What's All the Hype About F1B??

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There are so many things to know about Goldendoodles (as well as other doodles as well).  For one....what is the term F1B?  What does that mean and why?  There are may forms of Goldendoodles since they are a mixed breed.  You cannot simply put together 2 goldendoodles together and call it good. There are LOTS of things to test, consider and determine before getting the teddy bear look!!!

F1: This first one is a full bred Golden Retriever with a full bred Poodle. These can shed and most do.  Their coats tend to be more wirey in nature, but due to them being mixed all of these factors can change per puppy.

F1B: This next one, which many used to consider to be the GOLD standard of Goldendoodles is the Goldendoodle F1 (that was mentioned above) bred back to a full bred Standard Poodle. Both need to test IC clear (Improper Coat) in order to have all teddy bear looking doodles. Poodles typically are IC Clear, but not always.  This combination is called a F1B or 1st generation backcrossed.  These are thought to be one of the best for the non shedding features as well as temperament, etc.  We now are going further in the line to get silkier coats..  The coats are amazing.  Keep in mind each puppy come with a different set of genes, one may truly be 75% poodle while another may be 61%.  The coat will not always determine this.  Only a DNA test can prove that.

Next for us is F1BB or multigen.  Again, this allows for an even greater coat..  They are super silky with the no shed features we love. This is an F1B combined back to the Standard Poodle.  Many think that you would get too much poodle, BUT there is much more involved than that.  Each dog brings 50% of their genes to the mating.  This will vary from puppy to puppy as to how much they are of each!  We get a variety of coats from slightly wavy to curlier wavy. We have not gotten any super tight ones yet in the F1BB combo, but there is always that chance. We personally love them all. We LOVE this combo! When we select a female for this combination we check her genetic make up to see that the offspring will be closer to the F1B so her percentages are typically lower than 75% poodle. Our breeding F1bb is 74% so she is truly an F1B in terms of percentages.  Genetics are so important.

Now that I have gone over all of the you must know that each puppy within a litter is different from the next in terms of how much poodle and how much of the original parent.  These terms only give us a jumping off point to explain how they have been bred.

We have now ventured into Sheepadoodles as of August of 2020 and also began once again offering Aussiedoodles in late 2019. Great combos with spectacular temperaments.  These are not from working lines.

Our Petite Mini Goldendoodles arrived in 2020. PMini doodles popularity is on the rise. The PMini Goldendoodle is often a hybrid mix of three breeds: Golden Retriever, American Cocker Spaniel and Poodle (either toy or miniature) and we have determined to go that route at the advisement of a well respected PMini Goldendoodle breeder. The original purpose of the PMini Goldendoodle  was to achieve a larger alternative to the popular Cockapoo and yet keep the look and temperament of the 3 intelligent, gentle breeds.  The Cocker Spaniel, if added in, can help keep the proper structure when bringing down the size of the Golden Retriever as well as helping to maintain the blocky head that is desired. They are also a part of the Australian Labradoodle (we do not breed Labradoodles). This is critical to consider to keep them looking proportionate. Our PMini Goldendoodles, as they are called, are considered small and will weigh between 15-25 lbs.  Please make sure you are comfortable with our choices for our PMini Goldendoodles before Reserving one. We have pics of our past babies for you to see. Axel does have Cocker Spaniel in his mix. We now have an F1b Petite Mini Goldendoodle without the Cocker Spaniel.  He is weighing in at 11 lbs.  He will begin breeding in 2022.

Our goal for our dogs is at F1B or greater because of the desired no/low shed feature we strive for. My husband is very allergic to dogs so he is our barometer. We stay current with the latest research and testing practices to insure we are breeding the best puppies possible. That being said, there are NO guarantees that a doodle won't shed! Let me repeat that! There is NO GUARANTEE that a doodle won't shed. No one can give that kind of assurance.  We will only state that our goal is low/no shed and that we have done the appropriate testing to insure the best results.

Please note, these are mixes - they are a hybrid and have hybrid vigor, but with that, adult size, coat style, and colors cannot be guaranteed! Many ask if they can be registered?  Yes.  We can now register our litters with CKC at your request.  Please request this before you pick up you puppy so we can order the proper paperwork. Once you show your vet report of your spay or neuter we will send you their CKC registration papers.

Goldendoodles, as a breed have only existed since the 1980s.  So, there are relatively few of them compared to Golden Retrievers or Poodles or other pure breeds.  Because Goldendoodles make such wonderful family pets, service animals, and therapy animals, they have quickly grown in popularity and desirability — they are in high demand!  Therefore, Goldendoodles are both rare and more costly than either of their pure-bred parents.  It can take several generations to get what your goal breeding female is!!  It is not as simple as breeding one dog to another. Rather the contrary.  The genetic heritage is not as simple as purebred dogs and requires much more time, attention and testing to produce the desired temperament, look and coat type.  Just producing a low/no-shedding teddy bear looking doodle is far from easy.  

