Ultimate Guide to F1, F1B, F2, Multigen Goldendoodle Generations

The beloved Goldendoodle is one of the most popular dog breeds in America, ranking in at #5 in 2021. It makes good sense that this mixed breed would be so popular – firstly, it’s a cross between two long-standing and admired breeds: the Poodle and Golden Retriever. 

These breeds are known as family-friendly, kid-friendly, high energy, and filled with unabandoned love. Their mix — the Goldendoodle — is a hypoallergenic doodle that inherits the best of both breeds, and is an excellent fit for families.

But not all goldendoodles are the same.  Depending on their breeding, they can inherit more of their Poodle or Golden Retriever lineage, and can have varied colors, sizes, fur compositions, temperaments, and more.

If you’re getting a new Goldendoodle, or have been researching the breed, you may have heard terms like “F1”, “F1b”, “F1bb”, “F2”, and more. And you may be wondering: what are these letter-and-number mixes about? We’re here to decode this for you.

Dog Breeding Genetics

A dog’s genetics reveal a lot about its likely physical and behavioral traits. Its genetics also reveal information about the dog's likely health challenges, and can serve as a guide for selecting the right puppy matched for your family.

Basic Genetic Principles

Genes for all mammals, including dogs, are carried on chromosomes that are passed down from the parents to the offspring. In each child, one of each pair of chromosomes is received from the mother, and one from the father. This genetic inheritance in turn determines the unique traits in each dog.

In purebred dogs, where both parents are of the same breed, all pairs of chromosomes are derived from the same breed. In hybrid dogs like Goldendoodles, the mixture is more complicated — depending on the generation of Goldendoodle, the parents could have been purebred Poodles and Golden Retrievers, or Goldendoodles themselves.

Impact of Genetics on Breeding

Diligent breeders pay careful attention to the genetics of their dogs. By selecting the right parents for their breeding programs, breeders can achieve desired traits in their litters. For instance, responsible breeders may selectively breed parent dogs that show certain desirable traits (e.g., a small size, curly coat, friendly temperament) to achieve these traits in the offspring.

Responsible breeders also conduct genetic testing of their breeding parents. The results are used to screen for hereditary conditions that can be passed on to offspring. Responsible breeders will identify dogs that are carriers of certain diseases, and avoid breeding them to "weed out" health risks. 

However, in general, mixed breeds like Goldendoodles are less likely to inherit recessive genetic disorders, for instance Von Willebrand's Disease or Degenerative Myelopathy.

Overview of Goldendoodle Generations

Goldendoodles come in a variety of generations. These generations, including F1, F1b, F2, and Multigen, denote a Goldendoodle's lineage, and specifically how much it may have inherited from its Poodle or Golden Retriever ancestors. 

There are 4 generational categories you are most likely to come across:

• F1 Goldendoodle: this is a first generation Goldendoodle, resulting from breeding a purebred Poodle with a purebred Golden Retriever.
• F1b Goldendoodle: this is a first generation backcross, resulting from breeding an F1 Goldendoodle with a Poodle.
• F2 Goldendoodle: this is a second generation Goldendoodle, resulting from breeding two F1 Goldendoodles together.
• Multigen: this is a third, fourth, or further generation of Goldendoodle, resulting from breeding Goldendoodles over multiple generations.

These generations influence physical and behavioral characteristics. For example, the more Poodle genes a Goldendoodle has, the more likely it is to have curly, hypoallergenic coat. 

So let’s dig into the details of each generation and what they reveal about your pup.  

What Is an F1 Goldendoodle? The First Generation

F1 Goldendoodles are 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. This is because they came from breeding a purebred Poodle with a purebred Golden Retriever. The variation in physical and behavioral traits is significant in F1 Goldendoodles, because they may inherit disproportionately from one parent.

F1 Goldendoodle Temperament & Characteristics

The F1 Goldendoodle typically exhibits a balance of its parent’s loving traits. They are known to be affectionate, energetic, and perfect companions for families.

Their variation in size depends on the Poodle parent. If a toy Poodle was used as a parent, the Goldendoodle puppy can weigh 15 to 35lb. If a miniature Poodle was used, then you’ll have a mini Goldendoodle with a weight range of 35 to 50lb. And a standard F1 Goldendoodle results from using a standard Poodle and can weigh 50 to 90lb.

The F1 Goldendoodle is most likely to benefit from “Hybrid Vigor”, a phenomenon whereby mixed breeds are healthier and live longer than their purebred parent. This is because F1 Goldendoodles inherit a variety of genes from two separate breed pools and are therefore less likely to have recessive conditions.

Are F1 Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

The curly, low-shedding coat of Poodles is incompletely dominant, meaning that F1 Goldendoodles are likely to exhibit a coat curliness that is somewhere between that of a Poodle and a Golden Retriever.

