Goldendoodle Coat Types: Straight, Wavy, and Curly – What’s the Difference?

I thought it would be fun to dive into a little lesson on coat genetics! If you’re into the nerdy side of things (and want to make sure you pick the right coat type when choosing your doodle), read on!

When looking for a Goldendoodle, it’s SUPER important to know what kind of coat they have.

There are four main types of coats in Goldendoodles:

• Straight (also called fleece)

• Wavy

• Curly

• Flat

  
  

I genetically test all of my dogs and breed specifically for straight (fleece) coats and wavy non-shedding coats.

Now, don’t confuse "straight" with "flat." A Goldendoodle with a flat coat is more likely to shed and will typically have shorter fur on their face and body. We only breed doodles that are fully-furnished, so we don’t carry the genetics for flat coats. No flatness here in flooftown!

What is a Straight (Fleece) Coat?

If you saw one of my "straight" fur babies, you’d probably call them wavy because they are wavy. But "straight" refers to the specific -/- fur genetics. These pups have beautiful, fluffy, wavy coats that are easy to maintain (though still need regular grooming). They don’t mat easily and are extremely fluffy. Ever seen Brodie on TikTok? Straight coat genetics! This is my FAVORITE coat type, and we always have puppies with this coat in every litter.

What is a Wavy Coat?

Wavy Goldendoodles have a bit more texture in their coats, but they can look similar to straight coat doodles. Their coats may even appear "curly," but the curls are loose, not tight. These coats are also easy to maintain and puff out like a fluffy doodle bear when blow-dried (in the best way!).

What is a Curly Coat?

Do you know someone with a doodle who talks about how their coat is impossible to manage? That’s probably a curly coat. Curly coat doodles have tight curls all over their bodies, and their fur mats easily, especially on their ears, legs, and under their collar. For this reason, I don’t breed curly coats. Fun fact: If you breed two wavy Goldendoodles together, you’re likely to get about half of the litter with curly coats due to how genetics line up. This is why we always breed our wavy girls to straight boys.

Will a Goldendoodle Shed?

It all comes down to genetics! Whether a Goldendoodle will shed or not is determined by their genetic makeup. We only breed for non-shedding coats, so you won’t find any shedding pups in our litters!

A Few Other Notes About Coats…

• Did you know that no Goldendoodle is truly hypoallergenic? Even doodles that don’t shed can still trigger allergies in some children and adults. I have a friend whose son is allergic to dog saliva!

• Many breeders don’t have a solid understanding of coat genetics and breed for “cute” puppies instead. While we love cute puppies too, one of the benefits of the Doodle breed is the non-shedding, easy-to-maintain coat. If you buy a puppy from a breeder who isn’t testing for coat genetics, you might end up with a high-shedding, hard-to-manage coat instead.