F1 vs. F1B vs. Multigen Doodles: What's the Difference — and Which Is Right for You?
Published by Boise Doodle Co · Ethical Breeding Series
If you've started researching Doodles — Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, Sheepadoodles, Australian Labradoodles, or any of the other beloved crosses — you've almost certainly run into the terms F1, F1B, F2, and multigen. And if you're like most people, you nodded along and then quietly Googled what any of it actually means.
You're not alone. This terminology is one of the most common points of confusion for Doodle buyers — and one of the most important things to understand before you commit to a puppy, because generation directly affects coat type, shedding, and what you can realistically expect from the dog you bring home.
This post breaks it all down: what each generation means, what it produces, what the tradeoffs are, and how to figure out which generation is the right fit for your family.
The Basics: What Does "F" Stand For?
The "F" in F1, F1B, and F2 stands for filial generation — a genetics term that refers to how many generations removed a dog is from its purebred ancestors. The number that follows tells you which generation it is. The "B" stands for backcross — meaning the dog was bred back to one of the parent breeds (almost always the Poodle in Doodle programs).
Here's the foundation:
F1: First generation cross. One purebred parent, one purebred parent.
F1B: First generation backcross. An F1 Doodle bred back to a purebred Poodle (most common) or occasionally back to the other parent breed.
F2: Second generation. Two F1 Doodles bred together.
F2B: Second generation backcross. An F2 Doodle bred back to a purebred Poodle.
Multigen (or Multi-generation): Any generation beyond F2, where both parents are Doodles — typically F3 and beyond. This is where the most consistent, predictable coat and temperament traits are achievable.
Each generation has a different genetic profile — and that genetic profile directly affects what the puppies in a litter will look and act like.
F1 Doodles: The Classic Cross
What Is an F1 Doodle?
An F1 Doodle is the direct result of crossing two purebred dogs — for example, a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Standard Poodle to produce a Goldendoodle, or a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog and a purebred Standard Poodle to produce a Bernedoodle.
The F1 is 50% of each parent breed.
What to Expect From an F1
Coat: F1 coats are the most variable of all generations. Because the puppy is inheriting one copy of the coat genes from each very different parent breed, outcomes can range from a fairly flat, wavy coat to a looser curl — and anywhere in between. Within a single F1 litter, you can have puppies with notably different coat textures.
Shedding: F1 Doodles typically shed more than F1B or multigen Doodles. This doesn't mean they're heavy shedders — many are relatively low-shed — but the Poodle coat genetics are diluted enough at this generation that shedding is less predictable. Families with significant allergy concerns should understand this clearly before choosing an F1.
Size: Predictable based on parent breeds — an F1 from a Standard Poodle and a Golden Retriever will be in the medium to large range. Mini Doodles at the F1 generation are produced by using a Miniature Poodle as one parent.
Temperament: Often described as exhibiting "hybrid vigor" — the tendency for first-generation crosses to be robust, healthy, and physically vital. F1 temperaments blend traits from both parent breeds, which in well-selected pairings produces wonderfully balanced family dogs.
Health: F1s benefit from the genetic diversity of crossing two unrelated purebred lines, which reduces the expression of recessive diseases that require two copies of a gene. This is one of the genuine advantages of a well-managed first-generation cross.
Who Is an F1 Best For?
Families who:
Are not highly sensitive to shedding or pet allergies
Love the classic Doodle look with some variability
Are drawn to the hybrid vigor health advantage
Want a dog from a straightforward, well-understood cross
F1B Doodles: The Allergy-Friendlier Generation
What Is an F1B Doodle?
An F1B Doodle is produced by breeding an F1 Doodle back to a purebred Poodle. The result is a dog that is approximately 75% Poodle and 25% of the other parent breed.
The "B" is almost always a backcross to a Poodle — because Poodle genetics are what produce the low-shed, allergy-friendlier coat that most Doodle families are seeking. An F1B back to the other parent breed (called an F1B reverse) exists but is far less common.
What to Expect From an F1B
Coat: Significantly more consistent than F1 — the heavier Poodle genetics mean more puppies in the litter will have wavy to curly coats. F1B coats tend to be denser and curlier than F1 coats.
Shedding: Lower and more predictable than F1. The increased Poodle genetics push most F1B puppies toward the low-shedding end of the spectrum, making this generation one of the most popular choices for families with mild to moderate allergies.
