Why Does My Goldendoodle Have Straight Hair?

If you’re a prospective Goldendoodle owner, you may not have even heard that a straight coat was a possibility on a Goldendoodle, and even if you own a Goldendoodle yourself, this might be news. Is a straight coat even possible on a dog that’s half poodle? The short answer is yes.

The biggest factor in whether or not a Goldendoodle’s coat is straight, wavy, or curly is its genetics. The absence of a gene called Cu locus can cause straight hair on the dog’s coat. It is most likely (though still very rare) for F1 and F2 Goldendoodles to have straight coats.

In this article, we’ll discuss all things straight-coated Goldendoodle, from how to identify them from puppyhood, to how such a coat happens, to the pros and cons of straight hair on your Goldendoodle.

How Does a Goldendoodle get Straight Hair?

A Goldendoodle with straight hair? You may be wondering how that’s even possible. In reality, it’s very simple: genetics. There is a specific gene in dogs that controls curl called Cu locus, also known as the curly coat gene. The absence of this gene in your Goldendoodle will cause a straight coat.

This event is very rare in Goldendoodles, especially with their genes being made up of 50% or more Poodle genes, but it does happen.

How Can I Tell If a Goldendoodle Puppy Will Have A Straight, Curly, or Wavy Coat?

If you want a straight-coated (or curly-coated) Goldendoodle specifically, how are you going to tell which is which? The first thing to know about this is that the coat will not change (or, if it does, change very minimally) from puppyhood to adulthood. So, if a puppy has a straight coat, it will have a straight coat for life.

Another way to tell whether or not a Goldendoodle puppy will have a straight coat is by whether or not it has furnishings. Furnishings are things like eyebrows, mustaches, or beards that are characteristic of wavy or curly hair. If a puppy doesn’t have furnishings, it will have a straight coat.

Similarly, if the hair around its mouth or nose is curly, wavy, or straight, this is how their coat will be for their life.

Which Generation of Goldendoodle Has a Straight Coat?

No specific generation of Goldendoodle will have a straight coat, but there are generations in which one is more likely to find a Goldendoodle with a straight coat.

An F1 (first generation) or F2 (second generation) Goldendoodle is most likely to have a straight coat because these have a 50/50 distribution of Poodle and Golden Retriever genes.

The more Poodle genes in a Goldendoodle, the more likely it is to have curly hair. Similarly, the more Golden Retriever genes in a Goldendoodle, the more likely it is to have straight hair. This is uncommon, however, because people who want a Goldendoodle tend to want a curly-haired Goldendoodle, so Goldendoodles are not bred with Golden Retrievers very often.

F1 Goldendoodles, F2 Goldendoodles, and F3 Goldendoodles have an equal balance between Poodle and Golden Retriever genes. In F2 and F3 Goldendoodles, the parentage is another great way to tell whether or not a Goldendoodle will have a straight coat- if its parents do, that raises the chances of its puppies having straight coats.

Cons of a Flat-Coated Goldendoodle

Sadly, flat-coated Goldendoodles don’t bring all the same perks into a family as curly or wavy-coated Goldendoodles do. First, flat-coated Goldendoodles shed more than curly or wavy-haired Goldendoodles.

This is unsurprising, given a Golden Retriever’s capacity to shed. However, a straight-coated Goldendoodle won’t shed as much as its Golden Retriever counterparts.

One perk of Goldendoodles is that they’re hypoallergenic, like their Poodle counterparts. Unfortunately, straight-coated Goldendoodles are less hypoallergenic, and may still cause allergies in people that are allergic to dogs, so those who are allergic should steer clear of flat-coated Goldendoodles.

Lookswise, those who pick a flat-coated Goldendoodle lose the classic Goldendoodle look. The cute curls and the classic “teddy bear” look caused by those furnishings won’t be there in a flat-coated Goldendoodle.

Pros of a Flat-Coated Goldendoodle

One thing that prospective Goldendoodle owners will hear if they’re looking for a flat-coated Goldendoodle is that it has an “improper coat”. This doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the dog, except for the things aforementioned (shedding and the potential to cause allergies). Though this label sounds bad, it can bring lots of benefits.

First, a straight-coated Goldendoodle will admirably resemble a Golden Retriever, which is said to be one of the cutest dogs out there. It may not have the classic “teddy bear” look, but these guys won’t need that to look absolutely adorable.

Additionally, a Goldendoodle with a flat coat won’t require as much grooming as a regular Goldendoodle. This is because dogs with flat coats are less prone to getting tangles and mats in their coat than curly or wavy-haired dogs. This gives you a little more free time because your dog won’t require as much daily grooming.

You still can’t neglect your flat-coated Goldendoodle’s grooming, but you can relax the smallest bit with the haircuts and brushing.

Another perk of a flat-coated Goldendoodle is that they’ll most likely be a less competitive litter selection, even though they’re so rare. If you’re looking for a straight-coated Goldendoodle (and most people aren’t), whether you have first or last pick of the litter won’t matter.

This will also lend to it being less expensive. Because it has an “improper coat”, breeders may take a couple of hundred dollars off of their price, giving you an adorable clearance puppy.