F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle? What’s the difference?
If you’re researching Goldendoodes, you may be wondering whether the F1 or F1B Goldendoodle is the perfect match for you. Or, if you’ve recently adopted a new F1B or F1 Goldendoodle puppy, you may be wondering what those numbers mean.
Either way, we’re happy your here!
For over 10 years, since the time our family brought a new Goldendoodle puppy home, I’ve been dedicated to researching and understanding Goldendoodle dogs. By sharing what I’ve learned through hands-on experiences and research, I hope I can help other Doodle parents out.
By the end of the article, you’ll have answers to:
- What do the terms F1 and F1B mean?
- What are the differences between an F1 vs F1B Goldendoodle?
- What are the similarities between F1B and F1 Goldendoodles?
So, without further adoodle, let’s get started! 😉
F1 or F1b Goldendoodle: Which?
But first, a little Goldendoodle fun! 😊 Both of the dogs in the picture below are Goldendoodles. Can you tell which is an F1 and which is an F1b? Find the answer at the end of this article.
Goldendoodles 101
Unwrapping a wonderful gift
To understand the F1 and F1B terminology, first we need to lay some groundwork on Goldendoodles. Unlike purebred dogs where traits are more fixed, Goldendoodle traits aren’t as predictable.
That’s what makes bringing home a Goldendoodle puppy and sharing life with a Goldendoodle so fun.
Your Doodle dog is a gift of surprises that unfold along the way.
Why so much variety? It comes down to the two parent breeds.
Goldendoodles
F1, F1B, F2, F2B and all types of Goldendoodles are an intentional cross between two parent breeds: the Poodle and the Golden Retriever.
So Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs but rather a crossbreed or a hybrid. (A hybrid is an intentional crossing of two different breeds.)
Some say “hybrid” but Goldendoodle parents say “happy family member”
With two different parent breeds in the mix, Goldendoodle offspring can favor one side of the family, the other side of the family, or fall somewhere in between. For example, some Goldendoodles may look more “Retrievery” and some more “Poodley.”
So now that you’ve got the big picture on the Poodle plus Golden Retriever heritage, lets get into the nitty-gritty what all the numbers and letters (like F1 and F1B) mean and why they help distinguish generations of Goldendoodles.
What does F1 mean?
Let’s break it down…
F = Filial
So the first letter in the series stands for “Filial.” This term is not specific to Goldendoodles or even to dogs. Filial is a scientific term used to identify a sequence of generations that follow the parent generation.
1 = First
The next character after the “F” is a number that represents the generation. In the case of F1, then, the 1 means first generation.
Putting it all together, F1 stands for the first generation of offspring from two different parent breeds.
What is an F1 Goldendoodle?
An F1 Goldendoodle is a first generation cross between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden Retriever. In other words, an F1 Goldendoodle puppy has a purebred Poodle as one parent and a purebred Golden Retriever as another parent.
Generally speaking, an F1 Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. However, genetics aren’t quite that cut and dried. For example, some F1 Goldendoodles may look more like the Retriever side of the family and some may look more like the Poodle side of the family. There will be variety even within a litter of puppies.
With a Poodle as one parent and a Golden Retriever as the other parent, you can imagine how the F1 Goldendoodle traits could vary. The example that is the most obvious is coat type. Some F1 Goldendoodles will have straight coats, some wavy, and some curly. Some F1 Goldendoodles may lean toward the Golden Retriever side of the family. This means they may have straighter coats and some shedding. Other F1 Goldendoodles may still lean toward the Poodle side of the family. This means they may shed less and have a wavy or curly coat.
Summary: Physical traits like coat type and amount of shedding can vary more among F1 Goldendoodles.
Related: What is an F1 Goldendoodle?
What does F1B mean?
Let’s break down each letter and number…
F = Filial
Just as with the F1, the “F” in F1B stands for filial.
1 = First
Also like the F1, the second character represents the generation. So here, the 1 stands for first generation
B = Backcross
Some generations have a “B” at the end, which stands for backcross.
Putting it all together then, F1B stands for the first filial generation crossed back to a purebred parent breed.
What is an F1b Goldendoodle?
