Many people buy Goldendoodles due to their beautiful and luscious coats. People also mainly think of this breed as having a curly coat thanks to its Poodle parent. But Goldendoodles can actually have one of four coat types – wavy, curly, straight, and flat.
Whichever coat your wonderful Goldendoodle has, it will still look beautiful! And luckily, this is also a low-shedding breed regardless of its coat type. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the Goldendoodle coat, from the different types to their coat stages and more.
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The Different Goldendoodle Coat Types
There are various types of Goldendoodle coats, and they come in different textures and colors. The Goldendoodle coat can come in different shades of brown, cream, apricot, black, grey, red, and many more. There can be so many color variations because breeding the Poodle (with its many colors) with the Golden Retriever creates a whole range of color combinations.
Other than various colors, there are also different types of Goldendoodle coats. It all depends on which parent breed the puppy takes after, but the following are the main coat types:
- Curly Coat Goldendoodles
- Wavy Coat Goldendoodles
- Straight Coat Goldendoodles
- Flat Coat Goldendoodles
Each coat type comes with its own pros and cons, from grooming needs and shedding to allergic reactions. Here’s more on each type of coat:
Curly coat Goldendoodles
Curly coats have fleece-like characteristics, and they are very dense. The curly coat is created when the Goldendoodle puppy has a curl gene from both of its parents. The curly coat looks like the Poodle’s coat.
F1B Goldendoodles or multigenerational Goldendoodles tend to have curly coats. The curly coat can be loosely curled or quite woolly, but they don’t usually look as curly as a Poodle as they only have a portion of the gene.
If your dog has a curly coat, you will need to brush them regularly to prevent knots and mats. However, most pet parents choose to get their dog’s coats clipped as it makes the curly coat easier to care for and maintain. The best part is that you can get quite creative with haircuts!
Goldendoodles with curly coats are very popular among people with allergies as their coats are minimal to non-shedding. Most multigeneration and F1B Goldendoodles have curly coats, but the only way to know for certain what coat type your doggo will have is to get the DNA test results of the parent breeds.
The curls on this coat type will get very dense if you leave it to grow out for too long. However, there is a point where the hair will stop growing, so you won’t ever end up with a Rapunzel-looking Goldendoodle.
The hair around their face tends to be much shorter than on the rest of their body and is what gives them that afro look. You should note that curly, short coats easily trap dirt and other debris close to their skin; this is why regular grooming is essential.
Wavy coat Goldendoodles
If your doggo has a wavy coat, they have taken one non-curl gene from the Golden Retriever parent and one curl gene from the Poodle parent. This shaggy or wavy coat is the most common coat type for Goldendoodles, and they are often referred to as fleece coats.
Wavy-coated Goldendoodles are typically seen in F1, F1b, and multigenerational Doodles. This coat doesn’t shed much, but more so than the curled coat.
These dogs have quite a shaggy-looking coat and certainly need to be brushed daily. You should especially focus on the high-friction areas, like their ears and under their collar. Without regular grooming, this beautiful wavy coat will get very matted. Mats can get so bad that the only way to remove them is to shave all of their hair off (this isn’t always a cute look, not to mention your dog won’t be as healthy or comfortable without its coat).
Wavy coat Goldendoodles should be bathed and brushed regularly to remove any knots and to stop the hair from matting. A high-quality dog shampoo will do the trick.
Straight coat Goldendoodles
The coat will be straight when the dog takes a non-curl gene from both of its parents. And a straight coat is characterized by furnishings (the ‘mustache’) and also has a much fluffier texture than a flat coat does.
Straight-coat Goldendoodles are also known as hair coats or loose coats, and this coat takes after the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles with this coat do not require nearly as much grooming, but it is still a good idea to brush them every now and then to prevent any knots and mats from forming on their coat.
Daily brushing is recommended, and it is important that you brush right down to their skin. This Goldendoodle coat sheds very heavily, so they’re not the best choice for people suffering from allergies.
Flat coat Goldendoodles
Flat-coated Goldendoodles are Doodles with an improper coat because they do not have any furnishings. Flat-coated or unfurnished Doodles do not have that signature wavy or shaggy coat. This is seen as an improper coat and sheds much more than other Doodle coat types.
How to Determine What Coat Your Goldendoodle Will Have
A Goldendoodle’s coat is determined by genetics, and cross-breeding can lead to some very unpredictable results. Goldendoodle puppies can take after one parent more than the other, so you don’t always know what to expect. However, there are a few ways to get an idea of what your Goldendoodle’s coat will look like when it grows up.
From puppyhood till about one year, your pup’s coat is constantly developing, and it will be impossible to tell what their coat type will be. However, there are a few things that you can look out for. To determine the Goldendoodle coat type, look at the following:
If your Doodle is quite shaggy around the muzzle, then you may have a wavy-coated Goldendoodle. A prominent mustache can indicate a curly coat. Owners and breeders say that it is best to look at their snout as this is where you can get a good idea of the type of coat they will have.
Straight-coat Goldendoodles usually have a neat and short snout during puppyhood. You can also take a look at both of the parents; wavy-coat Goldendoodles won’t always produce wavy-coat puppies, but it is highly possible. The same goes for the other coat types – a Goldendoodle puppy is likely to take after its parents.
However, it will always come down to genetics and nature, and there will always be surprises when it comes to a Goldendoodle puppy and its coat. Many people wonder if Goldendoodles have an undercoat, and they certainly can. This is why they require regular grooming and brushing.
Goldendoodle Coat Stages
A Goldendoodle puppy has various coat stages. They first start shedding their puppy coat when they are about six months old. By the time the Goldendoodle is eight months old, it will have most of its adult coat. They usually get their full adult coat before they turn one year old.
Their puppy coat is soft and fluffy, while their adult coat becomes a bit denser and thicker. Their coat change can take a few weeks or even a few months, and it can either be slow or very sudden. Some owners do not even notice that their pup’s coat is going through a transition because their adult coat can also be incredibly soft. In some dogs, the adult coat is indistinguishable from their younger coat.
Goldendoodle puppies will start shedding to some degree when they hit six months old whether they have wavy coats or a straight coat.
Goldendoodle coats are all different, and one pup’s coat transition will be completely different from other pups. At Barksinthepark, we can tell you everything you need to know about Goldendoodles, from their coat standards to their grooming needs.
Coat Furnishings on Goldendoodles
The Goldendoodle’s characteristic long facial hair is known as furnishings. This includes the mustache, eyebrows, and beard. Essentially, the furnishings are the longer hairs on the coat around their face. These hairs give them that scruffy look we have come to love.
Goldendoodles get their furnishings from their Poodle parents – it comes from a very dominant gene, so most Goldendoodle coats have furnishings around the mouth and on their face.
However, you will also find unfurnished doggos – mostly those with straight, improper coats.
FAQs
How do I know if my Goldendoodle has a double coat?
You know that your pup has a double coat if you pick up on two different types of hair. One is coarse, and the other is soft. You know they have a single coat if their hair looks all the same.
How can you tell what type of Goldendoodle coat you have?
Curly-coated dogs will usually have a prominent mustache, whereas those with a shaggy beard-like muzzle are likely to be wavy-coated. If the hair around the muzzle is shorter and neater, you probably have a straight-coated Groodle on your hands.
What is the difference between F1 and F1B coat Goldendoodle?
F1B Goldendoodle coats tend to be curlier like the Poodle’s, whereas F1 dogs can have a mix of coat types (as discussed above). This is because F1B Goldendoodles are 75% Poodle genetically and only 25% Retriever, but F1 Doodles are 50-50.