The Goldendoodle is an incredible family pet and companion. The beautiful puppy often comes with a desirable coat, lots of playful energy, and a big heart with love in it. They are obtained from breeding a Golden Retriever with a Poodle and they inherit a lot of traits from both parents.
From our previous article on the Goldendoodle breed profile, we certainly know that it is possible for a Goldendoodle to shed its fur. This article attempts to dive further into Goldendoodle shedding.
We would cover all you need to know about Goldendoodle shedding propensity. What are the chances that your Goldendoodle would shed, and how Goldendoodle generation affects the overall shedding of your Goldendoodle puppy? With that being said, get comfortable and do ensure you read this article till the very end.
Do Goldendoodles shed a lot?
Goldendoodles aren’t completely non-shedding as most breeders claim they are. They are less likely to shed their fur, but the possibility is low to minimal. How much fur they shed depends on a few factors like their breed generation and coat types.
Are Goldendoodles Really Hypoallergenic?
The answer is yes., most Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic, but that does not mean that they are non-shedding as most breeders of the designer dog breed claim they are. In fact, it is impossible for a dog to be completely non-shedding, except the dog doesn’t come with fur, which would be weird.
Goldendoodles are better than the average dog when it comes to shedding as they are often classified as hypoallergenic dogs. What this means is that the Goldendoodle dog is less likely to cause an allergic reaction in people who might be suffering from dog hair allergies. The keywords to knot there are ‘less likely’.
So it is still possible to suffer an allergic reaction while having a Goldendoodle but the chances could be pretty slim depending on the shedding propensity of the Goldendoodle in question. Factors like Goldendoodle generation, stress, and some other factors can affect how much and how often a Goldendoodle sheds its fur. Let’s look at a few of them.
Goldendoodle Generation and Goldendoodle Shedding
As we already know, the Goldendoodle is an offspring of two dog breeds; the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Both dog breed parents of the Goldendoodle are long hair dogs with different shedding tendencies.
The Golden Retriever shedding propensity is a bit on the high side, their long hair coat types make them a more shedding dog breed. The Poodle on the other hand is known to have low shedding propensity than the Golden Retriever.
The shedding propensities of both parent dog breeds can affect or influence the shedding propensity of the Goldendoodle (their offspring). Here is a look at all Goldendoodle breed generations and how they influence its shedding.
| Goldendoodle Generation | Shedding Propensity |
| F1 Goldendoodle | Equal possibility of breeding either a heavy shedder or a light shedder |
| F1b Goldendoodle | A higher possibility of breeding a light shedder. Little possibility of producing a heavy shedder. |
| F2 Goldendoodle | A higher possibility of producing a heavy shedder. Little possibility of producing a light shedder |
| F2b Goldendoodle | Higher possibility of producing a light shedder. Average possibility of producing a medium shredder. |
| F3 or Multigen Goldendoodle | A high possibility of producing a light shedder. |
How Much Do F1 Goldendoodles Shed?
F1 Goldendoodles or first-generation Goldendoodles are often seen as purebred Goldendoodles. While that might sound incorrect, it is because this set of Goldendoodles is gotten by breeding a purebred Poodle with a Golden Retriever.
As we have stated earlier, Golden Retrievers are basically heavy shedders while poodles are almost non-shedding. Their resulting Goldendoodle offspring should be the best of both worlds. It should have a less shedding propensity than the Golden Retriever parent but a higher shedding propensity than the Poodle parent.
You can make use of a Punnett square, which is a tool to help check the genetic makeup of Goldendoodles and decide their overall shedding propensity.
| First generation Goldendoodle | Poodle parent: Light shedding – pp |
| Golden Retriever parent : Heavy shedding GG | Offspring ppGG |
F1 Goldendoodle Shedding Propensity
From the table above, we can tell that by breeding a purebred Golden Retriever with a purebred Poodle, there is a 50% chance of breeding a heavy-shedding Goldendoodle and a 50% chance of breeding a light or almost non-shedding Goldendoodle puppy. This is all speculation though.
Some of these Goldendoodles (if not all) are born with a straight and flat coat. And grooming practices like regular grooming can lead to more shedding or frequent shedding.
How Much Do F1b Goldendoodles Shed?
Also known as the first generation backcross, the F1b Goldendoodle would have a genetic makeup that is a little different from the first generation of Goldendoodles. You get an F1b Goldendoodle by breeding a purebred Poodle with an F1 Goldendoodle or a first-generation Goldendoodle.
This would result in a Goldendoodle puppy that has 75% Poodle gene in them and 25% Golden Retriever gene in them. This can influence the Goldendoodle’s shedding propensity as it would have more Poodle genes in it and hence be a light-shedding dog.
