If you want to own a Goldendoodle, you’ll probably have seen abbreviations like F1 and F1B in their advertisements.
It’s also likely that you have asked for the meaning of the terms F1 and F1B Goldendoodle.
These abbreviations refer to particular generations of Goldendoodles.
The proportion of Golden Retriever and Poodle in each generation can vary because the Goldendoodle is a hybrid between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever.
Both Goldendoodle breeds are adorable and intelligent puppies.
Even so, there are major variations between them when it comes to shedding, appearance, grooming ease, hypoallergenicity, and other factors.
Knowing the differences will help you decide which is the best option for you.
In this article, we’ll clarify the significance of these abbreviations as well as the contrasts between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles.
As a result, at the end of this post, you’ll know which generation is best for you.
What Does F1 Mean?
Firstly, let’s dissect what F1 means in the phrase F1 Goldendoodle.
F stands for Filial, which indicates that the Goldendoodle is crossbred rather than purebred.
Since any Goldendoodle comes from a mix of a Golden Retriever and Poodle, F will appear in their name.
1 stands for the first-generation descendants of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
F1 refers to the first generation of descendants from different parent breeds.
What’s the Meaning of F1B?
F1B has a similar meaning to F1, except for the B, which means Backcross.
The F also means Filial, which means it is a hybrid dog.
The 1 still means it’s a first-generation Golden Retriever-Poodle offspring.
As a result, F2 refers to the 2nd filial generation from two different parent breeds.
What Is an F1 Goldendoodle?
The F1 Goldendoodle is a first-generation hybrid breed between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden Retriever, resulting in a 50 percent Poodle and 50 percent Golden Retriever.
To put it another way, an F1 Goldendoodle would be genetically half Golden Retriever and half Poodle.
What Is an F1B Goldendoodle?
The F1B Goldendoodle is created by combining a First generation Goldendoodle with a 100% Poodle, resulting in a 75 percent Poodle and 25 percent Golden Retriever first-generation backcross F1B Goldendoodle.
Dog owners and breeders like them because of their hypoallergenic and non-shedding coat.
“How do you get a 25 percent Golden Retriever 75 percent Poodle?” you might wonder.
To be honest, the answer isn’t all that complicated.
They breed a First generation Goldendoodle, then backcross it with either a purebred Poodle or a purebred Golden Retriever.
Because of their non-shedding and hypoallergenic characteristics, most Goldendoodle breeders prefer to mix a purebred Poodle with a First generation Goldendoodle.
A First generation Goldendoodle —50 percent Poodle and 50 percent Golden Retriever— produces an F1B Goldendoodle —75 percent Poodle and 25 percent Golden Retriever— when crossed with a 100 percent Poodle.
Why are F1B Goldendoodles Bred?
Breeders choose the F1B Goldendoodle because of its hypoallergenic and non-shedding coat.
Besides that, being a hybrid, F1B Goldendoodles have many health benefits.
They are more robust than their purebred parents due to this.
As a result, F1B’s hypoallergenic nature makes it an ideal alternative for people with dog allergies.
Comparison: F1 Vs. F1B Goldendoodle
Let’s take a look at the contrasts between the F1 and the F1B Goldendoodles in terms of appearance, genetics, shedding, grooming ease, health, hypoallergenic standard, and expenses.
Appearance
The F1 Goldendoodle and the F1B Goldendoodle look almost identical, but their sizes and coat types vary significantly.
Take a look at the comparison of their sizes and coats.
F1 Goldendoodle
Straight, wavy, or curly coats are all coat types that the F1 Goldendoodle has.
Because of the 50/50 genetic makeup of Golden Retrievers and Poodles, it’s impossible to say how their coat will look or how much fur they’ll shed.
The F1 standard size was the first breed of Goldendoodle, and it is the product of a Standard Poodle bred with a Golden Retriever.
Its mature weight ranges from 50 to 70 pounds.
A purebred Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle bred with a purebred Golden Retriever produces an F1 mini or medium Goldendoodle.
Their mature weight ranges from 25 to 45 pounds.
F1B Goldendoodle
The coat of an F1B Goldendoodle is typically wavy or curly.
It has significantly more curls than an F1 Goldendoodle, and these curls are more refined.
Its resemblance is primarily because of the Poodle gene, which accounts for 75% of its DNA.
