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.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Would that be mating 2 F2's? Just a guess. Once you get past the F2's I'm lost.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, it's an F3 multigen bred to an F1, I believe. Very very few breeders even have F2s. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is one of her multigens, a mini, who happens to belong to a DK member. I think he might be an F4.  He's 6 or 7 months old in this photo. If I were looking for a doodle puppy, this is what I'd want him to look like, lol:

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I would guess this guy is going to get curly when he goes through the coat change and has a haircut?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure. Right now, his coat reminds me of a Old English Sheepdog's. Very very thick but not curly. It will be fun to see how it turns out. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

he is so cute looking!

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness, he's perfect! I'd love one like him!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

You said,

"Some websites say the f2 sheds less and is good for people who suffer from allergy's......................."

Do you or anyone in your family have allergies? 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I have two F1's and they have the same parents, they are a year apart. I completely agree with others as far as needing to have a breeder who you can really count on. I was looking for the "teddy bear" look as well and I personally don't have allergies, I was looking for a low shedding dog so that  if family with allergies came over or were around me or my place and my clothes wouldn't be covered by dog hair. Let me say that if you do have allergies this probably isn't the best breed because every person I know with allergies, except one, reacts to my non-shedding doodle- maybe a little less than they would with fully shedding dogs so its do-able for a short visit but not suitable for living with them.

As far as picking out your baby, I would find a great breeder and talk with them about what you want, have a wish list so to speak and maybe bring a picture of the look your going for. Mine in order of preference was personality traits I wanted first, then gender, coat type,  color, then general size. My F1 does not shed and has a teddy bear look however, my puppy that is also an F1 with the exact same parents does shed, so who knows what his adult coat will end up looking like. With my older puppy, he was one of 10 and their litter was extremely varied as far as different coat types so I really counted on help from the breeder in picking him out. My second puppy was one of five and they had much more similar and consistent coats. 

Good luck! They are fantastic dogs but do require a lot of grooming and training. They are very smart which I think some people do not realize means lots of proper educating is a must! Either training done by you or a trainer and classes or some combination of that.

[Christy&Riley]

Riley is an f1b. The only shedding she does would be little pieces every now a d then that look like someone pulled apart a cotton ball. Her coat is super soft and goes into ringlets when wet. The downside is that it mattes easily and often. It seems every day I find a new matte. Her one and only grooming visit left her looking like an ugly poodle so I learned to give her scissor cut trims. Takes a lot of work to maintain the teddy bear look with her kind of coat but it's worth it. Every few days I try to brush out from the roots to get excess hair out before it turns into a matte. I don't know if you can tell the type of coat with a new puppy so I would just be prepared to invest a lot of time (or money) maintaining the shaggy look. If you get one with a sweet personality like Riley, you won't mind the work...they are just too darn cute! Good luck!

[Kimberly and Mikey]

Mikey is an F2 and we do not have any shedding at all. 1200 seems pretty low as we paid 2200 for ours. 

Good luck

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I agree Kimberly. My breeder, highly recommended and has been mentioned here, charges $2000 and she has always been comparable to other good breeders.  $2200 doesn't surprise me at all, but $1200 does.