So, you’re in the market for a goldendoodle. Then you may have come across the term F1a Goldendoodle. Technically, that term is a misnomer. Doodle dogs are classified as either F1 or F1b (F2 or F2b, F3 of F3b, etc). The “a” is unnecessary and actually meaningless.
Let us explain. Goldendoodles are specially bred to meet a particular specification, they are not a breed of dog that occurs naturally. Goldendoodles are the result of crossing two different purebred parent breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle, and are classified based on which generation they belong to. Is this doodle the direct offspring of a golden retriever crossed with a poodle? Or, are they one or more generations removed from that initial cross of two purebred parents?
This article will look at different generations of Goldendoodles and how they are made. And we’ll take a closer look at a particular generation – the “F1A Goldendoodle” (or, more correctly, the F1 Goldendoodle).
What Is a Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are commonly discussed among dog lovers, but how many of us understand what a Goldendoodle is? We will take time to explain what a Goldendoodle is and how some of the generations of this beautiful dog are made.
The Goldendoodle is a unique breed formed from the cross of a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. They are often referred to as designer dogs, and they were created to make genetically improved pets with better traits.
Why are Goldendoodles Bred?
Crossbreeding two different animals of the same specie is done to improve the offspring’s genes and produce a new generation that is healthier and more resistant to some particular genetic disorders.
In the case of the Goldendoodle, the aim was to create a pet with an improved coat that would be hypoallergenic.
We mentioned that the Goldendoodle is a mixed breed of the Golden Retriever and the poodle. These two purebred parents were not selected randomly – each had unique traits suitable for the cross.
The first reason was that both parents were compatible and capable of producing viable offspring, as seen in the Goldendoodle. The Golden Retriever is also one of the smartest species of dogs, and its intelligence is highly coveted in the dog market.
However, there is a problem with the purebred Golden Retriever – it has a straight coat that allows the skin to shed and fall. The shed skin contains dander, which causes people to have allergic reactions to dogs. The Golden Retriever was known to trigger severe allergic reactions in people, and something had to be done about it.
On the other hand, the poodle is another interesting purebred, and people observed that poodles hardly trigger allergic reactions (hypoallergenic). They later discovered that the poodles’ coat was what prevented allergic reactions – but how?
We already said that exposure to dander from shed skin causes people to react to dogs. However, poodles have wavy or curly hair that doesn’t allow shed skin to fall. There is a general misconception that poodles don’t shed skin, but that is inaccurate.
Crossbreeding was initiated to produce a breed that had the desirable traits of the Golden retriever and the hypoallergenic nature of the poodle, and it was successful.
Types of Goldendoodle Generations
The definition of a Goldendoodle is not limited to just the crossbreed between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle, other generations have been successfully created, and we will show you some of them.
F1A Generation Goldendoodle
The F1 generation is the topic that we want to focus on. We’ll give you a quick overview, then move on to the other generations before discussing the F1 Goldendoodle in detail.
The F1 or F1A generation means the first filial generation, and the F1A Goldendoodle means the First filial generation Goldendoodle. This generation is the offspring produced from the direct crossbreeding of the purebred Golden Retriever and the purebred Poodle.
The F1A generation is the first hybrid formed, and it has 50% Golden Retriever traits and 50% poodle traits. The other generations of the Goldendoodles are derivatives of the F1 generation.
F1B Generation Goldendoodle
We want to assume that you are still following us to this point, and everything is clear here. Now let’s take a step further.
Don’t get confused by the B in the F1B generation, and it simply means a backcross. A backcross is when you recross an offspring of an F1A generation with one of the initial purebred parents. Following the definition, we define the F1B Goldendoodle as an offspring formed from crossing an F1 or F1A Goldendoodle with a purebred doodle.
The backcross aims to produce healthier offspring with more of the traits of the purebred parent. The F1B Goldendoodles are 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever.
F2 Generation Goldendoodle
The F2 means the second filial generation, and it refers to the offspring formed from the crossing of two first filial generation parents, F1A parents.
From the definition, we can describe the F2 Goldendoodle as the spawn from the crossing of two F1A Goldendoodles. The F2 Goldendoodles end up with the same genetic composition as the F1A doodles, and they are also 50% poodle and 50% Golden Retriever.
