What is an F2 Goldendoodle? What does an F2 Goldendoodle mean?
The different generations and types of Goldendoodles can get confusing. I get it. That’s why I’m here to help clarify things.
If you are new to Goldendoodles, I’m glad you are researching them. Goldendoodles are amazing dogs and wonderful pets.
Goldendoodles are a mixed dog breed between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. The offspring of this cross-breeding are called F1 Goldendoodles. This is the first generation of the Goldendoodle.
The Goldendoodle types that follow the F1 are the F1b & the F1bb Goldendoodle. These generations are “backcrossed” with a purebred Poodle. This means to get an F1b Goldendoodle; an F1 Goldendoodle is bred with a purebred Poodle. The same goes for the F1bb Goldendoodle, an F1b Goldendoodle is bred with a purebred Poodle.
The next generation that follows the F1bb is the F2 Goldendoodle.
What is a F2 Goldendoodle?
F2 Goldendoodles are the first “second generation” of Goldendoodles. This means that F2 Goldendoodles are the first Goldendoodle bred using two Goldendoodle parents. The parents that produce F2 Goldendoodles are an F1 Goldendoodle and another F1 Goldendoodle.
![](https://mygoldendood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Goldendoodle-Generation-Chart.jpg)
Because F2 Goldendoodles have two F1 Goldendoodles as parents, their gene split is approximately 50/50 between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle (F1 Goldendoodles have around 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle). So F2 Goldendoodles have more Golden Retriever genes than the F1b and the F1bb Goldendoodle. So why are F2 Goldendoodles bred when they have the same genetic makeup as an F1 Goldendoodle? Because of the varieties that can come with an F2 Goldendoodle!
An F1 Goldendoodle has two purebred parents, so their genetic makeup will come from both parents. F2 Goldendoodles, on the other hand, have genetic makeups of four purebreds since F2’s come from two F1 Goldendoodles.
F2s are not as popular with breeders as other generations due to the unpredictability of the offspring, but don’t let this deter you from getting one! F2 Goldendoodles are excellent, and the unpredictability of their characteristics makes them very unique!
What does F2 Goldendoodle Mean?
You might be wondering why F2 Goldendoodles are called F2. The “F” stands for “filial,” which is Latin for “son” or “offspring.” The “2” represents the “second” generation. So F2 means “the offspring of the second generation.”
F2 Goldendoodle Appearance
![](https://mygoldendood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/iStock-1364004185-1-1024x683.jpg)
The appearance of the F2 Goldendoodle is one of the biggest reasons F2 Goldendoodles were bred. Since the F2’s genes are mixed even further than the F1’s, their appearances can differ significantly from their parents.
F2 Goldendoodles can have curly, wavy, or straight coats. Since they have around 50% of a Golden Retrievers genes, their coats are more likely to be double coats and have straighter hair than an F1b or an F1bb Goldendoodle.
One thing that is important when you are looking into F2 Goldendoodles is to see if they have a double coat or not. Purebred Golden Retrievers all have double coats. If your F2 Goldendoodle has a double coat, it shouldn’t be shaved. The double coat regulates their body temperature, so it should never be shaved.
F2 Goldendoodles also have a greater likelihood of having no furnishings. Furnishings are the longer hairs found on Goldendoodles’ faces that give them the “teddy bear” look.
Their coats can come in all different colors, including:
- Cream
- Apricot
- Black
- Chocolate
- Black and White Parti
- Red
- Merle (Chocolate and Blue)
- Phantom (Chocolate and Black)
- Blue
- Silver
- Grey
- Tan
All of these coat colors can be found in other Goldendoodle generations, but what makes the F2 Goldendoodle unique is that some rarer colors such as blue, grey, and phantom can be more common in F2s.
Because F2 Goldendoodles are bred with two F1 Goldendoodles, these recessive colors can now be shown relatively consistently.
The genetics behind the coat colors are extensive, so I’ll save that for another article. To make things simple, know that if you are looking for a rare color such as phantom or blue, F2 Goldendoodles or other multi-generational Goldendoodles are more likely to have these colors.
F2 Goldendoodle Personality
The personality of an F2 Goldendoodle is similar to all other Goldendoodle generations.
The only slight difference that might occur with the personality of an F2 compared to the others would be that the F2 might develop more of the Golden Retriever personality.
This is a big reason why people chose an F2 over the other generations because F2s have the probability of getting more Golden Retriever genes, even compared to an F1 Goldendoodle.
Since F2s and multi-generational Goldendoodles exhibit more cross-breeding than the F1, F1b, & F1bb, the genes can be unpredictable.
F2 Goldendoodle Shedding
![](https://mygoldendood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Shedding-768x1024.jpg)
Shedding is a big reason why people gravitate towards getting a Goldendoodle. They want the low shedding coat as well as the personality of a Golden Retriever.
When it comes to F2 Goldendoodles, it’s the same as their appearance and personality; it’s hard to predict. Some F2s will have a curlier low shedding coat, while some will have a straight (flat) coat and shed just like a Golden Retriever.
The good news is that breeders have now started getting a better understanding of the outcomes of F2s and other multi-generational Goldendoodles. This means that it’s easier to predict whether offspring will have a shedding coat or not.
If you are looking for an almost certain low-shedding Goldendoodle, I recommend looking at the F1b and F1bb. These generations of Goldendoodle have minimal shedding since they have more Poodle genes. My Goldendoodle, Nash, is an F1bb, and he barely sheds at all.
F2 Goldendoodle vs F1
Besides the different ancestry and F2s being more unpredictable regarding their appearance and characteristics, there aren’t a lot of differences between an F2 & F1 Goldendoodle. You will likely find F2 Goldendoodles looking and acting the same way as F1 Goldendoodles.
If I were looking at getting either an F1 or an F2, I would first ask myself if I would be ok with shedding. Even though litters of both generations could have pups that shed, the F2 litter might have more pups that shed compared to the F1 litter. Secondly, I would ask myself if I would prefer a Goldendoodle with more Golden Retriever traits. Again, the F1 and F2 litters might have some that fit this preference, but the F2 litter has a higher probability of having more pups with these traits. Lastly, I would ask myself if I would be ok with the unpredictability. With F2 Goldendoodles, it’s very hard to predict the appearance and traits that you will get. At least you know that it’s between two great breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle!
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