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COLORS
Goldendoodles come in a rainbow of colors. The Golden Retriever ancestry brings only shades of cream, apricot and red to the breed. These colors are all controlled by the same gene, with the shade of color determined by the intensity of the inherited gene. While the Poodle heritage also includes creams, apricots, and reds; Poodles alone lend the black, chocolate (dark brown), silver and gray coloring (and the color patterns) to the Goldendoodle coat.
Click on the tabs below for examples of types of colors in Goldendoodles:
- Cream
- Apricot
- Red
- Chocolate
- Black
Cream
Apricot
Red
Chocolate
Black
For even more variety, there are patterns of these colors found in the Goldendoodle, includingparti, merle, phantom, and brindle. Aparticolored Goldendoodle is at least 50% white, with solid patches of any other color.A solid color Goldendoodle with white markings that cover less than 50% of the body are known by several names: abstract, mismarks, or chrome.Merle isa varied coat pattern. While a beautiful color, the merle gene can cause blindness and deafness if two parents carryingthemerlegeneare bred together, so merles should be bred only by very knowledgeable breeders who test for the merle gene and understand the genetics involved.Phantom’s have a specific pattern of markings on a solid background above each eye, on the sides of the muzzle, chest, inside the legs, and under the tail. Brindle patterns appear as stripes, the color and the width vary with each dog.
These are “Parti” Goldendoodles – to qualify as parti they must have at least 50% white coloring in their coat:
The Goldendoodles shown below have Abstract coats (also known as “Chrome” markings or mismarks):
Merle Goldendoodles have a varied coat pattern caused by a gene that randomly suppresses just some of the solid color:
Phantom Goldendoodles have a specific pattern of markings like the ones below, and they can come in a variety of colors:
COAT TEXTURE AND APPEARANCE
The primary concerns for any dog breeder must be health, temperament and conformation; but who can deny that the outward appearance of a Goldendoodle pulls at our heartstrings! With careful breeding, breeders can now produce litters with predictable coat types and shedding propensities.
One of the things that many people find attractive about the Goldendoodleis the low shedding and hypo-allergenic qualitiesof the coat, and the adorable ragamuffin look of the Goldendoodle.DNA research now gives us information about how coat genes affect the “look” of a Goldendoodle. No longer do you need to rely on the generation of a Goldendoodle to determine appearance or shedding intensity!
Length (FGF5 gene)
The coat length gene determines whether a dog has a long(L) or short (S) coat. Although long coats are recessive, because both Goldendoodle parent breeds are long-coated, all Goldendoodles carry two genes for long coat (L/L). Since short coat is dominant, if a dog carries a gene for the short gene (S/L) their coat would be short. This is why some Labradoodles have short coats in the early generations, whereas Goldendoodles do not.
Curl(KRT71 gene)
Goldendoodles can be curly, wavy, or straight.
Curly Coat
Wavy Coat
Straight Coat
As you can see above, aGoldendoodle’scoat can have different amounts of curl. They inherit their number of curl genes from their parents.Typically a Goldendoodle that is curly is +/+ for curl, a flat or straight dog is -/- for curl, a dog with a wavy or loose curl coat is +/-.Since a wavy coated Goldendoodle can carry a curl gene (+/-), two wavy Goldendoodles bred together can produce all three coat types – curly, wavy, and straight. If a breeder tests the parent dogs for the curl gene, they can better predict the appearance of their puppies.
SHEDDING AND FURNISHINGS
What are Furnishings and Improper coat (gene RSP02)?
Furnishings are arguably one of the first things you’ll notice about a dog that helps you identify it as a characteristic “Doodle.” Furnishings are the longer facial hair, including eyebrows, mustache and beard, found on most Goldendoodles.
Golden Retrievers have an “open face,” that is, short facial hair, sometimes also known as incorrect coat.
Even more interestingly, genetic technology has taught us that furnishings are what confer the low- to non-shedding coats on our Goldendoodles that help make them such optimal family dogs.1,2 Earlier thinking was that curl and a gene aptly named the “shedding” gene were also important, but more recent findings tell us that neither is relevant to the likelihood of furnished dogs to shed. 3
Back in the “old days,” breeders had to use generations (F1, F1b, etc) to help make an educated guess as to whether two dogs would produce puppies with or without furnishings. Based on Mendelian genetics, this educated guess was often just that—a guess about the odds. This is when the use of notations like F1 and F1b came about and what has caused many people to think they need to know the generation to guess about furnishings.
