The Bernedoodle is a relatively new hybrid that was created when a Bernese Mountain Dog was crossed with a Poodle. Like many Doodle dogs, this pup is known for being a clever and loyal yet goofy dog that makes a great family pet for all different types of homes.
The Bernedoodle comes in three different sizes — Standard, Tiny (Toy) and Mini Bernedoodle — so you can be sure to find one the right size for your lifestyle. With their fun and positive nature, this dog was bred to inherit the best qualities from each of it’s parents and this is what makes it such a fantastic doggie to have around.
If you’re interested in learning more about this lovable pup, read on below to find out about their history, their characteristics and about their everyday life.
History Of The Bernedoodle
Bernedoodles come in three different sizes — Standard, Mini and Tiny. The Standard Bernedoodle was bred by crossing a Standard Poodle with a Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mini Bernedoodle was created by breeding a Miniature Poodle with a Bernese Mountain Dog. However, the Tiny Bernedoodle was created by crossing a Toy Poodle with a Bernedoodle. This is normally an f1 or f1b Mini Bernedoodle. This means that the Tiny Bernedoodle is only ever a second or subsequent generation.
Breed Origin
To understand the breed origin of the Bernedoodle crossbreed, it is important to take a look at the breed origins of it’s parent breeds.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large and powerful dog that originated in Switzerland. Their job was to drive cattle and protect farmyards and they were known for being able to pull many times their own body weight. However, despite being hardworking, these dogs are also goofy and loving.
The Poodle is known for being an energetic and intelligent dog that thrives in busy homes where there is lots going on. The Poodle originated in Germany, although many think it was France. Poodlse were originally used for their great water skills as duck hunters.
The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle were bred together to create a dog that got both of it’s parents desirable characteristics. This includes the happy-go-lucky nature of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the intelligence and playfulness of the Poodle. The low-shedding coat of the Poodle was also desirable.
The Bernedoodle was first bred in the United States around 2003 to 2004. Sherry Rupke is responsible for breeding them. These dogs are said to be the perfect family dog and are known for being intelligent, gentle, sociable and enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, because they are not a purebred dog, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) but they have been a registered breed with the International Designer Canine Registry since 2009.
Characteristics
As a mixed breed, it can be difficult to predict exactly how a litter of Bernedoodles will turn out. A Standard Bernedoodle is bred with either the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Poodle as the sire or the dam because of their similar size. For a Mini, the Bernese Mountain Dog is the dam and the Poodle is the sire. As the Tiny Bernedoodles are second or subsequent generation, the dam and sire are of a similar size and are again often interchangeable.
A Bernedoodle puppy can cost between $2,500 and $5,000. They are expensive because they are a rare breed and are also known as a designer breed. However the color, size and generation of the Bernedoodle will also play a role in the price tag. Always remember to buy from a reputable breeder because they will be able to give you accurate information regarding your Bernedoodle’s parents.
Appearance
The size of your Bernedoodle is, of course, going to be affected by which variation of the breed you buy. We mentioned above it can be difficult to predict the size and characteristics of your Bernedoodle but you can make an educated guess on their parents’ size and looks.
Standard Bernedoodles puppies won’t be fully matured until between 12-18 months, whereas Mini and Tiny puppies will generally be fully matured around 12 months of age. A Standard will stand between 23-29″ in height as an adult and weigh roughly 70-90 lbs. The Mini will be between 18-22″ tall and weigh 25-49 pounds and the Tiny will stand 12-17” and weigh 10-24 pounds.
These pups look extremely cute, which is why so many people love them! They are often described as a shaggy teddy because of their coat.
Coat
The Bernedoodle coat is normally curly or wavy, but because they are a mixed breed it can also be straight. They inherit the single coat from their Poodle parent and are therefore low shedding, making them great for those with allergies. While many people think they are hypoallergenic they are not because they do still shed dander, but because their coat traps the dander they are still a good choice for those with allergies!
You will need to take your pup to the groomers occasionally, but we will go into more detail about grooming later on.
Color
These designer dogs can come in a range of colors. This includes black, black and white, black and brown and tri color. They can also have a range of markings on them. You will always be able to spot a Bernedoodle because of their slightly unkept look!
Temperament
This Mountain Dog Poodle mix has an excellent temperament. Combing the best features of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle, the Bernedoodle is known for being a loving and playful dog that adapts to many different environments.
The Bernedoodle dog loves to be around people and thrives in a busy household. They are especially good with children and are gentle with babies and toddlers, but also know how to play with older kids. Unfortunately, the Bernedoodle doesn’t like to be left alone and will exhibit destructive behaviors if they are. Of course, you can train and socialize them not to do this, but you also shouldn’t be thinking about adding a Bernedoodle to your home if you are not going to be around for large portions of the day. This pup also has a high activity level and loves to exercise.
Unfortunately, because they are a hybrid, it can be difficult to know whether they are going to inherit some of the undesirable traits from their parents, too. Normally, the Bernedoodle is a smart and curious member of the family who is very gentle. However, they can inherit a stubborn and headstrong trait from their Berner parent which can make training a little difficult. They can also become protective of their family and be cautious of strangers. The Poodle parent can also pass down a hyperactivity trait, so it is important to find a reputable Bernedoodle breeder.
That being said, with love and patience from you, the Bernedoodle is a fantastic, gentle and loving dog, perfect for almost everyone.
Lifespan
The Bernedoodle pup has a relatively long life expectancy, depending on their size. This can be anywhere between 7 to 18 years. The smaller variations of the pup, such as the Miniature Bernedoodle and the Tiny Bernedoodle can live closer to 18 years, whereas the Standard will have a shorter life expectancy, closer to 7 years.
