
What Is A Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodle’s are a hybrid dog breed that first began to be widely bred in the early 1990’s, a hybrid dog breed resulting from breeding a Poodle with a Golden Retriever or other variations via dog breeds like the Australian Shepard, Cocker Spaniel, etc. The Goldendoodle breed is not a breed but a crossbreed.
Goldendoodles are a popular breed of dogs that come in various types and generations. They are categorized based on the generations of their breeding and their size.
Generations:
- F1 Goldendoodle: A cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle.
- F1b Goldendoodle: A cross between a purebred Poodle and an F1 Goldendoodle.
- F2 Goldendoodle: A cross between two F1 Goldendoodles or an F2 Goldendoodle and a Poodle.
- F2b Goldendoodle: A cross between an F1 Goldendoodle and an F1b Goldendoodle or an F2 Goldendoodle and a Poodle.
Sizes:
- Standard Goldendoodles: The largest variety, standing at about 22 inches or taller and weighing 50-70 pounds.
- Medium Goldendoodles: Slightly smaller than standard-sized Goldendoodles.
- Miniature Goldendoodles: Standing at about 16 to 20 inches tall and weighing 35 to 50 pounds.
- Toy/Petite Goldendoodles: The smallest variety, with a height of about 15 inches and weight ranging between 20 to 35 pounds.
Teddy Bear Goldendoodles, also known as English Goldendoodles, are a specific type resulting from the cross between an English Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.
Other Types of Doodles
You may have noticed that there are many variations to a Goldendoodle. There are different percentages and different dog breeds involved. There are many other types of Doodles which are crosses with Poodles but are not the same as a Goldendoodle which is a cross with a Golden Retriever specifically.
Here are some of the other types of Doodles so you don’t get confused.
- Aussiedoodle
- This is a mix of Australian Sheperd and Poodle.
- Australian Labradoodles
- This is a Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel multi-generation
- Bernerdoodles
- Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle. Often called Bernese Doodle or Bernedoodle.
- English Goldendoodles
- English Golden Retriever and Poodle.
- Goldendoodle
- The most known and is a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle
- Labradoodle
- Labrador Retriever and Poodle (Learn about Labradoodle vs Goldendoodle)
- North American Retrievers or Double Doodles
- This is one of the unique types of Goldendoodles which is a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle and then Labradoodle which is Labrador Retriever and Poodle. This is a two generation blend.
- Petite Goldendoodles
- Golden Retriever for the mother dog and then miniature Poodle for Sire. This is another two generation blend.
- Teddy Bear Goldendoodles
- English Golden Retriever which give the wider Teddy Bear face and Poodle.
- Teddy Bear Schnoodles
- The Schnauzer with wide Teddy Bear face and Poodle creates another of the unique types of Goldendoodles.
So you can see here there are quite a few options that can result in many different looks to this dog breed based on the various types of Goldendoodles out there.

Goldendoodle Generation Number
Summary of types of Goldendoodles:
- F1 Goldendoodle = Golden Retriever (100%) x Poodle (100%)
- F1b Goldendoodle = Poodle (100%) x F1 Goldendoodle
- F2 Goldendoodle = F1 Goldendoodle x F1 Goldendoodle OR F2 Goldendoodle x Poodle
- F2B Goldendoodle = F1 Goldendoodle x F1B Goldendoodle OR F2 Goldendoodle x Poodle
What is a F1 Goldendoodle?
An F1 Goldendoodle results from breeding a purebred Poodle with a purebred Golden Retriever, making it a first-generation cross. Here are some of the distinctive characteristics you can expect from an F1 Goldendoodle:
- Size: An F1 Goldendoodle can vary in size, depending on the size of its parents. Generally, they range in size from 50 to 90 pounds and can stand between 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Generation: An F1 Goldendoodle is a first-generation Goldendoodle.
- Coat colors: F1 Goldendoodles can have a range of coat colors, including cream, gold, red, black, and chocolate. They may also have particolored coats, a mix of colors, or merle coats with a faded or marbled look.
- Temperament: F1 Goldendoodles are typically friendly, social, and affectionate dogs. They are known for being playful, energetic, and intelligent. They can be good with children and other pets and often make great family pets.
- Training needs: F1 Goldendoodles are intelligent and eager to please, which makes them relatively easy to train. Favorable responses to positive reinforcement techniques and a fondness for acquiring new skills are traits commonly seen in this breed.
- Grooming needs: The coat of an F1 Goldendoodle is typically wavy or curly, and it needs regular grooming to prevent any matting or tangles. You should brush them several times a week and have your Goldendoodle professionally groomed every few months.
- Other characteristics: F1 Goldendoodles are known for being loyal and devoted to their families. They require regular exercise and playtime to keep them happy and healthy. They may be prone to specific health issues, such as hip dysplasia, which a veterinarian should monitor.
What is an F1b Goldendoodle?