The Punnett Square below should give you a clearer understanding of the genetic makeup of F1b Goldendoodle puppies.
| First generation backcross Goldendoodle | Poodle parent: Light shedding pp |
| F1 Goldendoodle parent: Heavy shedding GG | ppGG |
| F1 Goldendoodle parent: medium shedding Gg (High chance) | ppGg |
| F1 Goldendoodle parent: light shedding gg | ppgg |
F1b Goldendoodle Shedding Propensity
From the table above, we can see that three F1 Goldendoodle parent types are considered. These are F1 Goldendoodles born as heavy shedders, F1 Goldendoodles born as medium shedders, and F1 Goldendoodles that are born as light shedders.
Also, you can tell that an F1b Goldendoodle bred from an F1 Goldendoodle with heavy shedding propensity and a Poodle ends up with a 50% possibility of being a heavy shedder and a 50% possibility of being a light shedding Goldendoodle dog,
Whereas an F1b Goldendoodle bred from an F1 Goldendoodle with medium shedding propensity and a Poodle ends up with 50% to 100% possibility of being a light shedder. This has the highest possibility for most F1b Goldendoodles.
Also, an F1b Goldendoodle bred from an F1 Goldendoodle with light shedding propensity and a Poodle would be completely light shedding.
This set of Goldendoodles are born with a curly or wavy coat type and they look more like the poodle parent rather than the Golden Retriever parent.
How Much Do F2 Goldendoodles Shed?
The second Goldendoodle Generation is derived from breeding two F1 Goldendoodle dogs. This is often unadvised by most reputable breeders as F2 Goldendoodles are more prone to shedding than even their Golden Retriever parents.
Breeding F2 Goldendoodles are unstable as you can either end up with a full Golden Retriever or a full Poodle.
As stated earlier, the shedding propensity of F2 Goldendoodles can be a bit unstable. There’s a 25% possibility that you can or might end up with a light-shedding puppy. There is also a 75% possibility of ending up with a heavy-shedding Goldendoodle, which is way more heavy shedding than a Golden Retriever.
F2 Goldendoodles can come in one of three coats. The curly and wavy coats are less likely to be true, while the straight coat is most likely to be true. Because of their high shedding propensity, they might not be the best Goldendoodles for someone who might be suffering from puppy hair allergies.
How Much Do F2b Goldendoodles Shed?
Also known as the second-generation backcross Goldendoodle. To get an F2b Goldendoodle, you would need to cross an F1 Goldendoodle parent with an F1b Goldendoodle. Genetic health testing is heavily needed on the f2b parents due to their genetic mix-up.
F2b Goldendoodle Shedding Propensity
The overall shedding propensity of the second-generation backcross is also a bit unstable. There is a 25% to 50% possibility of ending up with a light-shedding or almost non-shedding Goldendoodle puppy. There is also a 50% possibility of ending up with a very heavy-shedding Goldendoodle puppy.
Reputable breeders are advised to test the coats of F2b Goldendoodles. This is the safest way to know if your Goldendoodle puppy is hypoallergenic or not. The F2b Goldendoodle can come in one of three coat types. These are the wavy, straight, or curly coat types.
All in all, F2b Goldendoodles are not a recommended option when it comes to Goldendoodle breeding.
How Much Do Multi-gen Goldendoodles Shed?
Multigen Goldendoodles are bred using numerous parent generations. They are also called F3 Goldendoodles and can be achieved by breeding an F1b Goldendoodle to an F2b Goldendoodle, two F1b Goldendoodles, two F3 Goldendoodles, two F2b Goldendoodles, and two F2 Goldendoodles.
This stage of Goldendoodle breeding allows you to select desired traits in breeding and discard undesired traits. So it is possible to end up with a litter that is 100% light shedding.
Multi-gen Goldendoodle Shedding Propensity
Because multi-gen Goldendoodles are very customizable, it is very important to do thorough coat testing on both the parent dogs and the litter being produced. You can also get away with guesswork when it comes to the F3 Goldendoodle puppy.
They are believed to be the most hypoallergenic puppies you can find as proper coat testing can help with desired traits and genes. They come mainly in two coat types which are the wavy or the curly coat making them look more like the poodle parent rather than the Golden Retriever.
There is a very slight possibility of the Goldendoodle being born with a straight coat type. These puppies are born as medium or average shedders. Regular grooming is highly recommended for F3 Goldendoodles as their curly or wavy coats can easily get tangled up.
What Could Trigger A Goldendoodle Shedding?
With all we know about Goldendoodle shedding, are there any factors that could trigger the overall shedding of a Goldendoodle puppy? Yes, they are. Goldendoodle shedding often occurs with seasons, but some other factors could include;
Stress
It is possible for canines like the Goldendoodle to become stressed. This can be caused by age or excess exercise, and anxiety from being exposed to very strange situations can also lead to stress for the Goldendoodle.
