What is a Phantom Bernedoodle?

No doubt, Phantom Bernedoodles are an attractive option for anyone looking for an affectionate, calm, and stress-free dog that you’ll fall in love with instantly. But, if you still have doubts, here are ten of the most fascinating facts (and a few extra) you need to know about the Phantom Bernedoodle.

What is a Phantom Bernedoodle Dog Breed?

The Phantom Bernedoodle differs from other dogs of the same variety because of its distinct “phantom” markings. They come in more than one color, with some fan favorites including the chocolate Phantom Bernedoodle and the Phantom Tricolor Bernedoodle.

Phantoms have a bold color throughout their body except for the nose, chest area, and legs. Their unique shades are a product of years of experimentation from dedicated breeders. You can expect Phantom Bernedoodles to come in three sizes: tiny, standard, and mini.

Interesting Facts About The Phantom Bernedoodle

Regardless of the shade, Phantom Bernedoodles steal many hearts. Their adorable nature makes them irresistible. Some little and well-known facts about these furry friends include:

A Phantom Bernedoodle’s Colors May Change

• Pitch-black Phantom Bernedoodle puppies may gradually turn into a light gray when the dog is two years older. While some Phantoms come in various shades and color patterns (such as the chocolate Phantom Bernedoodle), a few carry or inherit the fade gene.
• So, don’t fall in love with the color of your pet too soon. For most dog owners, the color change is a welcome contrast. However, others might be disheartened by the surprise transformation a few months or years into their ownership. Popular Phantom Bernedoodle colors include tri-color and sable.
• In addition, there is the Phantom merle Bernedoodle, a charmingly rare variety. The best way to determine if your pet has the fading gene is to look at the parents. If the parents’ coat color has changed, there’s a good chance your phantom has the fading gene.
• However, there’s no sure way to tell whether or not the color of your puppy will change over time, even when the puppy’s parents seem to maintain the same color. With that in mind, it’s better to wait and see and not get too stuck on the colors.

Bernedoodles Love to Splot

• Most dogs will go under the shade or lie on their side to cool off. But some Bernedoodles will sploot instead. Splooting is when the dog stretches its front legs forward and back legs backward, with its stomachs lying flat on the floor.
• Splooting is a habit that almost all Phantom Bernedoodles do all the time. Most puppies grow out of this habit, but some adult dogs don’t. Splooting is a great way for these dogs to stretch or cool off during the summer.

Phantom Bernedoodles Are Quite Vocal

• Who said dogs couldn’t talk? Phantom Bernedoodles have a reputation for being quite the chatterboxes. You will know if they are angry, sad, happy, or bored. How? They waste no time telling you. These dogs communicate using different sounds to convey several messages.
• A whine, a bark, a moan, a howl, or a low tone squeal are just some of the diverse ways Phantom Bernedoodles communicate. This type of Bernedoodle can sometimes be enigmatic with its use of vocalization.
• A bark could mean anything from “I want to play” to “there’s someone at the door.” Despite their expressiveness, Phantom Bernedoodles are not noisy. Most of the time, they are super quiet and laid back, and they’ll often have a trigger for being vocal.

A Mini Phantom Bernedoodle Isn’t As Small as You May Think

• A Phantom mini Bernedoodle may not be the same size as a standard Phantom Bernedoodle, but it still won’t be as small as a Chihuahua. The label “mini” is relative. A standard size Phantom Bernedoodle is about 23 to 29 inches and weighs 70 to 90 pounds. In contrast, a mini Berniepoo weighs between 25 to 50 pounds and is 18 to 22 inches tall.
• To put that into context, mini Labradoodles can grow up to between 14 and 16 inches tall and weigh 15 to 25 pounds. Male mini Bernedoodles tend to be notably larger than females. If you’re intent on finding a mini Bernedoodle, ask the breeder about the parent’s sizes. This way, you’ll have a better idea of your mini-doodle type.

A Phantom Bernedoodle Could Also Possibly Be a Labradoodle

When you breed an Australian Labradoodle with a Phantom Bernedoodle, you get an Australian Bernedoodle. This crossbreed might look like any other Phantom, but it isn’t. Breeders sometimes use an Australian Labradoodle or a Bernese instead of another Bernedoodle because these dog breeds have the same structure and temperaments. The resulting hybrid may have long, bulky straight, or wavy hair that doesn’t shed much. Its color is also more uniform compared to the standard Phantom Bernedoodle.

A Bernedoodle Can Sometimes Have a Stubborn Streak

• The Phantom Bernedoodle is known to be quite stubborn. They are likely to behave badly and often get caught in bad situations while discovering the concept of boundaries. However, that stubborn temperament is often observed in other poodle mixes and Bernese Mountain Dog breeds.
• If you own a Bernedoodle puppy, you need to persist with the training, no matter how frustrating it gets. Phantoms thrive on consistency, so patience is key. A Phantom Bernedoodle full-grown will stop as an adult.

Not All Bernedoodles Have Tri-Colored Coats

• Some dog owners are more invested in a dog’s looks than its personality or temperament, which explains why the Tri-colored Bernedoodle is much sought after than the standard Phantom Bernedoodle with one or two different colors. Bernedoodles can be plain black, black and white or have a tri-color coat that’s black, brown, and white, or black and white with random red markings.
• The most requested color is a dog that resembles a Bernese. The only problem is that a dog with this color combination is rare. Genes will determine the color your Phantom Bernedoodle has. Selective breeding is what yields dogs with rare color combinations.

