TYPES OF GOLDENDOODLES
The term “Goldendoodle” covers a multitude of Golden Retriever/Poodle/Goldendoodle combinations. Goldendoodles are identified by two distinct categories. The first, and most apparent, variable is size. The other variable is generations. But to make matters just a bit more complicated, each size can also have generational variables.
What Size?
Not sure which size matches the dog you want, but have a clear picture in your mind? Simply take a tape measure and measure your leg from the floor to where you imagine the shoulders of your full-grown Goldendoodle.
Size
A dog’s size is measured at the withers, not at the top of the head. The withers are the highest part of the back at the base of the neck.
According to the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), Goldendoodles fall into four size categories:
• Standard Range: Height at the withers over 21 inches (53 cm); weight 51 pounds (23 kg) or more.
• Medium Range: Height at the withers over 17 inches (43 cm) but under 21 inches (53 cm); weight 36–50 pounds (16–23 kg).
• Miniature Range: Height at the withers over 14 inches (36 cm) but under 17 inches (43 cm); weight 26–35 pounds (12–16 kg).
• Petite Range: Height at the withers below 14 inches (36 cm); weight generally 25 pounds (11 kg) or less.
Reprinted with permission from Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), 2018.
Generations
Until recent advances in canine genetic testing allowed for significantly higher levels of accuracy in terms of coat length, curl, furnishings, and nonshedding in the first breeding of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, many breeders relied on the antiquated concept of hybrid vigor and their own experience with their breeding dogs. Hybrid vigor derives from the idea that the offspring of two unrelated breeds of the same species will receive all of the parents’ good traits and few of the bad. This works as long as the parent breeds do not have a common gene for a genetic defect.
Genetic testing for coat type has eliminated the need for additional backcrossing and multiple generations in breeding. However, there are many good breeders, prior to the availability of genetic testing for coat type, who invested a tremendous amount of time and energy to develop health-tested breeding lines that produce consistently reliable nonshedding coats—and the quality of the dogs they breed should not be discounted. So, let’s take a look at the various generations of Goldendoodles. You can work with either a breeder who does genetic testing for coat quality and/or a long-time breeder whose experience and commitment has also resulted in top-quality Goldendoodles.
It is critical that both breeding parents and, ideally, the previous generations are tested for, and pass, all the potential genetic defects and diseases (see “Health and Wellness,” pages 44–46).
F1 The breeding of a Golden Retriever with one of the following four sizes of Poodle—Standard, Moyen/Klein (medium), Miniature, and Toy—results in a litter of F1 puppies or First Generation. “F” stands for the Latin word filial or generation. Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles have the recessive gene for long coats; therefore, F1 Goldendoodles carry two genes for long coats. Because of the two long coat genes, many Goldendoodle breeders don’t breed beyond the initial pairing of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
F1b The F1b Goldendoodle is the breeding of an F1 Goldendoodle backcrossed (b) with a Poodle. This yields a dog twenty-five percent Golden Retriever and seventy-five percent Poodle. By adding more Poodle into the genetic mix, the likelihood of a curly, nonallergy-inducing coat is higher. As noted above, genetic testing for coat length, curl, furnishings, and nonshedding attributes now make this backcrossing unnecessary. However, not all breeders are up to speed with genetic testing for coat-related genes and may successfully produce reliable coats without genetic testing.
F2 The F2 Goldendoodle results when both parents are F1 Goldendoodles. While this yields a dog that is still fifty percent Golden Retriever and fifty percent Poodle, the F2 is a more genetically diverse dog than the F1. The primary advantage of F2 breeding is the ability to select the most desirable traits from a breeder’s F1 Goldendoodles and reproduce them consistently.
Multigen According to GANA, the multigen (multiple generational) Goldendoodle is the result of breeding two Goldendoodles. However, unlike the F2, one of the multigen parents must be either an F1b Goldendoodle or another multigen Goldendoodle.
Additionally, a multigen Goldendoodle bred to a Poodle is also considered a multigen Goldendoodle.
Reprinted with permission from Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), 2018.
GOLDENDOODLE COLORS
Contrary to their name, Goldendoodles come in a variety of colors. With the advent of genetic testing for coat type, breeders are now also able to breed more consistently for color. The most common colors are cream and gold, but many Goldendoodles are also chocolate or black. Less common, but rather striking, are the red Goldendoodles. Parti Goldendoodles are generally white with large blocks of either black or brown. Goldendoodles occasionally have either black or chocolate phantom coloring. There is also the rare and beautiful silver color.
CHOOSING A BREEDER
It is important to purchase your puppy from a trustworthy and experienced breeder who thoroughly health tests all of his/her breeding dogs. This comes with a heftier cost. However, if you are looking for a top-quality Goldendoodle, price should be at the bottom of your priority list. You know you have found a good breeder if his/her mission is to produce healthy, sound, and well-tempered dogs. The research needed to find a good breeder can be a long, tedious process, but it’s worth every minute when you find the right breeder who can provide you with the right Goldendoodle. Finding the right breeder is especially critical with Goldendoodles. There are countless backyard breeders who breed solely for the money, giving no real attention to the critical issues of health and temperament.
A reputable breeder strives to advance the quality of the puppies with each new litter. This breeder matches parent dogs (who pass all health tests) for desirable physical and behavioral characteristics to produce a healthy litter.
Visiting the breeder gives you an opportunity to meet the puppy’s siblings and parents so you get an idea of the physical and behavioral characteristics. Pay close attention to the parents to see if they are healthy and well behaved. Also, ask about their temperament and if they’ve had any types of health issues. Take notice of how the puppies interact with the breeder. It is a good sign if they are playful and outgoing.
Should a Breeder Be a Member of a Regulatory Body?
If a breeder is