Best Aussiedoodle Generations – F1, F1B, F1BB, F2, F2B, F3

Are all Aussiedoodles the same in terms of coat type, being hypoallergenic, and nonshedding? The answer is “no” and it highly depends on the Aussiedoodle generation that you choose. Since the Aussiedoodle is a crossbreed dog between the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle, genetics play a huge factor in dictating the features of the dog. Australian Shepherds and Poodles have very different personalities, so if you get a dog with more Australian Shepherd genetics, they will be very different from a dog with more Poodle genetics.

The way that breeders explain the genetic makeup of a dog is through cryptic letters like F1 Aussiedoodle or F1B Aussiedoodle. It’s important that you completely understand what the letters and numbers like F1, F1B, F1BB, F2, F2B, F2BB, or F3 (multi-gen) Aussiedoodle mean. If you don’t understand the numbers, then you won’t understand what your dog will look like, whether it will shed, or what type of personality your Aussiedoodle will have.

In this article, we are going to explain exactly what the letters and the numbers mean so you can decide the best Aussiedoodle generation that is right for you.

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Aussiedoodle Generations Overview

We will start with a quick overview of the terminology so you can understand the numbers and letters that make up an Aussiedoodle generation. In this example, we will explain what “F1B Aussiedoodle” means.

What does the “F” stand for?

In the name “F1B Aussiedoodle” the F means Filial Hybrid. This may sound complicated, but it just means that this is a hybrid dog. All Aussiedoodle generations will begin with the letter F because they are a crossbred dog between the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle. In other words, they are not a purebred dog. 

What does the number stand for?

In the name “F1B Aussiedoodle”, the 1 means the generation that the dog is. In our cause, the number is 1 which means that it is a first-generation Aussiedoodle. This means that it is the offspring of an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle.

What does the “B” stand for?

For an “F1B Aussiedoodle”, the B stands for Backcross. Backcross is a complex term that means that it bred back to a purebred dog (either a 100% Australian Shepherd or a 100% Poodle). Almost always, an F1B Aussiedoodle is a backcross to a 100% Poodle because they are allergy-friendly and don’t shed fur.

Genetic Breakdown for Each Aussiedoodle Generation

This is a quick reference in order to get a genetic breakdown of each Aussiedoodle Generation. It saves you time from having to calculate the genetic makeup of a dog. Further below, we will go into a more in-depth summary of each Aussiedoodle generation.

• F1 Aussiedoodle: 50% Poodle & 50% Australian Shepherd
• F1B Aussiedoodle: 75% Poodle & 25% Australian Shepherd
• F1BB Aussiedoodle: 87.5% Poodle & 12.5% Australian Shepherd
• F2 Aussiedoodle: 50% Poodle & 50% Australian Shepherd
• F2B Aussiedoodle: 62.5% Poodle & 37.5% Australian Shepherd
• F2BB Aussiedoodle: 81.25% Poodle & 18.75% Australian Shepherd
• F3 Aussiedoodle or Multi-generation Aussiedoodle: Several generations of Aussiedoodle breeding usually backcrossed with the Poodle.

Tip: Pet owners almost always prefer Aussiedoodles that have more Poodle genetics.

Aussiedoodles are usually backcross bred to the Poodle for the hypoallergenic and nonshedding genes. However, it should be noted that there are some specific cases where a breeder may be backcross breeding with a purebred Australian Shepherd in which case an F1B Aussiedoodle will be 25% Poodle and 75% Australian Shepherd. However, these cases are very unlikely. It’s best that you check with your breeder to clarify any questions you may have.

F1 Aussiedoodle

An F1 Aussiedoodle (50% Poodle and 50% Australian Shepherd) is the first generation Aussiedoodle that is bred between a purebred Australian Shepherd (100%) and a purebred Poodle (100%). The result is an Aussiedoodle dog that is going to be 50% Australian Shepherd and 50% Poodle.

An F1 Aussiedoodle is the Aussiedoodle that most pet owners think about when they hear the term “Aussiedoodle”. However, F1 Aussiedoodle genetics aren’t that great. This is because they can vary widely which will affect how they look. For instance, they can have straight coats that shed like crazy or wavy coats that are non-shedding. Since it is 50% Australian Shepherd and 50% Poodle, it’s basically going to be a coin flip on which genetics the dog receives. Most pet owners would not prefer an F1 Aussiedoodle for this reason.

