Understanding Genetics

An allele is one of two or more versions of a gene. A dog, similar to a human, inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent.  

We test our breeding dogs for curl, color, furnishings (incorrect coat) and shedding.  This information enables us to better to predict what kind of coat traits our dogs will produce in their offspring.  

Our focus (& favourite) is the cream to red goldendoodle fleece coat, however color testing ensures that we can predict the colors, expression (agouti), and intensity of color in each litter.

When testing curl,  know that the inheritance is incomplete dominance, which means the two alleles work together. We can predict the coat type in each litter.  -/- represents (straight) which really is a loose wavy coat, -/+ is a  curly/ wavy coat, +/+ is a curly coat.

The SD Locus (Shedding) has been identified as one gene that can impact the degree of shedding in certain breeds of dog. 

Various combinations of genotypes at the SD locus and IC locus can produce intermediate shedding states as indicated on the chart at the bottom. 

The longer hair on the face, including beard, mustache, and eyebrow hair is a result of the furnishing gene. We find this trait desirable and ensure all our puppies will have one furnishing allele  to give them the “doodle look.”   

Goldendoodles only need to have one copy of this dominant gene to have furnishings.  Furnishings are associated with much lower amounts of shedding and a doodle with both furnishing alleles will have the highest rate of non shedding.

A Goldendoodle that carries two copies or 'is affected' with IC will not have furnishings. The Furnishing allele is dominant, so you only need one to give us the fluffy, scruffy face of the traditional Goldendoodle.

An IC affected coat looks more typical of a golden retriever coat. The facial hair will be very short and the body hair will be a diluted version of the curl locus and usually shed moderate to heavy.  

All of our dogs are tested for IC.  A dog that just carries the IC allele, will still look like a Goldendoodle but may shed moderately. However, with DNA testing, we are able to avoid breeding two IC carriers together that would result in some of the puppies being affected. 

All our breeding dogs undergo a complete eye exam on a biennial schedule by a certified canine ophthalmologist. These results are registered with OFA and can be located in their data base.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals was founded in 1966. Their initial mission was to provide radiographic evaluation, data management and genetic counselling for canine hip dysplasia. The OFA still maintains a database for hip dysplasia but now also maintains databases on many other genetic disorders, such as elbow, patella, cardiac, eyes and congenital deafness. All our breeding dogs will have their hips, elbows, eyes, and cardiac tested and approved through OFA. If a breeding dog is under 20", patellas will be rated through OFA as well.

Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) is the first and only breed club established for the Goldendoodle. We just love this website! When we discovered GANA, we were so thrilled to have a standard description of the Goldendoodle breed and to have detailed levels of the testing recommended. As a breeder mentor, I always refer to this site for upcoming goldendoodle breeders. It is a wealth of knowledge and there is a communication board with the most current scientific discoveries on genetic disorders. I am proud to be a registered breeder with GANA! ALL my breeding dogs are tested to the highest level (blue ribbon status) achieved within GANA.