The Goldendoodle is a designer dog breed and a cross between the playful Golden Retriever and the intelligent Poodle. But, depending on its parents, each Goldendoodle generation has its unique characteristics.
One of the OG designer dogs, a Goldendoodle, is a cross between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. But there’s more to the adorable Goldendoodles than just having parents from two different breeds!
There are not only different generations decided by the percentage of their parentage, but there are also many different types of Goldendoodles. So many that it can be a struggle to keep track of them.
Generations F1, F1B, F2, and F2B of this breed may share the same roots but differ in many ways. But before you learn more about the different types of Goldendoodles and their distinct characteristics, you might want to understand what the alphabets and letters mean.
Before you get to the different types of Goldendoodles, it’s important to understand what the terminology used in their labeling signifies. It may seem confusing initially, but it will help you in the long run, especially if you plan on getting home a Goldendoodle.
“F” stands for Filial Hybrid and signifies that the dog is a hybrid and the offspring of two purebred dogs. The letter “F” always comes first when labeling the Goldendoodle generations.
The number following “F” is the primary indicator of the generation of a Goldendoodle. The number 1 is used for a first-generation Goldendoodle and 2 for a second-generation Goldendoodle.
This letter is typically at the end of the label for a specific generation and means a backcross. It indicates that the Goldendoodle generation was bred back to a purebred poodle. Breeding back to a purebred Golden Retriever also happens, but very rarely.
In some instances, you might see the double “BB,” meaning it was backcrossed with a poodle twice.
Now that the labeling terminology is out of the way, you can use this Goldendoodle generations chart to understand which type suits you and your family best.
This variety is a direct crossbreed between a pure Golden Retriever and a pure Poodle. In other words — 100% Golden Retriever x 100% Poodle = F1, which means the best of both breeds.
Being a first-generation hybrid, these Goldendoodles are often better versions of their parents, both physically and mentally. So, expect them to be full of vigor, highly intelligent, and have a gentle yet playful nature.
Deacon Navarro of Michigan agrees that this teddy bear-lookalike first-gen is also the most common of the lot. It’s your familiar half-and-half type that’s big on biological advantages. People, especially kids, fall in love with them at first sight because of their affable dispositions.
Social and outgoing, these dogs love being with their humans. Pick them only if you can spend quality time with them.
Allergy Potential: These dogs are not hypoallergenic. They’re great for people with no or only mild allergies.
Coat: May be wavy, curly, or straight and can grow up to 5 inches in length. The breed requires a haircut every few months, along with weekly combing, and regular grooming.
Shedding: Heavy to light
Grooming: Moderate to high
When an F1 Goldendoodle is mated with a purebred Poodle, you get an F1B offspring, i.e., 100% Poodle x F1 Goldendoodle = F1B.
While you can also mate an F1 Goldendoodle to a purebred Golden Retriever, this is rare.
This type has 25% to 75% Poodle or Retriever makeup, depending on which breed was used in the backcross. This generation shows the vigor and personality of F1 dogs along with the dominant traits of the other parent breed.
If a Poodle is used, the F1B will likely have a curlier coat, shed less, and show a more Poodle-leaning personality. Such dogs are loyal, intelligent, and quite mischievous.
F1Bs with a Golden Retriever parent also shed less but have straight fur. In addition, they tend to be more even-tempered, intelligent, reliable, and affectionate by nature.
Allergy Potential: Most hypoallergenic of all the varieties. Relatively safe to have around, even for people with severe allergies.
Coat: May be wavy, curly, or straight, depending on the F1 parent. The F1B coat shows more color variations as compared to F1.
Shedding: Typically non-shedding 99% of the time. They also shed less than a Golden Retriever.
Grooming: Moderate to high
My F2 pup Biff is 15 weeks!! #goldendoodle #dogsoftwitter #woof pic.twitter.com/e3LO5r4Nw3
— Brian Scott Harris (@BrianScottHarr2) November 6, 2021
This second-generation Goldendoodle has two F1s as parents. To put it simply, F1 Goldendoodle x F1 Goldendoodle OR F2 Goldendoodle x Poodle = F2.
These Goldendoodles have 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle DNA, the same as F1s, and share numerous similarities.
Like their parents, shedding is quite unpredictable in F2s. However, compared to the F1B generation, these Goldendoodles are often heavy shedders.
Allergy potential: Not ideal for people with moderate to severe allergies.
Coat: May be curly, wavy, or straight.
Shedding: Quite unpredictable. They may be full shedders (25% of them), low to heavy shedders (50%), or non-shedders (25%).
Grooming: Varies depending on which parental traits they inherit.
Usually a cross of F1 Goldendoodle x F1B or F2 x Poodle, the F2B is a third-generation offspring.
With this variety, the dominant breed traits typically come from the Poodle. Though not a common generation, they are a solid breed that exhibits the Goldendoodle’s trademark vivacious personality.
Allergy potential: Generally hypoallergenic and great for people with moderate allergies.
Coat: Curly, wavy, or straight.