The F1 Aussiedoodles coats can be smooth like the Australian Shepherd or curlier like the Poodle. However, it is worth noting that F1 Aussiedoodles gain the most health benefits of a term called “Hybrid Vigor”. Hybrid Vigor simply means the first cross between two purebred dogs will almost always be healthier than any of the parent purebred dogs. This is because a purebred is basically inbreeding of the same genes which causes genetic defects. Since Aussiedoodles are a crossbred or hybrid dog, they will only inherit genetic problems that are common to both the Standard Poodle and Australian Shepherd.

F1 Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Unknown. It could be straight, wavy, or curly.
• Non-shedding: Not guaranteed. It may shed lots of hair or not much at all.
• Hypoallergenic: Not guaranteed. It may be hypoallergenic if it receives more Poodle genetics.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, it has the highest qualities and will be the healthiest generation in terms of genetic defects.

F1B Aussiedoodle

The F1B Aussiedoodle (75% Poodle, 25% Australian Shepherd) is a cross between an F1 Aussiedoodle (50% Poodle & 50% Australian Shepherd) and a purebred line which is either a 100% Poodle or 100% Australian Shepherd. A breeder will usually always choose to backcross breed with a Poodle because they shed less and are more hypoallergenic. Since it is going to be backcrossed, this is why we call it an F1B Aussiedoodle.

An F1B Aussiedoodle is 75% Poodle and 25% Australian Shepherd. The F1B is one of the most sought after generation of Aussiedoodle because they are one of the most hypoallergenic and nonshedding generations. Most of the breeders that claim to breed Aussiedoodles that don’t shed and are allergy-friendly are going to be F1B Aussiedoodles.

With an F1B Aussiedoodle, there are some distinct features that you will notice in your dog. First, F1B Aussiedoodles will almost always have a wavy or curly coat that is inherited from the Poodle. This means that it is very unlikely to shed. Also, this generally means that your dog is going to be more hypoallergenic than an Aussiedoodle with a straight coat. The downside of a nonshedding coat is that you will have to regularly groom your Aussiedoodle with pet clippers or take them to the groomers.

Secondly, F1B Aussiedoodles are likely to inherit the personality and temperament of a Poodle. It’s likely that they will be taller in stature, have lots of energy, and need to be regularly exercised with mental stimulation. If an F1B Aussiedoodle isn’t regularly exercised or mentally stimulated, they will get bored and engage in destructive behavior around the house.

Lastly, F1B Aussiedoodles also gain a little bit of the health benefits of being Hybrid Vigor. This means this generation of Aussiedoodle is likely to be healthier than the purebred parents. An F1B is technically the “2nd” generation Aussiedoodle so it does lose some characteristics of Hybrid Vigor. With each passing generation, the amount of hybrid vigor goes down.

F1B Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Wavy or curly like a Poodle.
• Non-shedding: Almost always have a non-shedding coat.
• Hypoallergenic: Almost always hypoallergenic.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but not as much as an F1 Aussiedoodle.

F1BB Aussiedoodle

The F1BB Aussiedoodle (87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Australian Shepherd) is a cross between an F1B Aussiedoodle (75% Poodle, 25% Australian Shepherd) and an original purebred dog that is either the Poodle or Australian Shepherd. Breeders will almost always pick the Poodle to breed with an F1B Aussiedoodle because this basically ensures a nonshedding and hypoallergenic dog. This is referred to as the F1BB Aussiedoodle because this is the second backcross with a purebred Poodle so it gets a second “B” in its name and is referred to as an F1BB Aussiedoodle.

The F1BB Aussiedoodle is the most hypoallergenic and non-shedding of all the first generation Aussiedoodles due to a large amount of Poodle genes. This Aussiedoodle will almost always come with an extremely curly coat that will need to be brushed every day and groomed with a dog clipper every 6 to 12 weeks to prevent the fur from tangling and matting. This Aussiedoodle generation is the best for people with dog allergies and don’t want to have to vacuum up dog hair.

An F1BB Aussiedoodle is technically the “3rd” generation of dog offspring so it will have less Hybrid Vigor qualities as compared to the F1 Aussiedoodle or F1B Aussiedoodle. Breeders may also classify the F1BB Aussiedoodles as a multi-generation Aussiedoodle since they are beyond the 2nd generation of offspring.

F1B Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Curly like a Poodle.
• Non-shedding: Almost always nonshedding.
• Hypoallergenic: Almost always hypoallergenic.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but less so than an F1 and F1B Aussiedoodles because they are the 3rd generation.

F2 Aussiedoodle

The F2 Aussiedoodle (50% Poodle and 50% Australian Shepherd) is the second filial generation of an Aussiedoodle. This is a cross between an F1 Aussiedoodle and another F1 Aussiedoodle. This results in exactly the same genes (50% Poodle & 50% Australian Shepherd).

