Bernedoodle, a cross between Poodle and the Bernese Mountain dog, has a reputation for being lively and friendly with his pet parents. Bernese Mountain Poo, Bernesepoo, Bernesedoodle, and Bernepoo are the other names for this breed.
Bernedoodle is a beautiful addition to any family, especially for young children, due to his ability to tolerate cold weather and his friendly nature toward other dogs and humans. Doodle breeds, including Goldendoodles, St. Berdoodles, and Labradoodles, are the most popular because of their disposition and intelligence.
There are just a few hundred Bernedoodles in existence. A combination of Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs may have occurred “accidentally” before 2003. Still, Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels claims to be the first to cross the two breeds and produce the Bernedoodle.
As a designer breed, these dogs emerge in shelters and rescue organizations that specialise in Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs. These centers deal with mixed-breed pups from Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs. However, Bernedoodles needn’t always come from a breeder. You can also adopt before looking for one. There is a searchable database of dogs available for adoption here.
Table of Contents
Bernedoodle Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Protective Dogs
High Maintenance Breed
Active Companions
Not for First Time Dog Owners
Compassionate Pets
Not Ideal for Small Living Spaces
Bernedoodle Basic Information
Name: Bernedoodle
Origin: Switzerland
Group: Mixed Breed
Size: Standard, medium, mini, tiny
Height: Tiny: 12-17 inches
Mini: 18-22 inches
Standard: 23-29 inches
Weight: Tiny: 10-24 pounds
Mini: 24-49 pounds
Standard: 70-90 pounds
Coat: Wavy hair coat
Color: Tri-color, phantom, parti merle, sable, brindle, bi-color.
Breed recognition: Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
Poodle vs. Bernese Mountain Dog: A Comparison
Features
Poodle
Bernese Mountain Dog
Image
Origin
Germany
Switzerland
Height
11 to 15 inches
23-27.5 inches
Weight
15 to 17 pounds
75 to 120 pounds
Size
Medium
Medium
Group
Utility breed group
Working group
Children-friendly
High
High
Family-friendly
High
High
Pet-friendly
Low
High
Barking Level
Medium
Medium
Shedding Level
Low
High
Hypoallergenic
Yes
No
Grooming Needs
High
High
Overall Health
Medium to High
Low to Medium
Energy
Medium to High
Medium
Exercise
Medium to High
Medium
Trainability
Medium to High
Medium
Activities
Watchdogs, Companion Dogs
Watchdogs, companion dogs
Complication in Breeding
No
No
Litter Size
7 puppies
15 puppies
Life Span
12 – 15 years
7-8 years
Other Names
Pudel French, Caniche
Berner Sennenhund Bernese Cattle Dog Bouvier Bernois
Bernedoodle Personality
Crossing a Poodle with the Bernese Mountain Dog gives the offspring a non-shedding coat and better health. So, Bernedoodle sheds less, lives longer, and is very friendly. Bernedoodle may be more difficult to train than other Doodles, such as the Golden Doodle, because it has a lot of hair. The Bernedoodle will need a lot of exercises to keep his joyful goofiness from turning into a darker sense of humor, like chewing up your furniture or doing other nasty things. If you’re away from home for a long time during the day, this is true. However, they are loving and loyal dogs, just like the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle were said to be before.
Friendliness overview
Affection level
Very affectionate
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
High
Pet-friendly
High
Stranger -friendly
Low
Adaptability Overview Table
Good for new pet owners
Medium to high
Good for apartment living
Good and compatible
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
High
Tolerates cold weather
High
Tolerates hot weather
High
Bernedoodle Temperament
TBernedoodless make great pets for families because they are loving, bright, and active. Younger kids love them, making great friends as they get older. Bernedoodles are goofy and love their pet parents.
Bernepoos are known for being gentle and caring when it comes to kids. They are also known for how much they care about their own family. In general, he is friendly and easy-going. However, this doesn’t mean that he’s easy to teach.
Bernepoos may be afraid of strangers from time to time. So it is essential to get them to know many people when they are young. If your dog hasn’t been properly socialized, they may become afraid of strangers. Hence, early socialization is a must.
Bernedoodle Training
Bernese Mountain dogs are stubborn, and it may be challenging to train your Bernepoos. However, inheriting Poodles’ trait, these dogs are brilliant and are easy to train.
To keep a puppy’s mind busy, he’ll need different toys and activities. Mental games with your dog are a fun way to keep your dog moving. Engage them in as many activities as possible and keep them mentally stimulated.
