When deciding to get a Goldendoodle, you may be surprised at terms like F1 and F1B. What do they mean? Which one is best? Which is most affordable? We’re answering those questions and more right on this page.
Since you’re here, we’re guessing you’ve decided to get a Goldendoodle. Congratulations! Goldendoodles are notorious for their play-friendly, agreeable disposition that’s certain to impress both individual owners and families alike. All that’s left is to decide whether you’re getting an F1 Goldendoodle or an F1B Goldendoodle.
Firstly, let’s just note that we don’t need to talk about temperament. All research into Goldendoodle types has shown that there’s very little difference in their overall temperament and attitude to owners. This is true for F1 and F1B Goldendoodles too.
Instead, we’re going to focus on the coat of each Goldendoodle type, namely the amount of shedding you can expect, how hypoallergenic the coats are, and the grooming procedures for each one.
F1 vs F1B Shedding
The shedding of Goldendoodles will differ depending on if the coat is straight or wavy/curly, but is there any difference between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles? Let’s take a look at what is commonly reported for each type.
It should be noted that straight-haired Goldendoodles are always going to shed more than the other coats, so if that’s an issue for you then you should seek out dogs with straight hair.
F1 Goldendoodles Shedding
F1 Goldendoodles are generally considered to have a coat that doesn’t shed as much. They typically have a minimal amount of shedding from their coats, if at all. It should be said that every dog is different and the conclusions reached about dog coats come from the reports of other owners as opposed to rigorous scientific methods.
With that in mind, it’s also worth mentioning that owners have reported that their F1 Goldendoodles do shed, but that’s a minority of the owners of Goldendoodle dogs.
F1B Goldendoodles Shedding
F1B Goldendoodles are more often lauded for having a non-shedding coat when compared to F1 variants. As with the F1 Goldendoodles, there are still examples where an F1B Goldendoodle does still exhibit some shedding.
F1B Goldendoodles are considered to have less shedding than their F1 counterparts. That said, there’s the potential for shedding with both types and it’s ultimately impossible to say whether any given F1B will have less shedding than an F1 Goldendoodle.
Difference between F1 Goldendoodle vs F1B Goldendoodle
The reason F1B tends to be better than the F1 when looked at from a bird’s eye view, is that F1B Goldendoodles are the children of an F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle. These are called backcrosses and, by doing this, the F1B offspring has even more DNA in them from the Poodle.
Think of it like this – an F1 Goldendoodle is about 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. With real genes, there’s still going to be a little more or less genetic influence based on the exact genes of the parents but for simplicity’s sake, let’s keep the ratio at 50/50.
If you’ve backcrossed by breeding an F1 Goldendoodle with another Poodle, they should have 75% Poodle genetics with 25% Golden Retriever genetics. This makes the coat more wavy/curly, so F1Bs tend to shed less than F1 dogs.
As we said, the straightness of the coat is a huge factor in shedding ability when it comes to all Goldendoodle types, no matter the genes or colors of the dog.
F1 vs F1B Hypoallergenic Ability
One of the main benefits of Goldendoodles and similar Poodle crossbreeds is their hypoallergenic coats. While no dog’s coat is truly and completely hypoallergenic, those with asthma and other allergic conditions typically have no problems with the coats of Poodles.
If you’ve got somebody with allergies in the home, then this is a huge buying factor when looking for a dog. Which is better for hypoallergenic coats, F1s or F1Bs?
Here’s a brief rundown but, as you’ll see, hypoallergenic ability goes hand-in-hand with how much a dog’s coat sheds.
F1 Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic
F1 Goldendoodles, and the Goldendoodle breed as a whole, are considered to be great dogs for those who want a hypoallergenic pet. They typically won’t trigger allergies where other dogs would, though there will always be members of the breed who may trigger slight allergies but not as much as other dogs.
F1B Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic
Following the pattern of how much F1Bs shed, F1Bs tend to be more hypoallergenic than F1 Goldendoodles. Once again, this is because of the increased Poodle genetics that is present in F1B Goldendoodles over F1 Goldendoodles. As always, a straighter-haired Goldendoodle will have a less hypoallergenic coat than a curly one, so other individual characteristics present in the dog matter.
Which Breed Wins?
If you want the best chance of securing a hypoallergenic pet, you should opt for a curly or wavy-haired F1B Goldendoodle pup. This should produce the best chances for hypoallergenic ability because the higher amount of Poodle DNA present in F1Bs makes them predisposed to curly, hypoallergenic coats.
That all said, an F1 will also do just fine as a hypoallergenic dog a lot of the time. Just make sure they have a curly coat and don’t come from a Poodle parentage that lacks the hypoallergenic ability for whatever reason. When paying attention to specific traits of a pup, getting information on the parents should tell you everything you need to know.
F1 vs F1B Grooming
Since we’ve established there can be differences between the coats of F1 generation and F1B generation Goldendoodles, let’s take a look at grooming to see which one is easier to take care of.
F1 Goldendoodles Grooming
While they’re great for many things, F1 Goldendoodles do require some TLC to keep their coats shiny and their hearts healthy. They need to be taken care of more than the average dog breed, especially if you want their coats to stay short and glossy.
F1B Goldendoodles Grooming
When it comes to grooming, there isn’t that much difference between the F1 and F1B Goldendoodles if they have the same characteristics. Once again, it’s those individual variations that require more grooming. Like with human hair, wavy and curly hair tends to knot more and can catch debris if it comes into contact with it.
As we’ve covered, F1B dogs are much more likely to have curly and wavy coats because they have more Poodle and Golden Retriever in them.
Which Breed Wins?
In terms of which ones are easiest to groom, an F1 Goldendoodle is likely to give you fewer problems. That said, it’s the coat texture that matters most and F1B Goldendoodles tend to have more Poodle-like coats. While that’s great for non-shedding and hypoallergenic abilities, those coats come with grooming baggage.
You can get F1 and F1B Goldendoodles with neat, easily groomed coats. Likewise, you can get both F1 and F1B dogs who have hypoallergenic coats that need more grooming. If you’ve decided on which type you want, you should be able to shop around and find a pet whose grooming needs are easier for you to keep up with.
If you don’t want to do much grooming at all, then Goldendoodles are a bad breed for you. Both types will require grooming often, the main difference between F1 and F1B grooming is the likelihood that the coat is curly, which influences how quickly the coats get dirty and knotted.
F1 vs F1B Goldendoodle: Which Breed is Best Overall?
Now that we’ve considered the main points of difference between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles, those being the differences in their coats, let’s take a look at which breed is best:
| F1 Goldendoodle | F1B Goldendoodle | |
| Shedding | Light shedding | Very light or non-shedding |
| Hypoallergenic Ability | Lots of hypoallergenic ability | Even more hypoallergenic ability |
| Grooming | High level of care | Even higher level of care |
These are generalities, of course, as we’ve stressed multiple times throughout this page. Still, F1Bs are best for shedding and hypoallergenic-ness when looked at from far away.
This comes with a price, as F1B coats tend to need even more grooming than F1 coats, though both require more grooming than the average dog breed.
Both F1 and F1B dogs can have straighter hair than their fellow Goldendoodles if their Poodle parents carried those genes. This can reduce the level of grooming required but it also makes the dog shed more and the coat won’t be as hypoallergenic, so it’s all about finding your balance.
Final Thought
Only you can decide which Goldendoodle you’d prefer, we can only present each characteristic and let you make your own decision. Either way, you can’t go far wrong with this loveable and energetic doodle.
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