For families concerned about shedding or allergies, this means that your pup is more likely to be allergy-friendly than its Golden Retriever ancestor. However, given variability in F1 Goldendoodles, this generation may not be as hypoallergenic as other generations, especially if your F1 Goldendoodle has straighter hair inherited from the Golden Retriever parent.

What Is an F1b Goldendoodle? The Backcross Generation

The “b” in F1b stands for “backcross”, because these puppies are created by breeding a Goldendoodle “back” with a purebred dog. Specifically, F1b Goldendoodles result from crossing an F1 Goldendoodle with a purebred Poodle. This means that they are 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever in terms of genetic makeup.

F1b Goldendoodle Temperament & Characteristics

Given their Poodle dominance, F1b Goldendoodles typically exhibit Poodle temperament more strongly, namely a high energy and superb trainability. Their size will depend heavily on the backcross Poodle’s size, as that contributes to 50% of their genetic basis

F1b Goldendoodles are more likely to inherit Poodle health issues, including hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, and thyroid issues. While they may experience some level of hybrid vigor, they don’t do so as much as F1 Goldendoodles.

F1b Goldendoodles Are Allergy-Friendly

F1b Goldendoodles are a great choice for families with asthma or allergy sufferers. This mixed breed is very likely to have a curlier and denser coat than the F1 Goldendoodle, meaning less shedding, dander, and allergies!

F1bb? What Is That?

F1bb’s are “double backcross”, meaning that they are created by mixing an F1b Goldendoodle with a purebred Poodle. In terms of genetic makeup, they are 87.5% Poodle and only 12.5% Golden Retriever.

With that in mind, all the above considerations for F1b Goldendoodles apply to F1bb’s, but the factors are more pronounced in F1bb’s, given their closer genetic proximity to Poodles. So, for instance, F1bb Goldendoodles are more likely to have the dense, curly coat of a Poodle, be hypoallergenic, and inherit Poodle health issues.

What Is an F2 Goldendoodle? The Second Generation

An F2 Goldendoodle, also known as a "2nd Generation Goldendoodle" or "F2 Doodle", is bred by the combination of two F1 Goldendoodles. This means that in terms of genetic makeup, they are 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. This is like the F1 generation in terms of genetic composition, but there are some meaningful differences.

F2 Goldendoodle Temperament & Characteristics

The F2 generation, on average, will have similar temperament to the F1 generation given the 50-50 Poodle and Golden Retriever genetic makeup. However, depending on the F1 Goldendoodle parents, the F2 generation can exhibit a wider range of characteristics, from being similar to a Golden Retriever, to being similar to a Poodle. 

That said, similar to their F1 counterparts, F2 Goldendoodles are likely to exhibit a balance of the Poodle and Golden Retriever temperaments, including high levels of affection, energy, and intelligence. This makes them outstanding matches for families, especially those with kids.

A diligent breeder may carefully select F1 parents to achieve certain colors, coat types, or temperaments in the F2 generation. And so to best understand the temperament, size, and color of your F2 Goldendoodle puppy, you need to pay careful attention to the parents.

While the F2 generation gets some benefit of “hybrid vigor”, this is less pronounced than the F1 generation, because there’s a higher chance that two Goldendoodles mixing will pass on some recessive conditions.

Are F2 Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

F2 Goldendoodles are more variable in their genetics than F1, F1b, and F1bb generations. This means that, while F2s are still likely to inherit the Poodle’s low-shedding and low-allergy-inducing qualities, they may inherit more heavily from their Golden Retriever lineage and cause allergies.

So, if the hypoallergenic trait is important for your family, it’s best to stick with the F1b and F1bb generations, where you have greater certainty that Poodle genes will be inherited.

What Is an F3 or Multigen Goldendoodle?

Generations F3 and beyond are called Multigenerational Goldendoodles -- or just “Multigens” for short. These mixed breed Goldendoodles result from breeding two F2 Goldendoodles, or an F2 Goldendoodle with an F1 Goldendoodle.

The aim of Multigen Goldendoodles is to establish more consistent and predictable traits of offspring. Good breeders carefully conduct this breeding to promote certain temperaments, sizes, or coat consistencies in their litters.

Multigen Goldendoodle Temperament & Characteristics

Reputable breeders carefully select for the best characteristics of Poodles and Golden Retrievers in their Multigen Goldendoodle puppies. This means that you can expect a Multigen Goldendoodle to be an excellent family companion, with fairly consistent and predictable temperament that has been carefully curated.

Multigen Goldendoodles typically lead a long lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Their exact size is dependent on the sizes of the parents.

