Wanting mini/medium size but not sure on F1 vs F1B

[ncmommanc]

Hi there.

We're wanting a labradoodle for a family pet and prefer 30-40 pounds.

I've been reading TONS online and while very helpful also a bit overwhelming. I've also not seen a labradoodle in person. I realize there is a ton of variety but I am excited to hopefully meet a local 14 week old F1B soon.

COAT ?s
We don't have allergies, however from a housekeeping perspective less shedding would be great. I don't really want to have to professionally groom. Regular brushing and bathing is fine but not interested in the extra expense, etc. Though since in the South might cut during summers once a year.

Again only seen pictures (really want to touch the coats too) but visually I lean towards the F1 "Benji" appearance. Not sure I want a very "poodlish" coat.

TEMPERMENT - MOST IMPORTANT
I have 3 kids - 1, 7 and 10. I realize with a pup I will have 2 toddlers and I am prepared for that. I want a dog that will be a companion for the kids - to play but also cuddle.

We had a bad experience (not towards us but others with a rescue) so having a kid friendly do is critical.

I have talked to a few wonderful breeders and 2 of them commented that F1Bs "mature faster". I'd like other opinions here. I also had one strongly suggest an F1 given my kids.

Thanks in advance for your advice and please feel free to send other links to help me navigate the labroodle web!

[KingstonTodd]

I can only comment on how wonderfull my 2 F1s are. The coat is very easy to care for, just a brush now and then. One of ours doesnt shed at all, the other is a "shedder" but its 1/10 the amount a lab does, so its pretty manageable. They are both great with kids, and I would describe them as fast learners which really helps in maturing. they learn when and where they can be wild and crazy (In the yard) and when they have to be calm (inside). I am not sure if F1bs mature faster but mine are maturing a lot faster than people expect. I think which ever doodle you decide on you will be happy. They are both wonderfull "breeds". I think its more important to find a breeder you trust, that is responsible, and can stand behind the health and temperment of thier puppies.

[lmtoth2]

We have an F1B - I'll tell you the grooming requirements are significant. We get him cut every 2-3 months so it's a pretty big expense. You could learn to do it yourself and that would save a lot of money (but I would start that when your puppy is young).

Dexter is a big huge goofball (at almost 2 yrs old) he loves everyone and everything. I don't know if it's fair to say he is at all mature yet He is very friendly and seems good around kids (but we don't have any).

If you don't want to groom your dog a lot I would look at a F1 - your breeder should be able to point you towards one that is less likely to shed.

Personality wise I haven't seen much of a difference between Dexter and other F1 labradoodles...but I think it will more vary puppy to puppy.

[sdrudge]

I can't help you on the 1FB. I have F1 and a Goldendoodle and they are easy. My f1 is a mini she is 8 months old and a bit hyper but calming down. She dosn't shed, other then her puppy undercoat. Cacao is about 34lbs. She is almost to her adult weight. The vet said by the time we get to 10 months she will be at her weight. I am thinking she will be about 40lbs. She has gone thur puppy classes and she is really good with commands. I recommend getting your puppy into a class as soon as you can. It will really help. Cacao loves to play with my boys. She is a very sweet doodle she loves my three boys and is my little girl. Ok really she is totally a mommy's girl. But that is what i wanted.

Our Goldendoodle, Beau is 58.6lbs and he is just a year old. he is totally the boys dog. He plays with them and is their best buddy. But he is a great dog for just being a year old. He is calmer then Cacao but i think she will get that way when she gets closer to a year old. Beau is a big teddy bear. He listens really well to commands.

Our two doodles have fun playing with each other the way dogs do, play fighting outside and are our family pet when they come inside. But all doodles will do a dooodle 500. A doodle 500 is them running around and around the house. Mine do it outside more but in the morning they will do it in the house till i get them breakfast. It is funny to watch.