Grooming: The tradeoff for lower shedding is higher grooming maintenance. Curlier coats mat more easily and require more frequent brushing and professional grooming than wavier or straighter coats.
Temperament: With 75% Poodle genetics, F1B Doodles often lean slightly more toward Poodle temperament — highly intelligent, energetic, and eager to work. This is generally a positive, but families who want a more laid-back, easygoing energy should factor this in.
Size: For families interested in Mini Doodles, the F1B generation using a Miniature Poodle is one of the most common paths to a reliably smaller dog.
Who Is an F1B Best For?
Families who:
Have mild to moderate allergies or strong shedding preferences
Are comfortable with regular grooming maintenance
Want a highly intelligent, trainable dog
Are looking for a Mini Doodle
F2 Doodles: The Generation to Understand Carefully
What Is an F2 Doodle?
An F2 Doodle is produced by breeding two F1 Doodles together. Both parents are 50/50 crosses, which means the puppies are — on paper — also 50/50. But genetics don't work quite that cleanly.
What to Expect From an F2
Coat: F2 generations are the most genetically unpredictable of all Doodle generations. Because both parents carry a mix of Poodle and non-Poodle coat genes, the resulting puppies can express a wide range of coat types — including flat coats (unfurnished coats that shed significantly). An F2 litter can have puppies that look and shed like a Poodle next to puppies that look and shed more like the other parent breed.
Shedding: Higher variability than any other generation. Some F2 puppies will be very low-shed; others will shed considerably. Without genetic coat testing (furnishings and curl gene), a breeder cannot reliably predict which puppies will fall where.
Temperament: Also variable — the combination of two F1 parents can produce a wider range of temperament expressions.
Who Is an F2 Best For?
Honestly — F2 is the generation that responsible breeders approach with the most caution. The variability in coat type and shedding makes it difficult to reliably meet family expectations, particularly for families with allergies. Ethical breeders who work with F2 generations use genetic coat testing to identify which puppies carry furnishings genes and can give honest guidance about expected coat type per puppy.
If a breeder is producing F2 litters without genetic coat testing, buyers should ask pointed questions about what coat types and shedding levels to realistically expect — and get honest answers, not marketing reassurances.
F2B Doodles: Recovering Predictability
What Is an F2B Doodle?
An F2B is produced by breeding an F2 Doodle back to a purebred Poodle. The result is approximately 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% of the other parent breed.
What to Expect From an F2B
The backcross to a purebred Poodle brings more Poodle genetics back into the mix, recovering some of the coat and temperament predictability that can be lost in an F2 pairing. F2B litters tend to produce wavy to curly coats with lower shedding — more consistent than F2, though not quite as genetically settled as a well-established multigen program.
Multigen Doodles: Where Consistency Lives
What Is a Multigen Doodle?
A multigen (multi-generational) Doodle is any dog produced from two Doodle parents beyond the F2 generation — typically F3 and beyond. In a well-established multigen program, both parents have been carefully selected over multiple generations for specific coat type, temperament, size, and health traits.
This is where purposeful Doodle breeding reaches its full expression.
What to Expect From a Multigen
Coat: The most consistent of all generations. A well-established multigen program using genetic coat testing and careful selection can produce litters with highly predictable wavy or curly coats and low to non-shedding profiles. The variability that defines earlier generations is significantly reduced.
Shedding: The lowest and most predictable shedding of any Doodle generation — making multigen the most reliable choice for families with allergies. Note: "non-shedding" is not an absolute guarantee for any dog, but multigen Doodles from a serious program come closest to this.
Temperament: With generations of selection behind them, multigen Doodles from ethical programs are bred specifically for the temperament traits that make them exceptional family dogs — confidence, trainability, gentle energy, and adaptability. The best multigen programs have a known, consistent temperament profile that families can count on.
Size: Multigen programs — especially those that have worked with Miniature Poodles across multiple generations — can produce the most size-consistent Mini and Medium Doodles, because size genetics have been selected for deliberately over time.
Health: A well-managed multigen program maintains strong health testing across all generations and monitors COI carefully to preserve genetic diversity and avoid the risks that can come with repeated line-breeding. This is where the science of ethical breeding and the artistry of a seasoned program come together.
Who Is a Multigen Best For?