The F2 Aussiedoodle generation is very similar to the F1 Aussiedoodle generation since they are the same percentage of Australian Shepherd and Poodle. Usually, most breeders try not to breed an F2 Aussiedoodle because this generation is unpredictable in terms of coat type, shedding, and being hypoallergenic. In addition, most pet owners usually don’t want an F2 Aussiedoodle because they won’t know if their dog will shed or not.

F2 Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Highly variable and unpredictable. Straight, wavy, or curly.
• Non-shedding: Unpredictable.
• Hypoallergenic: Unpredictable.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but less so than the F1 generation.

F2B Aussiedoodle

F2B Aussiedoodle (62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Australian Shepherd) is a cross between an F1 Aussiedoodle (50% Poodle, 50% Australian Shepherd) and an F1B Aussiedoodle (75% Poodle, 25% Australian Shepherd). Alternatively, some breeders will choose to breed an F1B Aussiedoodle and another F1B Aussiedoodle which would result in the F2B Aussiedoodle being 75% Poodle and 25% Australian Shepherd.

This F2B Aussiedoodle generation has a significant amount of Poodle hereditary qualities which results in a mostly wavy or curly coat. This means that it’s likely the F2B Aussiedoodle usually not shed and be hypoallergenic. However, like most crossbreed dogs there are always exceptions to the genetic lottery. If your Aussiedoodle doesn’t shed, you will regularly need to groom them with dog clippers.

The F2B Aussiedoodle generation is sometimes referred to as a multi-generation Aussiedoodle since they are the 3rd generation of offspring.

F2B Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Wavy or Curly.
• Non-shedding: Almost always nonshedding.
• Hypoallergenic: Almost always hypoallergenic.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but not as much as an F1 Aussiedoodle.

F2BB Aussiedoodle

F2BB Aussiedoodle (81.25% Poodle & 18.75% Australian Shepherd) is a mix between an F2B Aussiedoodle (62.5% Poodle, 37.5% Australian Shepherd) and a original purebred 100% Poodle. Since this is the second backcross with a purebred Poodle and part of the 2nd generation, it gets a second letter “B” in its name and is referred to as an F2BB Aussiedoodle.

An F2BB Aussiedoodle is the most hypoallergenic and non-shedding of all the second generation Aussiedoodles because it is mostly Poodle genetics. This Aussiedoodle also has the 2nd most Poodle genetics, only behind the F1BB Aussiedoodle (87.5% Poodle & 12.5% Australian Shepherd). It is extremely likely an F2BB Aussiedoodle will have a curly coat that will need to be brushed every day and regularly shave them with dog clippers every couple of months to prevent the fur from tangling. However, this Aussiedoodle generation is great for people with pet allergies and don’t want to have to vacuum up dog hair everywhere.

The F2BB Aussiedoodle generation is going to be referred to as a multi-gen Aussiedoodle since they are the 4th generation of offspring. Many breeders won’t use the term F2BB but will use the term multi-generation Aussiedoodle instead.

F2BB Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Curly
• Non-shedding: The most non-shedding 2nd generation Aussiedoodle.
• Hypoallergenic: The most hypoallergenic 2nd generation Aussiedoodle.
• Hybrid Vigor: Yes, but less so than F2 and F2B Aussiedoodles because they are at least the 4th generation of offspring.

F3 Aussiedoodle or Multi-generation Aussiedoodle

The F3 Aussiedoodle is also called the multi-gen Aussiedoodle. This is the 3rd generation or greater of Aussiedoodles bred together.

Typically, F3 Aussiedoodles are bred with an F1B Aussiedoodle and another F1B Doodle. Alternatively, you could breed an F3 Aussiedoodle with an F2 Aussiedoodle and another F2 Aussiedoodle. F3 Aussiedoodles contain a significant portion of Poodle genetics so it is great for people with pet allergies. The F3 Aussiedoodle generation coat can vary from wavy to very curly which makes them less prone to shedding hair.

Multi-generation Aussiedoodles are used to describe any Aussiedoodle beyond the 2nd generation. This includes some of the Aussiedoodle generations listed above like F1BB, F2B, and F2BB. Many breeders will simply list multi-generation Aussiedoodle instead of listing the exact generation of Aussiedoodle. You will have to ask your breeder to specify which generation your Aussiedoodle is.

F3 Aussiedoodle or Multi-generation Aussiedoodle Characteristics

• Coat Type: Wavy or curly.
• Non-shedding: Yes.
• Hypoallergenic: Yes
• Hybrid Vigor: Virtually none.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Get an F1 or F1b Aussiedoodle?

