Have you decided you would love to add a Cavapoo (also called Cavoodle) to your life but you’re confused by the reference to such characters and numbers as F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, and F3? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here we deep dive into the world of Cavapoo generations to help you understand what they all mean.
- F1 Cavapoo is a cross between a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a purebred Poodle (toy or mini). F1 Cavapoo is the first generation.
- F1b Cavapoo is an F1 Cavapoo crossed with either a purebred Poodle or, less commonly, a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F1bb Cavapoo is a cross between an F1b Cavapoo back to a purebred Poodle and rarely to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- F2 Cavapoo is the second generation. A cross between two first generation Cavapoos, also known as Cavapoo F1.
- F3 Cavapoo is the third generation and a result of crossing between two second generation Cavapoos, also known as F2.
Table of Cavapoo Generations Explained
| Type | Parent 1 | Parent 2 | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 Cavapoo | Poodle | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 1st |
| F1b Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | Poodle (sometimes Cavalier) | 2nd |
| F1bb Cavapoo | F1b Cavapoo | Poodle (sometimes Cavalier | 3rd |
| F2 Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | F1 Cavapoo | 2nd |
| F3 Cavapoo | F2 Cavapoo | F2 Cavapoo | 3rd |
Related: How Big Will My Cavapoo Grow? Sizes Explained | Is a Male or a Female Cavapoo Better?
The Definitions of ‘F’ and ‘b’ in Reference to Cavapoo
Firstly, you might be wondering what does the ‘F’ mean when explaining Cavapoo generations? The ‘F’ stands for ‘filial’ and in genetics, it means the offspring from crossing the lines of two parents. In the case of a Cavapoo, the cross is between a Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the different variations of these.
The ‘b’ is used for ‘backcross’ and in the case of the Cavapoo breed, it usually refers to a Cavapoo bred with a Poodle and sometimes the Cavalier. The preference ‘back’ to the Poodle is often to perfect the low shedding coat.
And here are a few images to illustrate the breed Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel so you know exactly which breeds are being crossed to create a Cavapoo (cavoodle).
So with that being said, let’s find out in more detail what all the Cavapoo generations mean.
What is an F1 Cavapoo
F1 Cavapoo is the first generation being the cross of a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a purebred Poodle (often a mini or toy Poodle). For example, the mother is a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the father is a purebred Poodle. And the other way around also, where the mother is a full breed Poodle and the father is a full breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The parentage of this crossing is 50% Poodle and 50 % Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
An F1 Cavapoo was first bred to mix the gentle nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the Poodle’s high intelligence and hypoallergenic coat, or low shedding hair. Another term for this type of breeding is ‘hybrid vigor’ breeding whereby a breeder selects the types of features they are trying to either breed in or breed out of a dog.
So a Cavapoo with an F1 means the first generation.
The authenticity of an F1 Cavapoo lies in the purebred breeding of the two parents which can be confirmed by breeders with registered papers.
Why F1 Cavapoo is a Popular Choice
The F1 Cavapoo is the original Cavapoo providing the best of both the Cavalier and Poodle. A first generation breeding, the F1 Cavapoo, is 50% Poodle and 50% Cavalier.
An F1 Cavapoo is a popular choice because the resulting litter will be most consistent, producing the desirable features sort after in this breed and benefit the most from hybrid vigor.
What is an F1bCavapoo
An F1b Cavapoo is a cross between a first generation Cavapoo (F1 Cavapoo) bred back to a purebred Poodle and rarely to a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
In reference to hybrid vigor, in this case, the Poodle’s sort after low shedding coat is favored for those people who are after a hypoallergenic coat due to allergies. So often a Cavapoo F1b is a result of breeding a Cavapoo F1 with a purebred Poodle.
Why an F1b Cavapoo is a Popular Choice
An F1b Cavapoo can be a popular choice to enhance either the Poodle characteristics or the Cavalier characteristics.
A Cavapoo cross Poodle may produce a more Poodle like coat sort after by allergy sufferers. As a percentage, this cross would be 25% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and 75% Poodle.
A Cavapoo crossed back with a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may produce a very gentle dog with stronger Cavalier features. In theory, as a percentage, this would be 25% Poodle and 75% Cavalier. The backcross to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can sometimes be referred to as an F1b Reverse Cavapoo but not all breeders use this term, so it’s best to check with them first.
The percentages here are of course not guaranteed as each individual Cavapoo can inherit stronger genes from one parent during the first and subsequent crosses.
What is an F1bb Cavapoo
The F1bb Cavapoo is another backcross. The cross is made between an F1b Cavapoo back to a purebred Poodle and rarely to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. When bred back to the Poodle, this Cavapoo in theory will be more than 3/4 Poodle so the resulting coat should be very low to non-shedding. Effectively this is a third generation Cavapoo and may again be referred to as a multigenerational Cavapoo.
Why F1bb Cavapoo is a Popular Choice
An F1bb Cavapoo bred with mostly Poodle will produce litters with more Poodle-like coats. This can be a popular option for those looking for a hypoallergenic coat with low to non-shedding.
Related: Are Cavapoos (Cavoodles) Hypoallergenic? Answered!
What is an F2 Cavapoo
The F2 Cavapoo is the second generation Cavapoo. A F1 Cavapoo bred with another F1 Cavapoo will produce an F2 Cavapoo.
As a percentage, this is 50% Cavapoo with 50% Cavapoo. So theoretically, the percentage of each remains the same for the resulting litter. However, the F2 Cavapoo is not as predictable as the breeding of an F1 Cavapoo where breeders can expect a good mix of both Poodle and Cavalier King Charles.
The resulting F2 Cavapoo puppies coats can vary significantly even within the same litter. The coats can range from straight, through to wavy, and curly.
Why Cavapoo F2 is a Popular Choice
Although the F2 Cavapoo’s coat and character traits are not as predictable as an F1 Cavapoo, with the growing popularity of the Cavapoo breed, we are more likely to see an increase in the mixed breeding of Cavapoos.
This is sometimes referred to as multi-generational. See below for more information..
The coat appearance for an F2 Cavapoo ranges from straight, to waves, to curls. They can look like a poodle, a cavalier, and a mix of anything in between.
Other Terms Used to Describe Cavapoo Generations
A few other terms used to reference the Cavapoo generational line are:
Multi-generational Cavapoocan mean any mix of Cavapoo with another Cavapoo, a purebred Poodle or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. To determine what a breeder means by this you can ask them for the lineage
F1b Reverse Cavapoocan be used to describe the backcross to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel though not all breeders will use the term ‘reverse’.
F3 Cavapoois the third generation Cavapoo. Both second-generation parents or F2 Cavapoo will produce offspring referred to as F3 Cavapoo.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of letters and numbers to get through here in explaining the Cavapoo generations. I hope you now have a much better understanding of what they all mean so you can select the perfect Cavapoo for you and your family.
Further reading:
- What Is A Cavapoo Dog? (And is this breed right for you)
- Cavapoo vs. Cavoodle – What’s the Difference?
- What To Do If Your Cavapoo Hates Grooming: 16 Tips!
- Do Cavapoo Puppies Start With Straight Hair?
- Cavapoo Energy Levels – Are They High Energy?
- Do Cavapoos Bark A Lot? Answered!
- How Much Does a Cavapoo Puppy Cost to Buy?
- How Big Do F1B Goldendoodles Get? (Size/Weight Guide)
