Bernedoodle: Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix

Bernese Mountain Dog Parent

• Born in the Swiss Alps, Bernese mountain dogs are gentle giants that originated as farm dogs. They’re one of four varieties of Swiss mountain dogs that feature the distinctive tricolor black, brown and white coat, along with Greater Swiss mountain dogs, Entlebucher and Appenzeller. Traditionally, they’d work as guards and pull carts for their employers.
• Where a dog like a golden retriever is bred to have a trusting, friendly temperament, Bernese dogs are reserved and suspicious of new people, making them slightly better guard dogs. Due to their history as herders and cart pullers, they might have a tendency to herd family members or other pets.

Poodle Parent

• Poodles are refined, elegant dogs with a unique appearance and smart mind that’s famous for being easy to train. Originally bred in Germany around the 15th century, they’re active and lively, with a passion for goofy games. Because of their intelligence, they require lots of stimulation and prefer to be with people rather than spending long periods of time alone.
• As working dogs, they were primarily duck hunters. And while we think of them as pompous show dogs, they’re extremely athletic, with a unique coat clip that was developed to optimize their productivity. They tend to favor one person and are very loyal and defensive of their owners. Poodles are one of the most popular choices for crossing purebred dogs because of their low- to no-shedding coat, which is more manageable than traditional dog fur.

• It’s important to note that there can be a lot of variation among Bernedoodles, even within litters. Generally speaking, while they’re undeniably docile and love to sleep, the Bernedoodle temperament is far from lazy. In fact, they’re sociable and outgoing and love nothing more than learning new tricks and playing with their family and toys. They’re receptive to training, have excellent manners and often retain something of a puppy-like character for several years.
• They’re more inclined toward stranger-danger than other doodles, so early socialization of Bernedoodle puppies is required to keep them from getting anxious around friends and family. However, many pet owners prefer that their dog is less trusting and disinclined to approach unfamiliar people.
• Bernedoodles get very attached to their pet parents and require lots of attention and stimulation. As such, it’s better not to leave them on their own for extended periods. A trip to the shops or an appointment should be fine, but no more than a few hours at a time or the dog may get anxious and fearful. Separation anxiety can result in unwanted behaviors such as accidents, barking, chewing and hyperactivity.
• Of course, this devotion is what makes them such wonderful companions for dog lovers. Their love of attention is one of the best things about them, provided you’re in a position to give them the devotion they offer and need themselves.

Size

There’s a Bernedoodle suited to every home, from a city apartment to a sprawling family home in the country. In general, a Bernedoodle’s size is determined by its poodle parent’s size and its generation. First-generation cross Bernedoodles are generally larger because their genes are 50% poodle and 50% Bernese mountain dog. Second-generation F2 and multigenerational Bernedoodles might be smaller when a larger percentage of poodle is added into the mix.

Standard Bernedoodle

Standard Bernedoodles take longer to mature than mini Bernedoodles and tiny Bernedoodles, which take 12 months each. With a much larger size of 23 to 29 inches, they don’t reach full maturity until between 12 and 18 months. On average, standard Bernedoodles weigh approximately 70 to 90 pounds.

Mini Bernedoodle

Due to the impressive size of Bernese mountain dogs and standard Bernedoodles, mini Bernedoodles aren’t actually that small. They’re a similar size to a medium-sized dog, measuring around 18 to 22 inches and weighing in at 25 to 50 pounds.

Tiny Bernedoodle or Toy Bernedoodle

Tiny Bernedoodles and toy Bernedoodles refer to the same tiny pup that’s usually akin to a miniature goldendoodle in size. They usually measure between 12 and 17 inches and weigh between 10 and 24 pounds. If you’re looking for an even tinier pup, why not check out our gorgeous cockapoo puppies?

The Bernedoodle is a beautiful dog with a luscious coat and a teddy bear-like aesthetic. It has some adorable quirks when it comes to appearance. For instance, a Bernedoodle puppy often has a pink nose that turns black once the dog is fully matured. They’re also well-suited to chilly winters due to their long shaggy fur and the presence of an undercoat. We’ll explore some more unique characteristics of this hybrid breed in the fun facts section.

Straight Coat vs Wavy Coat vs Curly Coat

• In addition to different sizes of Bernedoodles, there are also different coat types: straight, wavy and curly. The latter is the most popular for many people, whether they have a family with mild allergies or simply want to minimize the amount of fur that makes its way onto their furniture. Doodles with curly fur shed less than their wavy or straight counterparts, but they have more stringent grooming needs.
• Straight coats are the easiest to manage grooming-wise but tend to shed more than wavy or curly coats. Because of their relatively normal shedding, this type of doodle is the least common. Wavy-coated Bernedoodles fall somewhere in the middle.

Colors

Bernedoodles coats can display in any combination of black, brown and white. All black is common, as is black and white or black and brown. Sable is also an option, although it’s the most difficult to breed intentionally and therefore also the most expensive. In recent years, an even rarer gem has materialized: the merle Bernedoodle. These dogs have marbled grey coats with white and sometimes brown too.

• Bernedoodles are particularly well-suited to family life, even for first-time dog owners. They love being near people and are gentle and caring when it comes to small kids, but they also adore running around the backyard with older children and adults. If your family spends a lot of time away from home taking part in activities the dog can’t join in, a Bernedoodle might get separation anxiety.
• They’ll want to be involved in all the fun stuff you do and enjoy nothing more than being part of the pack. Because they bond so closely with their loved ones, they make excellent companions and protectors.