The best way to teach a dog that might be hard to train is always to use positive reinforcement. When you have a dog that is likely to be stubborn, you should not use negative reinforcement to get them to do things. They might be relentless when they’re young, but most puppies grow out of it when they’re older, so it doesn’t matter. A well-behaved dog will get a reward and keep doing the same thing over and over.
Trainability overview
Easy to train
High
Intelligence
High
Prey drive
Medium
Tendency for mouthiness
Low
Tendency to bark and howl
High
Wanderlust ability
Medium to high
Bernedoodle Exercise Needs
Your Bernedoodle’s health and well-being are directly linked to his exercise sessions. So every day, your dog should go for a walk. This not only keeps them healthy, but it also makes them happy and healthy.
Many new parents don’t know that over-exerting their Bernedoodle puppy could be just as bad for their health and growth as putting them through too much playtime. Adult Bernedoodles need 30-60 minutes of exercise, 1-3 times a day because they are a little bit of an active breed. If you have a Bernedoodle, its age, size, and temperament could significantly impact this score. People who own Bernedoodle puppies should start with five minutes of exercise and do it at least three or four times a day.
A list of safe exercises for a Bernedoodle puppy:
There’s no better time than now to start teaching your Bernedoodle how to walk on a leash.
Playtime with Other Puppies – Other puppies will have similar stamina, making this a great way to get to know each other. Make sure your puppy doesn’t try too hard to keep up when they play with older dogs.
Tug activities – It’s a great way to connect with your dog and get some exercise simultaneously. If the games don’t get too crazy, they’re a great way to do both.
Obedience Training: Practicing your puppy’s memory and other training activities can help them get both mentally and physically tired.
Exercise needs overview
Energy Level
High
Exercise Needs
High
Playfulness
High
Intensity
High
Bernedoodle Grooming
It might be a little complicated when it comes to grooming a Bernedoodle. This is because they are a mixed breed and don’t have a uniform coat. DNA from either their mother or father could make their coat different.
If your dog has a specific type of coat, you may need to make some changes to their grooming routine to make it work for them. It’s a good idea to start by having a professional groomer look at your pet’s coat first. As a rule, it’s best to brush Bernedoodles two to three times a week. Their hair will stay smooth and tangle-free if they brush their hair every day like this. In addition, if you use the right brush for your pet, you may be able to go longer between washes by getting rid of more dirt and debris.
For nail trimming, it’s vital to get your puppy used to having their paws touched. Then, keep an eye on their feet and cut their nails, no matter how often you groom them. Next, clean their eyes and ears regularly to avoid infections. Finally, brush their teeth regularly to get rid of periodontal diseases.
Grooming overview
Shedding Level
High
Tendency to Drool
High
Easy to Groom
Low
Bernedoodle Health
Bernedoodles are as healthy as their parent breeds. However, they can be affected by certain diseases that are common to their parents.
Hip dysplasia, eye and heart problems, and Von Willebrand’s disease are still possible, even if they’re old. Reputable breeders will check for these common illnesses and conditions to ensure their offspring are healthy. In addition to looking at your pet’s current health issues, a veterinarian can help you think about what might happen in the future.
Health Overview
General Health
High
Weight Gain Possibilities
Medium
Size
Medium to large
There may be diseases from both the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog in Bernedoodles. Responsible breeders can have tests on their breeding stock to ensure their lineage is healthy.
Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a painful, life-threatening condition caused when the bones of the rear legs don’t fit properly in the joints. Hip Dysplasia is primarily hereditary, but factors such as injuries, excessive weight gain, wrong exercises can cause hip dysplasia. Some dogs might exhibit symptoms, while some might not. Treatment ranges from medication to replacement of the hip through surgeries. To prevent this condition, avoid breeding Bernepoos with hip dysplasia parentage, and undertake regular checkups.
Hips are X-rayed during this process to make sure they work. If they do well, they become certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Project if they pass (PennHIP)
Eye Disorders: The eyes are checked by an ophthalmologist and certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) or OFA during this process.
Cataracts: Cataract is the growth of a white film-like layer covering the eye lens. The eye will look opaque. It is genetically transmitted and, if ignored, can lead to blindness. The vet can treat cataract through surgery.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is the rise in eye pressure that affects the eyes of both humans and dogs, leading to blindness. Symptoms like swollen and bulged eyeball, squinting, watery eyes, and redness can indicate glaucoma and require medical attention. Regular health tests can help identify and cure glaucoma at an early stage.