Next, an F1b Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a purebred Poodle. In other words, an F1B Goldendoodle puppy has a purebred Poodle as one parent and an F1 Goldendoodle as the other parent.
In general, an F1b Goldendoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever. However, as mentioned above, genetics don’t play out that simply. Even though they have more Poodle in the mix, some F1B Goldendoodles may still have heavier Retriever characteristics.
That said, this generation of Goldendoodle tends to have a curlier coat and may shed less.
Since the F1B tends to lean more to the Poodle heritage, families who are concerned about allergies tend to choose this generation of Goldendoodle.
Also, it’s important to point out that a “backcross” could be crossed back to either parent breed, in theory. However, with Goldendoodles, the Poodle is the preferred backcross for the low-shedding and hypoallergenic qualities of the breed.
Related: Meet the F1B Goldendoodle
Goldendoodle offspring may resemble one parent, the other, or both
Next, much like in our own families, Goldendoodle offspring may resemble one parent more than the other. They may even look more like a grandparent.
The Goldendoodle can enjoy any combination of parent characteristics and pulls from a line of genetic history from two breeds, so there is more variation than what you’d find in a purebred dog.
Just like our own human families, Goldendoodle offspring may resemble one parent, the other parent, or a combination of both.
A new study brings Doodle personality to light
If you’re interested in learning more, a new study was recently published by the Journal of PLOS Genetics about another Poodle crossbreed, the Australian Labradoodle. (Note: While the research was not specific to the Goldendoodle, I believe there are parallels that can be drawn between both Poodle crossbreeds.)
The researchers evaluated the genetics of the Australian Labradoodle and learned that these dogs were mostly Poodle.
Now, you may be thinking, “Since the results showed that the Australian Labradoodle is mostly Poodle, should dog parents simply choose a Poodle?”
Interestingly, the co-author of the research study asked her team the same question. The characteristic of personality came into play in their answer.
In short, the research team sited the benefits that the friendly Labrador brings to the sometimes aloof (yet very smart) Poodle. (You can find the entire story and interview in The Guardian.)
Again, this study was not about the Goldendoodle, but can parallels be drawn? I believe so.
With all this scientific information, terminology, and the “box of chocolates” rule of thumb about crossbreeds, teasing apart differences between the F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle isn’t clear cut. With that caveat, here’s my side-by-side comparison.
It’s based on my own experience as a Goldendoodle mom, as an aunt of two Goldendoodles, and from learning as much as I can about Goldendoodle generations:
F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle: a side-by-side comparison
| F1 | F1b | |
| Variety of sizes | ✅ | ✅ |
| Variety of colors | ✅ | ✅ |
| Golden Retriever and Poodle mix | ✅ | ✅ |
| Purebred Golden Retriever and purebred Poodle as parents | ✅ | |
| 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever | ✅ | |
| F1 Goldendoodle and purebred Poodle as parents | ✅ | |
| 75 % Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever | ✅ | |
| Requires frequent grooming | ✅ | ✅ |
| Goldendoodle siblings pull different genetics from their heritage (i.e. variety) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Non-shedding (neither are non-shedding) | ||
| Families concerned about allergies typically choose this type | ✅ | |
| Lower shedding than many other breeds such as the Labrador or Golden Retriever | ✅ | ✅ |
| You will still need your vacuum cleaner 😉 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Poodle smarts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Golden Retriever friendliness | ✅ | ✅ |
Additional Goldendoodle resources
If you’re curious to know more about Goldendoodles, please check out my other articles:
The Red Goldendoodle: 7 Things You May Not Know
Types of Goldendoodles: Generations, Sizes, Colors Galore
What is a Goldendoodle? 100 Parents Describe the Heart and Soul Behind these Lovable Doods
F1 or F1b…Doodles are “Golden”
Finally, now that you have the tea on the F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle, here’s the kicker…
When you give your Dood the care, love, positive training, time, and attention that they require to assimilate into your family, then your life will grow exponentially.
In fact, loving another living being is better than all the riches in the world. Together, you and your Doodle will be “Golden.”
What did you guess? The red Goldendoodle in the photo above (left) is an F1b and the cream Goldendoodle (right) is an F1. Both are simply A-DOOD-ABLE!
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