Genetics and Facial Furnishings-HELP!

[Annette Wade]

Ok... I'm really hoping someone on here can help me out or can direct me to someone who can. I have been looking for answers for a long time and every time I run a Google inquiry I get this forum. Well, today I decided to join and ask. I own American Cockapoos... not exactly the same kind of doodle this forum is about, but a doodle nonetheless. I adore my little fluffballs. This is what I want to know: Do all poodles possess facial furnishings?

 

I have read multiple times that facial furnishings are a dominant trait. Trying not to be too complex but in short I am wondering how the heck first generation doodle blends could possibly lack facial furnishings and the wiry coat of the poodle if this trait (which is apparently linked) is genuinely a dominant trait??

If poodles all have facial furnishings and "breed true" then wouldn't all F1 doodle blends have facial furnishings and wire coats and be carriers for the smooth face as retrievers (and Cockers) never have this gene?

 

If anyone knows please tell me!! I'm so confused! The only thing I can think of is that poodles do not all have facial furnishings and are therefore possibly carriers of the recessive trait. It is nearly impossible to tell because the vast majority of poodles have their faces shaved, so pictures don't help me and I have been asking poodle breeders whenever I can (email or in person at shows, etc) but unfortunately poodle breeders all seem to think that hybrids are an abomination and they won't talk to me (and often look like they'd like to spit on me)

 

Ok, thanks guys,

Annette

Oh-and here are a few pictures of my cuties, just to be a pet-parent and share as I feel compelled to do ;-)

[Lindsay n Archie]

I would think that not all dominant traits are passed on. Such as, if you are a red head (a dominant trait) and have a kid, they have a high percentage of being red heads but it isnt a definate that the kid would be red head.  I think with all (most) dominant traits, it is a higher likihood that the gene would be passed on, however not certain....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If a genetic trait is autosomal dominant, it's a "definite" that the trait will be expressed if the offspring gets even one copy of the gene. (Red hair is not autosomal dominant, and color genes are complicated). In this case, the gene for furnishings is said to be autosomal dominant. 

[Lindsay n Archie]

way too complicated for me!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Dominance doesn't have to do with passing on per se but with expression. So you can have the darkest eyes and hair and still carry the blue eye genes too. And you could pass on the blue eyed gene and with the right partner it could be expressed.