Mini Bernedoodle Temperament Guide
Are you looking for a friendly, active dog to join your family? A Bernedoodle (or Bernese Mountain Poo) may be exactly what you need. Known for their curly coats, moderate energy levels and loving natures, these dogs make a great addition to any home. As an added bonus, they’re hypoallergenic and low-shedding (provided you work with a reputable breeder). Read on to learn more about these dogs and their special personalities.
What Is a Bernedoodle?
Bernedoodles are a cross between two purebred dogs: the Bernese mountain dog and poodle. While they’re on the designer breed registry, Bernedoodles are not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, they are recognized by other reputable organizations, including:
- International Designer Canine Registry
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club
- American Canine Hybrid Club
The story of Bernedoodle puppies begins in 2003, when breeder Sherry Rupke decided to try breeding Bernese mountain dogs with poodles to see what would happen. While crossing purebred dogs was far from new, this would be the first time these particular breeds mixed. Fortunately, it worked out — the result was a friendly, energetic puppy that had the best of both worlds.
Like their poodle parent, Bernedoodles are highly intelligent and curious. They also retain the friendly demeanor and protective attitude of the Bernese mountain dog. Let’s take a more in-depth look into their personalities.
What Are Bernedoodle Personalities Like?
Are you unsure whether a Bernedoodle will fit in your home? Perhaps reading more about their temperament and characteristics will help. Here are some of the central traits you can expect from a Bernedoodle dog.
Cautious
Considering that the Bernese mountain dog was originally bred as a guide dog, it’s no surprise that Bernedoodles are naturally cautious (a trait that makes them good guard dogs). In fact, they may be reserved and careful when they first meet someone. However, once they warm up to you, they offer lots of love and loyalty — chances are, they’ll become pretty outgoing.
Intelligence
Intelligence is a trait that Bernedoodles definitely get from poodles. Not only is this mixed breed incredibly smart, but Bernedoodles also enjoy pleasing their owners — this makes them relatively easy to train. Because of this natural curiosity, Bernedoodles require regular mental stimulation. Thus, it’s a good idea to keep some puzzle toys around.
Energetic
Bernedoodles love to stay active, which is a characteristic they inherit from both parent breeds. In general, Bernedoodles need around 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. You can work off their energy by trying these activities:
- Obstacle courses
- Scavenger hunts
- Walks and jogs
- Fetch and games
Not only will these pastimes keep your dog happy, but they also offer great opportunities for some owner-dog bonding.
Stubborn
The Bernese Mountain Dog’s stubbornness is often passed down to Bernedoodles. Quite similar to people, Bernedoodles may simply not want to listen at times. The good news is, this trait tends to fade with age. As long as you’re patient with your puppy, there’s no reason they won’t grow into a well-adjusted, respectful adult.
Friendly
As mentioned earlier, Bernedoodles tend to be cautious when they first meet someone. However, once they get to know you, they become very friendly and playful — there’s nothing they enjoy more than spending time with their favorite family members. They also enjoy socializing with other dogs during walks, puppy play-dates and trips to the dog park.
Sensitive
Bernedoodles are pretty sensitive dogs (which is something they inherit from the Bernese mountain dog side). Due to their intelligence, they can quickly pick up on changes in tone or attitude. Therefore, it’s important to remain gentle with them. Being kind, loving and patient is key to connecting with this hybrid dog.
What Do Bernedoodles Look Like?
While most Bernedoodles share a fair amount of personality traits, they differ in terms of size and appearance. You can find the following variations:
- Mini Bernedoodle: Despite the name, these are actually medium-sized dogs.
- Toy Bernedoodle: This mix is usually made with a toy poodle.
- Standard Bernedoodle: This dog type can reach up to 29 inches in height and takes longer to mature than its smaller counterparts.
In terms of fur, Bernedoodles come in a variety of colors (including black, brown and white). Their fur may be straight, wavy or curly — however, the latter is the most popular option as it’s less likely to shed.
How Do I Take Care of a Bernedoodle?
Now that you have a better understanding of how Bernedoodles look and act, you might be wondering: How do I take care of one? Like with any dog, caring for a Bernedoodle requires grooming and looking out for health problems. In general, Bernedoodles are susceptible to the following problems:
- Von Willebrand disease
- Epilepsy
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Patella
- Progressive retinal atrophy
To help ensure your dog remains healthy, it’s important to keep up with veterinarian appointments. You can also reduce the risk of issues through regular grooming. This involves combing your dog’s coat, trimming their nails and giving them a bath every four to eight weeks.
Are Bernedoodle Easy To Train?
So we know that Bernedoodles are likely to be pretty smart dogs. Bernedoodle training can be quite smooth provided you start at a young age and show patience. It’s generally a good idea to train your Bernedoodle from a young age to lay down the fundamental ground-rules and build from that foundation.
Do Bernedoodles Make Great Family Pets?
Bernedoodles can make excellent family pets provided that they’re socialized properly from a young age. It’s a good idea to expose your Bernedoodle puppy to different people, dogs and situations as much as possible provided you do so in a responsible way. You may prefer to hire the services of a dog trainer to help guide you socialize your Bernedoodle dog.
We put the question of whether Bernedoodles are a good choice for family pets to two of our Bernedoodle owners.
Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic?
Bernedoodles, and Doodles in general, are much loved for their hypoallergenic qualities. The American Kennel Club write that there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed. However, the AKC do put forward a number of breeds that are more hypoallergenic than other types of dogs. The Poodle is one of the breeds on their 19-dog list. The influence of the Poodle genes means that it’s likely a Bernedoodle will have some hypoallergenic qualities. It’s important to remember that each Bernedoodle is different and there’s no guarantee they’ll be highly hypoallergenic.
Are Bernedoodles Barkers?
Bernedoodles are unlikely to be excessive barkers unlike some other dog breeds. Having said that, this trait could develop with age. If you do have a Bernedoodle that barks a lot, you may want to contact a dog behaviorist if this is an issue for you.
Where Can I Get a Bernedoodle?
There’s no doubt Bernedoodles make a great family pet. Their outgoing natures and fierce loyalty, coupled with their love of playing, promises endless entertainment and joy. When looking for a Bernedoodle to bring into your home, it’s important to find a reputable breeder, like Pride & Prejudoodles.
At our company, you’ll find an expanse of Bernedoodle puppies for sale. All our dogs are coat-tested to help ensure they’re hypoallergenic. We also conduct extensive health testing that covers many common canine diseases. Our goal is to make sure every dog is happy and healthy before being sent to a new home.
