Straight coats are a topic that keeps coming up more and more. Straight coats genetically have no curl gene on the Cu Locus. Straight coats are very different from improper coats (some people use the term flat coats). Straight coats just leave no curl in the coat. Improper coats have no long hair on their face (No furnishings). For the purposes of this discussion we will assume that these dogs have at least one furnishing gene (Ff or FF), which will give the traditional furnished Goldendoodle look.
The main topic of discussion on straight coats is the natural variation that we see in different breeds that are all FFCuCu or FfCuCu (atleast one furnishing gene and no curl gene).
Here is the example of a Bearded Collie, which is FFCuCu. In the Bearded Collie breed they have full furnishings just like Goldendoodles that are FFCuCu but their coat is almost completely straight with no curl gene.
In contrast here are a bunch of examples of FFCuCu Goldendoodles:
Multigen Goldendoodle Owned by Red Spring Farm, bred by Goldendoodle Acres
Multigen Goldendoodle Owned by Shaw Spring’s Canines
Multigen Goldendoodle Owned by Jacquard Goldendoodles
Multigen Goldendoodles Owned by Beyond Bliss Doodles
Straight Coated Goldendoodles Owned by Farmer Doodles
Straight Coated Goldendoodles Owned by Fox Creek Farm
Straight Coated Goldendoodles Owned by Silver Creek Doodles
Straight Coated Goldendoodle Owned by Suwanee Goldendoodles
Straight Coated Goldendoodle Owned by Goldendoodles by Ellie
Straight Coated Goldendoodles Owned by Cedar Lake Doodles
Straight Coated Goldendoodles Owned by Goldendoodle Acres
As you can see from all these Goldendoodles there is definitely more curl than you see in the Bearded Collie even though genetically they will test out as the same based on the available testing that we have. This tells me that there are obviously more genes that affect curl than the one that we are able to test for now. Until we can test for those genes, we need to rely on the ones that we have now.
There are many respected breeders that are intentionally breeding straight coats together to get less curly coats. Most straight coats in a Goldendoodles look very much like a wavy coat, with many people unable to tell the difference just by looking at them. There are also some that have a more obvious straight coat but as of yet, I have not seen any that have even close to as straight of a coat as the Bearded Collie for example. If you are wanting to not have any curly coats in your Goldendoodles, this is one way to achieve that look. By having at least one parent that is straight coated, so you get all straight coats or wavy coats, but no curly coats.
At the end of the day though this is all in personal preference. There are breeders that want all straight coats, breeders that want all wavy coats and breeders that want all curly coats and then many that love the variety. Straight coats and the variation within them are very interesting and it is a useful tool when it comes to breeding for certain coat types, but is very much a personal preference either way.
It is important to note that many think that curl directly connects with shedding. We see through many different examples in other breeds where there is no shedding but also no curl that this does not seem to be the case. We see many straight coated dogs that do not shed and get low shedding scores when tested. From everything we know at this moment, the Furnishings gene and shedding locus has a much larger affect on shedding.
Kent Family Farms 
Can an fb1 have a straight coat (similar to the straight coat f1) and is it possible for an f1b to shed moderately? I have mild allergies and I am worried if I get an f1b with a straighter coat it will be worse for allergies. Is this true or should all f1b dogs be similar (that is good) for allergies?
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Yes, you can get an F1b with a straight coat and non-furnished coat, while this would be rare, it is possible. I always recommend having the parents tested or the puppy tested for these coat genes to be sure. No dog can be guaranteed for allergies though, as allergies are very individual to the person. All we can do is guide you to the dogs that will be more likely to be good for allergies.
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We have purchased a golden doodle pup or so we thought. I have now been told he is an F1B (a golden doodle back crossed with a golden retriever (25% poodle, 75% retriever. He is 11 weeks old and has not a curl anywhere. Is this truly considered a golden doodle? Everything I read says an F1B is a dolden doodle back crossed with a poodle.
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While this is not the traditional F1b cross, he would still be considered a Goldendoodle, as a Goldendoodle is a cross with a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. He more than likely inherited the improper coat gene (no furnishings gene) from both parents, which comes from the Golden side.
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How common is it for a standard poodle to carry an improper coat gene?
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Not very common, but it can happen. I have seen it most often in Red and Chocolate lines, but it is very rare.
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I’ve had 3 litters of F1b Goldendoodles and have genetic testing for dam/sire. Poodle dad is ++ for curl and ++ for furnishings; F1 mom is +- for curl and +- for furnishings. I seem to get 3 different type of coats though. Curly, wavy and straight. Genetically, I don’t see how that can make sense. Although as you say, there must be more genes involved. Any thoughts?
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The problem is that we are only testing one curl gene because that is all that is available right now. But, I am sure that there are many other genes that affect curl because we see a variety of amounts of curl. There could be several things in play here, but as far as curl goes, you more than likely have wavy coats that are just straighter than normal. Most people cannot tell the difference between a wavy coat and a straight coat visually though, so it is always possible there is something else going on. Is your F1 a straighter coat? Pictures of the F1 could help a bit.
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Absolutely loving the post on Straight Coated Goldendoodles! It’s so nice to see such detailed and informative posts about these adorable pups. Keep up the great work!
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