The genetic difference between an F1 and F1b Aussiedoodle is more significant than you might think.

An F1 Aussiedoodle is created by breeding an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle together, so the genetic makeup of an F1 Aussiedoodle is 50% Australian Shepherd and 50% Poodle.

However, an F1b Aussiedoodle is the product of breeding between an F1 Aussiedoodle and a pedigree Poodle. What this essentially means is that an F1b Aussiedoodle’s genetics come to 25% Australian Shepherd and 75% Poodle.

So, what does this actually mean in terms of the difference in inherited traits between F1 and F1b Aussiedoodles?

From an aesthetic perspective, many breeders and prospective owners will favor the F1 Aussiedoodle because of the more balanced genetic split between the parent breeds. An F1 Aussiedoodle will pretty much look exactly how you’d expect a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle to look, and that’s the main reason why the F1 Aussiedoodle is more popular.

With that being said, there are also plenty of valid reasons to opt for an F1b Aussiedoodle over an F1 type. The main reason is that the increased Poodle genetics in F1b Aussiedoodles means that they are almost always totally non-shedding, compared to F1 Aussiedoodles, which are often low-shedding rather than non-shedding. F1b Aussiedoodle coats are typically curlier.

Do F2 Aussiedoodles Shed?

The coat type of an F2 Aussiedoodle is less predictable than that of either the F1 or F1b Aussiedoodle.

F2 Aussiedoodles are produced by breeding two F1 Aussiedoodles together. Therefore, like the F1 Aussiedoodle, the F2 type has a 50/50 split of Australian Shepherd and Poodle genetics. However, the difference is that an F2 Aussiedoodle is a second-generation doodle, meaning that hybrid vigor is less.

While some F2 Aussiedoodles may inherit more Poodle than Australian Shepherd traits, resulting in a non-shedding coat, other Aussiedoodles of this F-type might shed. This is why people with allergies, especially severe allergies, will avoid getting an F2 Aussiedoodle because it’s difficult to ascertain whether or not it will shed.

Aussiedoodle puppies have shorter coats when they are born, which means it’s virtually impossible to tell a shedding F2 Aussiedoodle from a non-shedding one before the age of 6 weeks. After this point, however, a breeder with enough experience might be able to tell you if the puppy is likely to shed or not. However, even at 6 weeks, the level of shedding may not accurately reflect the dog’s mature coat type.

Can You Breed an F1 Aussiedoodle?

In order to breed an F1 Aussiedoodle, you would need to cross a pedigree Poodle with a pedigree Australian Shepherd.

The pedigree status of both parent breeds is important if you specifically want to breed an F1 Aussiedoodle because otherwise, the split of genetics would not be 50/50.

Breeding F1 Aussiedoodles should be left to professional and experienced breeders, however. This is because thorough health testing needs to be conducted in order to avoid certain health conditions. These include cataracts, autoimmune thyroiditis, epilepsy, and hip dysplasia.

You can breed an F1 Aussiedoodle with a pedigree Poodle to produce an F1b Aussiedoodle. Alternatively, you could breed two F1 Aussiedoodles together to make an F2 Aussiedoodle. Again, however, this is a task best left to experienced and seasoned professionals.

In addition to the complexity of working out whether an F2 Aussiedoodle is hypoallergenic (see above), F2 Aussiedoodles may be prone to other health conditions because they are more likely to inherit recessive traits. These potential conditions should be tested for and monitored by somebody with sufficient experience.

Conclusion: Best Aussiedoodle Generations

In general, the best Aussiedoodle Generations that people like are the ones that are the most hypoallergenic, don’t shed, and have some hybrid vigor qualities. The top 3 picks for the Aussiedoodle generations are below:

1. F1B Aussiedoodle (75% Poodle & 25% Australian Shepherd)
2. F2B Aussiedoodle (62.5% Poodle & 37.5% Australian Shepherd)
3. F1BB Aussiedoodle (87.5% Poodle & 12.5% Australian Shepherd)

If you don’t really care too much about a dog being allergy-friendly and nonshedding, then you can figure out what coat type and what color coat you want. If you want a more curly coat that requires a significant amount of grooming pick an Aussiedoodle that has a large amount of Poodle genetics. If you want an Aussiedoodle with a more straight coat that will tend to shed, pick an Aussiedoodle generation that has more Australian Shepherd like an F1 Aussiedoodle or F2 Aussiedoodle.

For more information about Aussiedoodles, visit the ALAA.