Grooming a Full-Grown Bernedoodle Can Be Quite Expensive

• Because of their larger than usual size, having your full-grown Phantom Bernedoodle groomed will likely cost more than you anticipated. The breed has long hair and a bulky body, which involves grooming.
• That leads to costs being much more than a standard-sized short-haired dog. Expect to spend upwards of $100 every time you need to have your puppy or adult Phantom Bernedoodle groomed by a professional.

A Phantom Bernedoodle Tends to Be Sensitive

• Part of training a dog sometimes requires punishment. However, from time-outs in the distant corner to scolding your Phantom Bernedoodle, they may not take it lightly when they realize they made you sad or angry.
• These dogs get super sensitive and might act out or remain distant. Some Phantoms could even become sick. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to use positive reinforcement when training this type.

A Bernedoodle May Suffer From Separation Anxiety

• The Phantom Bernedoodle thrives when working and living with humans. Whether you live in a townhouse or on a farm in the countryside, you can bank on a Phantom sticking by you and proving useful. This breed is an excellent guard dog or babysitter, especially if they spend more time indoors.
• However, these delightful qualities and their joy for being around humans come on the condition that you don’t leave. Phantom Bernedoodles are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. They are liable to experience it more than other breeds.

Other Important Facts About The Phantom Bernedoodle

We’ve discussed ten fun facts about Phantom Bernedoodles, but there are many more fascinating things to learn about these remarkable dogs. The first Phantom Bernedoodle was bred in 2003 in Canada. It’s designed to provide companionship to humans. They have distinct temperaments, exercise requirements, and health needs.

Bernedoodle Temperament

A Phantom Bernedoodle has the smarts of a Poodle and is as sweet and playful as a Bernese Mountain Dog. It’s the perfect combination when you want a dog that isn’t going to give you too much trouble. This is a loyal and relatively calm dog with a friendly personality.

Other Phantom Bernedoodle owners have described their pets as:

• Easy to train
• Craving attention
• Smart and stubborn
• Needy, sweet, and loves children
• Affectionate and goofy
• Very vocal

Exercise Requirements

• The larger a dog is, the more exercise it needs daily to stay active and healthy. You don’t want an oversized or sickly puppy because you’re too busy to attend to their physical needs. A Phantom Bernedoodle puppy needs about an hour and a half of exercise daily.
• As an adult, the dog can have about an hour of exercise daily. To keep them active, consider taking daily walks or playtime in the backyard or park. Hiking, running on the treadmill, and swimming are excellent exercise ideas for  Phantoms.
• Encourage playtime for your Phantom since this helps blow some steam off, especially for puppies. The older your dog gets, the calmer they become. That change explains why a younger Bernedoodle needs more exercise than an older Phantom.

Bernedoodle Health

Most doodles are healthier than their parent breeds. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t prone to conditions affecting most canines.

Phantom Bernedoodles experience health problems like:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Skin issues
• Eye problems

Poorly bred Phantoms also have a higher risk of getting cancer. Consider taking your pet for random health and genetic tests to avoid such health issues. The results will tell you which diseases your puppy is susceptible to, and your vet will advise on how to care for and keep him healthy. Be keen on who you get your dog from. Only choose quality, licensed breeders committed to the wellbeing and welfare of dogs.

Related Questions

What Type Of Hybrid Are They?

• Another one of the facts, what is a phantom Bernedoodle mixed with? Are they all half Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle? While most breeders can get these phantom colorings by using either F1 or F1B generations, some get more unique colors from interbreeding. The phantom coloring is actually a relatively new standard for Bernedoodles.
• They were first discovered and standardized in 2003. And since then, some breeders have started using a Bernese Mountain Dog and Australian Labradoodle to get the “Doodle” side. These are called an Australian Bernedoodle.
• Getting one of these Bernedoodles are still considered a Doodle. But there are some things that you should consider before settling on one. They are not the most hypoallergenic of all the Doodles. It will shed a great deal and likely have a loose wavy coat.
• That being said, a Bernedoodle mixed with an Australian Labradoodle will still have a fantastic temperament. Since they are mostly Bernese Mountain Dog, they will retain more of these qualities than a Poodle or Lab.
• If any of these traits will be an issue for you, talk to your breeder about concerns. Asking them how they breed their phantoms will give you a better idea of what to expect. They will be happy to answer all of your questions about how this mix will differ for you.

Do Phantoms Have Different Care?

A Bernedoodle is a Bernedoodle. It doesn’t matter what coloring or size of Bernedoodle that you get; each one will have the same care. Here is a quick overview of what to expect.

How Is Phantom Different From Parti?

• A parti colored dog is usually all white with patches of color all over them. They differ from phantom because parti colors don’t come in dark bases. And all of the patches are not uniform across the body. Each puppy from a parti litter will have irregular patches that aren’t the same on any two puppies.
• A Phantom can sometimes come in lighter colors that resemble a parti, but the difference is uniform. All of the markings look the same on each puppy from a phantom litter. But that doesn’t mean that every puppy in the litter will be a phantom.

Final Thoughts

Owning a Phantom Bernedoodle is your first step to a life full of bliss. While this variant can be pricier compared to other breeds, they are fascinating dogs to own. As this list of ten facts shows, there is much to learn and discover about Phantom Bernedoodles. They are curious, diverse in appearance, highly intelligent, expressive, and, above all, deeply loving.

If all you want is a healthy Phantom Bernedoodle, rest assured that the color of your dog does not affect its physical and mental capabilities. Beyond their color, all doodles are the same. If you want to cover all your bases before getting a Phantom Bernedoodle, this comprehensive read dots all the I’s and crosses all the T’s.