Elbow Dysplasia: Elbows are X-rayed during this process to make sure that they are safe to work with. If they do well, they are then certified by the OFA, and they can work for them.
Heart Disease: Heart Diseases might cause abnormal heart murmurs and heart rhythm. This condition can be diagnosed through an X-ray, an ECG, or an echocardiogram. Treatment depends on the cause and ranges from medication, dental care to weight control. It is important to have the heart checked by a vet. It can then send the OFA a certificate that shows that the person passed the test.
Bloating: Bloating or Gastric Dilatation is a disorder in the digestive system. The stomach dilates, spins, and twists, causing a lot of pain to the affected dog. This condition will also damage the blood vessels and interrupt blood flow to major organs, leading to organ failure.
Von Willebrand Disease: This hereditary condition affects the blood’s capacity to clot. The primary symptom is excessive bleeding after surgery. Von Willebrand’s Disease can be identified through certain signs like nosebleed, bleeding gums, and intestinal or bowel bleeding. As there is no other solution, blood transfusion from normal dogs is the only remedy available now. Research is underway to find new therapies and medications.
Patella Luxation: This happens when the dog’s kneecap moves out of place in the femur. Small dogs more likely inherit it. A vet checks the kneecaps and the OFA makes sure they’re safe.
Degenerative Myelopathy: This disease causes the spinal cord of older dogs to weaken over time. It can make Bernepoos wobble, stumble, and fall over.
Macrothrombocytopenia: When a dog has a lot of platelets, it has macrothrombocytopenia. This is an inherited disease.
Bernedoodle Diet and Nutrition
Dogs’ digestive systems haven’t changed much owing to their undomesticated wolf lineage. As a result, they’re best adapted to eating fresh, high-protein prey. This is what we term “species-appropriate nutrition,” and it’s what a natural, raw diet aims to achieve.
The stomach of a dog isn’t built to digest and ferment carbs. Even grain-free food, such as beans, peas, and lentils, sometimes contain high quantities of starchy carbohydrates. Giving this to a dog puts their system under stress, generating physiologically demanding insulin, glucagon, and cortisol surges throughout the day.
Whether you pick raw dog food or make your own DIY dog-safe food recipes at home, switching to a natural species-specific diet will fuel your dog’s well-being, regardless of breed.
Bernedoodle Living Condition
Bernedoodles will need around thirty minutes of vigorous activity every day. Playing fetch, going on a stroll, or anything else that makes your dog pant is OK. Aside from that, this breed will want to play all day long. They like spending time outdoors with their family and participating in outdoor activities. They also have a lot of stamina and like roaming. A fenced-in backyard is beneficial, but it is not required if you take your dog for regular walks.
Bernedoodles are also quite intelligent and will need mental stimulation daily. A fifteen-minute training session may easily do this. You may also provide mental stimulation via puzzle toys and activities such as hide-and-seek.
Adding Bernedoodle to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Breeding
Mixed breeds are often healthier than purebreds. In addition, because they originate from a bigger gene pool, they are less likely to inherit genetic disorders. On the other hand, Purebred dogs are more susceptible to many genetic diseases due to their parents’ genetic similarities.
Almost all purebred dogs are the consequence of long-term inbreeding. Nonetheless, Bernepoos are relatively healthy. They aren’t prone to a lot of issues. On average, you may anticipate them to live for at least 12 to 15 years.
Bernedoodles are devoted to their owners. They consider themselves to be family members and should be treated as such. So be adventure pals, frolicking about in the local lake (these dogs adore the water!) and following you on treks if you leave them home alone for lengthy periods.
Bernedoodles are wonderful family pets.
In a multi-pet home, they will get along with all pets.
They like being the center of attention and will gladly be the family’s major focus.
Bernedoodles are known for being ready to make friends with strangers.
They may experience anxiety as a result of their desire to please others.
They will struggle in homes where their families are absent for the most of the day.
Because of their size, they thrive in bigger yards with plenty of room.
With adequate daily exercise, they can operate in a smaller living area.
They will need 45-60 minutes of daily exercise due to their high energy levels.
Cost of Bernedoodle
A Bernedoodle from a reputed, quality breeder should cost between $2500 and $5000. Approximately $4000 is the typical cost. Bernedoodles with tri-color coats are the most sought-after and often the costliest.
Because not all breeders are made equal, you should do thorough research on all breeders you are considering. This is particularly true if you can get Bernedoodles for $800 to $1,500. Bernedoodles aren’t all made equal. Several variables influence the price of a Bernedoodle.
