Should I get an F1, F1b, Ultra or Multigenerational (multigen) Puppy?

~ “I want an F1b generation Bernedoodle because my wife has allergies and I’ve heard that they are the best for hypoallergenic reasons. Are F1b Bernedoodles hypoallergenic”? We hear this a lot and this article answers all such questions. But first of all, let’s go through what the generations mean.

F1: Bernese Mountain Dog x Poodle (First-generation cross)
F1b : F1 Bernedoodle x Poodle (First-generation Backcross)
Multigenerational Bernedoodle: Bernedoodle x Bernedoodle (Multigen)
Ultra Bernedoodle: Bernese Mountain Dog x Multigen Bernedoodle (Our Unique Blend)

So what are the Pros and Cons of each Bernedoodle generation?

F1 Bernedoodle

This is the simplest combination. Most breeders do this combination in Bernedoodles because it’s the simplest genetic combination. 50% of each breed, you get a fairly even mix of the two breeds, most pups have a mid-range wavy curl, and hair type and you can either have a mini size if the Bernese is bred to a Miniature Poodle or a standard size if bred to a Standard Poodle. Shedding is typically considered low and the hair type is typically going to grow out long like human hair.

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F1b Bernedoodle

This combination is 75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog. The advantage is that approximately half of the litter inherit the maximum “furnishing” genes (a long-haired gene that grows like the hair on your head and sheds/cycles like hair). These pups typically have extremely low shedding, similar to a Poodle or human hair. The other half of the litter have the same good coat genes of an F1 litter, they still grow out long and have hair similar to the hair on your head and are considered low shedding but might have small amounts of hair that cycle out, especially during the adolescent stages.

Half of the litter will also have extra curly hair (similar in look and texture to a Poodle) and the other half of the litter will typically have a wavy coat (similar to an F1 Bernedoodle). This does not influence shedding but is more of a texture/ aesthetic difference; similar to human hair that can be tight curls, wavy or straight. Typically curly coats are more “shapeable” when groomed. Just like when Poodles are groomed into rounded shapes, this curly coat type can be shaped into the bigger teddy bear grooming styles. Wavy coats are easier to brush out and can be softer to the touch and typically have a more floppy, “Doodle” look to the hair rather than the tight curl look.

Multigenerational Bernedoodles

Multigen Bernedoodles are more complex from a breeding standpoint. In order to get consistency and to reach the most desirable traits long-term in a breed, you need to breed over many generations the best genetics. This is how new breeds are created! Breeders that are committed to the long-term perfection of a breed standard, understand that they must combine the best traits over generations and carefully select, after genetic testing, each generation.

When a breeder understands genetic traits and combinations they can predict the desirable traits before breeding is performed and estimate the outcome in many areas.

We have combined many years of extensive breed and genetic knowledge to create our multigenerational lines. Most of our Multigen Bernedoodles have the coat benefits of an F1b litter but have the advantage of being able to maintain a 50/50 mix of Poodle to Bernese ratio. This gives more of the Bernese Mountain Dog personality, structure, and coloring while also allowing us to bring in more “easy care” loose wavy hair and low to very low shedding traits.

We can also achieve a wider variety of colors and patterns; Merle, Chocolate Tri, Red and White Tuxedo and Parti, Tri-colors are all possible in this combination.

If a breeder does not understand genetic combinations, multigenerational breedings can be “unpredictable”. In an inexperienced breeder’s hands, you could end up with coat types that you do not expect (e.g. unfurnished “Bernese coats” that shed and act like a Bernese Mountain Dog). We don’t leave our breedings to chance. We do extensive testing and know what to expect in our litters and can discuss with you what kind of coat type to expect in our litters.

Ultra Bernedoodles

We pioneered the "Ultra Bernedoodle" combination years ago because we knew that many of our clients wanted all of the amazing traits of a Bernese Mountain Dog; easy-going, goofy, and loving personality, blocky build, and structure with that stunning Tri coloring that turns heads but they still wanted that hair type that grows out long like human hair and is considered low shedding. They also wanted that soft loose (much straighter) hair rather than the curls of a Poodle or even the wavy curl of an F1.

We worked hard for several multigenerational breedings to create our first, very special sires that we could then breed to our Bernese Mountain Dog moms for our first “Ultra Bernedoodles”. They had the hair type that we wanted but were predominantly Bernese Mountain Dog in their look and temperament. We have since found this to be our most popular combination. The hair type is soft and easy to care for, and the structure and look are unmistakably Bernese and our puppy families LOVE them! We consider any of our pairings that have more than 50% BMD genetics to be in this category and as we work towards our long-term goals we are able to add even more benefits to the mix and combine multigenerational breedings with our Ultras.

Bottom Line:

Certain generations and pairings in our program may be more suited to those with allergy concerns. We would love to chat with you about specific litters and their suitability for your needs. Contact us on +1 (801) 859-4520 and we’d love to help you with your decision!