We do have an open door policy.  Before 4 weeks puppies are not handled by outside people.  Our GO HOME days are Open Houses and we welcome other people along with our owners who are coming to select a pup. You must RSVP on our Facebook page so we can set a time for you and give you our address and requirements for the visit.

Testing:  We do a large array of testing.  We use Embark and/or Pawprints for genetics, color traits and coat testing. We can also discuss hips, elbows, etc. and what we do there. We do not share results on our website currently. We stay current on any new testing or challenges concerning either of the breeds we put together.  

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For our family, dander was critical due to my husband's difficult allergies and asthma.  A  poodle was the only dog he could be around because the dander is much like human dander.  It is not just the fact that it doesn't shed, but the quality of the fur.  The doodles (most, but not all) became an alternative dog for us because it just like something fun to add to our standard poodles.  We chose the standard poodle because of the incredible temperament and grace.  It's intuitive ability and the intelligence to adapt and change to any situation it is put in.  The trainability is endless and re-training, if needed is simple as well.  We did not start breeding to improve on those traits.  The Standard Poodle stands alone and is an excellent choice for a family dog.  We chose to breed doodles to give options for those wanting them. This is an option for a dog for those with severe allergies and a dog for those not wanting to endure the endless amounts of fur produced by many other types of dogs.  The intelligence of the Goldendoodle has become well respected.  We hope you will see this for yourself in a well-bred dog that you will find will bring you a lifetime of loyalty.  

How to Choose Which Doodle?  

That is completely up to you.  You will hear varying information from lots of sources so that will be for you to determine.  If groomed the same, all 3 doodles we breed can look the same.  

Yes, there are dogs in shelters that need homes and we  often help the shelter in our community as well as rescues, re-home supposed doodles.  "Supposed" is the key word there.  For us that was never an option.  We HAD to know what the dander was or we would end up having to bring a dog back if my husband ended up allergic.  It wasn't worth it.  Being a foster home, we also couldn't take the chance of an aggressive dog.  We wanted to RAISE them with the best techniques around so that they would be prepared for life and sounds and children and chaos as well as quiet. This training is so very critical.  When you can adopt from a shelter we highly recommend it!  It just isn't an option for our family. Your puppy is raised with ENS and BAB.

Things You Need to Know

Diet:  This is crucial to the health of your doodle.  We can do all the testing of our animals that is possible, but if you do not maintain their health, by exercise, care and diet, it will be for nothing.  Dogs can end up with hip dysplasia from over eating and improper diet.  In fact, it is a KNOWN fact that this is the #1 cause of hip dysplasia. allergies, ear infections, and behavioral issues can stem from improper diet as well.  We believe in quality food and supplements for over all health. The hype about Grain Free being bad for dogs has been proven to be a myth. We support good grains and watch bad grains. More on our food choices coming soon.  We have found something we feel more than confident with now.  Whew.  It was a LOOOONNNGGG journey.

   1.  Do not let your dog graze when first home.  This can promote overeating.  Feed them twice a day, measure the amount and take it up after a period of time.  Some people believe that dogs will start to regulate themselves over time.  If they seem hungry, by all means give them more....they are adjusting, but I wouldn't totally let them graze because you won't know when they need to go potty.

  2. Provide fresh water.  Yes, dogs will drink out of watered plants or basically anywhere there is water, BUT you want to provide them with fresh, clean water in hopes that they prefer that. Puppies do not need it out all the time (at least not a large amount in the week they come home).  Watch the first few days to keep them from over drinking.  This can make them throw up. They are just learning their new environment. DO make sure to give it to them though!

   3. Watch the calorie level in puppy food under a year. Feeding a very high-calorie diet to growing dogs can exacerbate a predisposition to hip dysplasia and obesity to mention only a few health related problems. Being overweight supports the genetic potential for hip dysplasia, as well as other skeletal diseases. A diet with an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous is bad for bone development. The food must contain meat as the main ingredient or first ingredient.  You can add a cooked egg and even yogurt.  Pumpkin is also very good for them.  It can help with loose stools.

   4.  Be aware of age appropriate exercise.  Just like training, there is a certain time for all of these activities.  Wait until they are a year old to begin playing ball and running on a leash with you (Leash training can officially begin at about 6 months, but not completely running with you).  This does NOT mean no leash until then.  You need to introduce a leash once you get them home.

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  5.  Another factor that can bring on the symptoms of hip dysplasia is inappropriate exercise during the period of rapid bone growth. Young dogs should be discouraged from jumping up and down from heights in situations where they land on their back legs (such as jumping up to catch a ball), and from standing up on their back legs (which dogs do when they stand up against a fence or window to get a better view). They should also avoid running on pavement during this first year.  I know this is a tough one if you are a runner, but hip dysplasia is so very common in puppies who were introduced to running at an early age.  Take them walking, but please no running yet. 80% or more of dysplasia diagnosis' comes from environmental sources and not genetics.

