The f1 vs. f2?? What's your opinion?

[Sarah]

Hi, I'm new to this doodle blog, but am hoping I can get a little help.

I've always wanted a goldendoodle. I've been doing some research on them and realized I know nothing about this type of dog and I thought I did!!
I've found a breeder online who is close to where I live. This breeder has goldendoodle's for sale ranging from $1,200 for the f1 and $900 for the f2.
I believe the goldendoodle that the majority of people have is the f1, correct?
It's difficult to find any real information on the f2 variety. I know to get an f2 goldendoodle a breeder has to mate two f1's together.

Some websites say the f2 sheds less and is good for people who suffer from allergy's, but yet it's the cheaper of the doodles and not many breeders have them for sale.

Also other blog sites that I've come across, describes the f2 as a "disaster" and a breeder who has these dogs for sale is not is a "reputable" breeder. I've found the majority of goldendoodle breeders don't have the f2 as an option, so I'm wondering if the "reputable" breeder thing is correct? Is there something wrong with the f2? Why wouldn't I want to go with the f2?

Here's my wish: I'd love a goldendoodle that has that shaggy, can't see its eyes, floppy teddybear look. What generation should I get? What are the pro's and con's? What do you guys recommend, I'm completely lost and I have an appointment with the breeder by end of week.

Thank you very much!!
S.

[Ginny Nightingale]

You should see a lot of furnishings around the face and the ears should be quite wavy for the teddy bear look--a straighter coat around the face will be more shaggy and yes, the curls can get tighter as they get older.

But all of this is a generalization--doodles have been known to fool everyone and turn out totally different than expected! But here is a photo of a pup who will have a teddy bear look---she is all grown up now and so pretty.

[Sarah]

The pictures and explanation of how the doodles might turn out is helpful. I know better what to look for when I'm looking at puppies.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Have you considered a multigenerational Australian labradoodle.  There is a lot of consistency in appearance in these doodles, and it might be worth your consideration.  

[Ginny Nightingale]

Good suggestion Laurie--but we have some owners of ALDs here who thought they were guaranteed consistency and their doodles shed like crazy and look more like labs than doodles...you never know with any mixed breed--gotta do your homework....definitely less risky than an F1 or F2 though--I agree with that.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I personally like the poodle back-crosses. I have a somewhat unusual back-cross: F2b

Orwell is 5/8 poodle and 3/8 lab. His dad was a F1b, and his mom a F1. You have more of a chance of the pup being a non shedder if they are more poodle than the other breed. This really wasn't a consideration when I got my pup, but it is actually kind of nice. I don't have to follow him around with a vacuum. The trade-off, however, as others have said, is the mats. Orwell also starts matting at a certain length and it's hard to keep him unmatted even if I brush him every day. That's why I keep him relatively short. The other thing I like about the back-crosses are their bone structure. I believe (just from personal observation) that the back-crosses are generally light when you take into account what their height is. Orwell is 26" at the shoulder and weighs 68-70 lbs. This makes me more hopeful about the future with his hips and elbows, because not a lot of weight is putting strain on them. He is just one healthy dog and I intend to keep it that way. My late yellow lab was never overweight, and was lean, but she suffered severe arthritis in her later years. I'm hoping I can avoid that with Orwell.

Also, with the back-crosses you can have that teddy bear look. If I let Orwell's hair go, I won't be able to see his eyes. I actually had about a month with him like this. I personally don't like it, but to each his own.

The Australian Labradoodles are also a thing to consider, as others have said.

However, I still think that I have to most gorgeous dog ever, so I vote for F1b or F2b. 

[Deb Reed]

I have an F2 mini.  She doesn't shed at all.  She is a mixture of curly and wavy....curly on the top of her head.  She is adorable.

[Soon]

Hello Sarah,
I have F2, yes I paid $1,000. I so wanted a teddy bear or shaggy look doodle This doesn't mean I don't love my puppy but my girl is almost 6 months old and looks like 200% like a golden retriver. The look and temparment is much different than I expected. Yes, I do also agree they shouldn't breed F2 at all because people who wants a doodle expect a teddy bear or shaggy coat. If we wanted a straight coat we could all just get a golden retriver! I saw some people who have a bear looking doodle F2, but I am telling you they got lucky. My dog is so much a golden retriever that now I use golden retriever sites for advice. :(

[Ginny Nightingale]

Not true! see my entry earlier in this discussion--F2s can have all sorts of coats! I guarantee you that the breeder knew that you would be getting a more retriever like pooch (very cute one, but the way) and was not honest with you if you were unaware of that....people CAN get the teddy bear or shaggy doodle from an F2 if they know what to look for in the puppy! F2s are not at all consistent....

[Dot Weigman]

Hi Sarah,

I was curious if you saw both parents to your litter and other siblings?  I have a litter of F2 pups and know several F2 breeders and they have not had a doodle that ends up looking like a golden retreiver, and although your dog is beautiful, and I am sure if the best comfort retriever/doodle, I was just curious if you had seen the other siblings and parents?

[VScott & Lloyd]

We went with an F1 because my husband loves golden retrievers and I wanted a dog that shed less than that. We went with F1 instead of F1b because my husband doesn't like the curliness of the poodle even though he's allergic to dogs and knew that an F1b might be better for his allergies. So far Lloyd's new coat is coming in wavy/shaggy and only his puppy coat is shedding. Although he has a beard, eyebrows, and sprouts on his snout, he may or may not get a lot of fur around the eyes. As of now at 5 months old, he definitely looks more retriever-ish with the more delicate poodle bone structure.  I believe he has the smarts of a poodle so we're always on our toes, and my husband is suffering with allergies but that's what the allergy clinic is for.

Did you see any pups from a previous litter? That can help give you an idea of what they'll look like, but I guess not a guarantee.

Good luck!

[NIX]

I am currently looking at an F2 pup. We are after a shaggy or teddy bear look that you see from the multigens. the pups that we are looking at (6wks old) has a wool coat, seems to be very curly, and looks a lot like a multigen pup.

Is there any chance that his coat could dramatically change, and loose those curls? the last thing we want to happen is for him to turn out visually like a labrador.

Seems that F2's have no consistency in coats at all..fingers crossed he stays curly!

Thank you.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The look you want depends a lot on the facial furnishings and not just on the coat or the curliness. There are doodles who have very curly coats, curls on top of the head, and curly ears, but their faces are completely smooth, with no beard, no mustache, no long hair above or around the eyes. They look like Curly Coated Retrievers or Irish Water Spaniels. Even on a young puppy, you can see furnishings or the lack of them if you know what you are looking for. 

There are three separate genes involved in the "doodle look": one for curl, one for long hair, and one for the furnishings. Poodles ALL have all three, Labs ALL have none of them. It is possible for a doodle pup to inherit all three, two of them, just one of them, or none of them.