How Do You Tell If Your Goldendoodle Puppy Will Have Furnishings?

When it comes to crossbreeds like Goldendoodles, which are a mix between Golden Retrievers and Poodles, it can be challenging for owners to predict what the puppies will look like or get the coat type they desire.

Some Goldendoodles might carry the gene responsible for facial furnishings which gives them their signature fluffy coats, while other Goldendoodles might end up carrying the improper coat gene which gives them flat coats.

It all comes down to the dog’s genetics and which parent breed it will take after the most.

So, how do you tell if your Goldendoodle puppy will have furnishings? To tell if your Goldendoodle puppy will have furnishing, you need to genetically test the dog’s parents to determine if they’re carrying the gene responsible for furnishings. It’s more common for first-generation Goldendoodles to carry the furnishing gene than second or third-generation Goldendoodles.

Keep reading to learn more about what furnishings are and why some Goldendoodles have them as well as how to groom your Goldendoodle’s furnishings.

What Are Goldendoodle Furnishings?

The term “furnishings” is used to refer to the longer hairs on the Goldendoodle’s face including their eyebrows, mustache, and beard.

Furnishings are highly desirable and they’re considered a breed standard for Goldendoodles as they give them their signature fluffy teddy-bear look.

The term “open face” on the other hand, is used to refer to Goldendoodles with no furnishings.

Even though the open face look is considered a breed standard for golden retrievers, it is considered an improper coat or an incorrect in Goldendoodles.

Why Do Goldendoodles Have Furnishings?

Furnishings in Goldendoodles are a result of a dominant gene called RSPO2 (or IC Locus) which they get from their Poodle parent’s side.

Since the furnishing gene is dominant, most Goldendoodles will have furnishings. However, it’s not uncommon to see some Goldendoodles without furnishings, especially in second or third generations.

Let’s take a quick look at how the breeding process works:

Poodles carry two of the dominant furnishing gene (FF), while Golden Retrievers carry two of the recessive non-furnishing gene (ff).

When breeding first-generation (F1) Goldendoodles, the puppies will inherit one gene from each parent which means they will almost always have furnishings.

When it comes to breeding second-generation (F2) Goldendoodles, the results can be a little more unpredictable.

If one or both parents carry the dominant gene (FF), then the puppies will have furnishings.

However, if both parents carry the recessive gene (ff), then the puppies won’t have furnishings. You can learn more about how the breeding of Goldendoodles works in my article on the best Goldendoodles for allergies here.

How to Ensure Your Goldendoodle Puppies Will Have Furnishings?

Breeding mixed breeds like Goldendoodles can generally give unpredictable results as the puppies will usually take more after one parent than the other.

So, the most effective way for Goldendoodle breeders and owners to ensure that their puppies will have the desired furnishings is to genetically test the parent dogs before breeding new litters.

The results of the test will help you determine what genes the parents are carrying and the chances of them producing a litter of puppies with furnishings.

So, if the goal is to breed puppies with furnishings, you need to make sure the Poodle parent is carrying two of the dominant furnishing gene (FF).

At What Age Do Goldendoodles Start to Grow Their Furnishings?

At birth, a Goldendoodle puppy will not have any signs of furnishings. It will also be impossible to tell the kind of coat the dog will have as it grows older. 

After a few weeks, the dog will start growing its facial furnishings as well as its puppy coat which it will shed later on before growing its final adult coat.

What Are the Advantages of Goldendoodles Having Furnishing?

The main advantage of Goldendoodles having furnishings is that they give the signature fluffy teddy-bear look that’s considered a significant feature of the breed’s standard.

Some breeders can also determine the kind of coat the Goldendoodle will have based on the presence of furnishings.

If the Goldendoodle has furnishings that resemble a mustache or a beard, then it’s likely to have a curlier coat. However, if the dog has no furnishings, then it’s likely to have a straight or flat coat.

This doesn’t mean that Goldendoodles with furnishings are better than those without. There are various owners who prefer Goldendoodle not to have furnishings as they are don not require a lot of effort to groom and they’re closer in appearance to purebred Golden Retrievers.

How to Groom Your Goldendoodle’s Furnishings?

It’s very important to groom your Goldendoodle’s furnishings to prevent the hair on its face prevent it from getting severely tangled or accumulating any dirt.

Here are some tips you can follow to groom your Goldendoodle’s furnishings:

• Regularly clean your dog’s face using a wet cloth or dog-friendly wet wipes. Make sure to pay attention to the areas around the eyes and mouth.
• Brush your dog’s face one small section at a time to remove any tangles or loose hair. Make sure to use a fine-tooth metal comb and a bristle brush.
• Try not to tug or press down too hard while brushing as the areas around the eyes and mouth are very sensitive and you might accidentally hurt your dog.
• To trim the hair on the dog’s cheeks, you need to use an electric clipper with a 1-inch (2.5 cm) attachment. Make two swipes down each cheek and make sure to go slowly so you wouldn’t scare your dog or accidentally hurt it.
• To trim the hair above your dog’s eyes and around its mouth, you need to use blunt-end scissors instead of clippers.
• Make sure that the hair above your dog’s eyes is no longer than 1-inch long (2.5 cm) and the hair around its mouth no longer than a quarter of an inch in length (.6 cm).
• Avoid trimming your dog’s whiskers as many believe that this will interfere with the dog’s ability to navigate its surroundings.

Related Questions

Do Goldendoodle with Furnishings Shed More?

Goldendoodles with furnishings do not shed more. Furnishings are usually an indicator that the Goldendoodle will grow wavy or curly coats which are known to shed less compared to straight coats. However, wavy and curly coats require more effort to groom as they’re prone to tangling and matting.

What Are the Main Kinds of Goldendoodle Coats?

The main kinds of Goldendoodle coats are wavy, curly, or straight.  As puppies Goldendoodles have smooth flat coats. When they get older, they will shed their puppy coats and grow their final adult coats. The kind of coat the Goldendoodle will grow mainly depends on the dog’s genetics.

When Do Goldendoodle Shed Their Puppy Coats?

Goldendoodle shed their puppy coats when they’re at about 6 to 8 months of age. After that, they will grow their final adult coat which can vary in texture depending on the dog’s genetics. The dog’s adult coat will also be a lot denser and stiffer compared to the puppy coat.

How Often Do You Need to Brush Your Goldendoodle’s Coat?

You need to brush your Goldendoodle’s coat at least once a week in order to keep it in good shape. Keep in mind that the frequency of the brushing will mainly depend on the kind of coat your Goldendoodle has. Dogs with longer, curlier coats need to be brushed more often than dogs with short, straight coats.

Helpful Resources 

Furnishings and Improper Coat – UC Davis

Canine Hair Furnishings – Animal Genetics

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