Goldendoodle & Bernedoodle Coat Types
Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles come in a beautiful variety of coat colors and textures.
Their coats can be curly, wavy, straight, or in rare cases, improper (flat) — which look more like a Golden Retriever’s coat.
Contrary to popular belief, the generation (F1, F1B, Multigen, etc.) does not determine a Doodle’s coat type.
Instead, coat type is determined by three key genes:
- Coat Curl (KRT71)
- Coat Length (FGF5)
- Furnishings / Improper Coat (RSPO2)
Let’s take a closer look at how each one shapes your Doodle’s appearance!
1. Coat Curl — The Curl Gene (KRT71)
This gene determines how tight or loose your Doodle’s curls will be.
- A puppy can have straight, wavy, or curly hair depending on the combination of curl genes inherited from each parent.
- Even if both parents have wavy coats, they can still carry a curl gene — meaning curly pups may appear in the litter.
Tip: Always ask your breeder whether they’ve DNA-tested for curl, so you know what coat textures are possible.
2. Coat Length — The Long Hair Gene (FGF5)
The long coat gene is what gives Doodles their signature fluffy, luxurious look.
- Both Poodles and Golden Retrievers/Bernese Mountain Dogs carry the long hair gene, so all Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles have long coats.
- Unlike Labradoodles (who can inherit the Labrador’s short-hair gene), Doodles are always long-haired.
- The gene for long hair is recessive, which means both parents must pass it on for puppies to have a long coat — and in Doodles, they always do!
3. Furnishings — The Improper Coat Gene (RSPO2)
This gene is what gives Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles their signature “Doodle look” — the adorable mustache, beard, and eyebrows.
- Furnishings are a dominant trait — only one parent needs to carry it for the puppy to have them.
- Puppies that lack this gene are said to have an “improper coat”, which looks smoother and flatter, like a Golden Retriever’s.
- Improper coats tend to shed more and lack the fluffy texture typical of Doodles.
At Goldendoodle Acres, we do not breed improper coats.
If you love the shorter, easy-care look but don’t want shedding, simply keep your Doodle’s hair trimmed — like our lovely Rylie on our “Meet Our Moms” page. She looks like a Golden… but doesn’t shed!
(Goldendoodles with Furnishings)
(Goldendoodles with Improper Coats)
Coat Textures Explained
Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles typically have three main coat types (excluding the improper flat coat).
Straight Coat
- Occurs when a puppy inherits no curl genes.
- Looks smooth and fluffy, not flat.
- Always includes furnishings, giving that signature Doodle face.
Wavy Coat
- Happens when a puppy gets one curl gene and one non-curl gene.
- This is the most common and popular coat type — soft, slightly tousled, and low-maintenance.
Curly Coat
- Appears when both parents pass on curl genes.
- Tight curls resemble a Poodle coat and require more grooming.
- We do not produce curly coats at Goldendoodle Acres — our goal is a low- to no-shed coat that’s easy to maintain!
Love the Look of a Golden But Want No Shedding?
You can easily achieve that look with a short, wavy cut.
A Goldendoodle or Bernedoodle with furnishings and a wavy coat can be clipped to resemble a Golden Retriever — with the bonus of being low- to no-shed!
In Summary
Your Doodle’s coat type comes down to genetics — not generation.
By carefully testing for curl, length, and furnishings, we ensure every puppy at Goldendoodle Acres has the right combination for a beautiful, allergy-friendly, and low-shedding coat.