I would say when you met the puppy you will know if it will work. I would ask the breeder tons of questions, and spend about a hour with the puppy if not a bit more. We stayed to see how Cacao would handle my boys and she thought they were the best things ever. I just knew she would work out. Same thing with Beau.

Ask about schedule, what toys he or she likes, what the breeder thinks, and so on.

[Doodlesville]

Coats all vary in the labradoodles ,,F1b will be a better choice as far as calming down faster in my opinion, Doodles are bred for temperaments with most reputable breeders

Size,,well labs or goldens dont come in Mini or Toy sizes so dont let a breeder tell you that your dog will end up a smaller size ,,even if they artificial inseminate there is NO guarantee the offspring will end up smaller
These are after all hybrids,

on my site i have a page dedicated to sizes , it may help you if you want to read it link to my site is below this post
good luck in your search

My breeder described Maya as calm to happy go lucky. I got Maya at 3.5 mos (she was a little older). I am not sure if that made a difference or not but I had no problems with her puppy biting and chewing. She was very calm for a pup (that's what others told me....she is my first dog). She does shed but not like a lab and I live in NC so I cut her down in June (cost $35) and I bathe her once a month. I may run a brush through her coat once a month as well but she doesn't really need it.

Talk to your breeder and tell them exactly what you stated in this post. If you are going to choose your pup based on temperment you can't go wrong.

[Bella]

I don't know what the breeder meant my F1b's maturing faster They're still just a dog like the F1 and if she meant the poodle is an easier going dog, then they haven't met Mabels walking buddy Candice.

Mabel is an F1b, meaning one of her parents (mother) was a 1st generation labradoodle back crossed with a poodle. The B in F1b stands for "back-crossed".

Her coat isn't the easiest to take care of but she doesn't shed which redeems her We didn't go for a non-shedding dog because nobody can give you a 100% guarantee. Any puppy should be handled in a grooming manner as soon as they can walk. The breeder should be doing this and you continue. Even if you're not going to get him/her professionally groomed you will need a dog that knows what to expect.

If you're told that a puppy shouldn't shed and they turn out to leave what looks like pound of hair on the floor every day, will you be ok with that?

You have 3 young children. Have you worked out when and who will walk him/her when they need their full quota of exercise?

You will also need a breeder that raises their puppies amongst children. That means the puppies, from day 1, are used to the sounds and "grabby" habits of children.

Be on the look-out for puppy farmers. Make sure you see the mother with the puppies. If the breeder makes some excuse why the mother can't be there, walk away.

Keep an eye out to make sure the puppies and the mother have a mutual interest. There's so many stories out there of puppy farmers keeping the real mother away from the house in it's usual confines and letting a pet dog act as parent.

You must see hip and eye test scores on BOTH parents. If you're told they are awaiting results, or they can't find the paperwork walk away. Do research on what are good scores. I think the US grades might be different than the UK grading system so I don't want to mislead you.

My apologies if that's way more information than you wanted (which I know it is ) but buying a puppy is a huge decision and when we were looking there was no such thing as being given too much information.

Oh, and you have to promise loads and loads of pictures too

[blueteal]

Hi there, and Welcome to Doodleland

I have an F1 and his coat is perfect for us as it requires
no grooming. I do brush him and always have but that is
more for him to be used to handling and since he is a
swimming machine, it takes the sand and dirt out.
Denver does not shed but most F1's due although from this
forum it seems to be a lot less than a Lab would from most
opinions that I have read. Take a good look at your breeders
dogs temperment or at least listen carefully to her descriptions
of her dogs and talk to her about how important Temperment is to you
That is a very big factor, it is the most important issue.

