Goldendoodle Coat Types
A Goldendoodle is a cross between two pure breeds, The Golden Retriever and Poodle. For those who may not be familiar with either breed, let's take a closer look.
A golden retriever coat has a water- repellent coat that is wavy or flat and gold to cream. The coat is made up of two parts, a long and smooth outer coat and the soft and fuzzy under coat. Grooming a golden retriever is relatively low maintenance as they shed seasonally, losing any undercoat that has become dead. It's recommended to give a good brush regularly and shave in between pads with a visit to the groomers for a bath, brush and de shed to keep the skin and coat healthy. The golden retriever coat doesn't tend to hold on to any dirt because it slips off the water-repellent coat. With this in mind they can make great family dogs who love the outside with low grooming commitments. However, their shedding can be somewhat of an issue if allergies are known within the household. A point to mention here, no dog is hypoallergenic. Allergies can come from dander, sweat, saliva and hair in all breeds of dogs. So, minimising the amount of hair lost and around you and your home may help, but never guaranteed.
This why crossing to a poodle has become popular for those with allergies.
Let's now talk about the poodle coat.
Poodles tend to have very curly coats, some softer or coarser than others but still curly. Poodles require high amounts of brushing and regular visits to the groomers. They're curly coats act as a dirt and water magnet and a family trip to the beach may result in sand falling away for days following if you do not wash and brush out on return. Poodles still lose hair; it just gets caught up within the locks of curls. Keeping a poodle shorter will help with a lower maintenance coat, and I advise a trip to the groomers every 6-8 weeks with regular bath and brushing in between.
So, with these two breeds discussed, let's talk furnishings genetics, not to be mixed up with cross breeding generations (F1, F1b etc). A golden retriever furnishings DNA is II. A poodle furnishings DNA is FF. A golden retriever does not have a beard and has hair that does not continuously grow around their face. A poodle does. Left alone and unshaved, a poodle has a hairy muzzle and will grow out until shaved/trimmed.
When you first cross a poodle and golden retriever you will have a full litter of FI. When you start crossing that puppy back to either an FF or FI or II then that litters furnishings will be dependent on A. What you bred back to and B. The percentage of the litter that will conform to what DNA. See below for the grid showing the calculations on how two parents with each poodle & golden retriever furnishing trait, is worked out and how puppies from the same litter can inherit which DNA.
Most breeders will try to always produce goldendoodle puppies that will all have at least one F, so all furnished to create the 'typical teddy look'.
In April 2022 Blossom had a litter of F2B Goldendoodle puppies. My research told me this litter should have wavy coats with a 60/40 poodle mix in look, so typically like a first cross goldendoodle. Around 6 weeks old I could notice 3 coat types within our litter of 12. Flat, wavy and curly. I re looked at the DNA profiles from both parents in closer detail. The parents were both FI so in theory 25% flat (II) 25% curly (FF) and 50% (FI). This made sense as to why we had some flat coated goldendoodles. In my newfound research I wanted to find out more about flat coated goldendoodles. I realised that in most places except the UK, they were actually quite popular. Mainly for their lack of grooming needs. I have since caught up with owners of our flat coated doodles and asked about their shed. The consensus from the 4 of them has been not much to very little shed.
This litter has been my most relaxed and laid back to date. The temperaments of this litter have been noted by new owners and their trainers at puppy classes, to be outstanding.
I believe there is a goldendoodle for everyone. When crossing two very different coat genetics, we must expect a level of difference in their coats.
Having a flatter coated goldendoodle will be less strain on grooming and ideal for very outdoorsy families. Coat traits & furnishings is just one aspect of a Goldendoodle. I breed to raise puppies for family homes, to be loved and cherished for their lives, creating memories and always having a paw on your shoulder when you need it.
Here are some of our pups from our Blossom & Rupert F2B Goldendoodle litter.
A golden retriever coat has a water- repellent coat that is wavy or flat and gold to cream. The coat is made up of two parts, a long and smooth outer coat and the soft and fuzzy under coat. Grooming a golden retriever is relatively low maintenance as they shed seasonally, losing any undercoat that has become dead. It's recommended to give a good brush regularly and shave in between pads with a visit to the groomers for a bath, brush and de shed to keep the skin and coat healthy. The golden retriever coat doesn't tend to hold on to any dirt because it slips off the water-repellent coat. With this in mind they can make great family dogs who love the outside with low grooming commitments. However, their shedding can be somewhat of an issue if allergies are known within the household. A point to mention here, no dog is hypoallergenic. Allergies can come from dander, sweat, saliva and hair in all breeds of dogs. So, minimising the amount of hair lost and around you and your home may help, but never guaranteed.
This why crossing to a poodle has become popular for those with allergies.
Let's now talk about the poodle coat.
Poodles tend to have very curly coats, some softer or coarser than others but still curly. Poodles require high amounts of brushing and regular visits to the groomers. They're curly coats act as a dirt and water magnet and a family trip to the beach may result in sand falling away for days following if you do not wash and brush out on return. Poodles still lose hair; it just gets caught up within the locks of curls. Keeping a poodle shorter will help with a lower maintenance coat, and I advise a trip to the groomers every 6-8 weeks with regular bath and brushing in between.
So, with these two breeds discussed, let's talk furnishings genetics, not to be mixed up with cross breeding generations (F1, F1b etc). A golden retriever furnishings DNA is II. A poodle furnishings DNA is FF. A golden retriever does not have a beard and has hair that does not continuously grow around their face. A poodle does. Left alone and unshaved, a poodle has a hairy muzzle and will grow out until shaved/trimmed.
When you first cross a poodle and golden retriever you will have a full litter of FI. When you start crossing that puppy back to either an FF or FI or II then that litters furnishings will be dependent on A. What you bred back to and B. The percentage of the litter that will conform to what DNA. See below for the grid showing the calculations on how two parents with each poodle & golden retriever furnishing trait, is worked out and how puppies from the same litter can inherit which DNA.
Most breeders will try to always produce goldendoodle puppies that will all have at least one F, so all furnished to create the 'typical teddy look'.
In April 2022 Blossom had a litter of F2B Goldendoodle puppies. My research told me this litter should have wavy coats with a 60/40 poodle mix in look, so typically like a first cross goldendoodle. Around 6 weeks old I could notice 3 coat types within our litter of 12. Flat, wavy and curly. I re looked at the DNA profiles from both parents in closer detail. The parents were both FI so in theory 25% flat (II) 25% curly (FF) and 50% (FI). This made sense as to why we had some flat coated goldendoodles. In my newfound research I wanted to find out more about flat coated goldendoodles. I realised that in most places except the UK, they were actually quite popular. Mainly for their lack of grooming needs. I have since caught up with owners of our flat coated doodles and asked about their shed. The consensus from the 4 of them has been not much to very little shed.
This litter has been my most relaxed and laid back to date. The temperaments of this litter have been noted by new owners and their trainers at puppy classes, to be outstanding.
I believe there is a goldendoodle for everyone. When crossing two very different coat genetics, we must expect a level of difference in their coats.
Having a flatter coated goldendoodle will be less strain on grooming and ideal for very outdoorsy families. Coat traits & furnishings is just one aspect of a Goldendoodle. I breed to raise puppies for family homes, to be loved and cherished for their lives, creating memories and always having a paw on your shoulder when you need it.
Here are some of our pups from our Blossom & Rupert F2B Goldendoodle litter.