For those of you curious about purchasing a mini Goldendoodle, you’ve definitely seen some type of strange letters and numbers before the word mini Goldendoodle. For instance, you’ve likely seen the words F1 mini Goldendoodle or F1B mini Goldendoodle. Those numbers and letters represent the mini Goldendoodle generation.
Given that the mini Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog between a small Golden Retriever and mini Poodle, the genetic percentage of Poodle and Golden Retriever can differ between each generation. The genetic makeup of a mini Goldendoodle will have a profound impact on the coat type, how hypoallergenic the dog is, and how nonshedding the dog is.
In this short article, we will assist you in deciphering the genes of each generation which will help you determine the best mini Goldendoodle generation that is right for you! Do you want a dog that is nonshedding and hypoallergenic? Or do you prefer a mini Goldendoodle with a straight coat? Our website has tons of information on Goldendoodles. Check out some of these other popular articles: Goldendoodle Coat Colors and Goldendoodle Sizes.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Terminology
Understanding the terms is essential, but fairly easy once you know what the letters and numbers mean. In this example, we will explain to you what an F1B Mini Goldendoodle means.
What does the letter F mean in F1B Mini Goldendoodle?
The F represents a term called Filial Hybrid. This just means that it is a crossbreed doodle that originated from two pure-blooded canines. In other words, a Goldendoodle is not a purebred dog like a Golden Retriever or a Poodle. All Goldendoodle generations will start with the letter F since they are a hybrid breed.
What does the number 1 mean in F1B Mini Goldendoodle?
The number 1 represents the generation of the Goldendoodle. In this specific instance, the 1 indicates the 1st generationoffspring between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever.
What does the letter B mean in F1B Mini Goldendoodle?
The letter B stands for a term meaning Backcross. Backcross is an intricate term that simply means the mini Goldendoodle was bred back to a purebred dog (either a purebred Poodle or purebred Golden Retriever). It’s very common for breeders to backcross to a Poodle since they are more hypoallergenic and nonshedding than a Golden Retriever.
Genetic Percentage of Each Generation
As a reference, here is the genetic makeup for the most popular mini Goldendoodle generations. Each generation will contain some percentage of Poodle and some percentage of Golden Retriever.
- F1 Mini Goldendoodle: 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle.
- F1B Mini Goldendoodle: 25% Golden Retriever and 75% Poodle.
- F1BB Mini Goldendoodle: 12.5% Golden Retriever and 87.5% Poodle.
- F2 Mini Goldendoodle: 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle.
- F2B Mini Goldendoodle: 37.5% Golden Retriever and 62.5% Poodle.
- F2BB Mini Goldendoodle: 18.75% Golden Retriever and 81.25% Poodle.
- F3 Mini Goldendoodle also called Multi-Generation Mini Goldendoodle: At least three generations of Goldendoodle that is usually backcross bred to a Poodle.
Pro-Tip: Doodle owners normally choose Mini Goldendoodles that have more Poodle genetics because Poodles are more hypoallergenic and nonshedding then a Golden Retriever.
Normally, mini Goldendoodles are backcross reproduced to a Poodle because they are more allergy-friendly and don’t shed. However, there are some certain situations where a breeder may be backcrossing with a Golden Retriever. In these cases an F1B Mini Goldendoodle will be 25% Poodle and 75% Golden Retriever. These instances are unlikely, but if you’re concerned you can check with the breeder. Almost all F1B’s have a wavy or curly coat, so I would be concerned if an F1B had a straight or flat coat.
F1 Mini Goldendoodle (50% Poodle / 50% Golden Retriever)
An F1 mini Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. This is the very first generation of mini Goldendoodle that is bred between a 100% Golden Retriever and a 100% Poodle.
Many breeders are selling F1 mini Goldendoodle because they are relatively easy to breed between a smaller Golden Retriever and a toy Poodle. However, the F1 mini Goldendoodle genes can vary extensively. For instance, some F1 mini Goldendoodles can have coats that shed while other coats are non-shedding. Also, some F1 Goldendoodles will be smooth like the Golden Retriever or more curly like a Poodle. You can never really guarantee the appearance of an F1 mini Goldendoodle. It’s essentially going to be a coin flip on whether they inherit Golden Retriever genes or Poodle genes. This is why people usually prefer the F1B mini Goldendoodle which has more Poodle genetics.
In terms of genetic health, the F1 mini Goldendoodle gets the most benefits of a trait called Hybrid Vigor. This trait indicates the initial cross between two purebred dogs will be healthier than any of the purebred breeds. This is because purebred inbreeding causes many genetic diseases to be passed down to each subsequent generation. Since F1 mini Goldendoodles are a hybrid dog, they only acquire genetic diseases that you would find in both the Poodle and also Golden Retriever.