If the parents of an F1B Goldendoodle are of similar proportions, the F1B Goldendoodle’s size is more predictable.
A 24-pound Poodle and a 20-pound F1 Goldendoodle, for example, would produce F1B mini Goldendoodle puppies whose weight ranges from 15 to 30 pounds when mature.
Goldendoodles may have coats that are white, black, gray, copper, red, apricot, or golden.
However, golden is the most common coat color.
The Goldendoodle’s feathering is usually white, and their coat color tends to become lighter as the dog gets older.
Genetics
The genetics of Goldendoodles varies from generation to generation because of gene variation.
Let’s look at the genetic differences between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles.
F1 Goldendoodle
The F1 Goldendoodle inherits 50% of its genetic code from the Golden Retriever and 50% from the Poodle. It’s a result of a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. Since they are relatively easy to breed between a small Golden Retriever and a toy Poodle, many breeders prefer to breed F1 mini Goldendoodles.
F1B Goldendoodle
The F1B Goldendoodle, on the other hand, has a genetic profile that is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever.
It is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle.
Shedding
Goldendoodles are popular for their low shedding characteristic.
What are the variations in shedding between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles, you might ask? Let’s take a look!
F1 Goldendoodle
These dogs can be a bit unpredictable when it comes to shedding.
While a few F1 Goldendoodles shed very little, many others don’t.
Despite this, you can’t say whether your F1 Goldendoodle will shed until it reaches its adult coat between 12 to 18 months old, which complicates it even more.
F1B Goldendoodle
Meanwhile, the F1B Goldendoodle is a standard non-shedding breed.
You’ll only see these dogs rarely shed, if at all. Thus, the F1 Goldendoodle sheds significantly more than the F1B Goldendoodle.
Ease of Grooming
Since Goldendoodles do not shed, they must be groomed on a regular basis.
However, due to their different shedding speeds, the grooming ease of F1 and F1B Goldendoodles varies.
Let’s take a look at the differences between them.
F1 Goldendoodle
F1 Goldendoodles will take more maintenance than the average dog’s because it sheds more often.
F1B Goldendoodle
The F1B Goldendoodle’s hair, like the F1 Goldendoodle, needs a lot of grooming.
Since they are Goldendoodles with curly coats, they need a lot of grooming to keep their fur from matting and tangling.
As a result, the F1B Goldendoodle’s fur must be trimmed every 2–3 months.
Health
Since they have the highest hybrid vigor, the first generation of Goldendoodles has the best health traits.
Let’s compare the F1 and F1B to see which one has the most health benefits.
F1 Goldendoodle
The F1 Goldendoodle has a health advantage known as Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, which is one of the best things about them.
A hybrid dog’s vigor means that it is stronger and more resilient than its purebred parents.
This is because purebred dogs’ inbreeding causes the same genetic defects to be passed on from generation to generation.
Since it is a crossbreed dog, the F1 Goldendoodle is not included.
It can only inherit genetic defects that its parents, the Poodle and Golden Retriever, have.
F1B Goldendoodle
The F1B Goldendoodle, on the other hand, has a lower hybrid vigor trait than the F1 Goldendoodle.
This is due to the fact that the F1B Goldendoodle is essentially a second-generation crossbred, which means they will inherit less of the hybrid vigor.
Expenses
Because of the differences in their characteristics and disposition, the price and costs of F1 and F1B Goldendoodles vary.
Here are the differences between their prices and costs.
F1 Goldendoodle
F1 Goldendoodles may be as expensive as $2,000, depending on their size.
They’re less costly than other Goldendoodle generations because they’re easier to breed.
You’ll spend money on dog things like a dog house, a dog collar, a dog house, and toys, just like every other dog.
Additional basic necessities to consider include grooming, healthcare, training, food, and other basic dog needs in addition to dog accessories.
F1B Goldendoodle
F1B Goldendoodles, on the other hand, start at $2,500 and go up from there.
Because they don’t shed and their improved hypoallergenic properties, they are more costly.
This dog would cost you more in grooming costs than a First generation Goldendoodle.
Apart from that, all other expenses are comparable.
Hypoallergenic Level
Goldendoodles are known for being hypoallergenic.
Let’s take a look at how hypoallergenic both generations are.