In the recent past, new commercially available tests have been developed that allow us to genetically test our parent dogs for furnishing genes (and other coat genes as well, such as curl) so we can better predict coat type in puppies. This is much, much more accurate and dependable than the old Mendelian filial F1, F1b, etc. type labeling. We strongly recommend that if shedding or the furnished “look” is important to you that you find a breeder who performs genetic testing and doesn’t leave the presence of this gene to the vagaries of guessing.
The common abbreviation for the furnishing gene is an “F” and for an improper coat (no furnishings gene) the abbreviation is often either “IC” (incorrect coat) or “f.” So there are three possibilities for this gene: FF, Ff (or F IC), or ff (or IC IC).
The gene responsible for furnishings is dominant; so by testing the parent dogs DNA, it can be determined if a breed pair will produce puppies that all have furnishings, or if there will be some puppies with an incorrect (or Golden Retriever like) coat. Dogs withone copy of thefurnishingsgene(Ff or F IC) are lowersheddingthan dogs without furnishings.Dogs with two copies of furnishing genes (FF) are typically non-shedding.
Although most prefer the Goldendoodles with furnishings, aka a “Doodley” coat, there is a market for Goldendoodles who look more like Golden Retrievers, butsometimes lower shedding than a Golden Retriever.If you have a family with allergies, a Goldendoodle with an incorrect coat is not the best match for you.4
By testing the parent dogs of Multigenerational (“multigen”) Goldendoodles, your breeder can be sure not to breed parents that will produce puppies with incorrect coats (without furnishings) unintentionally.
- 1. Cadieu E, Neff MW, Quignon P, Walsh K, Chase K, Parker HG, VonHoldt BM, Rhue A, Boyko A, Byers A, Wong A, Mosher DS, Elkahloun AG, Spady TC, Andre C, Lark KG, Cargill M, Bustamante CD, Wayne RK, Ostrander EA. Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. Science. 2009 Oct; 326(5949):150-3
- 2. Parker HG, Chase K, Cadieu E, Lark KG, Ostrander EA. An insertion in the RSPO2 gene correlates with improper coat in the Portuguese water dog.J Hered. 2010;101(5):612-617. doi:10.1093/jhered/esq068
- 3. The Shedding gene is still relevant for shedding for NON-furnished dogs (short facial hair), but have no impact for shedding for our furnished Goldendoodles.
- 4. Even a Goldendoodle with two furnishings genes does not guarantee that you will not be allergic to a particular dog. Allergies are very complex and shedding is just one of the components that factor in the equation. Consider that dander, saliva, proteins, and allergens carried on the dogs coat, etc., all contribute to each individual’s allergic reaction.
These Goldendoodles exhibit furnishings:
The Goldendoodles below lack “furnishings” and will shed more than a Goldendoodle with furnishings.
As you can see, there is a lot of science that goes into the selection of breeding mates to produce the ideal Goldendoodle. The Goldendoodle Association supports its Member breeders by providing access to the latest research and guidance from experts in fields such as breed development, canine reproduction, and puppy development. GANA’s goal is to guide the development of the Goldendoodle breed in the best possible way using current science and technology available to enhance health, raise puppies with the best possible temperaments, and avoid the mistakes of many of the AKC breeds regarding genetic diversity.
FAQs
What is the most sought after Goldendoodle color? ›
The most popular Goldendoodle color is apricot, followed by cream and red. Sables are also in demand even though they are not of the same level as the three shades mentioned above. Since these colors are desired by many, expect that they are a bit more expensive than their other cousins.
How do you predict the color of a Goldendoodle coat? ›Like all other dogs, Goldendoodles inherit their coat color from their parents. There are multiple possible combinations in the canine world. The coat color your pup ends up with depends on the mix of dominant and recessive genes that they receive from both parent dogs and how these genes interact.
What determines the color of a Goldendoodle? ›Goldendoodles come in a rainbow of colors. The Golden Retriever ancestry brings only shades of cream, apricot and red to the breed. These colors are all controlled by the same gene, with the shade of color determined by the intensity of the inherited gene.
What does FB Goldendoodle mean? ›F1b – First Generation Backcross
The “b” in F1b Goldendoodle simply means bred back to a purebred parent. It can be from a purebred Poodle or a purebred Golden retriever. Genetically, this means they're still first-generation. However, the traits of either the retriever or the poodle can be intensified.