F2B Generation Goldendoodle
From our earlier definition of what a backcross is, you should be able to define what an F2B Goldendoodle is. The F2B Goldendoodle is the breed obtained from the cross between an F2 Goldendoodle and a purebred poodle.
The F2B Goldendoodles have a higher percentage of poodle traits, and they are one of the most hypoallergenic breeds on the market.
The generations of the Goldendoodles can keep going with consecutive crossing and backcrossing, and we still have more like the F1BB, F2BB, F3B, and so on.
More About the F1A Goldendoodle
We already established that the F1A Goldendoodle is the first generation created, and it is more commonly known simply as the F1 generation.
F1A (or F1) Characteristics
Traits
In terms of appearance, it is difficult to predict how the Goldendoodles will appear because they carry a 50-50% chance of both the Golden retriever and the Poodle.
In most cases, the F1A Goldendoodle still is similar to the Golden Retriever, and the coat tends towards the straight side. If you want a highly hypoallergenic Goldendoodle, it is advisable to go for a less diverse generation like the F1B Goldendoodle or the F2B Goldendoodle.
Health Benefits
This characteristic is also a benefit for the F1A Goldendoodle. This crossbreed enjoys better genes and also improved health qualities. In biology, there is a term called hybrid vigor, and it means an improved health state in the hybrid.
Hybrid vigor means eliminating certain genetic defects in the parent breed. The hybrid vigor is one of the main reasons why crossbreeding is encouraged. When two different breeds are crossed, certain genetically transmitted diseases and defects are not passed down to the hybrid.
The only defects that can be passed down are common to both breeds, which can be eliminated by crossing the hybrid again with another breed that doesn’t have that same defect.
F1A Goldendoodles are more genetically sound than both purebred parents, and they are less at risk of developing health issues.
Size
Most times, the F1A Goldendoodle resembles the Golden Retriever in size. However, this is not always the case, and in some rare cases, the hybrid is more like the Poodle.
The need to reduce the size of the hybrid is one of the reasons why a backcross is usually carried out with the smaller Poodle.
The size of the poodle used can also affect the size of the hybrid. If you cross a miniature Poodle with a Golden Retriever, there is a close to 50% chance of ending up with a mini Goldendoodle.
F1a Goldendoodles are breeds that still have a more diverse size range, land because of the 50% to 50% trait ratio in their gene. The F1 doodle is available as a toy or mini Goldendoodle, medium doodle, and the standard Goldendoodle.
Hypoallergenic Properties
In terms of shedding and triggering allergic reactions, the F1A Goldendoodle is more in between. It can be misleading to say that they are 100% hypoallergenic, but they also don’t trigger reactions as much as purebred Golden Retrievers.
It is safer to say that they are partly hypoallergenic. If you suffer from medium to severe allergic reactions, we won’t advise you to go for an F1A Goldendoodle. However, if your allergies are mild, there is a very low chance of the F1A hybrid triggering you.
Shedding
Shedding in F1A Goldendoodles is commonly misunderstood. All dogs shed. However, the degree to which they shed varies. The F1A Goldendoodle has been genetically modified to reduce the amount of shedding, but this is not the same as completely stopping it.
F1A Goldendoodles shed with the season. The hybrid coat has two layers, and they are shed every winter and summer. The difference in the shedding of the F2 Goldendoodle and the Golden Retriever is that they shed less.
The shedding of the F1A doodle is still more than breeds like the F2B doodle but is less than that of most double-coated breeds. The hybrids need frequent grooming for their coat to stay shiny.
Energy
The F1A Goldendoodle is energetic, but this can vary with the dog’s size. The larger hybrids tend to rest more and play when the need be. However, the smaller breeds like the mini Goldendoodle tend to be more energetic with little stamina.
The F1A Goldendoodle – Cuter, Healthier, and More Allergy-Friendly
Goldendoodles are adorable pets regardless of their size. However, their looks are not the only advantage they possess – they have improved genes that make them healthier and more allergy-friendly compared to their purebred parents.
We’ve looked at different generations of the Goldendoodle and how they are crossed. We also dove a little deeper into the F1A Goldendoodle and some of its defining traits. If you want a Goldendoodle with less diversity, go for one with a backcross like the F1B, F2B, and F2BB Goldendoodles.