F1 Mini Goldendoodle Features:
- Coat: Straight, Wavy, or Curly.
- Hypoallergenic: Very unlikely.
- Non-shedding: Very unlikely.
- Hybrid Vigor: Yes.
F1B Mini Goldendoodle (75% Poodle / 25% Golden Retriever)
F1B mini Goldendoodle (75% Poodle, 25% Golden Retriever) is a cross between an F1 mini Goldendoodle (50% Poodle as well as 50% Golden Retriever) as well as a purebred dog. The backcross is either a 100% mini Poodle or 100% mini Golden Retriever. Generally, an F1B mini Goldendoodle is a cross between an F1 mini Goldendoodle and a 100% Poodle as dog breeders favor the non-shedding and hypoallergenic dog coat. Given that an F1B mini Goldendoodle is a mix between an F1 mini Goldendoodle as well as a small Poodle, it is referred to as a Backcross which is why it’s called an F1B.
The F1B mini Goldendoodle generation is typically referred to by breeders as the Hypoallergenic Golden Retriever because it has a larger amount of Poodle genetics. This includes being mostly hypoallergenic and non-shedding coat which most doodles owners look for.
The F1B mini Goldendoodle commonly can be seen with a curly or wavy coat and would be a superb choice for people with modest pet allergies. The downside of a curly coat is that you will have to groom your dog. This includes regular brushing and trimming their hair with dog clippers. Every 6 to 12 weeks, you’ll likely need to take your dog to the groomers or groom them at home with your dog clippers.
F1B mini Goldendoodles get some health benefits of Hybrid Vigor. This implies that a crossbreed dog will be healthier than the pure-blooded parents because it’s not an inbred dog. Given that the F1B is technically the “2nd” generation of mini Goldendoodle, it loses some characteristics of being Hybrid Vigor. Each subsequent generation of crossbreed dog losses a little Hybrid Vigor trait.
F1B Mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Wavy or Curly.
Hypoallergenic: Yes.
Non-shedding: Yes.
Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but much less so than F1 mini Goldendoodles because they are the second generation of offspring.
F1BB Mini Goldendoodle (87.5% Poodle / 12.5% Golden Retriever)
F1BB mini Goldendoodle is 87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Golden Retriever. This is a cross in between an F1B mini Goldendoodle (75% Poodle, 25% Golden Retriever), and an original pure-blooded 100% Poodle or 100% Golden Retriever. A lot of breeders will usually select to reproduce with a 100% mini Poodle to make the mini Goldendoodle even more hypoallergenic and also non-shedding. Given that this is the second Backcross with a pure-blooded Poodle, it gets a second “B” in its name and is referred to as an F1BB mini Goldendoodle.
An F1BB mini Goldendoodle is the most hypoallergenic and non-shedding of all the popular generations of mini Goldendoodle. As a result of a large amount of Poodle genetics, this indicates that mini Goldendoodle will likely come with an extremely curly coat type. This dog generation will certainly need to be brushed and groomed with dog clippers regularly because it doesn’t shed hair. Failure to trim your dog’s hair with dog clippers will result in mats and tangles which can irritate your dog. The F1BB mini Goldendoodle generation is great for people with pet allergies and doesn’t want to have to pick up dog fur around their house.
Since an F1BB mini Goldendoodle is the “3rd” generation of offspring it will certainly have much less Hybrid Vigor qualities when compared to the F1 mini Goldendoodle or F1B mini Goldendoodle. The F1BB mini Goldendoodle is also considered a Multi-generation mini Goldendoodles since they are past the 2nd generation of offspring.
F1B mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Curly.
Hypoallergenic: Yes, one of the most hypoallergenic Goldendoodle generations.
Non-shedding: Yes, one of the least shedding Goldendoodle generations.
Hybrid Vigor: Yes, however, less so than F1 or F1B mini Goldendoodles.
F2 mini Goldendoodle (50% Poodle / 50% Golden Retriever)
The F2 mini Goldendoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever. This is a second filial generation of mini Goldendoodle which means this is a cross between an F1 mini Goldendoodle and another F1 mini Goldendoodle.
The F2 generations produce dogs that are somewhat comparable to the F1 generation considering that they are the same genetic makeup of Golden Retriever and Poodle. Most breeders will not breed an F2 mini Goldendoodle because this generation has unpredictable genetics in terms of coat type, coat hair, and variation of shedding.
F2 Mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Straight, wavy, or curly.
Hypoallergenic: Very unlikely.
Non-shedding: Very unlikely.
Hybrid Vigor: Very little.