F1 Goldendoodle
The hypoallergenicity of the F1 Goldendoodle is lower than that of the F1B Goldendoodle.
This is due to the fact that the F1 Goldendoodle is half Poodle and half Golden Retriever and sheds similarly to its parent —the Golden Retriever.
As a result, it’s appropriate for those with moderate allergies.
F1B Goldendoodle
F1B Goldendoodles are more hypoallergenic than their F1 counterparts because the F1B Goldendoodle has a higher proportion of Poodle genetic makeup (75%) than the F1 Goldendoodle (50%).
Since it has a Poodle genetic proportion of 75%, it is more hypoallergenic and sheds less than Poodles.
As a result, it’s appropriate for people with mild to severe allergies.
Which One Should You Choose?
F1 and F1B Goldendoodles are great family pets.
However, depending on factors including lifestyle, the dog’s health, allergies, environment, and lifestyle, a specific generation between may be ideal for your family.
An F1 Goldendoodle is right for you if you have moderate allergies and can handle light shedding.
However, if you or a member of your family suffers from moderate or chronic allergies and dislike vacuuming the fur your dog sheds, an F1B Goldendoodle is a much better option.
F1 and F1B Goldendoodles get along with children and other dogs.
They also adapt well to every living environment.
They do, however, prefer the enclosed space of a yard with a fence, and they dislike living outdoors.
Other Types of Goldendoodle
Besides the F1 and F1B Goldendoodles, there are other Goldendoodle generations.
They are:
F1BB Goldendoodle
It is a cross between an F1B Goldendoodle and a purebred Poodle, which is 12.5 percent Golden Retriever and 87.5 percent Poodle.
F1BB Goldendoodles shed the least and are the most hypoallergenic of all the first-generation Goldendoodles.
This is primarily because of the large percentage of Poodle genes they have. An F1BB Goldendoodle will have much less hybrid vigor traits than F1 or F1B Goldendoodles as a third-generation offspring.
F2 Goldendoodle
It is the second filial —or F2— generation of Goldendoodles.
It’s the product of a cross of two F1 Goldendoodles.
Since they both carry the same proportion of Poodle and Golden Retriever, this generation is identical to the F1 generation.
Since this Goldendoodle generation is regarded as the most genetically unstable, most breeders avoid breeding F2 Goldendoodles.
F2B Goldendoodle
It is a cross between an F1 and an F1B Goldendoodle.
This Goldendoodle generation has a genetic makeup consisting of 62.5 percent Poodle and 37.5 percent Golden Retriever.
An F2B Goldendoodle can also be produced by crossing two F1B Goldendoodles.
As a result, an F2B Goldendoodle is 25% Poodle and 75% Goldendoodle.
F2B Goldendoodles are also known as multi-generation Goldendoodles because they are the third generation of offspring.
Every Goldendoodle generation beyond the second, including F2B, F2BB, and F1BB, is referred to as a multi-generation Goldendoodle.
F2BB Goldendoodle
F2BB Goldendoodles are a cross between an F2B Goldendoodle and a 100 percent purebred Poodle.
This generation would have a Poodle percentage of 81.25 percent and a Golden Retriever percentage of 18.75 percent.
They possess the best non-shedding and hypoallergenic characteristics in the second generation of Goldendoodles because of the abundance of Poodle genetics.
F3 Goldendoodle
This is the third filial Goldendoodle generation.
It is produced from a mix of two F1B Goldendoodles.
It’s also known as a Multi-generation Goldendoodle.
They’re the result of a cross of two F1B Goldendoodles.
They are also produced by crossing two separate F2 Goldendoodles.
This generation of dogs has a high proportion of Poodle genetics, making them ideal for people suffering from pet allergies.
Sum Up
Physical and personality characteristics differ between F1 and F1B Goldendoodles.
Because of their genetic variation, an F1 Goldendoodle —which is 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle — is unpredictable when it comes to shedding.
An F1B Goldendoodle, on the other hand, is made up of 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever, making it non-shedding and hypoallergenic.
F1 Goldendoodles possess hybrid vigor, meaning that they will often be more robust than their parents.
F1B Goldendoodles, on the other hand, will not be as strong when compared with F1 Goldendoodles because they are a second-generation crossbred.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a Goldendoodle, go for the one with the most benefits that suit your family.