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 FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED AND WHAT IS THE IC "IMPROPER COAT" GENE?

Have you ever seen a bernedoodle, labradoodle, or goldendoodle that more closely resembles their non-poodle side with a shorter coat and lacking the “furnishings” or longer hair on the muzzle, eyebrows, and beard? If so, it’s very likely that puppy’s or dog’s poodle or doodle parent had the IC, or improper coat, gene. If the breeder prepared the person for this, great! It’s a cute look that many people like (although it is not hypoallergenic or low-shedding). But I often see on Facebook groups bernedoodle owners expressing surprise and disappointment that their puppy doesn’t have that classic, fluffy “doodle” look.

The IC gene would come from the poodle side, and produces the flatter, straighter coat that lacks the classic doodle “furnishings” around the muzzle, beard, eyebrows, legs, and feet. Because of this, a doodle with this gene will likely shed a lot more.

The good news is that there is a simple genetic test for the IC gene. In my opinion, all breeders should test their poodles for this, but not all do. In fact, I have seen several bernedoodle sites that claim that all F1 (first generation cross of poodle + Bernese Mountain Dog) will always be furnished. This is simply not true. Not to get too heavily into coat genetics, but while most poodles carry the F/F gene for furnishings, a few can carry the IC gene, and pass that down to 50% of their offspring, making 50% of their puppies look more like a Bernese Mountain Dog and less like a Doodle. The claim that all F1 puppies will be furnished ignores the reality of the IC gene, and unfortunately passes along this misinformation to others…

All of our poodles parents at Beloved Bernedoodles have been tested for the IC gene, and are negative, meaning they do not carry the IC gene and therefore will always produce the classic “doodle” look in their offspring.

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MORE INFORMATION ON FURNISHINGS CAN BE FROM TAKEN FROM THIS SITE... http://bernedoodlebreed.com/unfurnished-bernedoodle/

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DO THE BERNEDOODLE COATS SHED AND ARE THEY HYPOALLERGENIC? 

It has to be one of the most important questions you take into consideration when looking to buy a new dog. Those who suffer from allergies in particular need to know just how hypoallergenic dogs are – and how severe these allergies are will determine the breeds you can look at. However, there are other reasons people seek low shedding dogs. Let’s take a look at just how hypoallergenic Bernedoodles really are and if they make a good choice for allergy sufferers. We will also discover whether there any differences between generations.

No breed of dog is 100% hypoallergenic. When looking for a hypoallergenic, low shedding Bernedoodle you should consider a generation that has a high Poodle percentage such as one of the backcross generations (F1b, F1bb, F2b, F2bb). The curlier the coat the better for allergy sufferers.

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The generation of your Bernedoodle can influence their hypoallergenic traits:

  • F1 Bernedoodles: F1’s are 50% Poodle and 50% Bernese Mountain Dog. With F1 dogs you may or may not have a low shedding dog, it’s a bit of a gamble and it’s not unusual for there to be some shedding.

  • F1b Bernedoodles: An F1b backcross is 75% Poodle, 25% Bernese Mountain Dog. F1b’s have a greater chance of being low shedding due to the majority influence coming from the Poodle side.

  • F1bb Bernedoodles: This generation consists of 87.5% Poodle and only 12.5% Bernese Mountain Dog. It is achieved by crossing an F1B Bernedoodle with purebred 100% Poodle. highest probability of lowest shedding coat due to the Poodle influence.

  • F2 Bernedoodles: This generation is produced by crossing an F1 Bernedoodle with another F1 Bernedoodle. Coat types are most varied with this generation so low shedding is not very likely with this pairing.

  • F2b Bernedoodles: Second-generation backcross is achieved by crossing an F1 Bernedoodle with an F1b Bernedoodle (62.5% Poodle – 37.5% Bernese Mountain Dog). This generation can be popular with allergy sufferers and are usually low to non-shedding.

  • F2bb Bernedoodles: 81.25% Poodle and18.75% Bernese Mountain Dog makes up this generation. Again, the strong Poodle influence makes them low risk for allergy sufferers.

  • F3 Bernedoodles: Also referred to as a multi-generation Bernedoodle and these include any Bernedoodles beyond the second generation.

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