Phantom is a coat pattern in Goldendoodles that consists of two colors in specific locations. The coat of a phantom Goldendoodle consists of a primary color with markings of a secondary color located on the eyebrows, muzzle, chest, lower legs, and sometimes under the tail or inside the ears.
Why is my Goldendoodle turning GREY? ›Like humans, dogs tend to go gray as part of their natural aging process. And just like us, as dogs get older, the pigment cells responsible for color (specifically, melanin) stop being produced; this causes the strands to come out at a lighter shade, like gray or white.
What is the most sought after Goldendoodle? ›The most popular Goldendoodle color at the moment is apricot. It's both highly desirable and more common than the second most popular: cream, and the third most popular: red. Sable is becoming more popular lately too.
How do you tell what type of coat a Goldendoodle will have? ›Look At The Puppy's Snout
Generally, a prominent mustache is a clear indicator that the puppy will have a curly coat. Dogs that will go on to develop wavy coats tend to grow a shaggy beard around the muzzle. Straight-coated Goldendoodles usually have short, neat hair around their snout.
A Goldendoodle's coat color can change as they grow.
Both Chloe and Ruby had red puppy coats that lightened gradually as they grew into adults. From my research and from listening to other doodle moms, this seems typical of many red Goldendoodles—coat colors may fade or lighten as they reach adulthood.
If a Goldendoodle gets a non-curl gene from each parent, it can have a rather straight coat. Unlike the flat coat, it is accompanied by furnishings and a “fluffy” texture.
Why is my black Goldendoodle turning white? ›
Vitiligo
Sometimes, the reason your dog's fur is turning white is a condition call vitiligo. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that can cause pigment loss in certain patches of skin and fur. While the causes of vitiligo are unknown, many scientists believe that the condition is hereditary.
The black Goldendoodle is a specific kind of Goldendoodle. Being the most popular Doodle mix in the US, the demand for specific colors of these dogs has grown. While they nearly always appear to be brown or cream-colored, the more rare black Goldendoodle has been become increasingly sought-after.
What does F1 F2 mean in dog breeding? ›So, an F2 means that 2 first generation Doodles were bred together. F2 could also technically refer to a litter produced from a F1 dog bred to a F1b dog (although many refer to this as F2b to denote a higher percentage of poodle in the mix).
Which is better F1 or F1B Goldendoodle? ›Generally, F1 Goldendoodles tend to have straighter coats that shed more, so these dogs aren't considered to be hypoallergenic but are the better choice if ease of grooming is important to you. F1B Doodles, however, are 75% Poodle, so their coats are usually wavy or very curly and they shed very little.
What does F1 F2 F3 mean in dogs? ›The first generation designer dog (known as an F1), is the direct result of mating two purebred dogs of different breeds. The second generation (F2) results from the mating of two F1 dogs. An F3 pup is the result of a mating two F2 hybrids.
What is a merle Goldendoodle? ›Merles are a marbled looking coat, and can come in "blue merle", "sable merle" and "chocolate merle". These puppies can also often times have blue or partially blue eyes. These can also come in variations of phantom, parti, and tri-colored. Goldendoodle.
At what age do Goldendoodles settle down? ›Most Goldendoodles will start to calm around 12-18 months of age. This is where they're past the puppy stage and moving forward into adulthood. People can sometimes feel confused as puppy teeth are lost at 6-8 months, but you can still expect excitable behavior for months after this.
What is a tuxedo Goldendoodle? › TUXEDO patterning is a form of parti patterning where the white is concentrated on the chest and legs, giving the impression that the dog is "wearing a tuxedo." ABSTRACT patterning has small touches of white, usually on the chest, face, and paws.
Why is my Goldendoodles hair wiry? ›Harsh and wiry coats are more common in Doodles who have a high genetic makeup of a harsh-coated breed in their lineage. These breeds include Golden Retrievers, Collies, Terriers, Huskies, and German Shepherds. For instance, some Goldendoodles can inherit the wiry and harsh Golden Retriever type hair.
Can a black Goldendoodle turn brown? ›Sable Goldendoodles start as either black to dark brown and will mostly lighten to a golden or apricot color. As the puppy loses its coat and grows adult fur, it will fade to a light tan color. However, this is not a complete change as the dog will still retain some degree of its black coloring.