Shedding: May be non-shedding (25-50%), low shedding (0-25%), or heavy shedding (50%).
Grooming: Moderate to high
Check out the Goldendoodle generations chart below to know more about these breeds and the types within them.
| Type | 1st Parent | 2nd Parent | % Golden Retriever | % Poodle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 Goldendoodle (first-generation) |
Golden Retriever | Poodle | 50% | 50% |
| F1B Goldendoodle (first-generation backcross) |
F1 Goldendoodle | Poodle | 25% | 75% |
| F1BB Goldendoodle (first-generation backcross backcross) |
F1B Goldendoodle | Poodle | 12.5% | 87.5% |
| F2 Goldendoodle (second-generation) |
F1 Goldendoodle | F1 Goldendoodle | 50% | 50% |
| F2B Goldendoodle (second-generation backcross) |
F1 Goldendoodle | F1B Goldendoodle | 37.5% | 62.5% |
| F2B Goldendoodle (alternate cross) |
F2 Goldendoodle | Poodle | 25% | 75% |
| F3 / Multigen Goldendoodle | F1B Goldendoodle or higher | F1B Goldendoodle or higher | Varies | Varies |
All the different Goldendoodle generations are pretty clever and very sociable. They love to play, love their food, and enjoy hanging around their humans.
But before you jump the gun, know that these energetic dogs need a lot of activity. Expect a lifetime of dog races, fun playtime, and mentally stimulating puzzles. So, if you prefer a laidback lifestyle, a Goldendoodle may not be a good fit for you.
Because they are so popular, Goldendoodles are relatively expensive, too. They also require more grooming than your average dog.
However, most of them are pretty easy to handle and make good companions, even for kids.
Desiree Seitz from Pennsylvania observes, “They are popular because they are truly such great pets. The retriever in them makes them great family dogs, but the poodle in them makes them smarter (not always, though) and sheds less.”
If you’ve decided that a Goldendoodle is your canine of choice, it may be a good idea to consider the variety of colors and coats they can have.
Goldendoodles come in a wide range of exciting colors. Take a look at some common Goldendoodle coat colors to choose from.
Cream Goldendoodles are often mistaken for white Goldendoodles and Labradoodles because they share a similar light coat. However, some cream Goldendoodles may also develop pinkish skin prone to sunburn.
This is one of the most popular coats in Goldendoodles, and the apricot color only contributes to the dog’s teddy bear-like appearance.
Red Goldendoodles are another popular coat color because of how bright the red mahogany shade is and how much it resembles teddy bears.
Brown is a standard coat color found in Goldendoodles. The hues may range from deep mahogany to dark walnut. The color is usually inherited from the Poodle parent’s dominant gene.
An all-black coat is unique among Goldendoodles as it comes from a recessive gene. So, a Goldendoodle will have a black coat only if both Golden Retriever and Poodle parents have that gene, making it extremely rare.
Gray Goldendoodles are usually black or dark-colored pups that shed their puppy coat for a gray or rustic silver coat.
The Parti coat is a combination of white and another color, usually tan or apricot. It results from recessive genes overruling a typically single-colored coat.
Merle Goldendoodles are characterized by mottled or naturally faded color patches. These patches are often red, black, blue, or brown.
Phantom Goldendoodles are defined by two colors — one that covers most of their body and another covering their lower legs and the area around their eyes and muzzle.
The coat of tan Goldendoodles combines the colors of apricot and cream Goldendoodles. They inherit the light fur shade from the Golden Retriever parent.
Blue Goldendoodles are often confused for gray or silver doodles. It’s a rare, dark gray coat with patches.
Brindle is defined by a red base with black stripes on the coat.
This coat is a rich dark brown commonly associated with teddy bear-like dogs.
The Sable coat starts with a solid black or dark brown puppy coat. And as the pup grows into its adult coat, the overall coat lightens yet maintains black tips.
It’s easy to get confused with the gray, blue, and silver Goldendoodles. On the Goldendoodle types chart, silver refers to a rare lighter shade that resembles the natural silver hair in older people.
Tuxedo Goldendoodles are defined by their rare black-and-white coat. This appearance is more likely to occur in second- or third-generation Doodles.
A full grown Goldendoodle might not have the same coat texture and appearance it did when it was born. After all, a Goldendoodle will shed its puppy coat before it turns one year old.
Both Poodles and Golden Retrievers carry long hair genetics, so it’s no surprise that Goldendoodles have a generally long coat, especially compared to Labradoodles.
A Goldendoodle can have curly, wavy, or straight hair, depending on the curl gene inherited from its parents.
My dogs bring so much joy to my life! Isn’t Gus’ high five impressive? pic.twitter.com/npTHClvyXA
— Paula Deen (@Paula_Deen) June 25, 2017
Given the contrast in sizes between Golden Retrievers and Poodles, we can expect Goldendoodles to come in different sizes.
What the Fact! Did you know that the different variations in sizes of the Goldendoodle are thanks to its Poodle lineage?
Since poodles come in different sizes, like toy, miniature, and standard, the same sizing applies to Goldendoodles, too. Goldendoodle types generally come in three sizes.
