Labradoodle Generations Explained

The F1 Generation Labradoodle

A first generation hybrid Labradoodle is the product of a Labrador retriever and a Poodle – 50/50 genetic makeup, this is the first generation of the Labradoodle breed. In this particular Labradoodle cross hair type can be smooth like a Lab or wiry look like an Irish wolfhound or Wavy/shaggy, they usually shed some or a lot, pups in the same litter can vary in coat and physical traits. This is not the best cross for people with severe allergies.

As first generation hybrids, these dogs have the added health benefits associated to Hybrid Vigor.  This is a phenomenon in animal breeding referring to the first cross between two unrelated purebred lines is healthier and grows better than either parent line.

• Coat Maintenance: Low care
• Coat Description: Coat grows to about 2-3 inches in length and requires occasional combing.  Coats are often hair coats, and others can have wavy or curly coats.
• Shedding: light to non-shed
• Allergy Friendliness: usually successful in families with mild allergies.  When a family has moderate to severe allergies, a backcross Doodle is recommended.

The F1B Labradoodle

True Chocolate F1B Labradoodle from Labradoodles by Cucciolini “Maya”

F1b results when you take the above referenced F1 Labradoodle and breed with a Standard poodle. Since the F1 dogs do shed and have a course wiry type coat, the poodle is bred with the F1 Labradoodle to “correct the coat”. The F1b generation can favor more of a poodle type coat with the wavy/curly fleece and sometimes wool coats but still retains the unique Labradoodle look.

Many F1b’s have thick, soft hair that is wavy to curly. They’re often frosted or highlighted in color. Their size often varies between 55-65lbs. They do not shed* and are the closest it comes to being a “hypo allergenic” dog.  They’re highly intelligent and friendly. They’re often used as seeing-eye dogs and service dogs because of their incredible intelligence and their size and strength. F1b’s are the most sought after generation.

The F1B generation is still close enough in the breeding tree to benefit from hybrid vigor.  With each successive generation vigour is lost.

• Coat Maintenance: moderate to high care
• Coat Description: Coat continues to grow in length and requires combing and occasional grooming.  It is usually thicker and curlier than a first generation Labradoodle with a wavy or curly coat.
• Shedding: no shed
• Allergy Friendliness: Back cross Labradoodles are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies.

The F2 Labradoodle

F2 = F2 would be considered the second generation Labradoodle. F1 Labradoodle x F1 Labradoodle. F2 Labradoodles are also a 50/50 split, the same as the F1, just bred one more generation. These puppies also shed as the F1. The F2 generations is the most varied generation possible as you can see from the example image, the litter may contain puppies that look like either parent breed.

Breeding an F1 to an F1 is unwise unless the breeder is trying to create a new breed and doesn’t mind breeding a lot of funny looking, and possibly unsatisfactory, dogs on the way.

If an F1 is crossed with another F1 there would be many hundreds of possible combinations produced in the “F2″ generation. These offspring would range from almost the same as one grandparent to almost the same as the other, with every possible combination in between and while most of these would be more heterogeneous than the grandparent generation most of them would be less heterogeneous than the parent F1’s.”

• Coat Description: The coat can be a hair coat, wavy coat, or curly coat.
• Shedding: varies greatly from shedders to non-shedders
• Allergy Friendliness: not recommended for families with allergies, due to the varying coat types.

The F2B Labradoodle

A second generation backcross pup (F2B) is the result of a Labradoodle (F1) bred to a Labradoodle backcross (F1b).  Although three generations in the making, F2b’s are technically second generation dogs. These Labradoodles are most often non-shedding and allergy friendly. This is also the first generation of the multi-generation Labradoodles.

• 1st generation pup – Lab x Poodle  – F1
• 1st generation pup – Labradoodle x Poodle  – F1b
• 2nd generation pup – Labradoodle backcross x Labradoodle – F2B

Although there is less vigor in this generation than in the first, the second generation backcross still is close enough in the breeding tree to the original hybrid to still benefit from hybrid vigor.  With each successive generation vigor is lost.

• Coat Maintenance: moderate to high care
• Coat Description: Coat continues to grow in length although similar in appearance to a first generation Labradoodle.  Coats are wavy or curly.
• Shedding: mostly noshed
• Allergy Friendliness: recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies.

F3 Generation Labradoodle:  An F3 Labradoodle is a mating between a F2 and another F2 or higher gen dog (3rd Gen)

Multigenerational Labradoodle

Multigenerational Labradoodles or Multi-gen – When a Labradoodle is 3 or more generations in to the breed they are considered Multigenerational Labradoodles. This allows knowledgeable breeders to refine the personality, physical attributes, and coat types. The Multigenerational Labradoodles are usually allergy friendly and have a more desirable coat in texture and quality…

Coat Maintenance: moderate to high care
Coat Description: Coat continues to grow in length and requires combing and occasional grooming.  It is thicker than a first generation Labradoodle and can have a curly, fleece or wavy coat type.
Shedding: almost all are completely non-shedding

Allergy Friendliness: Multigenerational Labradoodles are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies.

Coats

The Wooly Coat: Somewhat poodle like which requires regular grooming is non-shedding and allergy and asthma friendly.

The Fleece Coat: The ultimate coat that is easily maintained, non-shedding, allergy and asthma friendly and somewhat like that of an Angora goat.

The Hair Coat: Anything from flat and straight to curls down the back and possibly wavy and minimally to profusely shedding, that is less likely to be allergy and asthma friendly.

Coat in general: Labradoodles usually have no body odor, require minimal bathing and brushing and rarely, if ever, attract fleas. They seldom shed hair but will need to be groomed.

Colors We Breed

Chocolate/Café

All browns are born Chocolate. Cafes develop golden coat around their muzzles at between 6 and 12 weeks of age. Most Chocolates end up Cafe, although some true Chocolates can appear to be Cafe due to sun burning which produces beautiful golden highlights through their coats.If the coat is parted, the true Chocolate color can still be seen at the roots, whereas the Cafe will pale in color right through to the roots.

Cream/s

Creams vary from pale milky cream right through to rich Apricot Creams who are cream on body but have dark apricot ears. Some will have reddish tinges through the coat as well. Some pale with age, and others deepen. First signs of deepening occur along the backline of the dog, on the muzzle and on the hocks and top of tail.

Apricot

The true Apricot should be the color of a ripe apricot on the inside when the fruit is sliced open. Some breeders mistake Golds for Apricot. But the color should not be pale, although it can fade over time.

Red

Highly prized, Reds are not easy to breed and are still comparatively rare (even in the Poodle). Some breeders will mistake Apricots for Red, but the true Red is the color of an Irish Red Setter. Extremely beautiful, difficult to breed, and highly sought after. Most Reds will fade to some extent over time, so should be a very rich color when young.

Sizes

Standard

• Height at wither: 21 to 24 inches.(not over 25) 53cm to 63cm
• Weight: 23kg to 30kg. (45-55lbs)
• The ideal size for the female is 21 to 23 inches and the male is 22 to 24 inches.

Medium

• Height at wither: 17 to 20 inches. (not over 21) 43cm to 52cm
• Weight: 13kg to 20kg. (30-45lbs)
• The ideal size for the female is 17 to 19 inches and the male is 18 to 20 inches.