Coat Genes · RSPO2 · KRT71 · MC5R

Coat Genes: Furnishings, Curl & Shedding

The genes behind the 'teddy bear' doodle look — the beard and eyebrows (furnishings), the wave or curl (curl gene), and how much a dog sheds (MC5R shedding gene). Critical for families seeking low-shedding or allergy-friendly coats.

Alleles

F (RSPO2): Furnishings (dominant): Gives the signature moustache, beard, and eyebrows of the scruffy doodle face. Dominant — a single F copy produces a furnished coat. Two copies (F/F) produce the same visual effect. F is the 'doodle look.'
IC: Improper coat (recessive): Two copies of IC (IC/IC or homozygous unfurnished) give a smooth, open face like the non-Poodle parent — no beard or eyebrows. Also called 'flat coat' in some breed communities. Perfectly healthy, just a different look.
Curl (KRT71): Curl allele (dominant): KRT71 curl allele dominantly increases coat curl. One copy produces a wavy coat; two copies produce a tightly curled Poodle-like coat. The curl allele is also associated with reduced shedding — curlier coats trap loose hairs inside the coat rather than releasing them.
SD (MC5R): Low-shedding allele: A variant at MC5R that reduces shedding. Together with curl and furnishings, low MC5R shedding produces the most hypoallergenic coat type. Dogs with high-shedding MC5R variants shed more, even if they are curly and furnished.

Furnishings (RSPO2) — the teddy bear face

Furnishings are the beard, moustache, and eyebrows that give doodles their signature scruffy 'teddy bear' look. The furnishing allele (F, at the RSPO2 gene) is dominant — one copy produces a fully furnished face.

An 'improper coat' (IC/IC) is a doodle that inherited two copies of the recessive non-furnishings allele, giving it a smooth, short-haired face resembling the non-Poodle parent (a Labrador-face Golden Retriever, a flat-faced Cocker Spaniel, etc.). Improper coat is perfectly healthy and is common in F1 crosses where one parent is unfurnished.

Because furnishings is dominant over IC, an F/IC dog (one copy of each) has a fully furnished face — you cannot tell it from F/F by looking. DNA testing reveals which dogs are homozygous furnished (will always produce furnished offspring) versus heterozygous (can produce improper-coat puppies).

Curl (KRT71) — wavy to curly

The KRT71 curl allele sets coat texture on a spectrum. Zero copies of curl = straight coat. One copy = wavy coat. Two copies = tightly curled, Poodle-like coat. Curlier coats trap loose hairs inside the coat rather than releasing them, which is a major contributor to the perception that doodles 'don't shed.'

The curl allele is common in Poodles and is the primary driver of coat texture differences between F1, F1b, and F2 doodles — not the generation label itself. An F1 Goldendoodle can have a straight, wavy, or curly coat depending on which KRT71 alleles it inherited.

Shedding (MC5R) — the allergy-awareness gene

A variant in the MC5R gene influences how much loose hair a dog releases into the environment. Dogs with two low-shedding MC5R alleles shed minimally even if their coat is otherwise furnished and curly. Dogs with high-shedding MC5R variants shed more, even in otherwise 'low-shedding' coat types.

Combined testing of RSPO2 (furnishings), KRT71 (curl), and MC5R (shedding) gives families the clearest picture of how much a puppy is likely to shed — far more accurate than the common shorthand of 'F1b = low shedding.'

No dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Pet dander (saliva proteins, skin cells) causes allergies, not just hair. However, curly, furnished, low-shedding coats (like those from well-bred Poodle crosses) are the most allergy-friendly option available and dramatically reduce hair accumulation in the home.

Doodle generation labels vs genetics

The F1, F1b, F2 generation labels are a rough shorthand, not a guarantee of coat type. An F1 Cavapoo (50% Cavalier, 50% Poodle) can inherit zero, one, or two curl alleles depending on which Poodle parent it had and which alleles were passed. An F1b (backcross to Poodle) has a higher probability of two curl alleles and furnished coat — but probability is not certainty.

