And what is this F1 & F2B Goldendoodle stuff? Why would anyone want one? So what’s a hybrid or “designer” dogs? Are they as healthy as the “pure bred”? Hybrid dogs can still have genetic problems because you are still crossing two first generation dogs; however the percentage of hybrid dogs with genetic problems is much lower than purebred dogs because the gene pool is mixed. It is also important to be aware; not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. While a simple F1 generation cross is said to produce the most hybrid vigor in the dog and the further down the multi-generation chain, the more vigor is lost in the hybrid. But beyond hybrid vigor, there are some huge benefits to multi-generation cross breeding. If you want to improve your chances of certain traits, such as a non-shedding coat, sometimes it is necessary to move further down the generational chain.
A Goldendoodle is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle (usually a Standard Poodle). Like most hybrid dogs “Designer Dogs” or purebred dogs, for that matter (after all, all purebred dogs were originally the result of breeding different breeds or sizes to get a certain type of dog or characteristic! Even thought certain kennel clubs like the AKC refuse to acknowledge this), the preferred characteristics in the Goldendoodle come down to four:
Personality
Intelligence
Coat (often for allergy reasons)
Structure
Quality breeders will only breed dogs that have the best traits. Poodles and Golden Retrievers are dogs ranked high in terms of intelligence (both in the top 5 of all breeds) and both have a long history in the field of obedience, working and service fields and just great family pets. When it comes to coat, the desired result is that wavy/curly coat that sheds little and is hypo-allergenic. Finally, in Structure, strong head and deep chest of the Golden Retriever with the beautiful legs and sense of elegance of the Poodle seem to be the desired look desired by many breeders and families. But this is a very personal issue as we tend to like the finer head structure of the poodle. But to each his own.
Generations
F1 = 1st generation puppy - 50% Golden Retriever and 50% this is first generation, considered having the most hybrid vigor or sturdiness of the breed. In this cross, hair type can be smooth like a Golden Retriever, wirey like an Irish wolfhound, wavy/shaggy or curly like the Poodle, they can shed, lightly shed or not shed at all, and pups in the same litter can vary widely. This is not the best generational makeup for people with bad allergies or wants a non-shedding dog.
F1b = This is the first generation of backcross (or “back-bred”) breeding - 25% Golden Retriever and 75% Poodle(approximately); this is a Goldendoodle bred back to a Poodle, and this coat is more likely to have the wavy curly and shaggy look with less shedding and more allergy friendly.
However, there are a couple of issues with this cross to consider: a) they are likely to have more Poodle characteristics, in terms of structure and coat; b) because there is more of the poodle in the genetic makeup some of hybrid vigor is lost.
F2 = second generation puppy = an F1 Goldendoodle crossed with an F1 Goldendoodle. This combination gets the same percentage of Golden Retriever and Poodle as you would in an F1 hybrid.
F2b = second generation backcross puppy = an F1 bred to an F1b (hybrid backcross) – 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% (approximately) Golden Retriever. H
aving enough Golden Retriever to maintain the desired Structure, the F2b is the more likely of any generational back breeding to have the desired coat that is non-shedding and allergy friendly.