Known Health Issues
Although this Poodle mix is a generally healthy dog, like almost every dog these pups can be prone to some health issues. The most common health problem in Bernedoodles in elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia. This is when the elbows and hips weaken and become arthritic. This can be the cause of quick growing and is common in larger breeds.
Unfortunately, Bernese Mountain Dogs, like Boxers are also a breed that is highly prone to cancer. This can be passed down onto their Bernedoodle offspring.
Buying from a reputable breeder can help to minimize any health problems within your doggie. A good breeder will do certain tests on the parents before breeding, including hip and elbow scores, eye test, Von Willebrand’s disease, sebaceous adenitis, degenerative myelopathy, patella, progressive retinal atrophy and MTC (macrothrombocytopenia).
Daily Life
Now we have learnt all about the characteristics and temperament of the Bernedoodle hybrid dog, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these pups everyday is actually like. We will cover their food and diet, exercise needs and their grooming needs.
Food And Diet
The amount you feed your Bernedoodle will vary based on their size. For a Standard this should be around 1,400 – 1,800 calories, for a Mini 750 – 1,400 calories and for a Tiny, 400 – 960 calories. As a puppy you should feed them four meals a day, which can then be reduced to two meals a day once they reach adulthood.
One thing to remember with the Bernedoodle is that, because they are a large breed, they are more prone to bloat which can be dangerous. Smaller, more frequent meals will reduce the risk of bloat.
Whatever the size of your Bernedoodle, you should always be feeding them high-quality dog food. You can double check the back of the food packet against their size to ensure you are feeding them the right amount.
This food can be dry, canned, dehydrated or raw. The most important thing is to ensure they are getting enough of the right ingredients, especially fat and protein. Protein is essential for the function, repair and regulation of your dog’s tissues and organs, while fat is vital for energy. As a puppy, 22% of their diet should consist of protein and 8% should be fat. This can be reduced once they reach adulthood and should then be 18% protein and 5% fat.
Best Dog Food For The Bernedoodle
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We recommend the Diamond Naturals dry dog food for the Bernedoodle breed. Formulated for large breeds, this food has real cage free chicken as it’s first ingredient. Along with chia seeds and quinoa, this food is therefore an excellent choice to ensure your pup is getting the right amount of protein they need to stay active and build lean muscles.
Other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals, superfoods, and fatty acids also play a role in ensuring your Bernedoodle stays in the best condition, supporting their immune system and promoting a shiny coat and healthy skin. Even better, there are no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in this food that could harm your pup.
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Exercise
The Bernedoodle has relatively high exercise needs, especially as both it’s parent breeds are historic workers. For this reason, the Bernedoodle suits an active home where then can get lots of exercise in.
You should be exercising your Bernedoodle for around 60 minutes a day. You can take them on walks, runs and hikes with you too.
While they are a puppy, you should remember the rule of walking them for 5 minutes based on every month of their age. This means at four months old they should be walking around 20 minutes. Too much exercise at a young age can lead to elbow and hip dysplasia.
Family Compatibility
The Bernedoodle makes an excellent family member. These kind and loving pups fit well into any home and love to be around people, indulging children. They are very gentle with babies and children, yet also love to run around the yard with older kids and adults.
Unfortunately, the Bernedoodle doesn’t like to be left alone and would prefer to spend the day at your side. This means they are probably not the pups for you if you are out for large portions of the day. These dog’s also have high exercise needs and thrive in an active and busy environment where they can join in the fun.
Bernedoodles don’t mind other family pets, although they should be introduced from a young age. These dogs are relatively easy to train too, providing they don’t inherit their Bernese Mountain Dog parent’s stubbornness! Socializing is important for them, although you will have to be patient and gentle with them as they learn.
Because these pups are healthy and low shedding, they do not have high maintenance needs and you can focus your attention on playing and doting on them. Growing up in the right home with lots of love, the Bernedoodle can become the most perfect companion to any family.
Training and Socializing
While training a Bernedoodle is not exactly the easiest thing in the world, it also isn’t the hardest. With a lot of patience and love from you, you should be able to train them quickly. Bernedoodle’s can sometimes be a little stubborn as a puppy, especially if they inherit this trait from their parent. However, they can also get offended easily because they are very sensitive.
Therefore, you should always used positive reinforcement training with them. This includes verbal praise and treats to show them that they are doing a good job. Punishment will never work and you will not create a good bond with your Bernedoodle.
Socializing your Bernedoodle from a young age is also important. This is so they understand there is nothing to be scared of and it will not affect them later in life. You should introduce them to new sounds, sights, places, people, animals and experiences in a safe and controlled manner.
Grooming
We mentioned above that a Bernedoodle coat does not shed very much, although they are not a hypoallergenic dog. However, this does not mean that it doesn’t need regular grooming. You should try to brush your dog two to three times a week and take them to the groomers when they need a hair cut. Although there is no breed standard because they are a hybrid, because of their thick coat owners often choose a teddy bear clip.
You should not clip your Bernedoodle’s coat until they are at least 7 to 9 months old. This is because clipping it too early can result in bad growth and cause irreversible damage.
Remember to clip your Bernedoodle’s nails when needed and brush their teeth regularly too. Brushing their teeth with help to keep dental decay and disease at bay.
Summary
The Bernedoodle is a loving and gentle dog that makes the perfect addition to any family home. With three different size variations, there is no excuse that your house isn’t big enough for one of these wonderful pups. Great with children and easy to take care of, the Bernedoodle is playful and intelligent and wants to spend their day by your side. Although training may be a little difficult, these dogs are certainly worth it and liven up any household.
