So what are F1 Goldendoodles? I’m sure in your research, either for a new Goldendoodle or if you already have one, that you have come across the term “F1 Goldendoodle” before. The “F1” is a fancy way of saying the first generation. The F1 standard Goldendoodle is the first Goldendoodle generation or the “original” Goldendoodle breed. If you have questions about F1 Goldendoodles or want to see what your F1 Goldendoodle puppy will look like, we’ll go through what an F1 standard Goldendoodle is and all its characteristics and types.
What is a F1 Goldendoodle?
F1 Goldendoodles are the first generation of the Goldendoodle. They are a hybrid breed between a full-bred standard Golden Retriever and a full-bred standard Poodle. This means that an F1 Goldendoodle will carry 50% of a Poodle’s genes and 50% of a Golden Retriever’s genes.
As you can see from the chart, the F1 was the start of the Goldendoodle breed. Now in recent years, the Goldendoodle has gone through many generations that are as popular, if not more, than the F1.
Subsequent generations include the F1b, F1bb, F2, and so on. I talk about these generations in other articles, but each generation was made to have slightly different characteristics than the prior. The F1 Goldendoodle is just the “tip of the iceberg.”
What does the “F1” in F1 Goldendoodle mean?
Ok time for a history lesson! The “F” in F1 stands for the word, filial. Filial comes from the Latin word filial, meaning “son” or “offspring”. The “1” denotes the first generation. So an F1 Goldendoodle can officially be called the first filial generation! I don’t know about you, but I think F1 just has a better ring to it…..The F1 designation can be related to any breed that is a 50/50 cross between two Pure Breeds, but it is mostly relegated to the doodle breeds.
F1 Goldendoodle Appearance
The F1 Goldendoodle’s appearance is similar to all other first generation of Goldendoodles. Most of the time, it’s hard to tell the difference between an F1 and an F1b. Since they have more Golden Retriever genes than the generations that followed, they are more susceptible to having a more “Retriever appearance”. What I mean by this is that F1s have a greater likelihood of:
- Having a straighter coat compared to curly
- Greater chance of no furnishings
F1 Goldendoodles might have a straighter coat
Golden Retrievers have straight hair, Poodles have curly hair. F1’s have more Golden Retriever genes. More Golden Retriever genes equal……….you guessed it, more Golden Retriever traits.
That’s not saying that F1 Goldendoodles can’t get those luscious curls in their coats; many do. It’s just that F1’s have a greater likelihood of getting a more wavy/straight coat than F1b and F1bb Goldendoodles. Here’s an example of a straighter coat than a curly one.
You can see in the picture that the coat still has some curls in there, just not as curly as a Poodle’s coat would be.
F1 Goldendoodles have a greater probability of no furnishings
In the Goldendoodle industry, they call this the “improper coat.” Basically, it’s a Goldendoodle without furnishings.
What are furnishings? Furnishings are the longer hairs on a Goldendoodles’ face that give it that “scruffy, teddy bear” look. It’s the fluffy beard, long eyebrows, and mustache or the “doodle” look.
The reason F1 Goldendoodles have a greater probability is because of the genetics. Since they are 50% Golden Retriever, the probability of a F1 Goldendoodle puppy no developing furnishings is greater than a F1b or a F1bb.
F1 Goldendoodle Shedding
Out of the different Goldendoodle generations, the F1 Goldendoodle WILL shed the most. This is due to F1’s having at least 50% Golden Retriever genes (Golden Retrievers are the culprit of shedding, not the Poodle side).
Now compared to other dog breeds, an F1 Goldendoodle will shed significantly less, but comparing it to other Goldendoodles, it will be the most. Even though an F1 is more likely to shed more than other Goldendoodles, it shouldn’t deter you from not looking at the breed.
I would only suggest that if you have mild allergies, maybe look for F1b or F1bb Goldendoodles as they have more Poodle genes.
Besides the appearance and shedding differences compared to other generations of Goldendoodles, the F1 Goldendoodle will have the same great characteristics and qualities as the overall Goldendoodle breed.
So do you think the F1 is the right choice for you? Or how are you enjoying your F1 Goldendoodle? Drop a comment below; I would love to hear it!
If you have any family or friends looking at F1 Goldendoodles and need advice, please feel free to share this article with them!
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