Bernedoodle Generations: F1, F1B, Reverse F1B, F2 & Multigen Explained
What is an F1B Bernedoodle? How is it different from an F1 or Multigen? Bernedoodle generation labels describe the breeding structure behind a puppy and the resulting ratio of Bernese Mountain Dog to Poodle genetics. That ratio influences coat type, shedding, temperament, and the genetic diversity of the cross, which is measured by Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI). This guide explains every generation, the genetics behind coat outcomes, and how Stokeshire uses COI when planning each pairing.
Bernedoodle Generation Comparison
Each generation label describes how much Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle genetics a Bernedoodle carries, and how far removed it is from purebred ancestors. This ratio is the single most important predictor of coat type and shedding behavior, and it also affects the genetic diversity of the cross.
| Generation | Cross | Genetic Ratio | Coat Expectation | Shedding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Bernese × Poodle | 50% / 50% | Wavy to slightly curly; variable | Low to moderate |
| F1B | F1 × Poodle | ~25% Bernese / 75% Poodle | Curlier; more consistent furnishings | Very low |
| Reverse F1B | F1 × Bernese | ~75% Bernese / 25% Poodle | Straight to wavy; Bernese-dominant look | Moderate to high |
| F2 | F1 × F1 | ~50% / 50% (recombined) | Highly variable; unfurnished possible | Variable, RSPO2-dependent |
| F2B | F2 × Poodle | ~62.5% Poodle / 37.5% Bernese | Wavy to curly; more stable than F2 | Low |
| F3 | F2 × F2 | ~50% / 50% (further recombined) | Variable; stabilizing through selection | Low to moderate |
| Multigen | Multiple generations | Varies, selectively bred | Most consistent wavy or curly | Very low |
Generation labels describe breeding structure. They do not guarantee specific outcomes in any individual puppy. The only way to predict coat type with confidence is genetic testing of both parents (RSPO2, KRT71, MC5R, FGF5) before the pairing. Stokeshire confirms all four loci on every breeding dog. No generation or coat guarantees an allergy outcome.
Hybrid Vigor and COI: What Crossing Can and Cannot Change
Hybrid vigor (the scientific term is heterosis) describes what crossing unrelated lines does at the genetic level. A puppy's two copies of each gene come from different ancestral populations, so it is less likely to inherit two copies of the same recessive variant. Crossing distinct breed lines can increase genetic diversity and may reduce the likelihood that some recessive inherited conditions are expressed. It does not eliminate genetic disease or the health considerations present in the parent breeds.
The measurable side of that diversity is the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI): the probability that a dog's two copies of a gene come from a common ancestor. Lower COI means more genetic diversity. Embark and similar panels calculate COI directly from genotype data. Every Stokeshire breeding dog is genetically tested through Embark, and COI is part of our pairing decisions, alongside breed-appropriate health screening.
What about the 2024 Royal Veterinary College study?
A 2024 Royal Veterinary College study by Bryson, O'Neill, and Packer is often cited as evidence that crossbreed dogs are not healthier than purebreds. It surveyed 9,402 UK owners of Labradoodles, Cockapoos, and Cavapoos and their parent breeds, and in most comparisons across 57 common conditions, the risk did not differ between the crosses and their parent breeds. That is a real finding, and its scope matters.
The study used owner-reported data, not clinical records. It examined the most common conditions, not the most serious ones. It did not include Bernedoodles, and it did not measure coefficient of inbreeding or lifespan.
The honest reading: across common conditions in three Poodle crosses, owner reports did not show a population-level health advantage for the crosses. That fits how Stokeshire describes crossing. It can increase genetic diversity, but a generation label is not a health result, which is why every pairing is planned around parent health screening.
Why this matters for the Bernedoodle you take home
A generation label does not tell you how a puppy was bred. What matters is whether both parents are health-screened, whether recessive disease variants are tested before the pairing, and whether the program keeps COI in view, including avoiding the trap of multigenerational lines that drift toward inbreeding within their own pedigree.
Stokeshire tracks lineage diversity across generations and outcrosses when a line begins to show reduced diversity. Stokeshire is a Good Dog Certified breeder: our program has completed Good Dog's breeder screening process and meets its community standards for responsible breeding practices.