One sure sign of stress in your Goldendoodle would be shedding. If your Goldendoodle shows strange signs of hair loss or shedding, you might consider having them checked by a licensed professional.
Allergies
Your Goldendoodle’s high shedding propensity might just be a sign of a skin allergic reaction. Dogs can react to a couple of things. Using the wrong shampoo can cause a reaction. Another can be the bathing water or the food or supplements that are given to the Goldendoodle.
Whatever it is, it is essential that you take your Goldendoodle companion to a licensed professional to have them examined or looked. Always ensure you use the right shampoo for the Goldendoodle and feed them the best quality food and supplements.
Bathing
Asides from using the wrong shampoo, bathing your Goldendoodle regularly is unadvised. Dogs in general should be bathed at most once a month to help maintain their fur. Bathing your dog regularly in an attempt to keep them clean would do more harm to the dog than good.
What Can Excess Goldendoodle Shedding Cause?
The primary effect of excess Goldendoodle shedding is allergies. It is worth noting that the allergies are caused by the dog hair in particular, but rather caused by a certain protein that is found in the secretions of the Goldendoodle. These secretions are body oils and saliva.
As dogs shed, the allergen is distributed around the house through the excess dander from the dog’s coat. This is why a low-shedding Goldendoodle is better. Their curly or wavy coat can trap and hold the dander in. And the only way they can be distributed is with a thorough brushing.
How To Manage Goldendoodle Shedding
If you do have a Goldendoodle with a high shedding propensity, don’t worry, it is possible to manage their shedding trait. You can try any of the following tips listed below.
Regular Brushing
It is recommended to brush your Goldendoodle’s coat regularly to keep it neat and untangled. This should be done once a week and would be needed mostly for Goldendoodles with the curly or wavy coat type.
When brushing your Goldendoodle’s coat, you can opt for the use of a good quality hair brush with slicker bristles or a steel comb with high pins (that is gentle on its skin) to brush their coats. This can help get rid of any excess dander or loss of hair and possible dirt, all of which can cause matting for your Goldendoodle’s coat hair.
Dietary
Nutrition is one aspect of raising a Goldendoodle that should not be overlooked. Don’t be cheap when it comes to your Goldendoodle’s food. Place them on a highly nutritious dry kibble that could further improve the health of the Goldendoodle and improve its coat.
Get a good quality Goldendoodle kibble that is rich in fatty acids like omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids alongside other Goldendoodle nutrients. Speak with your breeder to figure out the best meal for your Goldendoodle.
Alongside good food, the supplements given to your Goldendoodle also matter a lot. Ensure you feed your Goldendoodles with supplements that contain enough fish oil in them. This is especially needed if your dog’s regular kibble lacks enough fatty acids in it.
Asides from fish oil, there are other nutrients that could be very useful for your dog to grow healthy and strong.
Use Quality Shampoos
Before using any shampoo on your Goldendoodle puppy, do a proper check with a licensed professional, to be sure you are using the right product. Some shampoos are known to be friendly to dogs with sensitive skin. Check for an oatmeal shampoo that is canine-friendly.
You can also make great use of a good quality de-shedder tool to help with your puppy’s frequent shedding. You do not need to invest in an expensive or aggressive deshedding as this can be a bit too much for your Goldendoodle’s skin.
FAQs
How often do Goldendoodles need to be groomed?
This depends on the exact type of coat your Goldendoodle has. A straight coat needs less frequent grooming. Grooming every 6 to 8 weeks can be enough for them. A Goldendoodle with a curly or wavy coat needs more frequent grooming as they are prone to tangled fur. This should be once every month or 3 weeks.
When do Goldendoodles shed their puppy coat?
The change from a puppy coat to an adult coat is a slow one, On average, it can take between 4 to 8 months for a Goldendoodle to completely lose its puppy coat and gain an adult coat.
Conclusion
Your Goldendoodle can come in a variety of coat types and while the curly or wavy coat types are the most desirable, Goldendoodles with straight coat types are also very loveable. Their shedding propensity is still a lot lower than most dog breeds.
And as we have already stated, there are certain ways you can manage its shedding frequency or propensity. You should also ensure you deal with a reputable breeder that truly knows what they are doing when it comes to Goldendoodle breeding,
There are certain breeding techniques a breeder can employ to get desired Goldendoodle coats which most reputable breeders should be knowledgeable on. In addition to that, reputable breeders breed dogs that are healthy, strong, and happy.
Do proper, detailed research on each breeder you intend to work with or patronize. Ask the right questions and demand the right certifications. With that being said, that’s all we have for you in this article.
