F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle? What’s the difference? As the mom of a seven-year-old Goldendoodle, I remember trying to wrap my arms around the terms associated with Doodle dogs. Now I’m happy to wrap my arms around Chloe, my beloved red Goldendoodle.
The F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle: A side-by-side comparison
With Chloe as my sidekick, I’m both a happy Doodle mom and a dedicated research hound on all things Goldendoodle. Since I often get questions about Goldendoodle generations, Chloe and I put our hands and paws to the keyboard to come up with an ultimate guide to the similarities and differences between the F1 and F1b Goldendoodle. By the end of this article you’ll have everything you need to know including:
- An understanding of the terms F1 and F1b Goldendoodle.
- A side-by-side comparison of the F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle.
- New findings from a research study that gives us insight into Poodle crossbreeds.
Can you tell which is an F1 and which is an F1b?
But first, a little Goldendoodle fun! 😊 Both of the dogs in the image 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: Unwrapping a gift
When it comes to Goldendoodles, think of Tom Hank’s famous line in the movie Forrest Gump…
“Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
It’s true for Goldendoodles too. That’s what makes sharing life with a Goldendoodle so fun. Whether you’re welcoming an F1 or F1b Goldendoodle puppy to your pack, your Doodle dog is a gift of surprises that unfold along the way.
Some say “hybrid” but Goldendoodle parents say “happy family member”
So, whether you bring an F1 or an F1B Goldendoodle into your life, why is there so much variety?
Here’s the 4-1-1: The Goldendoodle breed is not a true “breed.” Goldendoodles are a cross between two very different breeds—the intelligent Poodle and the loyal, friendly Golden Retriever.
Since the two breeds are so different, the Goldendoodle offspring can favor one side of the family, the other side of the family, or fall somewhere in between.
You may have even heard people use the term “hybrid” to describe Goldendoodles. However, most Goldendoodle parents describe them as “family members.”
So now that you’ve got the big picture on the Poodle plus Golden Retriever heritage, lets get into the nitty-gritty on what distinguishes an F1 from an F1b Goldendoodle.
What is an F1 Goldendoodle?
An F1 Goldendoodle is a first-generation cross between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. In other words, an F1 Goldendoodle’s parents are a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden Retriever.
In general, an F1 Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. (However, genetics aren’t quite that simple. For a deep dive into the F1 Goldendoodle, please read my story: What is an F1 Goldendoodle?)
What is an F1b Goldendoodle?
Next, an F1b Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and a purebred Poodle.
In general, an F1b Goldendoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever. (However, genetics don’t play out that simply. For an in-depth look at the F1b, please read my related story: What the…F1b? The Best Info on These Doods.)
Since the F1b tends to lean more to the Poodle heritage, families who are concerned about allergies tend to choose this generation of 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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Do you love Goldendoodles?
We’d love to hear. Please comment below.
Dutch shepherd
Friday 13th of November 2020
I own an F1 dog. I find that my dog is very intelligent, not unlike the purebred. For a Goldendoodle is a very special breed. They are active and need to talk and hang out. Every day I come home from work, I regularly spend 30 minutes playing with Poga.