[Jac]

Hello and welcome!
The first thing I would advise you to do is to research the breeders, not just the breed. As you have mentioned, you have experience with a rescue...and many people on this forum have had excellent results with rescue dogs, but when you don't know the parents or the breeder or the breeder's protocol for selecting the breeding pair, you are taking a gamble.
I don't know why anyone would say that F1Bs mature faster. I own F1s and raise F1Bs (which I have kept) and they are the same on that level.
The coat can vary, as people here have mentioned. So, again, if you are dealing with a good breeder that breeder will be able to give you an honest assessment of the type of coat for each puppy...once it is born...but no one can promise a certain coat type in these early generations.
There really is no difference in the dog's personality or temperament between generations either...the important part of finding good temperament dogs is to find a good breeder who carefully selects their breeding stock.
Usually you can't get both...easy to groom and non-shedding...because it has been my experience that the F1 type coat is very easy to groom but almost always does shed. Now the level of shedding will vary too...so it is difficult to say that either (or any) generation will be easy to groom or non shedding. I have had, in my F1B litters, pups that look just like Labs and mature to a scruffy coat like you mention...this type of coat is common in F1s but F1s can also be fleece coated...Fleece coats, and curly coats (which are common in F1Bs) are harder to groom because they mat. So, you usually have to decide between shedding or matting.
Now, all of this information is general...that is why it is sooooo important to find a breeder you can trust.
My best advice to you would be to attend a doodle romp before you buy! Doodle romps are "dog park parties" where doodle owners bring their dogs to play, off leash, in a park setting and where everyone is welcome.
This is the very best way to get to know a doodle.
Your breeder should have previous customers who will be happy to introduce you to their puppies (now full grown) and to tell you the good and the bad about that particular mating (same parents) or about the breeder.
So, ask for references, keep researching, find a great breeder, and enjoy a doodle romp!

[MaxandMe]

temperament soooooo important along with a good breeder

I have a F1 Labradoodle and f1 goldendoodle
they have awesome temperaments: i wanted a sweet natured, easy going almost laid back personality with abit of spunk to it, was submissive not domimant, and was more lower to nonshedding due to our allergies

the F1 Goldendoodle has a wavy fleece nonshedding coat and seems to completely have calmed down at 1yr old and instinctually was a natural with infants to small kids not jumping, being extremely gentle BUT then again it may be due MORE To the breeding parents temperments that were bred to produce PEANUT (cream gd in pic)

Max the black f1 LD trains on the dime, was one of the easiest puppies to raise, is a mamma's boy plays great with older kids and though he's calm he can be mischievious ina comical way at times.

keeps me on my toes and i love it!

so remember this: this doodle will be with you for the next 10-15years
color? well i say go for the temperment that will FIT IN with YOU and your family, look for good testing breeder to ensure health as well
then look at coat.

weight? that's tricky cause 2 dogs can weigh the same and be entirely different builds and height

[daissyj]

Hello and welcome!

I agree with others and am not sure how someone could say an F1B matures faster. Doesn't make sense! And although I think either one (F1 or F1B) would make an excellent family dog, an F1 can definitely been more low-maintenance re: their coat. I have 3 children 4 yrs and under and definitely don't want to do more grooming than what my lab and F1 girls require. Plus, professional grooming gets really expensive! I do have a little bit of info on my web site about coats, sizes, etc. but it may be what you've already read. Feel free to e-mail me or PM me if you have more questions!

[Maureen]

Originally Posted by ncmommanc

Hi there.

HELLO! And Welcome!!!
I'm going to try to reply to your initial post the way I would, if it was an email to me. (I hope it works)

We're wanting a labradoodle for a family pet and prefer 30-40 pounds.

I've been reading TONS online and while very helpful also a bit overwhelming. I've also not seen a labradoodle in person. I realize there is a ton of variety but I am excited to hopefully meet a local 14 week old F1B soon.

Where are you located? IF you are in the West and can come our way I would love for you to meet our dogs! Or I could tell you about a statewide Doodle Romp coming to Vail, CO in a few weeks!

I would say that size range would involve a Miniature or Moyen Poodle, and yes, I do recommend and prefer F1b's myself. We use a medium (18") F1 female with a Miniature Poodle. And our puppies look like they are going to be in the 25-35lb range.

