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Goldendoodle Name Designations – F1, F1-B, F2, & More
By Eric Schlabach
January 4, 2021
F1, F1-B, F2, name designations, names
You've probably heard of it before - F1 Goldendoodle or F1-B Mini Goldendoodle. But what do Goldendoodle name designations actually mean?
More...
Well, you're not the first to ask that question!
In this post, we will go over the various types of name designations. Used as a reference to their familial generations, they are commonly used, not just for Goldendoodles, but for many other designer breeds of dogs, such as Bernedoodles, and Labradoodles.
F1-B Mini Goldendoodle puppy, relaxing on the water!
Decoding Name Designations
The names, F1, F1-B, F1-BB, and more, that Goldendoodles are commonly called, do have a meaning.
So let's break it down into simple layman's terms: The "F" designation is simply shorthand for "filial", a word denoting the generation(s) after the parent generation.
The number designation (1,2,3, etc) is referring to the number of generations from the original purebred parents.
In Goldendoodle Speak...
Here's a common example: A purebred Golden Retriever bred to a purebred Poodle, produces "F1" Goldendoodle puppies - the first generation born from the purebred parents.
What about the "B's"?
The "B" in Goldendoodle name designations, stands for "back-cross", meaning the puppy is produced by crossing a crossbred female back to the original purebred male.
For an example, "F1-B" means the puppy is the offspring of an F1 mother and a purebred Poodle.
Make sense?
What Name Designations Do Goldendoodles Have?
Goldendoodles have a variety of name designations, and it often depends on the individual breeders to determine what is available.
Let's go over a few of the most common ones:
F1 Goldendoodles
F1 Goldendoodles are one of the most common, and simply means the puppies with this name designation have are the result of breeding two unrelated purebred dogs.
They are 50% Golden Retriever, and 50% Poodle. They are known to inherit the best qualities of each parent, and the best of hybrid vigor.
They also have the widest variety of looks for Goldendoodles, from the golden waves of a Golden Retriever, to the curly hair of a Poodle. They also inherit a pleasing, family-centric personality that's ideal for both kids and pets.
F1-B Goldendoodles
The other popular generation for Goldendoodles, the F1-B name designation is the result of breeding an F1 Goldendoodle, back to a purebred dog. Normally, the dam is the F1 Goldendoodle and the sire is a Poodle.
The resulting puppies, known as F1-B ("B" for back-cross), are 25% Golden Retriever, and 75% Poodle.
F1-B Goldendoodles typically are more curly coated then their F1 counterparts, and have the shorter "teddy bear" look that so many people, (including us!) just love.
F2 / F3 Goldendoodles
F2 and F3 Goldendoodles are a straight 50/50 continuation of the generations. Meaning they don't have any back-crosses to strengthen the genes from one of the parent bloodlines.
An F2 puppy is produced from an F1 mother, and an F1 father.
F3 is produced from - you guessed it - F2 parents.
Other Name Designations
Other Goldendoodle name designations you might run across, are:
F1-BB (F1-B mother, purebred father)
F2-B (F2 mother, purebred father)
And even F3-B, F4, F5 and so on. (Not common in Goldendoodles)
Goldendoodle Name Designations To Look For
All this, of course, begs some questions.
> Which one should I be looking for?
> What should I watch out for?
> Is one better than the other?
Generally though, the answers are simple, and comes down to what you're looking for in a pup!
The two most common generations are F1, and F1-B.
F1, 2's, & 3's are known to be the strongest, health-wise, because of being the first generation cross of two separate bloodlines. They are ideal for puppy pawrents who don't mind potentially some shedding, and want a good, hearty mix of the two separate breeds.
F1, & 2-B's, on the other hand, are known to be completely non-shedding (due to the 75% Poodle), and have more of the tight Poodle curls. They are ideal for those looking for a shed-free dog, with the tighter curls and shorter face of the Goldendoodle.
Goldendoodle Name Designations - Best Practices
Most reputable breeders do their best to match their puppies to their clients' needs and interests. So don't be afraid to ask. This will help you avoid adopting a puppy that sheds more than you were expecting, or has a curly coat, when you preferred the wavy Golden Retriever coat.
There's no generation that is better than the other, except from personal preferences and needs. The one exception may be Goldendoodles that have too many generations, or have inferior genetics.
The best practices to avoid a bad adoption experience, is to purchase from a reputable breeder with a robust breeding program and good customer support.
You should be able to ask your breeder for relevant information, regarding the linage, temperament, and coat of your puppy.
Thinking of bringing your own Goldendoodle into the family? We'd love to introduce you to ours!
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Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for mentioning that Goldendoodle puppies have a charming, family-oriented temperament that is great for both children and pets. My spouse has made the decision that we should get pups. I'll recommend looking into the Goldendoodle puppies so we can obtain the ones with a focus on the family.