Multigen Goldendoodles Are Allergy-Friendly

Most breeders aim to achieve wavy or curly hair in Multigen Goldendoodle puppies, to promote a hypoallergenic coat. This is typically achieved with higher consistency than earlier generations because Multigen Goldendoodles have been bred over multiple generations to achieve more predictable breeding outcomes.

How Do You Choose the Right Goldendoodle Generation?

Given the differences discussed in this article, you are best served to select the right Goldendoodle generation for your family’s lifestyle and needs. Here are some key factors to consider.  

Consider Your Lifestyle

Do you live in an apartment or small space? If you live in a smaller space, then consider bringing home a miniature Goldendoodle. In F1 Goldenodoles, this means one parent being a toy or miniature Poodle; in later generations, this can be accomplished by breeding two smaller sized Goldendoodles. 

How active or energized is your family’s lifestyle? Though Goldendoodles are generally energetic, those that inherit more from the Golden Retriever lineage are more likely to be high-energy.

Consider Allergies & Grooming Needs

If you want a dog that sheds less or if you have an allergic family member, then consider an F1b or F1bb Goldendoodle. You can also consider a Multigen Goldendoodle from a breeding program where the breeder has focused on developing a curly coat.  

Consider Desired Characteristics

If a certain trait or temperament is particularly important to you, consider a Multigen Goldendoodle from a breeder who has been selecting for that specific attribute. Breeders with careful breeding programs are your best bet for finding a puppy with a specific coat, color, size, or temperament.

F1s have a fair amount of variability, and so you won't be able to predict your F1 puppy's traits with the same confidence.

Conclusion

You’re now an expert on Goldendoodle generations!

To recap, here’s a summary of Goldendoodle generations:

• F1: a first-generation mix with the greatest likelihood of health benefits from hybrid vigor; characteristics can be quite variable.
• F1b: a backcross generation that is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever; best for those who need a hypoallergenic dog.
• F2: a second-generation hybrid from two F1 parents; F2s vary a great deal depending on the breeding parents. 
• Multigen: a third, fourth, or later generation Goldendoodle developed from selective breeding to achieve predictable temperament and physical characteristics.

If you are looking to bring home a Goldendoodle puppy, consider your lifestyle, family’s allergy and shedding needs, and your desired predictability of traits to decide what generation is best to bring home.

Onwards! Best of luck finding the perfect pup for your family.

FAQs on Goldendoodle Generations

How does an F1b Goldendoodle differ from an F1 Goldendoodle?

An F1b Goldendoodle is a backcross in which an F1 Goldendoodle is bred with a purebred Poodle. This generation typically has a higher proportion of Poodle genetics, often resulting in a curlier, more hypoallergenic coat.

Are all Goldendoodles generations healthy?

Goldendoodles of all generations benefit from some degree of hybrid vigor by virtue of being a mixed breed. The F1 generation is most likely to inherit the benefit of a varied genetic pool, inherited from the Poodle and Golden Retriever parents.

Goldendoodles typically live 10-15 years. Their most common health issues are the ones common in Golden Retrievers and Poodles, including hip and elbow dysplasia, retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Do all Goldendoodle generations make good family dogs?

Goldendoodles of all generations are excellent family dogs. Both the Poodle and Golden Retriever are family- and kid-friendly breeds known for their affection, intelligence, and companionship. Goldendoodles typically exhibit a balance of these characteristics, which can be seen across Goldendoodle generations.

Are all Goldendoodle generations hypoallergenic?

F1b and F1bb generations have a higher proportion of Poodle genes, and are more likely to be low-shedding and allergy-friendly. In F1 and F2 Goldendoodles, there’s plenty of variability, and so you’ll have to wait for the Goldendoodle puppy to reach 6 months or so to see its mature coat – the curlier it is, the more appropriate it will be for a shedding- or allergy-concerned household.  

How big do different Goldendoodles generations get?

The size of a Goldendoodle depends primarily on its Poodle lineage. Poodles come in three size varieties: Standards, Miniature, and Toy. Goldendoodles that are bred from Toy or Miniature Poodles will be smaller in size. F1b and F1bb Goldendoodles that have been backcrossed with Toy or Miniature Poodles will be especially small, as 50% of their genes result from the miniature parent.

F1 generations where a small Poodle and a Golden Retriever are mixed can have significant size variety, depending on what genes the puppy inherits. By F2, F3, and later generations, there’s more predictability in the size of your puppy, particularly if parents with similar sizes are bred.  

How do I choose the right Goldendoodle generation for my family? 

Choosing the right Goldendoodle generation depends on your family's lifestyle, allergy concerns, and preferences for a dog's coat and temperament. F1b and Multigen Goldendoodles are often preferred for hypoallergenic needs, while F1 and F2 Goldendoodles offer a mix of traits from both Poodles and Golden Retrievers.