Each Bernedoodle Generation Explained
F1 Bernedoodle
A direct cross between a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog and a purebred Poodle. F1 Bernedoodles typically carry the lowest Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) of any generation, because the two parents come from unrelated breeds. That genetic diversity is what hybrid vigor describes; it does not guarantee health on its own.
Coat outcomes in F1 litters are the most variable. Puppies may range from wavy to slightly curly, with shedding levels from low to moderate. Furnishings depend on whether the Poodle parent carries one or two copies of the RSPO2 gene. Most F1 puppies will be at least heterozygous (Ff) and furnished, but coat curl and shedding intensity vary between siblings in the same litter.
Good fit for: Families prioritizing genetic diversity and the lowest possible COI in their dog, who accept coat variability as the trade-off.
F1B Bernedoodle
Produced by breeding an F1 Bernedoodle back to a purebred Poodle. The B stands for backcross. This increases the Poodle genetic contribution to approximately 75 percent, which significantly stabilizes the curly, lower-shedding coat trait. F1B litters produce more consistently furnished coats than F1 litters.
The higher Poodle percentage means the Bernese temperament influence is somewhat diluted. F1B Bernedoodles may be slightly more energetic and less heavy in their calm-indoors temperament compared to F1s. The Bernese gentleness and people-orientation remain present in well-bred lines.
F1B COI is slightly higher than F1 because the backcross reintroduces Poodle ancestry on both sides of the pedigree, but in well-managed programs it remains well below purebred levels.
Good fit for: Families who prioritize coat predictability and low shedding.
Reverse F1B Bernedoodle
Produced by breeding an F1 Bernedoodle back to a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. This increases the Bernese contribution to approximately 75 percent, creating a dog that leans heavily toward the Bernese in appearance, temperament, and coat structure.
Reverse F1B Bernedoodles tend to have straighter coats that shed more. They look and feel more like a Bernese than a doodle. Some may retain wavy texture from the Poodle grandparent, but furnished, curly coats are uncommon in this generation.
A Bernedoodle expected to be more than half Bernese, such as a Reverse F1B, is often called an Ultra. Ultra describes ancestry, not size: Ultras from full-size lines often finish Standard, sometimes above 90 lb, and our Mini Ultras start with smaller Bernese and are planned to finish under 50 lb. At Stokeshire, Ultras come from Reverse F1B crosses or from multigenerational Bernedoodles bred back to our Bernese dams, and we do not breed for maximum size. Size classes follow the Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard.
Good fit for: Families who love the Bernese look and temperament and are comfortable with a shedding coat.
F2 Bernedoodle
Produced by crossing two F1 Bernedoodles. The overall genetic ratio remains approximately 50/50, but the recombination of genes from two hybrid parents produces the widest variability of any generation. Coat texture, curl, shedding level, and size can vary significantly within a single F2 litter.
The critical concern in F2 litters is the unfurnished trait. If both F1 parents carry only one copy of the RSPO2 furnishings gene (Ff), approximately 25 percent of their offspring may be homozygous recessive (ff). Unfurnished puppies lack the characteristic doodle facial hair and shed more like a purebred Bernese. RSPO2 testing of both parents before any F2 pairing is essential, and it is non-negotiable in the Stokeshire program.
F2 COI can creep up if the two F1 parents share recent common ancestry, which is one reason Stokeshire monitors lineage on both sides before approving an F2 pairing.
Good fit for: Families comfortable with unpredictable outcomes in coat and size.
F2B Bernedoodle
Produced by breeding an F2 Bernedoodle back to a Poodle. This reintroduces Poodle coat genetics after the variability of the F2 generation, resulting in more stable wavy-to-curly coats with lower shedding than F2 litters. The Poodle percentage is intermediate between F1 and F1B levels.
F2B Bernedoodles offer a compromise: more coat predictability than F2 crosses while retaining a slightly higher Bernese influence than F1B crosses. Temperament tends to balance well between both parent breeds.
Good fit for: Families wanting more predictable coats than F2 without the full 75 percent Poodle concentration of an F1B.
