Bernedoodle Generations Explained
Terms like F1, F1b, F2, and Multigen describe the generations used in a Bernedoodle pairing. These labels can help explain ancestry, but they do not tell the whole story about a puppy’s coat, shedding, temperament, health, or overall quality. At O’Hearon’s Amazing Puppies, we look at the individual dogs and genetics behind each pairing rather than relying on generation labels alone.
What Do Bernedoodle Generation Labels Mean?
Bernedoodle generation labels describe how Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle ancestry are combined in a particular pairing. They are useful shorthand, but they should not be treated as a guarantee of coat type, shedding, temperament, or adult appearance. Those traits are influenced by the individual parents and the genetics each puppy inherits.
F1
Typical ancestry: Bernese Mountain Dog × Poodle
An F1 Bernedoodle comes from breeding a Bernese Mountain Dog to a Poodle. These puppies are approximately 50% Bernese and 50% Poodle by ancestry, though individual traits can vary.
F1bb
Typical ancestry: F1b Bernedoodle × Poodle
An F1bb is usually produced by breeding an F1b Bernedoodle back to a Poodle again. These puppies generally have stronger Poodle influence and are often bred with coat predictability and lower shedding traits in mind.
F2b
Typical ancestry: Second generation backcross
F2b is commonly used for a second generation Bernedoodle that has been backcrossed, often toward Poodle. Because breeders may use this label differently, the actual parents and genetics matter more than the name alone.
Multigen
Typical ancestry: Bernedoodle × Bernedoodle
Multigen Bernedoodles come from established Bernedoodle lines rather than a first generation cross. Thoughtful multigen pairings can allow breeders to select more intentionally for size, coat, structure, temperament, and other traits.
F1b
Typical ancestry: F1 Bernedoodle × Poodle
An F1b is usually produced by breeding an F1 Bernedoodle back to a Poodle. This often increases Poodle influence and may increase the likelihood of curlier, lower shedding coats.
F2
Typical ancestry: F1 Bernedoodle × F1 Bernedoodle
An F2 is generally produced by breeding two F1 Bernedoodles. Coat, shedding, color, and appearance can vary considerably within these litters.
F2bb
Typical ancestry: F2b Bernedoodle × Poodle
An F2bb is generally another backcross toward Poodle from a second generation Bernedoodle line. Because generation terminology can vary between breeders, the actual parent dogs and genetic testing are more informative than the label alone.
Ultra Bernedoodle
OAP: Bernese Mountain Dog × Bernedoodle
At OAP, an Ultra Bernedoodle pairing combines a Bernese Mountain Dog with a Bernedoodle to increase Bernese influence while retaining desirable Poodle derived coat and companion traits.
Generation Does Not Tell the Whole Story
Two Bernedoodles with the same generation label can still look, shed, and behave very differently. Coat traits, furnishings, color, shedding level, size, structure, and temperament are influenced by the specific dogs in the pairing and the genes each puppy inherits. That is why we look beyond labels when planning OAP litters.
How Generation Can Affect Coat and Shedding
Higher Poodle ancestry can increase the likelihood of curlier and lower shedding coats, but generation alone cannot guarantee coat type or shedding level. Genetic testing for furnishings, shedding, and coat traits gives breeders more useful information than simply relying on an F1, F1b, or Multigen label.
How OAP Chooses a Pairing
At O’Hearon’s Amazing Puppies, we consider health testing, genetics, temperament, structure, coat traits, expected size, pedigree, and the strengths of the individual dogs before planning a litter. Generation is one piece of information, not the deciding factor.
Learn more about our health testing and genetics
Which Bernedoodle Generation Is Best?
There is no single “best” Bernedoodle generation. The right fit depends on the individual puppy, the parent dogs, coat and shedding goals, expected size, temperament, and what matters most to the family. We prefer to evaluate each pairing and puppy on its own merits rather than ranking generations.
What Generations Does OAP Produce?
O’Hearon’s Amazing Puppies works with different Bernedoodle generations depending on the goals of the pairing. Our program includes first generation, multigenerational, and Ultra Bernedoodle pairings, with each litter planned around health, temperament, structure, coat traits, and predictable genetics.
Bernedoodle Generations FAQ
Does a higher Poodle percentage always mean less shedding?
Not necessarily. Higher Poodle ancestry can increase the likelihood of lower shedding, but shedding is influenced by specific coat genes rather than percentage alone. Furnishings, shedding genes, coat type, and the individual genetics of the parents provide more useful information than generation label by itself.
Is an F1 Bernedoodle better than a Multigen Bernedoodle?
No generation is automatically better than another. F1 and Multigen Bernedoodles can both make wonderful companions. The quality of the individual dogs, health testing, temperament, structure, and the goals of the pairing matter more than the label alone.
Can puppies in the same generation have different coats?
Yes. Puppies from the same litter can inherit different combinations of coat traits, which can affect curl, wave, furnishings, and shedding. This is one reason we evaluate genetics and individual puppies rather than relying only on generation terminology.
Why does OAP use different generations?
Different generations can help us work toward different breeding goals. Depending on the pairing, we may be focusing on size, coat predictability, structure, temperament, Bernese influence, or other traits. We choose the generation that best fits the goals of that specific litter rather than using one generation for every pairing.
Generation labels are helpful, but they are only one part of understanding a Bernedoodle. The parent dogs, health testing, genetics, temperament, structure, coat traits, and expected adult size all provide important context when choosing a puppy.