Why is my white hair turning black again? ›
So can gray or white hair turn black again? White or gray hair due to aging (old age) cannot turn black again naturally. In contrast, white hair appears due to bleaching, stress, food, pollution, vitamin deficiency, and other physical influence can turn black again if properly taken care of.
Which is better F1 or F2 Goldendoodle? ›F1 doodles are slightly hypoallergenic, but may still shed and cause allergic reactions. F2 goldendoodles are the biggest wild cards in terms of their coats and hypoallergenic properties, especially compared to the more genetically controlled F1 and F1B goldendoodle hybrids.
Are black Goldendoodles more expensive? ›While most Doodle mix breeds sell for around $1,000-$1,500 you can expect to pay more for a black Goldendoodle. Because the color genetics can be difficult to reproduce and breeders cannot guarantee that a certain number of black pups will be born, the ones that are might be especially expensive.
Is a chocolate Goldendoodle rare? ›Are Chocolate Goldendoodles rare? Although Goldendoodles seldom come in Chocolate color, it's still not as rare as certain other Goldendoodle colors. While they're difficult to produce, you can still find Chocolate Goldendoodles if you check with Goldendoodle breeders.
Are white Goldendoodles rare? ›White Goldendoodles are not rare. In fact, they're very popular, along with Cream Goldendoodles and Apricot Goldendoodles, and widely available to be adopted or purchased from many locations. White is also a common color for two-coloured Goldendoodles, such as brown and white, apricot and white, and black and white.
What is the best generation of Goldendoodle? ›The Bottom Line:
Choosing the Goldendoodle generation depends on the traits you wish to be dominant in them. If you do not mind shedding, 1st generation is the best to pick as you get the best of both worlds. If you are looking for a non-shedding dog, go for an F1B generation puppy.
Allergy potential: The F1B generation is the most hypoallergenic of Goldendoodle types, making it the best fit for people with severe allergies. Coat: Its fur appearance relies heavily on the traits its F1 parent passes on.
Are male or female Goldendoodles better? ›Male Goldendoodles are more affectionate, laid back, and form deeper attachments with their owners. Female Goldendoodles tend to be more independent, agile, and willful than their male poodle counterparts. It is crucial to understand gender differences to ensure you purchase the right puppy for your family.
How many times should you walk a Goldendoodle? ›Generally, a walk once every day or two is enough exercise for an adult Goldendoodle. They can usually entertain themselves, play with toys, or run around the backyard. Taking your adult Goldendoodle for a walk is a wonderful exercise for both you and your dog.
Are Goldendoodles smart? ›Goldendoodles are smart hybrid dogs. The two parent breeds, the Golden Retriever and Poodle, are both among the top 5 smartest dog breeds. For this reason, it's likely that Goldendoodles will inherit the same high intelligence.
Can Goldendoodles eat chicken? ›
Goldendoodles can eat chicken. This lean protein is both healthy and easy for the Goldendoodle to digest if it's prepared properly for your Goldendoodle. It's possible an individual dog may be allergic to chicken (just like people), but generally, chicken is perfectly safe for your Goldendoodle.
Why is my Goldendoodles skin blue? ›Not just a color change, cyanosis in dogs is a blue to purple discoloration of the skin or gums due to low oxygenation in these tissues.
What is a merle Goldendoodle? ›Merles are a marbled looking coat, and can come in "blue merle", "sable merle" and "chocolate merle". These puppies can also often times have blue or partially blue eyes. These can also come in variations of phantom, parti, and tri-colored. Goldendoodle.
Do Goldendoodles change color as they age? ›If you have a red Goldendoodle puppy, you might not end up with a red Goldendoodle dog. That's because a puppy's fur color tends to change as it gets older. Not only does it often grow thicker and heavier, but it can also change color. Additionally, red fur tends to be a recessive gene.
Why is my Goldendoodles hair not curly? ›If a Goldendoodle gets a non-curl gene from each parent, it can have a rather straight coat. Unlike the flat coat, it is accompanied by furnishings and a “fluffy” texture.
At what age do Goldendoodles settle down? ›Most Goldendoodles will start to calm around 12-18 months of age. This is where they're past the puppy stage and moving forward into adulthood. People can sometimes feel confused as puppy teeth are lost at 6-8 months, but you can still expect excitable behavior for months after this.
Can a Goldendoodle be left alone? ›Although Goldendoodles typically do better when there is someone home with them, they can be left home alone for several hours with proper preparation and training. If your Goldendoodle is still a puppy, an hour or two is the maximum amount they should be left alone.