Top NOtch Difference, DNA for Non-Shedding

Our Labrador Retriever advantage:  We start with rare (less than 5% of the population), low shedding labs from USA Purebred Labs.  The Poodles & Labs that are in our Labradoodle breeding program have been selectively bred to produce first generation non- shedding Labradoodles.      

Our Poodle advantage:  Surprisingly, the majority of Poodles do not carry the low shedding genes sd/sd or TT.  They carry Facial furnishings, which is the most important indicator to non shedding.  All of our mini males carry both possible copies of the low shedding gene in addition to both facial furnishings, and Long Coat genetics.   

The F1 advantage.  An F1 Mini Labradoodle is a 100% Pure Breed Lab x a 100% Mini Pure Breed Poodle or a 50% Lab / 50% Poodle Mix.

Due to our signature low shedding genes, we are capable of consistently producing non shedding first generation Mini Labradoodle Puppies.  Most breeders will blindly take an F1 Labradoodle and breed it back to a poodle in an attempt to lessen shedding, producing F1b (75% Poodle 25% Lab).  The results are a 75% poodle mix that still sheds.  We are one of the few breeders to focus on more of what people want:  More Lab without the shedding.

Shedding - About 1/2 of F1b Pure Designer Breed Labradoodles will not shed but they'll look and act like a poodle.  The other 1/2 will likely shed because they were blindly bred.  It all depends if the breeder identified and selectively bred for non shedding genetics.  You could end up with a poodle look alike that still sheds.  

The Main Variables for Non Shedding ranked from most important to least important are:    

1)  Facial Furnishings.  

This is the MAIN determining factor for non shedding.  Labs cannot possibly carry Facial Furnishings (hair on face), however all poodles that we've ever tested carry both possible copies. This means that every single pup will receive 1 copy from each parent:  1 facial furnishings copy (F), and one improper coat (IC - meaning the dog lacks facial furnishings).  However, all it takes is 1 copy of facial furnishings to create facial hair.  2 copies is better than 1 but when you combine other low shedding genetic traits, this can create a low to non shedding dog.    

2)  Long Hair 

All the poodles we've tested carry both copies of the Long Hair DNA.  Their hair will just grow and grow until cut due to the lack of the hair growth termination signal (causes matting in poodles).  Labs however carry both possible copies of the short hair DNA.  Thus, all pups will receive 1 copy from each parent:  1 Long Hair Gene (Lh) and 1 Short Hair gene (Sh).  It takes 2 copies to produce long hair.  1 Long hair with 1 short hair will usually produce longer hair than a lab, but at some point will terminate naturally, thus creating some shedding if you let it grow.  Most people will groom/cut their Labradoodle's hair before their hair can even fall out.   

3)  Low Shedding DNA.  

All of our low shedding labs carry both possible copies of the low shedding DNA.  Our experience with the rare low shedding  pure breed Labrador Retrievers are an ~80% reduction in shedding, the coat is much thinner than their high shedding counterparts.  Because our low shedding labs carry both possible copies, each pup will receive 1 copy from each parent.  In the example above, 1 from the poodle side, 1 from the lab side.     

4)  Curly Coat

Almost all poodles we've tested carry both copies of the curly coat DNA (CUC).  The curly coat DNA in and of itself does not reduce shedding (in fact, it causes matting when combined with long hair if it goes ungroomed).  For example, Curly coated retrievers shed as much as a typical Labrador Retriever because approximately 95% of labs do not carry copies of the low shedding gene nor any copies of facial furnishings.  However, when curly coat DNA is combined with longer hair, the effect is that when hair that falls out (the follicle receives a termination signal), the hair is caught inside the other curls, thus reducing shedding when combined with a longer coat, but causing tangling and matting too.  The advantage to a wavy coat is little to no matting naturally and so we goal to selectively breed out Curly Coat genetics.

