Will my pup become doodley?

[Tiffany Kennedy]

Hi everyone! This is Duncan. He's 10 weeks in this photo. My heart was so set on the fuzz-balls pictured throughout google if you search it. Realizing nobody can really tell me, I'm curious to know if you think he will doodle out or just have a wavy golden retriever look? It's amazing to me how few golden retriever looking goldendoodles there are when searched. I can't even find a single one like mine. He's clearly quite curly on the crown of his head and his body, to me, is pretty fluffy (just puppy fluff though?) however he has no beard (flat muzzle) and his feet resemble a golden retriever's too with no fluff. This waiting game is so hard. I'm so impatient, hence why I'm here questioning what everyone else thinks.  Can't wait to hear  from you!

...and know that he is so very loved no matter his coat changes. Just a fun discussion!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Duncan is adorable. He has what is called an "open face", meaning that he did not inherit the gene for facial furnishings, the beard, mustache, and "eyebrows" that create that shaggy doodle-y look. The gene for furnishings is not related to the length or curl of the hair elsewhere on the body, those are separate genes. I don't think that's going to change. If you look through the photos and discussions in this group, you'll see lots of other doodles with open faces.

[Tiffany Kennedy]

Many doodles but none with the curly crown and open face together. I've noticed the open face with a flat crown though and those seem to grow to be more golden looking. I've also seen the open face and some that end up getting the beard and mustache etc. Do you think he'll just have a curly golden retriever look then? :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Actually, the very curly crown often goes with an open face; also, very curly, almost kinky ears. It's the same look as a Curly-coated Retriever, which is what i think he might resemble as an adult. I'll have to find a few pictures for you. 

[Tiffany Kennedy]

And also, thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In looking through other members' photos, I do see a lot of open faced doodles with very curly ears, but not as many with curly heads. That seems to be more common in puppies than adult dogs. Here's one 8 week old pup with a very similar look, you can look through the members' photos of Sydney as she matured. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/sydney-8-weeks-old-5?context=user

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's another one: http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/9-weeks-24?context=user

You can see that curls on the crown seem to disappear as the pups get to be adults. 

[Tiffany Kennedy]

Thanks for all the look-a-likes! I can't wait for a year to pass to see where his looks go. Surely it'll help someone else in the future too. Seems to be an endless game of 'what will happen', that nobody can quite predict. Genes, I tell ya...

[Wanda Klomp]

Wow Tiffany, he looks like a curly coated retriever ;-) I am a professional groomer and work with Doodles and it looks like his legs will stay Retriever (flat), his body will probably become half course, half curly fleece, but not very thick or fluffy. Much easier to groom and less tangle sensitive :-) much more important question though: is his personality everything you hoped it would be? Xxx

[Tiffany Kennedy]

Thank you! Truth is...when you invest all the money we did, and wish for a fluffy goldendoodle for years, it's difficult not to feel a bit disappointed. I've seen this type of comment theme several times in my search for this answer, and while it seems sad, it's a very real feeling. We wouldn't wish for any other puppy. He's wonderful, with a great temperament, and so happy.  Of course we've fallen for him and love him in his just 2 weeks in his forever home, just a little sad. When your heart is so set on something, that happens. Of course only time will tell, so I guess we'll just be patient and see what happens. He's our pup regardless and we will certainly be growing old alongside him!

[Wanda Klomp]

Ps I love his dreamy eyes :-)

[Tiffany Kennedy]

They are pretty sweet, huh? Windows to the soul :o) <3

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

He is super cute. I would agree he will end up with an open face, most likely.

With doodles, especially f1 doodles, there is no way to know for sure with a pup.

Mine is an f1b. I had a lot of concerns early on regarding how she would look. The minute I let go and accepted what she was it would change. Go figure. Check out the photos on my page, the earlier ones are titled by age. She never showed signs of an open face, but her torso was thin and as straight as could be. The vet who examined her at 8 weeks told me she would have that bedhead look and be slightly shedding.

People meeting her on the street now think she is a pure bread poodle. I never wanted a poodle looking dog (yet I purchased a dog that was 75% poodle so what could I expect)... But I love her, I think she is beautiful, she is the sweetest dog, and none of that matters anymore.