Get to Know Doodles:
Coat Types

Goldendoodles

Goldendoodles come in a variety of coat colors and types. Textures can be curly, wavy or straight. Some of common colors include cream, apricot, and red. In addition to different coat colors, Goldendoodles can also carry different coat patterns such a parti. In order to be classified as a “parti” a dog must be partially white (at least 50%) and the pattern can accompany any coat color. Some Goldendoodles have just patches of white on their coats and are classified as Abstracts.

Bernedoodles

Bernedoodles come in a variety of colors. The most common include black, white, and tan. If two colors, then they are considered bi-colored. If three colors, they are considered tri-colored. Textures include straight, wavy and curly.

The coat texture descriptions are true for both Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles:

Straight Coat

A straight coat shares most of its characteristics with the Golden Retriever. This relatively short and straight fur is the easiest to maintain, which makes it better for people with less time for brushing. On the downside, the reason for this is often due to there being some shedding with this type. That also means it’s the most likely variety to be reactive for allergy sufferers.

Wavy Coat

A wavy coat is the second-longest coat and requires some grooming, especially around the collar and ears where there typically is more friction. Wavy coats tend to be low to non-shedding and less allergy reactive. This type requires brushing a minimum of once a week, but more might be necessary in high friction areas. The wavy/shaggy coat is usually low to non-shedding, but not always (ex: F1 generation Goldendoodles).

Curly Coat

A curly coat typically requires the most maintenance. Daily grooming is ideal to keep curly coats knot free. On the plus side, this is also the least likely type to shed or create problems for people with allergies. Many Goldendoodle owners consider the need for brushing an acceptable trade-off for the benefits of this coat. Each curl varies greatly on tightness and length depending on their lineage. You can have anything from a loose curl to ones that you’d see from the purebred Standard Poodle. This coat type will need to be brushed daily so you won’t get matting. If you don’t have time for that though, you can always keep the fur cut short. Despite this, however, they almost always never shed.

**Please note that even if a dog doesn’t shed, a person can still be allergic to their dander. Allergies have to do with which proteins a person is allergic to and whether those proteins are produced by the dog or not. The proteins that cause symptoms may be found in skin cells, saliva, or urine, or any combination of the 3. You need to consult an allergy specialist for accurate medical info on your potential for an allergic reaction to dogs.