If your family has allergies, an F1 or improper-coated Goldendoodle might not be the right fit for you. Improper coats tend to shed more than Goldendoodles with Furnishings. F1s tend to shed more than multigens who have generations of low to no-shed behind them.
A new dna test has become available to test a dog's proprensity for shedding and it involves the improper coat gene. Let's take a look at how it works:
Collected samples of a dog's dna, can now help to identify the amount of shedding it is likely to have. Found on 2 different genes in a dog's dna, the "shed-ability" genes are identified and calculated. Scores range from 0 to 4 with "0" being the lowest propensity towards shedding and "4" being the highest.
Dogs who carry "Furnishings" have a lower propensity for shedding than those that don't but it's not the whole test. There is the 2nd unrelated gene involved as well that plays a very important part.
This test is particularly important for hybrids like Goldendoodles who have both shedding and non-shedding relatives. This will be more helpful to know in determining the amount of shedding a pup will have than the generation of the Goldendoodle you are getting.
In the past, it was thought that a curly F1b Goldendoodle (75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever) was needed for allergy sufferers in order to get a low to no-shed dog. This is no longer the case. Thanks to the "shedding test", breeders can now carefully breed their parents by knowing how what their shed score is, making it possible to get the same low to no-shed results in straight, wavy, or curly multigenerational Goldendoodles. The multigenerational Goldendoodle typically incorporates more Golden Retriever back into the mix increasing the hybrid vigor of the offspring and increases the chances of the offspring have more Golden Retriever traits than an F1b but with little to no shedding like an F1b.
** Please note that even if a dog doesn't shed, a person can still be allergic to their dander. Allergies have to do with which proteins a person is allergic to and whether those proteins are produced by the dog or not. The proteins that cause symptoms may be found in skin cells, saliva, or urine, or any combination of the 3. You need to consult an allergy specialist for accurate medical info on your potential for an allergic reaction to dogs.