More About Labradoodle Coats:    

Coat Type

All of our F1 pups will either have the Cuc/Cu Coat (Wavy hair outcome probable).  A Cuc/Cu coat expresses itself typically as a curly coat that is usually very low to no shed similar to a standard poodle.  As pups mature, their puppy coat will completely fall out.  By 8-10 months in age (typically), they will have their adult coat in.  It is very difficult to tell in the puppy stage what kind of coat your pup will have as an adult.  Some pups might have a flat coat during the puppy stage, changing into a wavy coat as the pup matures.  In more rare cases, a pup will have a larger (not tight) curly coat as an adult.

Shedding 

Most breeders are blindly producing Labradoodles and cannot reliably know the outcomes of what they are producing.  Thus, almost all F1 Labradoodles on the market will shed except unless the breeder is genetically testing for and selectively breeding for it.  We are the world's first breeder to produce Low Shedding Labs and that's our secret sauce.  Since the time that we started using Low Shed Labs, our Labradoodles either do not shed or shed only very lightly similar to a poodle (you might find dust bunnies in your house).  Our pups will shed the most during the puppy stage.  This is because your pup will lose their puppy coat as their adult coat comes in - usually fully in by 8-10 months in age and are then considered to be a non to light shedder.      

Hypoallergenic

There is no such thing as hypoallergenic.  It's a myth.  With that said, our Labradoodles produce low dander, making them more appropriate for people with allergies.    ​​  

Muzzle Hair & Eyebrows (Facial Furnishings) 

All of our F1 pups will have the F/IC combo achieved in the same regard as their coat types.  This will result in your F1 pup having a proper muzzle & eyebrows.  Just to compare what this signifies, a pure breed Labrador Retriever has no facial furnishings and their DNA is coded IC/IC as a result compared with a Standard Poodle that has Proper Facial Furnishings, thus expressing itself with facial hair on eyebrows and muzzle notated F/F.      

​**Coat types & shedding expectations are not guaranteed.  The information presented is based on DNA analysis only.  Actual coat appearance is likely to vary in appearance vs. what the DNA terminology states or implies.  For example, we have a pure breed Poodle with 2 copies of a curly coat (CUC/CUC) - therefore DNA analysis would classify her coat as having a "curly coat".  In reality, her coat is more of a fleece appearance.   Please note that DNA analysis is still under development and is still being understood by genetic scientists.  All information presented is on a best efforts basis.  Actual appearance & shedding will vary.  We are not genetic scientists or coat experts.     

We are the premier leader in genetic testing:  Employing more genetic testing than any Labradoodle breeder across the nation.  We will continue to strive to understand and employ all of the genetic components to shedding and coat types to improve this designer breed.  Please understand that we can only know and employ what genetic scientists make available

F2 Labradoodle = F1 x F1 = 50/50 Mini / Labrador Retriever Mix  

Even when you mate well bred/carefully selected first generation Labradoodles, F2's can shed a lot more than a well bred F1 (first generation) because you are mixing F/IC x F/IC (facial furnishings & incomplete facial furnishings), resulting in IC/IC (2 sets of incomplete facial furnishings), thus you could have a completely high shedding F2 if the breeder is not breeding with any special low shedding genetics (sd/sd).  Please note, in the example above, we have demonstrated the breeding of 2 well bred F1 Labradoodles.  In reality, most labradoodle breeders are not breeding with any special low shedding genetics (sd/sd). 

F1b Labradoodle= F1 Labradoodle x Standard Poodle = 75/25 Standard Poodle/Labrador Retriever Mix.  ​

Shedding - About 1/2 of F1b Pure Designer Breed Labradoodles will not shed like a Pure Breed Poodle but they'll look like a poodle too.  The other 1/2 will likely shed more like a typical first generation F1 Labradoodle, although it all depends if the breeder identified and selectively bred for non shedding genetics.  You could end up with a poodle look alike that sheds.

F2b Labradoodle  = F1b x Mini Poodle = 87.5/12.5 Mini Poodle/Labrador Retriever Mix Generally F2bs do not shed or very, very minimally, but with only 12.5% Lab in him, we don't see the point for the trade off of having such unpredictable looks and outcomes.  Our stance is why not just buy a pure breed Mini Poodle at this point.  As a result we have ZERO intention to breed F2b Labradoodles.