COAT ?s
We don't have allergies, however from a housekeeping perspective less shedding would be great. I don't really want to have to professionally groom. Regular brushing and bathing is fine but not interested in the extra expense, etc. Though since in the South might cut during summers once a year.

I came across a picture yesterday that we took from our last litter - there's one little scruffy guy and a bunch of other F1b puppies around him and look how clearly the coats differ from him, to his siblings, and the other F1b puppies:

Again only seen pictures (really want to touch the coats too) but visually I lean towards the F1 "Benji" appearance. Not sure I want a very "poodlish" coat.

There is a reality of making choices, on coats, looks, size and of course, cost. The non-shedding coats have grooming, but no shedding. The scruffy, "Benji" look has (typically) some shedding and you really can't predict the level of shedding you'll get. Our F1 girl Copper sheds every bit as much as any Labrador we've ever had. Once I placed an f2 Doodle who looked like a full-bred Lab, and yet he hardly sheds at all because of the poodle genes, I suppose. So who knows? Likewise, the soft silky coated puppies have grooming needs. BUt you really have to make a choice on the look of the scruffy puppy, or the shedding vs. grooming. And in the picture above, every puppy in that picture is an F1b, but obviously the one who is looking right at the camera has the scruffy coat with more resemblance to the Lab than the poodle. Personally I don't find the grooming to be a large demand on us. We clip our Poodle Sheba about 3 times a year, and it's really up to you how much you want to brush your Doodle(s) and how much you want to clip them. There's no right or wrong answer. Our first f3 Doodle, Truffle went her first year with no clipping. I wouldn't do it again, but it was fun to see her totally fluff out and then clip her.

Ok, I love this picture - one day my hubby came home and just laid down with our 2 litters of F1b doodle puppies and I caught the photo from the sliding door. But again, check out the coats! Oh, and that's Truffle before she was clipped, looking on.


For the record, the gold/honey-colored puppies are Miniatures and the others in cream, chocolate and black are Standards but all are F1b's. And the little guy under my hubby's elbow is the same guy who was cheesing for the camera in the other picture.

TEMPERMENT - MOST IMPORTANT
I have 3 kids - 1, 7 and 10. I realize with a pup I will have 2 toddlers and I am prepared for that. I want a dog that will be a companion for the kids - to play but also cuddle.

We had a bad experience (not towards us but others with a rescue) so having a kid friendly do is critical.

I'm really sorry you had a bad experience with a rescued dog. People always have the best intentions but there are 100 ways it can go bad, I'm afraid. I got an adult dog for breeding and she had had some tough experiences and it was like she was a rescued dog. We lived with her for 3 yrs but she barked at (yelled at, literally) my husband; he was a champ about it, but it hurt his feelings, and disrupted everything. Getting an adult dog or a rescued dog can be a big challenge and frankly doesn't always work out. Working with a breeder you should have a sense that you have a person who wants you to have the best possible experience, and a well-raised, happy ready-to-love puppy. Seems worth it to me, but of course I'm a breeder!

I have talked to a few wonderful breeders and 2 of them commented that F1Bs "mature faster". I'd like other opinions here. I also had one strongly suggest an F1 given my kids.

I have never heard of F1b's maturing faster. But Poodles are different than Labs in their temperment and there is a degree of kinetic energy that is missing and frankly it might seem like a Poodle is just more settled than a Retriever, at any age. There's a reason they are called non-working dogs: they don't need to do any job, or anything, for that matter. lol. I love our lay-around dogs!

I don't think the generation makes as much different as the bloodlines. I do prefer and breed F1b's and I have specifically stayed away from the hunting/pointing bloodlines because those Retrievers have a very high instinct, drive or energy level. Our doodle babies are noted for their calmness. But I'm not the only one so I'm sure you can find calm, secure Doodles too.

Thanks in advance for your advice and please feel free to send other links to help me navigate the labroodle web!

Hey! not a problem! Email me directly if I can help anymore.