Can a Goldendoodle Have Straight Hair?

Most Goldendoodles are known for their curly hair that will not shed and make a big mess all around the home. When you are looking to add a dog to your family though, you may wonder whether you can always get a Goldendoodle with curly hair or if it is possible to find one that has straight hair.

Your Goldendoodle can have straight hair, though this is not common. The more of the Golden Retriever that is present inside of the Goldendoodle, the straighter the hair is likely to be.

Most owners like curly hair and so most will be cross-bred with a Poodle. There can be ones that come with straight hair even in this mixture. If you prefer straight hair, then you should consider getting the Goldendoodle mixed with a Golden Retriever instead.

Let’s take a closer look at the Goldendoodle and look at how they get their curly hair. We can then explore a bit more to see how likely it is that the dog will end up with straight hair.

Can My Goldendoodle Have Straight Hair?

It is possible for your Goldendoodle to have straight hair, but it depends on the generation they are and what amount of Poodle is in them. The first generation and the first generation backcross dogs will have curly hair.

The latter is likely to have the most curly out of all of these. As long as you get a puppy who is bread in this manner, it is unlikely that they will have straight hair, though it does happen on occasion.

However, the further you get away from the Poodle in the dog, the straighter the hair is going to become. A second generation Goldendoodle is most likely to have the flat hair. If the dog is not back crossed bred with a Poodle, then their hair is going to turn more into the Golden Retriever hair.

Since Goldendoodles are prized for the curly hair and all of the hypoallergenic properties they bring to the table, it is unlikely that they will not be back cross bred at some point.

If you decide that you want a Goldendoodle who has straight hair, then you need to work to add more of the Golden Retriever to the mix rather than the Poodle. Just be aware that if you are breeding these to sell, they are not going to be as popular and you will find fewer customers because they like the look here.

Recommended Article: How to tell if your Goldendoodle Will Be Curly Or Not!

How Do I Get the Curly Hair in a Goldendoodle?

To get the curly hair, you need to make sure that you are getting the right generation for the Goldendoodle. Some examples of some of the most popular generations of Goldendoodles and the percentage they should have of each parent in their genetics include:

• F1 Goldendoodle: This is half of each parent and has curly hair.
• F1B: This is 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever. They can have hair that is curly or wavy.
• F1BB Goldendoodle: This will have 87.5% Poodle in then and they have a coat that is often curly.
• F2 Goldendoodle: This one will also have half of each parent inside.
• F2B Goldendoodle: This will have 62.5% Poodle in them and they will have wavy and curly hair.
• F2BB Goldendoodle: These will have 81.25% of the Poodle in them and can give you a dog that has curly hair.
• F3 Goldendoodle: This will result in a few generations of the Goldendoodle that can lead back cross-breeding to the standard Poodle as well and the coats often end up curly or wavy.

If you want to get a Goldendoodle that has straighter hair, it is best to go for a dog that has a minimum of 50% Golden Retriever in them. This will increase your chances. 

You can also look for a breeder who has done a back cross to the Golden Retriever. This is possible to do, but it is pretty rare and you may need to do it on your own.

What Will Cause My Goldendoodle to Have Straight Hair?

There are a number of factors that will determine whether the dog has curly, wavy, or straight hair. It is sometimes hard to predict this and you could end up with two dogs from the same liter that get different characteristics.

Some of the things to consider when it comes to figuring out if this dog will have straight or curly hair includes:

Natural Variation?

A Goldendoodle is known as a designer dog because they are a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. There is going to be some kind of variation with any dog breed, even when they are a purebred dog.

However, it can be even more difficult to predict which physical traits will show up when you decide to cross together two different breeds rather than just one.

This is why we will see some variation between the different Goldendoodles. Some are more likely to have the curly coat that comes from the Poodle, some may have more of the wavy coat and some end up with straight hair like the Golden Retriever.

It is even possible for two puppies out of the same generation to end up with different traits. While some things will make the curly hair more likely, it is not always a guarantee.

The Breeding

The way that the dog is bred will help to determine how curly the hair is. The more of the Poodle gene that is present, the more likely that the dog will have the curly coat that we all know and love on this breed.

For the first generation, there is one Poodle parent and one Golden Retriever parent. This means that their genetic material will come half from each side and they are more likely to have the curly hair too.

Then there is the F1b, or the first generation backcross. This is when the Goldendoodle has one parent who was the first generation from above, and then a Poodle parent. This means that the puppy is going to be 25% Golden Retriever and 75% Poodle.

These are the dogs that have the unique curly hair and are the ones we picture when we think about a Goldendoodle. They are the most popular option because they have the curly coat that is not likely to shed.

Time

It is possible that the coat of your Goldendoodle will change over time. For example, some will get curlier hair and others will get the straight hair as they get older. You may also see other differences in their hair like the markings showing up more or fading and even the color changing a little bit.

While it would be nice to know, it is difficult to make accurate predictions on how the Goldendoodle will look as they get older. However, with the help of consistent breeding practices, you are able to remove some of that uncertainty and help your Goldendoodle to look amazing all the time.

Can I Test for a Goldendoodle with Straight Hair?

It is possible to do some genetic testing of your Goldendoodle to see if they have the gene for straight hair. Genetic testing will be done on the Cu locus gene, which is also the KRT71 gene.

This will let you know more about whether the Goldendoodle will have a curly coat, wavy coat, or a straight coat. Since these Goldendoodles are most likely to be multiple generations of their parents, typically back bred with a standard poodle, it is more likely that they will have a wavy coat or, at the very least, have the recessive Cu Locus gene.

If this is something that you would like to have done, it is a good idea to discuss it with your vet. They can help you get a reliable DNA test of the dog to see what coat type they will have.

In general, it is used to tell you whether the Goldendoodle will have a straight coat or a curly coat based on how their coat is as a puppy. Keep in mind that the Goldendoodle litters will often have a mixture of the different types of coats. Once the puppy gets their coat in, they will most likely keep it that way as an adult.

Understanding the Hair Type of Your Goldendoodle

As a mixture between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever, your Goldendoodle is likely to get some of the traits of both parents. The amount that show up in each will depend on the individual dog and it is not uncommon for puppies in the same litter to have different coats than one another.

If one dog tends to have straighter hair than the others, it is likely because they have more of the Golden Retriever in them than the Poodle. Back cross breeding them is a good way to deal with this and help your Goldendoodle have the curly coat that so many owners seem to like.