The gene testing is particularly important for hybrids like Goldendoodles who have both shedding and non-shedding relatives. The result of the DNA test will be more useful to prospective owners in determining the amount of shedding a pup will have than knowing the generation of the Goldendoodle they are getting.
Sadly, one reason why some Goldendoodles and other Doodles end up in rescue shelters is that they grow up, start shedding and are rejected by their owners. The good news is that some of the guesswork has been taken out of coat type by the recent discovery of a DNA test for what is known as the IC – or Improper Coat – gene.
The test was first developed for the Portuguese Water Dog and has been modified for the Goldendoodle. An “Improper Coat” is one where the dog has a flat coat and short hair on his head, face and legs, like the Golden Retriever, and it means that he or she is more likely to shed.
Although much more research is still to be done, this is an exciting breakthrough for Goldendoodle breeders. It means that they can DNA test their dogs for the IC gene and make sure that one dog of a breeding pair is IC clear, thereby greatly increasing the likelihood of the offspring having non- or low-shedding coats.
Although, technically, there is no such thing as a non-shedding coat in a dog, all dogs shed a little. Breeders do not want to remove all IC clear dogs from their breeding programs, as there are other traits attached to this gene.
Collected samples of a Goldendoodle’s DNA can now help to identify the amount of shedding the dog is likely to have. Found in two different genes in a dog’s DNA, the “shedability” genes are identified and calculated. Scores range from 0 to 4 with 0 being the lowest propensity towards shedding and 4 being the highest.
Dogs who carry furnishings have a lower propensity for shedding than those that don’t – but it’s not the whole test. There is a second unrelated gene involved that also plays a very important part.
In the past, it was believed that a curly F1b Goldendoodle (75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever) was needed for those who suffers from allergies, in order to get a low to no-shed dog. This is no longer the case. Thanks to the shedding test, breeders can now carefully breed their parents by knowing what their shed score is.
NOTE: Even if a dog doesn’t shed, a person can still be allergic to his or her dander. Allergies have to do with which proteins a person is allergic to and whether those proteins are produced by the dog or not. The proteins that cause symptoms may be found in skin cells, saliva, or urine, or any combination of the three. You need to consult an allergy specialist for accurate medical info on your potential for an allergic reaction to dogs.
