When buying or selling a mixed breed puppy, it’s important that all parties know the generation of mixed breed the litter is. A designer breed’s generation will determine the types of characteristics they will inherit from their parents. Learn why breed generation is important.
Designer Mixed Breed Generations
The way you determine a litter’s generation is by looking at the parents. You might even need to go a few generations back to determine the most accurate information. To help illustrate this, we’ll use Goldendoodles as an example.
F1 Generations
The first and most “pure” Goldendoodle is a mix between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. This is called the F1 Generation, a 50/50 mix of Retriever and Poodle.
As long as you keep breeding with at least one purebred parent, you can still denote a litter as F1 but with backcross notation (b). For example, an F1 Goldendoodle bred with a purebred Poodle creates an F1b litter, a 25/75 mix of Retriever and Poodle. You can keep backcrossing and adding more b’s. An F1b mixed with a purebred Poodle creates an F1bb litter, a 12.5/87.5 mix of Retriever and Poodle.
F2 Generations & Multigenerational Puppies
As soon as you breed two mixed dogs, you’ll create an F2 Generation. Two F1 Goldendoodles will create an F2 Goldendoodle litter, still technically a 50/50 mix of Retriever and Poodle, but further away from their purebred relatives. An F2 Generation could lose out on the benefits inherited from purebred parents. If you breed an F1b dog with an F1, their litter will keep the backcross notation and become an F2b litter. Their puppies would be a 37.5/62.5 mix of Retriever and Poodle.
If you breed two F2 dogs, the naming convention can keep going down to F3, F4, and so on, but at this point, it’s easier to classify them all as a Multigenerational litter. We also consider mixes of two F1b’s as Multigenerational. The Multigenerational category is also a catch-all when you’re unsure of your litter’s pedigree.
Help with Labeling and Selling Mixed Breed Puppies
If you’re still a little unsure of how to label your puppies, feel free to contact the Lancaster Puppies Support Team. We’d be happy to help you. You could also research what different clubs, like the American Kennel Club, have to say about breed generations. In fact, they have a special program for mixed-breed dogs called the Canine Partners program.
When you’re ready to list and sell your designer mixed breed on Lancaster Puppies, you’ll be asked what generation the litter is. Click the dropdown and select the appropriate answer. If you are unsure, select Multigenerational. Now, your prospective buyers will be well informed about your litter!