The straight-haired Goldendoodle is probably the most sought-after type of Goldendoodle when it comes to a variation of fur. Besides their very cute look, they just make grooming so much easier as compared to curly-haired Goldendoodles.
Straight-haired Goldendoodles are just like your regular Goldendoodles except that they have much finer fur that seemingly looks straight. Straight-haired Goldendoodles inherited the majority of their fur from their Golden Retriever counterparts.
If you are interested in getting a straight-haired Goldendoodle, then you are at the right place! We are going to talk about how this straight fur came to be as well as the reasons as to why this type of Goldendoodle will fit you. So read on!
How The Straight Haired Goldendoodle Is Bred
It is a given that Goldendoodle will have curly fur as they are the combination of breeding a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. So how does one produce a straight-haired Goldendoodle? The secret is deep within their dog genes and its name is Cu locus.
Cu locus in layman’s terms is a gene for curly coats. Therefore, if a dog does not have this gene, he will end up having straight hair. The problem is, as you are pairing Poodles and Golden Retrievers, the Cu locus gene is obviously present in Poodles.
Poodles have this extremely curly coat as the Cu locus gene is preventing the keratin from binding with other structural components of the hair. So a quick fix to that is to have the presence of keratin to produce straight coats.
As you can see, it is definitely a painful and enduring process to produce straight-haired Goldendoodle, which is why they are also rare. With that said, that is also the explanation as to why this type of Goldendoodle can be expensive.
Keep in mind straight-haired Goldendoodles are also called flat coat Goldendoodles. Usually, in the breeding world, they use the term flat coat to be precise about breeding characteristics.
The Breeding Generation of the Straight-Haired Goldendoodle
As we have mentioned earlier, it is quite the process to breed Goldendoodle that has straight coats. In line with that, straight-haired Goldendoodles can only come from specific breeding generations.
We are not saying that if you cannot get one from these generations, you may end up with a straight-haired Goldendoodle that will eventually turn out to have a curly coat, but getting them at these specific breeding generations will give you the best quality. These generations are the following:
- F1 Goldendoodle (first generation)
- F2 Goldendoodle (second generation)
The F stands for filial which simply means that it is a hybrid dog. As for the number, it is the breeding generation of the dog.
For F1 Goldendoodles, these are the puppies that were bred from a purebred Poodle and purebred Golden Retriever. For F2 Goldendoodles, these were the F1 Goldendoodles that were bred together.
In these breeding generations can you really get a high chance to have a straight-haired Goldendoodle. The name of the game is for you to get a straight coat, then you need more Golden Retriever genes. The best that you can do is 50%
This 50% is taken from the 50:50 ratio of both F1 and F2 generations. If this cannot be done, there are also breeders who backcross Goldendoodles with Golden Retrievers, but the chances of finding this type of breeder are slim to none.
Things to Know Before Buying a Straight-Haired Goldendoodle
There are three major factors that you should consider before getting a straight-haired Goldendoodle. We no longer have to discuss dog characteristics and behavior as just like their curly-coat brothers and sisters, they share the same demeanor.
Shedding
Straight-haired Goldendoodles shed more than curly-haired ones. It is just the nature of things that dogs with a smoother or straighter coat will tend to shed more.
When you have a straight-haired Goldendoodle, it is a given that they have fewer Poodle genes, so you really cannot do anything to make up for the lost curly coat gene. On the bright side, Goldendoodles have a lighter shed compared to Golden Retrievers.
Hypoallergenic Aspect
This is in relation to the previous factor about shedding. What makes a dog be branded as hypoallergenic is that there is less hair and dander flying around that can be inhaled by humans.
Keep in mind that when we say “hypoallergenic” this does not necessarily mean that a certain dog will not cause allergies. It just means that there will be fewer allergens that can trigger a person’s allergies.
More often than not, hypoallergenic dogs are the ones that have curly coats because they do not shed a lot and they keep certain allergens like dander stick to their skin. So here comes the straight-haired Goldendoodle that has a smooth coat, so hair will just be flying all around and dander will not have anything to stick on to.
Size
We have mentioned earlier that you have the best chance of getting a straight-haired Goldendoodle in F1 and F2 breeding generations. Therefore both of those generations have 50% Poodle and 50% Golden Retriever genes. With those percentages, you really cannot tweak so much in terms of size.
It is possible for F1 generations to get standard and moyen Goldendoodles. However, those are rare. In the majority of cases, you will get a standard straight-haired Goldendoodle in these two generations.
Is the Straight-Haired Goldendoodle For You?
Calm your excitement for a while and let us look further into the value of getting a straight-haired Goldendoodle. You might just realize that they have more cons as opposed to pros, but if you can stand by those cons, then you are good to go!
- A straight-haired Goldendoodle is for you if you have ample time to clean your house. They do shed more compared to those that have curly coats, so you have to clean your floors daily to avoid lumps of shed hair that may accumulate under the furniture.
- It is also a good idea to get a straight-haired Goldendoodle if you are not prone to allergies. It is not assured that you will get allergies from them, but their hypoallergenic component is lesser than those of curly-coat Goldendoodles.
- You really do not care about the size of the Goldendoodle too much. As it is hard enough to produce a straight-haired Goldendoodle, it will be extremely difficult to get a straight-haired Goldendoodle that falls under medium more so miniature.
- This is definitely the type of dog for you if you love that teddy bear look. What makes straight-haired Goldendoodle the number one choice for some people is how they look so much cuter and more like a stuffed toy compared to the ones that have curly fur.
As you might have noticed, your choice will be greatly influenced by their looks and how much spare time you have for cleaning. So you see, it is a matter of preference and lifestyle. If you can spare a bit of time to clean their sheds to avoid any allergies happening, then this type of dog will be perfect!
How to Spot a Real Straight-Haired Goldendoodle
It can be tough to determine if what you really have in front of you is 100% straight-haired Goldendoodle. This is not due to the fact that your breeder may lie, but it is just because, just like with other dogs that have full coats, their final coat can only be seen after several sheds.
So for their first coat and second coat, it is apparent that they look straight. However, as they settle into their adult coat, it is highly possible for you to see some wavy strands. So how can you be sure that what you are buying is a straight-haired Goldendoodle?
No one can really be sure but here are a few tips:
- Examine the fur that is located on the muzzle and face. Usually, these furs will stay the same after several sheds.
- If there is a bit of waviness or crimping in those areas, it is possible that when they get older, the hair will no longer be straight.
- On the other hand, if they look smooth and straight, there is a high chance that it will stay straight.
Conclusion
The hype behind the straight-haired Goldendoodle is truly well-deserved! Honestly, who can resist a teddy bear-looking dog? No one!
But now you know the important factors to consider before giving in to that cute face. Further, you can easily assess the quality of the possible straight-haired Goldendoodle that you are getting.
Do not forget! They can only be bred with a high chance in F1 and F2 generations, so if they belong to a different generation, then the chances are, your breeder is trying to fool you.
Lastly, check their furs to really make sure that you will still have a straight-haired Goldendoodle by the time he reaches three years old. You would not want to be surprised one day and see a curly-haired Goldendoodle, right?