So, studying the different types of Goldendoodle sizes is important to determine which would suit your household.
According to the Goldendoodle Association Of North America, the following are the Goldendoodle types based on sizes:
Petite Goldendoodles are teacup breeds that can sometimes be smaller than cats. Many people associate them with tiny teddy bears, which is why they’re so adored by many.
Both males and females have an average weight of 20 to 35 pounds and stand around 15 inches tall. However, some Petite Goldendoodles can be as short as 8 inches at the shoulder and as light as 7 pounds as adults.
According to research, Miniature Poodles are more genetically diverse than Standard Poodles. This is inherited by the Mini Goldendoodle, which stands at roughly 16 to 20 inches and weighs 35 to 50 pounds.
Both male and female Mini Goldendoodles have the same average weight, unlike other breeds, where males tend to be heavier than females.
A standard-sized Goldendoodle’s height is typically 22 inches or taller. Males can weigh between 55 and 70 pounds, while females weigh around 50 to 60 pounds.
A slightly smaller standard Goldendoodle, ranging from 17 to 20 inches in height and up to 50 pounds in weight, may be referred to as a medium Goldendoodle.
Keep in mind that these measurements are only estimates. The final size category of a dog is determined at adulthood.
Goldendoodles are generally hypoallergenic. According to dog parent Chance Driscoll, they make a great choice for those who want a sporting group dog but can’t handle shedding or have allergies.
It means first-generation backcross. F1Bs come from one F1 Goldendoodle and one purebred Poodle parent.
F2 has two F1s as parents, while F2B is a mix of F1 and F1B. They are second-generation Goldendoodle types.
The F1B generation is the most hypoallergenic crossbreed of the lot.
Also, I’m a 🐶 Mom! I’m in love with my F1b Goldendoodle! Best pal ever 🥺😩🤍 pic.twitter.com/XvRxsInGHL
— Karína (@karyyyc) March 2, 2021
An F1B Goldendoodle pup typically grows to be mini or standard as an adult dog.
A healthy Goldendoodle has an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Of course, genetics can play a role, too.
The toy/teacup size usually lives the longest, averaging 13 to 16 years.
Goldendoodles are also subject to health risks inherited from their parent breeds.
Even though they are generally of sound health, providing them with proper care and nutrition is still vital for keeping this mixed breed in good health. Like other crossbreeds, the risk of genetic diseases remains.
Golden Retrievers and Poodles are among the most intelligent breeds, alongside Border Collies and German Shepherds. So, it’s no surprise that Goldendoodles are also razor sharp.
They have keen social awareness and remarkable problem-solving abilities. Moreover, they pick up on commands quickly, so training them won’t be a challenge.
Additionally, Goldendoodles are quite in tune with their human companions’ emotions, so expect a reassuring nuzzle or an affectionate lick from them whenever you feel down!
We have two F1 Goldendoodles who are full brothers. The smart one (right) takes after mom (black Standard Poodle). His sweet older brother takes after dad (Golden Retriever) and I could totally see him doing this if he ever ran into a glass door. pic.twitter.com/uW5futvhnY
— Todd Gangel (@ToddGangel) January 5, 2022
Goldendoodle dogs are affectionate, playful, and intelligent. But they are also a generally high-maintenance breed. They need professional grooming services every six to eight weeks to keep them clean and prevent their coats from matting. You can groom your pet at home, too, if you know how to trim and handle its coat.
Some people assume smaller Goldendoodles are easier to maintain than larger ones. However, they still require regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy. And given how energetic they can be, they might actually enjoy joining you on hikes and other outdoor adventures.
A Goldendoodle’s coat may change over time. It’s a subtle change in some dogs and dramatic in others. Either way, Goldendoodles generally shed their puppy coat when they’re four to eight months old. Then, they start growing out denser, stiffer adult coats, which tend to be a tad lighter.
Furnishings are a mutation in the gene RSPO2 that affects a dog’s coat. It leads to a wiry hair texture and more hair growth on their legs and faces. It’s known as an “improper coat” because it’s outside the breed’s standard appearance. While it’s not a disease that affects your dog’s health, it can be passed down to its offspring.
Understanding the different generations and types of Goldendoodles can go a long way in helping you find your perfect furry companion. We hope the Goldendoodle types chart we’ve explained gives you an idea of all the different types of Goldendoodles.
Different Goldendoodle generations offer a variety of unique personality traits, coats, and patterns. While there is still some degree of guesswork at play (the DNA lottery is quite unpredictable relative to traits), you can still get an idea of what to expect in your chosen Goldendoodle!
Each generation is special in its own unique way. It all depends on how compatible you are with the Goldendoodle you choose!
A digital marketing expert by profession, Andrews is a gifted writer and animal lover at heart. A self-confessed "pawrent", Andrews is well-versed in all things dogs. He uses his years of experience of raising puppies into show-quality dogs to help guide first-time pet parents. He believes in spreading the joy that comes with being a dog dad and advocates more families to adopt pets.