Diet and Nutrition

• The importance of a well-controlled, balanced diet can’t be overstated. The more you pay attention to your dog’s individual nutritional requirements, the less you’ll spend on vet bills and the longer your beloved pet will live. Dogs love to eat, and there’s always the temptation to give in to their pleading eyes and overfeed them, but this is a surefire recipe for health issues down the line. Feed your pet the best-quality food you can afford and be diligent about sticking to a regular routine with feeding.
• There are four main types of food: wet, kibble, cooked and raw. While raw and cooked dog food is gaining popularity, you should always consult with your veterinarian to ensure you’re providing a balanced meal.
• A combination of dry and wet is often the most healthful and practical choice. When used alone, kibble can lead to dental issues and wet food can lead to digestive issues. Be sure to give a standard Bernedoodle food for larger dogs and miniature and toy Bernedoodles food for smaller dogs.

A Bernese mountain doodle is a vibrant and healthy breed, but it’s still prone to inherit some potential health issues from its poodle and Bernese mountain dog sides. Like many larger dog breeds, hip and elbow dysplasia are possible. With these conditions, the hips and elbows weaken and become arthritic. Some of the other potential health issues Bernedoodles potentially face include:

• Epilepsy
• Heart disease
• Von Willebrand disease
• Cancer
• Sebaceous adenitis
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Patella
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Macrothrombocytopenia

All reputable Bernedoodle breeders are dedicated to minimizing the health risk of the dogs they breed. At Pride & Prejudoodles, we have a health guarantee in place in the very unlikely instance a pup is born with a heritable disease. We ensure all parent dogs are tested and only accept those that have the lowest risk of developing genetic health conditions.

Bernedoodles Grooming

• Take bathing cues from how your dog smells, but generally Bernedoodles need a bath every four to eight weeks. Avoid overbathing as this can affect the balance of oils that keeps a doodle’s skin and coat moisturized and comfortable. Clean its eyes and ears once per week, and give its nails a trim every time you bathe your dog.
• Brushing it two to three times a week staves off mats and tangles, and a trip to the groomer every three to five months helps your Bernedoodle look and feel its best. Dogs love getting pampered almost as much as we do! You can use detangling spray on your doodle, but be sure to choose a brand that’s formulated for your specific dog breed.
• Avoid clipping your Bernedoodle’s coat until it’s between seven and nine months old. Doing it any earlier could result in its fur not growing properly for the rest of its life. Implementing a tooth-brushing routine keeps decay and cavities at bay and can help extend your pet’s lifespan.

Generation Guide

If you’re wondering about the different labels attached to Bernedoodles, such as F1, F2 etc, we’ve compiled a handy guide to help you. Keep in mind that doodles with more poodle genetics will have a lower shedding coat, while pups with more Bernese mountain dog genes have straighter fur that’s more prone to shed. First-generation doodles benefit from the most hybrid vigor.

Let’s break down the differences between each generation:

• F1 Bernedoodle: A first generation (which is what the 1 in F1 stands for) doodle is a 50%-50% cross of a purebred mountain dog and a poodle. While this is the standard, there’s a lot of variation among F1s when it comes to coat type and color. They benefit strongly from hybrid vigor, which means there’s a good chance of them living a long, healthy life free from illness.
• F1B Bernedoodle: An F1B is 75% poodle and 25% Bernese mountain dog, where the “B” stands for backcross. so the dogs are a cross between a purebred poodle or mountain dog and an F1 Bernedoodle. Breeders usually choose a poodle for this cross because the coat is likely to be lower shedding. In fact, this is usually the most hypoallergenic generation of Bernedoodle.
• F1BB Bernedoodle: This type of doodle is 87.5% poodle, making it the least shedding first-generation Bernedoodle. They usually have very curly coats and require lots of brushing.
• F2 Bernedoodle: Like an F1, this is a genetic mix of 50% poodle and 50% Bernese mountain dog, with two F1 Bernedoodle parents. These dogs are most likely to have a coat that sheds like a regular dog breed.
• F3 Multigeneration Bernedoodle: This type of doodle is usually a mixture of F1B and F1B or F2 and F2, although there can be many other iterations. These guys tend to have strong poodle genetics but also have the least hybrid vigor of the different generations.

Fun Bernedoodle Facts

Bringing a Bernedoodle companion into your home will lift your spirits and add a new dimension of joy and magic. We’ve covered all the important stuff about this goofy dog breed; now let’s take a look at some fun facts:

• Don’t worry if your Bernedoodle’s coat fades over time; this is down to genetics. What starts out as a black-haired puppy might grow into a gray adult Bernedoodle.
• Poodles are known for being aloof, but they’re also famous for how easy it is to train them. Bernese mountain dogs, on the other hand, can be quite stubborn! Depending on your individual pup, they might go either way. Luckily, adult dogs grow out of this trait.
• A standard Bernedoodle can be quite expensive to groom because of its size.
• Have you ever seen a dog sploot before? It’s adorable, and Bernedoodles are renowned for displaying this adorable seated posture.
• Bernedoodles are highly sensitive, a trait they’ve inherited from their Bernese mountain dog parent. While all dogs tend to respond better to positive reinforcement, these dogs can be particularly affected by punishment, harsh words or even your tone of voice. It should go without saying, but always be patient and gentle with your dog and they’ll reciprocate in kind.
• Bernedoodles are very vocal dogs that seem to use different sounds to get across different messages. This doesn’t mean they’re noisy or bark too much — both traits that can be managed by early training — but they love to communicate.