Families who:
Have moderate to significant allergies
Want the most predictable coat type and shedding profile
Are looking for consistent size — particularly for Mini or Medium Doodles
Want a temperament that has been deliberately shaped over multiple generations
Are working with a breeder who has the knowledge, infrastructure, and commitment to do multigen breeding properly
The Coat Testing Piece: Why Generation Alone Isn't Enough
Here's something that separates truly ethical Doodle breeders from those who are just working with the terminology: generation labels are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Two F1B litters from different programs can produce dramatically different results depending on the specific dogs involved, the coat genetics they carry, and whether the breeder has done the genetic testing to know what they're working with.
Responsible Doodle breeders test their breeding dogs — and often their puppies — for:
Furnishings gene (IC locus): Determines whether a dog will have the characteristic Doodle eyebrows, beard, and mustache — and is strongly correlated with low-shedding coat. Dogs without furnishings (unfurnished, or "flat coat") shed significantly more.
Curl gene (KRT71): Determines coat texture from straight to wavy to curly. In combination with the furnishings gene, this allows a breeder to predict the range of coat types a litter will produce — and match individual puppies to families based on their actual coat genetics, not just their generation.
When a breeder can tell you not just "this is an F1B litter" but "based on genetic testing, this puppy carries two copies of the furnishings gene and one copy of the curl gene, which means a wavy, low-shed coat" — that is a breeder doing the work. That level of specificity is what protects families with allergies and sets accurate expectations for everyone.
Size Generations: Mini, Medium, and Standard
Generation also intersects with size in ways that matter to many families. Here's a quick orientation:
Standard Doodles are typically produced using Standard Poodles. At any generation, a Standard Doodle will generally range from 45–75+ pounds depending on the other parent breed.
Medium Doodles are often produced using Standard Poodles on the smaller end, or through multigen programs where size has been selectively reduced over generations.
Mini Doodles are produced using Miniature Poodles. F1 Minis are common and produce reliably small dogs. Multigen Mini programs offer the most consistent sizing at smaller weights.
Micro or Petite Doodles sometimes appear in listings — these often involve Toy Poodles and should be approached with extra care, as very small dogs can carry health complications related to extreme size reduction. Ask about health testing for both parent breeds carefully.
Choosing the Right Generation for Your Family
Here's a practical guide to matching generation to need:
Your SituationBest Generation No significant allergy concerns, love variability F1 Mild allergies, want lower shed F1B Moderate to significant allergies F1B or Multigen Severe allergies, need maximum predictability Multigen with coat testing Want a Mini Doodle F1B Mini or Multigen Mini Highly active family, want Poodle intelligence F1B or Multigen Want a more laid-back, Golden-forward temperament F1 or lower-generation cross Want the most consistent temperament possible Multigen from an established program
What to Ask Your Breeder About Generation
Before committing to a puppy, these questions will help you get the full picture:
What generation is this litter, and what does that mean for coat and shedding in this specific pairing?
Have you done genetic coat testing on the parents? Can you show me the results?
Based on the parent genetics, what coat types are possible in this litter?
If I have allergies, which puppies in this litter are the best candidates based on their individual genetics?
What has your experience been with previous litters from these parents or similar pairings?
A breeder who can answer these questions specifically — with genetic test results to back it up — is a breeder operating at a genuinely high standard. Vague answers about generation without coat testing data is a flag worth noting.
The Bottom Line
F1, F1B, and multigen aren't just marketing categories — they're meaningful genetic descriptions that tell you something real about what a puppy's coat, shedding, and temperament profile is likely to be. Understanding them helps you ask better questions, match the right puppy to your family, and evaluate whether a breeder is genuinely doing the work or just using the terminology.
The generation label is the starting point. Genetic coat testing is the confirmation. A breeder who combines both — and can explain what it means for individual puppies in a specific litter — is the breeder worth trusting.
Have questions about the generations we produce and which might be the right fit for your family? We love this conversation — reach out anytime.
More in This Series:
OFA vs. PennHIP: What Every Ethical Breeder Does Before Placing a Puppy
What Makes a Good Breeding Dog (Hint: It's Not Just Looks)
The Real Cost of a "Cheap" Puppy
Understanding Genetic Testing: What DNA Panels Actually Tell You
What Happens After You Bring Your Puppy Home: The Ethical Breeder's Role
What Is a Guardian Home and Why Do Ethical Breeders Use Them?
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