An F1b Goldendoodle is a first-generation backcross Goldendoodle. This means that one of its parents is a Goldendoodle, and the other is a purebred Poodle. Here are some characteristics of an F1b Goldendoodle:
- Size: F1b Goldendoodles can range in size from small to medium. They typically weigh between 15 and 45 pounds and stand about 13 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Generation: F1b Goldendoodles are considered second-generation Goldendoodles.
- Coat colors: They can come in various colors, including cream, apricot, red, chocolate, black, and particolored.
- Temperament: Like F1 Goldendoodles, F1b Goldendoodles are friendly, intelligent, and social. They are loyal and make great family pets. They also tend to be hypoallergenic due to their Poodle ancestry.
- Training needs: They respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques and enjoy learning new things. They may have a high energy level and require regular exercise and mental stimulation.
- Grooming needs: F1b Goldendoodles have a curly, wavy, or straight coat that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangles. They may require professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Their low shedding coat makes them a suitable option for individuals with allergies.
- Other characteristics: F1b Goldendoodles are social dogs that thrive on human interaction. They make great therapy dogs and are often found in nursing homes and hospitals. They also tend to be good with children and other pets.
What is an F2 Goldendoodle?
An F2 Goldendoodle is a second-generation cross between two F1 Goldendoodles. Here are some characteristics of an F2 Goldendoodle:
- Size: F2 Goldendoodles can vary in size, just like F1 Goldendoodles. They can range from small to large, depending on the size of their parents.
- Generation: F2 Goldendoodles are second-generation crosses with two Goldendoodle parents.
- Coat colors: F2 Goldendoodles can have a variety of coat colors, depending on the colors of their parents.
- Temperament: F2 Goldendoodles are generally friendly and affectionate dogs. They are social and enjoy being around people and other dogs.
- Training needs: As F1 Goldendoodles, F2 Goldendoodles respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques. F2 Goldendoodles are quick learners and desire to satisfy their owners, resulting in ease of training.
- Grooming needs: F2 Goldendoodles typically have a wavy or curly coat that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangles. They may also require occasional haircuts to keep their coat at a manageable length.
- Other characteristics: F2 Goldendoodles may inherit traits from their Poodle or Golden Retriever ancestors, such as intelligence, loyalty, and energy. They may also be a good choice for people with allergies, as they tend to shed less than other breeds.
What is a F2B goldendoodle?
An F2b Goldendoodle is a second-generation backcross between an F1 Goldendoodle and an F1 Goldendoodle or a Poodle. Here are some characteristics of an F2b Goldendoodle:
- Size: F2b Goldendoodles can range in size from petite to standard, depending on the size of the Poodle parent.
- Generation: F2b Goldendoodles are second-generation backcross, meaning they have a higher percentage of Poodle genetics than F1 or F2 Goldendoodles.
- Coat colors: F2b Goldendoodles can come in various colors, depending on the colors of the Poodle and Goldendoodle parents.
- Temperament: F2b Goldendoodles are known for being friendly, social, and playful. They are also intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.
- Training needs: F2b Goldendoodles benefit from early socialization and positive reinforcement training. They enjoy learning new tricks and respond well to praise and rewards.
- Grooming needs: Regular grooming is necessary for F2b Goldendoodles, whose coats are wavy or curly, to avoid matting and tangling. They may also need to have their coat trimmed regularly.
- Other characteristics: F2b Goldendoodles are often hypoallergenic and have a low-shedding coat, making them a good choice for people with allergies. They are also known for being great family pets and getting along well with children and other pets.

What are the traits of the various types of goldendoodles?
There are various size categories of Goldendoodles. Small or Mini, Medium, Standard. According to the Goldendoodle Association of Northern America the Final size category of a dog will be determined at adulthood and is measured at the withers.
Grooming will be a big requirement with Goldendoodles. Some more than others depending on the coat type. You should groom them about every 4 to 6 weeks and they should be brushed regularly. You can learn more here in our article on how to groom a Goldendoodle.
The hair will be wavy to curly not so much straight but we do see it. You will have very little shedding if any at all. Most are very allergy friendly with the F1B being the most allergy friendly dog.
Goldendoodles with their Golden Retriever and Poodle parents will be very sweet and affectionate dogs. They are highly intelligent and love to play but are gentle still. They make great family dogs.
They make great therapy dogs but can also be used as service or guide dogs, however activity is a restraining factor in this for a happy healthy dog. They are great with challenge and make good agility dogs. They need exercise and do best in homes with active family members where they can get plenty of outdoor-activity. They need daily exercise. A lack of exercise can result in some unwanted behavior like excessive digging, chewing, barking or other activities.
Due to the nature of the parents you will want to watch the chewing tendencies and make sure you train from the beginning not to chew, especially on people. Teaching them its ok on their toys is a great route.
Due to their nature they do not make good apartment dogs. They need outdoor activity and room to play. This would be the only push back of having them as therapy or guide dogs as they require a lot of activity by nature.
You can read more about some general aspects in the post A Quick Information Guide for Goldendoodle Lovers
Golden Doodle Facebook Community