Grooming: This is a common misunderstanding about this breed. These are NOT Golden Retrievers who simply need a hair trim every now and then. These are mixed with a poodle therefore brushing and grooming is essential.  Mats can be very painful and pull on the skin. They can also hide burs or other things causing great discomfort.  Too much fur on the feet can hurt the pads of the feet. Learn how to brush them. Professional grooming is ESSENTIAL! How often is up for debate and also is determined by the look you want to maintain and how often you brush your doodle. Every 6 weeks to every 3 months is the range. We have gone 4 months before with just trimming the face, but we were brushing deep into the fur (not just running a brush over the top coat), bathing often with conditioners appropriate for doodles and spending a great deal of time doing it. Washing them and fully blow drying them with a cool dryer (not hot) while brushing is needed to locate and brush out mats. Brush before bathing as bathing causes mats to become worse.

You will need several tools to maintain this coat.

1. A slicker brush,

2. A matting comb

3. A basic brush

Brush them often.  I posted videos on the Facebook page for suggestions. Mats can hide so be sure and check for them.  They hide behind ears, under armpits and often in private areas.  This can be time consuming! No groomer wants to shave your dog down, but some mats are not coming out and it must be done. They are not doing it because they are not a good groomer.  They are doing it because it is the only way.  Trust me on this one!!!  You hear lots of bad press on groomers that simply had to take care of a badly matted dog that had a nice silky top coat, but the mats underneath were so thick that the owner thought it was their skin.

Find a groomer you love and who understands the breed.  Ears need to be plucked in some cases (poodles tend to get earmites if not plucked regularly). This keeps ears healthy and free from excessive moisture, infection or earmites (this can also be done by your groomer). Make sure you research this before doing it.  Not all dogs need it and for some it can make the ears worse.  Ask your groomer. You can do this at home as well!  Have your groomer or vet  show you how or watch HERE.

Pads of feet need to be trimmed and an all over all trim needs to happen at the very least, around 4-6 times a year, OR MORE.  I recommend more.  Because these dogs don't typically shed they need you to help them "shed" by trimming their fur. I try to trim behind the ears, around the private areas and underneath the chin because these are areas where tangles occur the most.  I brush the tail often.   If you don't brush them, your groomer will have NO CHOICE, but to shave them!!!! A good groomer will do some de-tangling for you though.  Some.....not a ton!!!  HERE is a short video of some basics.

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Vet visits: Please make sure you visit your vet within 3 days of bringing your puppy home.  Yes, he/she has been to the vet with us twice and has had the first set of shots and been wormed, but this is to insure that your puppy is healthy like we say he/she is and so you can establish a relationship with the vet.  This will not be the time for the 2nd round of shots. This is also to keep your health guarantee with us. Without this visit the health guarantee is void. Your puppy will need another round of shots at 9 to 12 weeks and again 3 to 4 weeks after that.  Please call your vet to check out prices so you know what you are getting into.  Vet visits are essential, but are not cheap.  Do NOT under any circumstances take your puppy around other dogs, to dog parks or on trails until he/she has at least had this 2nd round of shots AND you have consulted your vet for approval (honestly, we don't take our puppies out until they are fully vaccinated, but we are hypervigilant).  Parvo is highly contagious and will kill a puppy quickly is he comes anywhere near it until that 2nd round of shots.  That is not the ONLY one way he/she can get sick. A 3rd round of shots will be next.  I know you want to show your puppy off at the dog park, but do not do it until your vet gives you the okay!  This is crucial to the health of your dog. Apartments are breeding grounds for things like PARVO.  I would have him go potty on your patio in a make shift yard until they have the 2nd round of shots if you do not have your OWN yard.
Not. Even. Kidding. 

Health Guarantee:  Our goal is healthy dogs.  We do our best to make sure our parents are healthy and come from good genetic lines.  Even working with these perimeters things can happen that we have no control over.  We are fortunate to not have any testable genetic health issues ever arise, but we are not naive to there being a potential for anything.  You will be given a copy of this guarantee when you pick up your furbaby and we will go over every portion of it to make sure it is clear. Keep in mind, we are guaranteeing testable genetic diseases.  There are many things that can happen that cannot be tested for.  This guarantee is only in place provided you have followed our requirements with vet visits as well as activating the 30 days of FREE Trumpanion Insurance. You DO NOT have to keep this going after the 30 days.

Training.  This is essential for a happy, well adjusted dogs.  Doodles are smart and this is both good and bad.  If you don't train them, they will train YOU.  It is NOT super expensive and is so worth it.  There is nothing worse than a badly behaved dog jumping on people and pulling on a leash to the point of pulling their human down.  Yes, you can watch videos, but it's not the same.  If in Longview, the City of Longview has Pam Orhams who trains and is excellent and the price is excellent.  She also teaches privately.  You can also go to PetSmart for puppy classes with Jamie Fenton who is an excellent trainer who can train from simply puppy classes up to Service Dogs.  Different trainers are better than others, but you will still learn. You MUST continue to practice at home.  We personally believe is claw collars for training only, but some do not. E-Collars is used properly are also an option, but you must understand how to use them and when. We do our best to use neither if possible.
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