Doodle Generations Explained: How to Understand the F Notation for Sheepadoodles, English Bernedoodles, and Bernedoodles

Doodle Generations: A Guide for Sheepadoodles, English Bernedoodles, and Bernedoodles

Doodles are hybrid dogs that are created by crossing a Poodle with another purebred dog, such as an Old English Sheepdog, a Bernese Mountain Dog, or an Australian Shepherd. Doodles are popular for their intelligence, trainability, and low-shedding coats. However, not all doodles are the same. Depending on the genetic makeup of their parents, doodles can have different sizes, appearances, and temperaments. This is why doodle breeders use a system of labeling the different generations of doodles, such as F1, F2, F1b, and F2b. But what do these terms mean and how do they apply to Sheepadoodles, English Bernedoodles, and Bernedoodles? In this article, we will answer these questions and help you understand the differences between these doodle breeds.

What is a Sheepadoodle?

A Sheepadoodle is a cross between an Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle. The Old English Sheepdog is a large and fluffy breed that originated in England as a farm dog, helping farmers with herding, guarding, and pulling carts. The Poodle is a small to medium breed that originated in Germany as a water retriever, hunting ducks and other waterfowl. The Sheepadoodle inherits the best of both breeds, such as the intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle and the friendly, loyal, and adaptable nature of the Old English Sheepdog. A Sheepadoodle can have a wavy to curly coat that can be solid or have various markings in many colors, such as black, white, brown, tan, silver, or merle. A Sheepadoodle can also vary in size, depending on the size of the Poodle parent. A standard Sheepadoodle is a cross between a standard Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog, and can weigh between 50 to 90 pounds and stand 23 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder. A miniature Sheepadoodle is a cross between a miniature Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog, and can weigh between 25 to 49 pounds and stand 18 to 22 inches tall. A tiny Sheepadoodle is a cross between a toy Poodle and an Old English Sheepdog, and can weigh between 10 to 24 pounds and stand 12 to 17 inches tall.

What is an English Bernedoodle?

An English Bernedoodle is a cross between an Old English Sheepdog, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and a Poodle. The Old English Sheepdog is a large and fluffy breed that originated in England as a farm dog, helping farmers with herding, guarding, and pulling carts. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large and fluffy breed that originated in Switzerland as a farm dog, helping farmers with herding, guarding, and pulling carts. The Poodle is a small to medium breed that originated in Germany as a water retriever, hunting ducks and other waterfowl. The English Bernedoodle inherits the best of all three breeds, such as the intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle, the gentle, loyal, and calm personality of the Bernese Mountain Dog, and the friendly, loyal, and adaptable nature of the Old English Sheepdog. An English Bernedoodle has a thick, wavy, and soft coat that can be solid or have various markings in many colors, such as black, white, brown, tan, silver, or merle. An English Bernedoodle can also vary in size, depending on the size of the Poodle parent. A standard English Bernedoodle is a cross between a standard Poodle, an Old English Sheepdog, and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 50 to 90 pounds and stand 23 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder. A miniature English Bernedoodle is a cross between a miniature Poodle, an Old English Sheepdog, and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 25 to 49 pounds and stand 18 to 22 inches tall. A tiny English Bernedoodle is a cross between a toy Poodle, an Old English Sheepdog, and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 10 to 24 pounds and stand 12 to 17 inches tall.

What is a Bernedoodle?

A Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large and fluffy breed that originated in Switzerland as a farm dog, helping farmers with herding, guarding, and pulling carts. The Poodle is a small to medium breed that originated in Germany as a water retriever, hunting ducks and other waterfowl. The Bernedoodle inherits the best of both breeds, such as the intelligence, trainability, and hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle and the gentle, loyal, and calm personality of the Bernese Mountain Dog. A Bernedoodle can have a thick, wavy, and soft coat that can be solid or have various markings in many colors, such as black, white, brown, tan, silver, or merle. A Bernedoodle can also vary in size, depending on the size of the Poodle parent. A standard Bernedoodle is a cross between a standard Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 50 to 90 pounds and stand 23 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder. A miniature Bernedoodle is a cross between a miniature Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 25 to 49 pounds and stand 18 to 22 inches tall. A tiny Bernedoodle is a cross between a toy Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog, and can weigh between 10 to 24 pounds and stand 12 to 17 inches tall.

What are the different generations of doodles?

Doodle generations tell us the genetic makeup of each of the parental breeds in a doodle. Doodle generations are labeled as F1, F2, F1b, F2b, and so on. Here is what these terms mean:

• F1 or first-generation doodles are 50% Poodle and 50% of the other purebred parent. For example, an F1 Sheepadoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Old English Sheepdog, an F1 English Bernedoodle is 50% Poodle, 25% Old English Sheepdog, and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog, and an F1 Bernedoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Bernese Mountain Dog.
• F1b or first-generation backcross doodles are 75% Poodle and 25% of the other purebred parent. This is achieved by breeding an F1 doodle with a Poodle. For example, an F1b Sheepadoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Old English Sheepdog, an F1b English Bernedoodle is 75% Poodle, 12.5% Old English Sheepdog, and 12.5% Bernese Mountain Dog, and an F1b Bernedoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog.
• F2 or second-generation doodles are 50% Poodle and 50% of the other purebred parent. This is achieved by breeding two F1 doodles of the same breed. For example, an F2 Sheepadoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Old English Sheepdog, an F2 English Bernedoodle is 50% Poodle, 25% Old English Sheepdog, and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog, and an F2 Bernedoodle is 50% Poodle and 50% Bernese Mountain Dog.
• F2b or second-generation backcross doodles are 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% of the other purebred parent. This is achieved by breeding an F1 doodle with an F1b doodle of the same breed. For example, an F2b Sheepadoodle is 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Old English Sheepdog, an F2b English Bernedoodle is 62.5% Poodle, 18.75% Old English Sheepdog, and 18.75% Bernese Mountain Dog, and an F2b Bernedoodle is 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Bernese Mountain Dog.

There are also other variations of doodle generations, such as F1bb, F2bb, F3, and multigen, but they are less common and more complex. In general, the higher the percentage of Poodle in a doodle, the more likely it is to have a curly and hypoallergenic coat, but also a more energetic and independent personality. The lower the percentage of Poodle in a doodle, the more likely it is to have a straighter and shedding coat, but also a more laid-back and loyal personality.

What is the history behind the use of the F when describing generations?

The history of the use of F for generations dates back to the 19th century, when Gregor Mendel conducted his famous experiments on pea plants and discovered the basic laws of inheritance. Mendel used the F notation to label the generations of his hybrid plants, and his work was later recognized as the foundation of modern genetics¹

The F stands for filial, which means “of or relating to a son or daughter”. The number after the F indicates the generation of the hybrid. For example, F1 means first-generation, F2 means second-generation, and so on. The term filial hybrid is also used in genetics and plant breeding to describe the offspring of crosses between different strains, varieties, or species of plants²

The use of the F notation for filial hybrids was adopted by doodle breeders to describe the different generations of doodles, such as F1, F2, F1b, and F2b. These terms indicate the percentage of Poodle and the other purebred parent in each doodle. For example, an F1 doodle is 50% Poodle and 50% of the other purebred parent, while an F1b doodle is 75% Poodle and 25% of the other purebred parent³