Multigen Bernedoodle
Multigenerational Bernedoodles represent the breed's maturation. These dogs are produced by crossing Bernedoodles with other Bernedoodles (or with Poodles) across three or more generations, with breeders selectively choosing parents that produce consistent coat type, size, temperament, and health outcomes.
In well-managed Multigen programs, coat predictability is the highest of any generation. Breeders who RSPO2-test and select for homozygous furnished (FF) status can produce litters where virtually every puppy carries the furnished, lower-shedding coat. Temperament and size also stabilize as breeders select across generations for the traits families value most.
The trap in Multigen programs is COI drift. Breeders who pair too closely within their own Multigen lines lose the genetic diversity that justified the cross in the first place. Stokeshire monitors COI across generations and outcrosses strategically when a line begins to show reduced diversity. Multigen done well preserves the genetic diversity of the original cross. Multigen done poorly recreates the inbreeding the original cross was meant to avoid.
Good fit for: Families who prioritize predictability in coat, size, and temperament, including therapy and service work candidates.
Why Generation Affects Coat: The Genetics
Generation labels are shorthand for genetic ratios. The actual drivers of coat outcomes are the specific genes each parent contributes. Four loci determine whether a Bernedoodle will have a curly low-shedding coat or a straight shedding coat. Understanding these genes explains why two F1 Bernedoodles from different programs can produce dramatically different coats.
Controls facial furnishings (beard, eyebrows, moustache). FF (two copies) = fully furnished. Ff (one copy) = furnished but carries unfurnished. ff = unfurnished, sheds like a Bernese. This is the gene that determines whether a doodle looks like a doodle.
Determines coat curl tightness. Two copies = curly. One copy = wavy. Zero = straight. F1B and Multigen litters typically carry more curl copies from the increased Poodle genetics.
Influences hair growth cycle turnover. Poodles carry the low-shedding variant. Higher Poodle percentage (F1B, Multigen) means a higher probability of inheriting this variant. Shedding is multigenic, so no single gene is a guarantee.
Controls overall coat length. Most furnished Bernedoodles carry the long-coat variant through Poodle lineage. Short-coat variants produce noticeably shorter hair regardless of curl or furnishings.
RSPO2 Inheritance by Generation
The furnishings gene is the most consequential locus for families choosing between generations. Here is how RSPO2 inheritance typically plays out:
| Generation | Typical Poodle Parent RSPO2 | Typical Offspring RSPO2 | Unfurnished Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | FF (purebred Poodle) | Ff (one copy, furnished but carrier) | None in this litter, but offspring carry one copy |
| F1B | FF (purebred Poodle) | FF or Ff, high furnishing consistency | Very low. Poodle contributes at least one F copy |
| F2 (Ff × Ff) | N/A. Both parents are F1 | ~25% FF, ~50% Ff, ~25% ff | ~25% of litter may be unfurnished |
| Multigen | Varies, selected for FF | FF or Ff, stabilized through selection | Minimal in tested programs |
| Reverse F1B | N/A. Bernese parent is ff | Ff at best, many will be ff | High. Most lean unfurnished |
This is why F2 litters can produce surprise unfurnished puppies, and why responsible breeders test both parents for RSPO2 before any F2 or Multigen pairing. At Stokeshire, every breeding dog is Embark-tested for coat genetics before inclusion in the program. We do not make pairings without confirmed RSPO2, KRT71, MC5R, and FGF5 status on both parents.
→ Full coat genetics guide: RSPO2, KRT71, and MC5R explained in depth with genotype outcome tables
Which Bernedoodle Generation Is Right for Your Family?
