Does A Curly Coat Mean Non-Shedding?
This was thought to be true in the early days of the breed. Since then, DNA has shown that shedding is actually related to the Furnishing gene, which is responsible for the beard on the face. Dogs such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Collies do not have a beard on their face and usually shed profusely. Dogs such as Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies, have a beard on the muzzle that continuously grows. These are examples of breeds that require regular grooming and tend to be more allergy friendly.
Learn more about coat types here: https://www.goldendoodleassociation.com/about-the-breed/coat-types-and-colors/
Are All Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
Not exactly. Goldendoodles can have zero, one or two copies of furnishings. Since the Golden Retriever has 0 copies of furnishings and a Poodle typically has 2 copies of furnishings, most F1 Goldendoodles carry just 1 copy of furnishings. Rarely, you may see a Poodle with one furnishing gene causing the exception. The success of an allergy-friendly dog also depends on the Long Hair gene. Goldendoodles are fixed for Long Hair gene as Golden Retrievers and Poodles both have two copies.
The best combination for families who need an allergy friendly Goldendoodle would be a multigenerational Goldendoodle with 2 copies of the Furnishings gene and 2 copies of the Long Hair gene. Those with one copy of furnishings will likely have some mild shedding and be considered less hypo-allergenic. The only way to know how many copies an individual puppy has is to work with a breeder who tests for furnishings.
Learn more about Furnishings here: https://www.goldendoodleassociation.com/about-the-breed/coat-types-and-colors/
Are Goldendoodles Considered to be Purebred or AKC Registrable?
No! A Goldendoodle is the perfect mix of a Poodle and Golden Retriever. They are purposely bred as companion or service/therapy dogs. The Golden Retriever and Poodle both fall under the top 4 smartest breeds, so a Goldendoodle with proper training can excel at any job it is given. The Goldendoodle Association of North America is a breed club that was created to document the lineage of the Goldendoodle as it is developed into multigenerational status. It is a place for reputable breeders to register their Goldendoodle breeding stock and litters so GANA can track the health certifications completed on all breeding stock. GANA is a non-profit organization that uses its funds to educate Goldendoodle breeders on cutting edge technology including DNA testing for coat traits and health as well as providing education on the best breeding practices. GANA has developed a breed standard to serve as a road map so that the Goldendoodle can become more consistent as the breed grows.
Does Generation Matter?
Each generation offers traits from both the parent breeds (Golden Retrievers and Poodles). The main difference is the amount of shedding propensity that can be decreased or eliminated in generations beyond the F1. When looking for a Goldendoodle puppy, do not focus on the generation. Instead, focus on what health testing is done on the parent dogs, what enrichment programs the breeder uses on their pups, and the temperament of the parent dogs, and whether or not you need the most hypo-allergenic dog possible.
Learn more about generations here: https://www.goldendoodleassociation.com/about-the-breed/generations/
