I need help! I am trying to pick out a goldendoodle puppy I need your help! :)

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Okay I've never owned a goldendoodle before. This would be my first one. I have two I'm thinking about looking at and I need your help with what you think they will turn out coat wise.
They are both F1b goldendoodles and both same age. What type of coat do you think they will get? I have them posted below. Two top pics are same one and bottom pic is the other puppy. 5 weeks old both boys. I might look at a female too in the first pic pups litter. What would you suggest gender wise too? I want one that's calm laid back loving friendly and intelligent. I also don't want one that constantly plays all the time like my Boston terrier (it's exhausting). What gender do you think would be best? Anyways back to the puppies coats I wasn't sure if they would be wavy or curly fleece? Attached pics would be greatly appreciated so I can see what your talking about.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I would go with your gut then! I would strongly consider temperament too- good luck! :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Boy or girl doesn't matter.  If calm is what you want, then go with the calmest puppy as you view them and is suggested by the breeder.  My doodle was not high energy as a puppy - he was puppy playful but not wild.  My Springer Spaniel was a wild puppy, truly wild, so I know the difference.

[Adina P]

All the three female dogs I've had were the wild childs.  My one male has been the calmest.  BUT it's a small sample size.  I find females to be 'busier' but depends on the dog Im sure.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

me too

[jenn D]

Me three. That's why my pack is all boys. Lol!

[Shari Becker]

Our 18 month old doodle is curly and was a super mellow puppy ... sort of. What I mean by that is that she was not at all destructive (except for the times that she was) and not at all crazy (except for the times that she was.) :-) Okay, I'm teasing a bit. But really, she was mellow as far as puppies go. But still had - and still has - her moments of all out puppy-ness. 

I think your question is one that a good breeder can help you with. I talked to lots of breeders before choosing the one I went with. We needed mellow temperament, and she was quite explicit about which parents she thought were best for our need. She also helped me select a puppy from the litter. Some were clearly more rambunctious and some, like the little curly one that hid under a chair, were more timid.

I also asked lots of questions about coat. I do have pretty bad allergies, and I needed one with a curly, tight coat. And yes, they are much harder to groom. If you want super curly, you need either a multigen or f2B dog. That said ... my sister, who is asthmatic, wheezes from my non shedding, curly doodle, but does not break out in hives when she licks her. She does not wheeze near Australian Labradoodles, but she breaks out in hives when licked by one. Go figure. The allergy component is quite complicated. 

Here is a picture of my super curly girl at 5-weeks and then another of her sheared short, but still quite curly, earlier this fall. Maybe this will help. There were dogs who were definitely straight, definitely wavy, and definitely curly. I'd be careful though because if you need curly for allergies, wavy won't cut it.  

Hope this helps!

[Adina P]

This isn't meant to be disparaging of your choice of a doodle.  I'm just always curious when people who choose doodles want curly why they don't choose a standard poodle.  So why did you opt for a very curly doodle instead of a standard poodle?  And to the original poster, same question for you.  Again I'm just always curious because what I originally wanted in a doodle, looks-wise, was that middle ground look--not a retriever and not a poodle.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Just wanted to input- I have an f1b goldendoodle and she is shaped/built EXACTLY like a standard poodle. I think you will find that many of the doodles on here are. Thus, I wouldn't bank on "build" differences in a goldendoodle, especially if you are getting an f1b (mostly standard poodle).

I think I am one of the rare few who had an extremely calm puppy. I can count the times Ragley has had "the puppy zoomies" in her first 15 months of life on one hand. I relied on my breeder, but I also did my own temperament testing on all of the puppies. Temperament FIRST. They will ALL be cute. It is so easy to get caught up in the coat types, but temperament is what will truly shape your bond with the pup.

[Shari Becker]

Well, I can answer on our end. I actually wanted a poodle. I thought a poodle would be the best bet for someone with bad allergies. BUT, our dog was bought as an ESA for my daughter who has pretty bad anxiety, and she had her heart set on getting a golden. She'd had one at her daycare - the kindest, gentlest, sweetest dog you've ever met. As a toddler, my daughter would nap with her head on the dog's belly. And she would help the owner brush her in quiet moments. When we told her I was allergic, she just fell apart and sobbed. We did some research and discovered doodles. I was still very scared about the dander because I knew some people couldn't tolerate doodles if they had lab and retriever allergies. It has not been perfect, and I'll admit, my allergies would be better with poodles. But this dog wasn't only about me. My body has become tolerant with no meds needed.

Also, once we saw these dogs, and their muppet-like faces, we just fell in love with them. There's something softer and rounder about them. All that said, if we were to ever get a second dog ... as much as I love my doodle ... It would have to be an even more hypoallergenic breed, like a pure poodle or a havanese.

[Adina P]

Thanks for sharing!

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

If you plan on doing therapy work temperament needs to be your top concern and you need to let go of everything else including coat. Your breeder would be the best to help you with that. 

[Shoney & Ruby]

We went and met the litter and our little Ruby picked us--she was the most affectionate, the only one who kept going back to say high to her mom, played with the other pups and played independently. She is great.