The right generation depends on three factors: how much shedding your home can live with, your coat preference, and how much predictability you need in the outcome. COI considerations are best discussed with the breeder for the specific pairing in question, since they vary by individual lineage. No generation guarantees an allergy outcome; if allergies are a concern, talk with your physician before choosing a dog.
| Your Priority | Good Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest COI, maximum genetic diversity | F1 | Widest genetic distance between parents. Lowest homozygosity at disease loci. Variable coat is the trade-off. |
| Lowest-shedding coat | F1B or Multigen | 75% or more Poodle genetics stabilize curly, furnished, low-shedding coat outcomes. |
| Bernese look and temperament | Reverse F1B | About 75% Bernese in appearance and temperament, with more genetic diversity than a purebred Bernese pairing. Shedding coat. |
| Most predictable outcomes | Multigen | Multiple generations of selection stabilize coat, size, and temperament when COI is actively managed. |
| Therapy or service work candidate | F1B or Multigen | Consistent temperament and low-shedding coat are the priorities for clinical environments. |
| Budget-conscious | F1 or F2 | Sometimes lower-priced due to coat variability. Excellent dogs. Coat predictability is the trade-off. |
We produce F1, F1B, and Multigen Bernedoodle litters, with primary focus on F1B and Multigen lines for their coat consistency. Our F1 litters serve families who prioritize the lowest possible COI and are comfortable with coat variability. We produce Reverse F1B and other Ultra crosses selectively for families who want a strong Bernese presence. Every pairing is informed by full Embark genetic panels on both parents, including coat genetics (RSPO2, KRT71, MC5R, FGF5) and COI calculation, so we can estimate coat outcomes and keep genetic diversity in view. Stokeshire is a Good Dog Certified breeder.
Common Misconceptions About Bernedoodle Generations
"F1B is always better than F1"
Not necessarily. F1B gives more coat predictability and lower shedding. F1 typically carries the lowest Coefficient of Inbreeding of any generation. Neither is universally superior. They serve different families. An F1 Bernedoodle with a wavy coat from health-tested parents may be a stronger health prospect than an F1B from untested parents. Generation is one factor among several.
"Higher generation number means higher quality"
Generation number describes breeding structure, not quality. An F3 Bernedoodle is not inherently better than an F1. It is further from purebred ancestors, which means more opportunities for selective stabilization but also more potential for COI drift if the program is not carefully managed. Quality is determined by health testing, COI management, temperament evaluation, and breeding decisions. Not by generation label.
"Hybrid vigor is a myth"
It is neither a myth nor a promise. Crossing distinct breed lines can increase genetic diversity and may reduce the likelihood that some recessive inherited conditions are expressed. It does not eliminate genetic disease or the health considerations present in the parent breeds. The 2024 Royal Veterinary College study found that, for most common owner-reported conditions, three Poodle crosses did not differ from their parent breeds; it did not include Bernedoodles or measure COI. A generation label alone delivers nothing. Parent health screening, recessive disease testing, and COI review are what count.
"All F1 Bernedoodles are low-shedding"
F1 Bernedoodles are among the most variable in coat outcomes. Some will have low-shedding wavy coats; others may shed more substantially. No dog is allergen-free, and no generation guarantees an allergy outcome. If allergies are a concern, talk with your physician and spend time with an adult dog of the same generation before committing. Stokeshire does not guarantee allergy compatibility for any dog regardless of generation.
"Unfurnished Bernedoodles are defective"
Unfurnished Bernedoodles are genetically normal dogs that did not inherit the RSPO2 furnishings gene. The unfurnished coat is not a health problem, and unfurnished Bernedoodles make wonderful companions. They simply have a Bernese-like coat that sheds more than a furnished doodle. The term unfurnished describes a coat genotype, not a flaw. For families who do not have allergy concerns and prefer a more natural appearance with less grooming demand, unfurnished Bernedoodles may actually be a better fit. Stokeshire breeds intentional unfurnished lines and does not market them as defective or discount them.
→ Learn more about unfurnished doodles: what they are, why they exist, and who they fit
Bernedoodle Generation FAQs
What is an F1 Bernedoodle?
What is an F1B Bernedoodle?
What is a Reverse F1B Bernedoodle?
What is a Multigen Bernedoodle?
Which Bernedoodle generation is best for allergies?
Can F2 Bernedoodle litters produce unfurnished puppies?
Does generation affect Bernedoodle temperament?
Does generation guarantee a healthier Bernedoodle?
What does the RSPO2 furnishings gene mean for my Bernedoodle?
What is COI and why does Stokeshire talk about it?