F2B Mini Goldendoodle (62.5% Poodle / 37.5% Golden Retriever)
The F2B mini Goldendoodle is 62.5% Poodle and also 37.5% Golden Retriever. This is a cross between an F1 mini Goldendoodle (50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever) and also an F1B mini Goldendoodle (75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever). Alternatively, some breeders may breed an F1B mini Goldendoodle and another F1B mini Goldendoodle which would create an F2B mini Goldendoodle that is 75% Poodle and also 25% Golden Retriever.
The F2B mini Goldendoodle generation has a substantial amount of Poodle genes which causes a primarily wavy or curly coat. A curly or wavy coat indicates the mini Goldendoodle won’t shed much hair and will be hypoallergenic. Like most hybrid dogs there are always exceptions to the genetic rules though.
The F2B mini Goldendoodle generation is commonly described by breeders as a Multi-Generation mini Goldendoodle since they are the 3rd generation of offspring.
F2B Mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Wavy or Curly.
Hypoallergenic: Yes.
Non-shedding: Yes.
Hybrid Vigor: Some, but not a lot.
F2BB Mini Goldendoodle (81.25% Poodle / 18.75% Golden Retriever)
F2BB mini Goldendoodle is 81.25% Poodle and 18.75% Golden Retriever. This is a hybrid between an F2B mini Goldendoodle (62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Golden Retriever) and a 100% mini Poodle. Since this dog is the second Backcross with a purebred mini Poodle and also part of the 2nd generation, it obtains a second “B” in its name and also is referred to as an F2BB mini Goldendoodle.
The F2BB mini Goldendoodle is the most hypoallergenic and also non-shedding of all the 2nd generation mini Goldendoodles because of the huge amount of Poodle genetics it inherits. It has the 2nd most Poodle genes of popular Goldendoodle generations, only behind the F1BB mini Goldendoodle (87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Golden Retriever).
It is very likely an F2BB mini Goldendoodle will have a curly coat type that will need to be brushed daily to prevent tangles and mats. You’ll also need to give them a haircut with dog clippers every 6 to 12 weeks because they won’t shed. Nevertheless, this mini Goldendoodle generation is wonderful for people with extreme animal allergies and don’t want to have to vacuum up hair everywhere.
The F2BB mini Goldendoodle generation is going to be referred to by breeders as a Multi-generation mini Goldendoodle considering that they are the 4th generation of offspring. Some dog breeders may say F2BB, but they will usually be referred to as a Multi-generation mini Goldendoodle.
F2BB Mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Curly.
Hypoallergenic: Yes.
Non-shedding: Yes.
Hybrid Vigor: No, this is the 4th generation.
F3 Mini Goldendoodle or Multi-generation Mini Goldendoodle
The F3 mini Goldendoodle is usually called the Multi-generation mini Goldendoodle. This is the 3rd generation or greater of mini Goldendoodle offspring.
It’s very common for an F3 mini Goldendoodle to be created with an F1B mini Goldendoodle and another F1B Doodle. Alternatively, you could breed an F3 mini Goldendoodle with an F2 mini Goldendoodle and another F2 mini Goldendoodle. F3 mini Goldendoodles usually contain a high amount of Poodle genetics so they are great for people with pet allergies. The F3 mini Goldendoodle coat type can vary from a wavy to very curly. You will likely have to groom this Goldendoodle with a brush, dog clippers, and shears to prevent mats.
Multi-generation mini Goldendoodles are used to describe any mini Goldendoodle beyond the 2nd generation. This includes some of the mini Goldendoodle generations already listed above like the F1BB, F2B, and F2BB. Many breeds will simply list Multi-generation mini Goldendoodle instead of listing the exact generation of mini Goldendoodle. You will have to ask your breeder to specify which generation your mini Goldendoodle if they say Multi-Gen.
F3 mini Goldendoodle or Multi-generation mini Goldendoodle Features:
Coat: Generally Curly.
Hypoallergenic: Usually.
Non-shedding: Usually.
Hybrid Vigor: No.
Conclusion: Best Mini Goldendoodle Generations (F1, F1B, F1BB, F2, F2B, F2BB, Multi-Gen)
In general, if you want a mini Goldendoodle that is hypoallergenic, nonshedding, and has some hybrid vigor qualities you should choose from the following generations:
- F1B mini Goldendoodle (75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever).
- F2B mini Goldendoodle ( 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Golden Retriever).
- F1BB mini Goldendoodle (87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Golden Retriever).
If you don’t care too much about a dog being hypoallergenic and nonshedding, then you should base your priorities around coat color. If you want a flat or straight coat Goldendoodle that may shed, you can elect for an F1 mini Goldendoodle or F2 mini Goldendoodle.
Keep in mind that the more Poodle genetics that aGoldendoodlehas, the more nonshedding and hypoallergenic the dog will be. We hope you found the best generation of Goldendoodle that will suit your lifestyle!
Sabrina Kong, DVM, Veterinarian
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in theBay Areaand got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.
