Poodle Hybrids F1, F2 & F3 What does it all Mean?
If you’ve been searching for a doodle hybrid, then chances are you’ve come across the mysterious coding that identifies these breeds, but what does it all mean? In dog breeding, these “F” designations refer to the specific generation of cross-bred offspring that an individual dog or litter belongs to. Let’s break it down.
True Breeding
A pure breed includes animals, in this case, dogs that are all similar in appearance, behavior, lineage, and genetics. When a pure breed mates with another pure breed of the same origin it is referred to as “true-breeding”.
P-generation = Parental Generation
The P- generation indicates the first generation of Pure Breed A and Pure Breed B, which will be mated to make the subsequent generations of crossbreeds. For this example, we will use a Golden Retriever (Pure Breed A) and a
Standard Poodle (Pure Breed B).
F-generation = Filial Generation
The F- generation is the offspring that results from breeding the P-generation. This breaks down into F1, F2 and F3 or Multigenerational.
F1-Generation
The F1 generation is a 50/50 cross breed, being 50% Golden Retriever (Pure Breed A), and 50% (Standard Poodle) Pure Breed B. The result is a Goldendoodle.
F2-Generation
F2 generations are the result of breeding an F1 generation with another F1 generation. So when you breed two Goldendoodles, you get an F3 Goldendoodle which simply means that the F3’s parents and grandparents were both Goldendoodles.
F3-Generation/Multi-generation
In most instances, this is a catch-all for anything beyond the F2 generation. It can be the result of an F2 x F2 breeding, F3 x P-generation (F3b), or any other complex generational designation.
Whew! That’s a lot to take in! But it doesn’t stop there. Breeders from all over the world crossbreed dogs to get the perfect pet. Some may want a dog that sheds less or not at all, others want smaller dogs. The list goes on. Now we get into the “b” class.
B- Backcrossing
F1 with another Pure Bred (Poodle) to obtain a 75/25 ratio of Poodle/Golden. This is called backcrossing and is denoted with a “b.”
To increase the chance of breeding a hypoallergenic dog many breeders will use a (F1) Goldendoodle + (P) Poodle to get an (F1b) Goldendoodle. For an F2b, an F2 Goldendoodle that has been bred by combining two F1s would be backcross bred with a Poodle: (F2) Goldendoodle + (P) Poodle = (F2b) Goldendoodle.
If you’re looking for a doodle mix, make sure to find a reputable breeder with plenty of references. For more information on finding your “furever” doodle mix, visit: premierpups.com today!