarly, F1B Goldendoodles can have the same variety of coat colors and patterns as the F1 Goldendoodle.

Suitable For

50% of F1B Goldendoodles (with a Poodle B parent) will be non-shedding. This doesn’t mean this breed is hypoallergenic, as no breed is.  Even breeds that don’t shed much still produce allergen in their skin dander, their salvia and their urine.  This Goldendoodle may be suitable for families who struggle with mild allergies, or anyone wanting more Poodle characteristics and features.

Which Doodle Is Right for You?

No matter which generation you choose, you will love your Goldendoodle for its gentle and playful nature. First-generation Goldendoodles and F1B Goldendoodles are so similar, and you have to squint to really notice their differences. An F1B Goldendoodle may be easier to deal with than an F1 Goldendoodle if you have mild allergies, but it’s not recommended to get a dog if you have moderate to severe allergies. F1B dogs contain more Poodle characteristics and some will shed far less than a first-generation Goldendoodle. But if you want a Goldendoodle with more golden retriever qualities, the F1 Doodle or an F1B with a golden retriever B parent is your dream come true.

---

Featured Image Credit: (L) Cavan-Images, Shutterstock | (R) Icarus66, Shutterstock