The moment you start comparing Bernedoodle breeders, the letters show up. F1, F1B, multigen. Every website seems to assume you already know what they mean, and most first-time buyers quietly nod along while feeling more confused with every page. If that is where you are, take a breath. Bernedoodle generations are genuinely simple once someone lays them out plainly, and by the end of this post you will be able to read any breeder’s litter announcement and know exactly what you are looking at.
How Bernedoodle generations work
Every Bernedoodle traces back to two purebred parents: the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. The Bernese brings the gentle, devoted, tri-colored side of the equation, and the American Kennel Club describes the breed’s calm, good-natured temperament well on the AKC Bernese Mountain Dog page. The Poodle brings intelligence, playfulness, and the low-shedding coat that made doodles famous.
The generation label simply tells you how a puppy’s ancestry combines those two breeds. The F stands for filial, the scientific term for offspring, and the number tells you how many generations removed the puppy is from that original cross. A B means a generation was bred back to a purebred Poodle. That is the entire code.
F1 Bernedoodle
An F1 Bernedoodle has one purebred Bernese Mountain Dog parent and one purebred Poodle parent, making the puppies roughly 50 percent of each. F1 litters show the widest natural variety: coats can range from straight to wavy, and shedding can vary from puppy to puppy. Many families love this generation for its classic balance of Bernese substance and Poodle brightness.
F1B Bernedoodle
So what does F1B mean for a Bernedoodle? An F1B is an F1 Bernedoodle bred back to a purebred Poodle, which makes the puppies roughly 75 percent Poodle and 25 percent Bernese. That added Poodle influence can produce a few curlier coats with some of the puppies having low-shedding results, which is why F1B Bernedoodles, in some cases, are the go-to recommendation for allergy-sensitive families. It is worth knowing that despite the higher Poodle percentage, a well-bred F1B still looks and feels like a Bernedoodle. The percentage speaks to coat genetics far more than it changes the dog in your living room.
Multigen Bernedoodle
A multigen Bernedoodle comes from breeding Bernedoodles to Bernedoodles, or back to Poodles, across multiple generations. This is where a breeder’s experience shows, because multigen pairings are refined over time to produce predictable results. With genetic testing on the parent dogs, an intentional multigen pairing can deliver consistent coat types, stable structure, and the traits families actually came for. The Bernese and Poodle percentages can vary widely between multigen litters, so a trustworthy breeder will tell you what each specific pairing is expected to produce rather than hiding behind the label.
What generations mean for Bernedoodle coat types
Generation labels exist mostly to predict coats. Bernedoodle coat types run from straight to wavy to curly, and the two biggest factors are how much Poodle is in the pairing and whether puppies carry the furnishing gene, the one responsible for the beard, eyebrows, and fluffy teddy bear face. Fully furnished coats are the ones associated with minimal to no noticeable shedding. In our program, some of our Bernedoodle pairings are planned to produce those fully furnished, wavy to straight coats, and every parent dog completes comprehensive health testing including breed-specific genetic panels before any pairing is made.
Color is the other thing families ask about, and Bernedoodles deliver here in a way few breeds can. Depending on the pairing, litters can include classic black tri-colors, merle tris, chocolate tris, sable tris, and even parti patterns. Generation does not determine color on its own; the specific genetics of the two parents do, which is one more reason the pairing behind a litter matters more than the label on it.
One honest note that applies to every generation: these coats are allergy-friendly and low-shedding, but no dog can be truly hypoallergenic. If allergies are a serious concern in your home, have that conversation with your breeder about the specific litter you are considering.
What generation labels cannot tell you
A generation label predicts coat probability. It does not tell you who a puppy is. Within a single Bernedoodle litter, same parents and same generation, I regularly see a steady, observant puppy growing up next to a busy, adventurous one. Families who choose based on the label alone are working with a fraction of the information they could have.
That is why every puppy in our program goes through temperament testing at seven and a half weeks, where we evaluate and score how each individual puppy responds to the world around them. Generation narrows your coat expectations. Temperament testing tells you which puppy will actually settle into your home, your routine, and your family. Of the two, the second one is what you will feel every single day for the next decade.
Common questions about Bernedoodle generations
What is the difference between F1 vs F1B Bernedoodles?
An F1 is the original 50/50 Bernese and Poodle cross with more coat variety. An F1B adds another Poodle generation, making puppies about 75 percent Poodle with some of the puppies having more consistently low-shedding coats. It is crucial to find a knowledgeable breeder as all F1B puppies are not fully furnished. Some will have only one furnishing. This is important to know if you are wanting the least shedding puppy.
Which Bernedoodle generation is best for allergies?
Some F1Bs and well-planned multigen Bernedoodles are typically the most reliable low-shedding options. Ask your breeder what coat genetics the specific parents carry.
Do multigen Bernedoodles shed?
Well-bred multigens with fully furnished coats typically have minimal to no noticeable shedding, because experienced breeders use genetic testing to select for exactly that.
Does generation affect Bernedoodle temperament?
Far less than people assume. Temperament is shaped by genetics, early development, and environment together, and it varies puppy to puppy within every generation. That individual variation is what temperament testing is designed to reveal.
Let the labels go and find your puppy
You do not need to memorize a genetics chart to bring home the right Bernedoodle. You just need a breeder who can tell you exactly what their pairings produce and who knows each puppy as an individual. Take a look at our upcoming litters, learn how we raise our puppies on our Why Us page, or fill out a puppy application and let us match you with the Bernedoodle that truly fits your family!