Labradoodle Forums - View Single Post - Wanting mini/medium size but not sure on F1 vs F1B

Jac · 07-11-2008, 11:21 AM

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!

07-11-2008, 11:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	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!