DNA testing the specific puppy or the parents before breeding gives exact coat genotypes that predict coat type far more accurately than generation labels alone. This is why reputable breeders now DNA test for furnishings, curl, and shedding — so families can choose puppies based on actual genetics rather than averages.

Coat Genes FAQ

What makes a doodle low-shedding or hypoallergenic?

Low-shedding in doodles comes from a combination of three genetic factors: furnishings (RSPO2 — the beard and eyebrows that indicate the furnished coat type), curl (KRT71 — curlier coats trap loose hairs rather than releasing them), and the MC5R shedding gene (directly reduces hair release). Dogs with two curl alleles, furnishings, and low-shedding MC5R variants shed the least. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic — pet dander (skin proteins) causes allergies, not just hair.

What is an improper coat in doodles?

An improper coat (IC/IC) is a doodle that inherited two copies of the recessive non-furnishings allele at RSPO2, giving it a smooth, short-haired, open face like the non-Poodle parent instead of the scruffy 'teddy bear' look. Also called 'flat coat' in some communities. It is perfectly healthy — just a different appearance. Improper-coat dogs typically shed more than furnished dogs of the same type.

Can two curly (F1b) parents produce a flat-coated puppy?

Yes, if one or both parents carry the unfurnished (IC) allele. Even an apparently furnished parent can be F/IC (heterozygous) — and two F/IC parents have a 25% chance of producing IC/IC (improper coat) puppies. DNA testing both parents for RSPO2 (furnishings) identifies which parents are F/F (will only produce furnished offspring) vs. F/IC (can produce improper-coat puppies).

How does the F1, F1b, F2 label relate to coat type?

F1 (50/50 cross) puppies have about a 50/50 chance of inheriting furnishings and curl, depending on the parents. F1b (backcross to Poodle — 75% Poodle) has a higher probability of two curl alleles and furnished coat. F2 (F1 × F1) has the most coat variability. However, the actual coat genotype of a specific puppy depends on which alleles were passed — probability is not certainty. DNA coat testing gives the definitive answer per puppy or per parent pair.

Do shedding levels really vary between doodles?

Yes, significantly. Two Goldendoodles from the same litter can have meaningfully different shedding levels based on their exact KRT71 and MC5R genotypes. A wavy-coated F1 Goldendoodle with low-shedding MC5R may shed less than a technically curlier F1b with high-shedding MC5R. Coat DNA testing is the only way to predict individual puppy shedding accurately.

What is the best coat for a family with dog allergies?

A dog that is: (1) furnished (at least one F allele at RSPO2), (2) two copies of the KRT71 curl allele for tight curl, and (3) two low-shedding MC5R alleles. This combination — typical of well-bred F1b or multi-generational Poodle crosses — produces the lowest-shedding, lowest-dander-dispersal coat type. Spending time with the specific dog or breed before committing is always advisable for families with severe allergies.

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have furnishings?

Cavaliers typically have a silky, moderately long flat coat — they are IC/IC (unfurnished) like most non-Poodle breeds. This means F1 Cavapoos (Cavalier × Poodle) will be F/IC — all furnished in appearance (because F is dominant), but heterozygous. To guarantee fully furnished Cavapoo offspring, both parents should ideally be F/F — requiring that at least the Poodle parent be DNA confirmed F/F.

Can a straight-coated parent produce a curly puppy?

Only if the straight-coated parent carries at least one KRT71 curl allele. A straight-coated dog is typically homozygous for the non-curl allele — two copies produce a straight coat. If a straight-coated parent is paired with a Poodle (typically two curl alleles), the F1 offspring will all inherit one curl allele — producing wavy, not curly, coats. Curly coats (two curl alleles) in F1 crosses require the non-Poodle parent to also carry a curl allele.