Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix): Cuddly, Kind, Fluffy Friend

If you have been on the hunt for a fun dog that will fit right into your family, the Bernedoodle is a great choice. This is a cute and friendly dog that is more mellow than some of the other Poodle crosses out there. This means that your dog will not need as much exercise every day and that they will be more likely to be a great apartment dog or a great pet for a busy family.

This is a relatively new poodle cross that has only been around since 2003, but it has already made a name for itself. These are kind and clever dogs that make great family pets and that come in nice colors. They also are hypoallergenic, which is a great choice for those who want a dog but are allergic to them. If you have been looking at dogs and keep coming back to Poodle crosses, this is one of the most ideal choices that you could make.

If you are ready to learn some more about the Bernedoodle breed, you need to keep reading!

What is a Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix Called?

The Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle mix is called a Bernedoodle. This funny combination of the two breed names rolls right off the tongue and it makes it simple to remember what kind of dog you are referring to when you indicate this breed. This is one of the larger of the Poodle crosses in some cases since the Bernese Mountain Dog is not a small breed.

If you love a Bernese Mountain dog but want to enjoy the kind temperament of this dog and benefit from a hypoallergenic haircoat and a longer lifespan, this is the right dog for your needs!

Bernedoodle Temperament

The Bernedoodle is fun, silly, and happy. They love to hang out with their families and they can be trusted to enjoy walking, hiking, and playing. This is not a very high-energy dog which can be really nice for those who have limited time to walk a dog or people who live in apartments or do not have access to a backyard. The Berne side of their DNA is very mellow as well as very sweet, so you will get a dog that could not be kinder or more pleasant to be around.

Berners can be a bit slow to learn tricks due to their very mellow nature, and they are not ideal for bringing along on runs or hard climbs in the heat. You will find that your Bernedoodle might be a bit less motivated to do active adventures and they could also be a little less excited about learning skills when it is hot outside.

While it might take a little repetition to teach your Bernedoodle tricks and skills, they are very earnest and sweet and will try very hard to make you happy. This is one of the sweetest of the Poodle crosses which can make up for a lot of other things that make them a little less straightforward to train at times.

What is the Appearance of the Bernedoodle?

The Bernedoodle often has a straighter coat like the Bernese Mountain Dog side of their pedigree. This means that this coat might shed more than the Poodle coat as well. These dogs are also a bit larger overall than some of the other Poodle crosses. They come in chocolate, brown, liver, black, and white, and you will find that their coats are really beautiful since both parents have lovely coats.

While your Bernedoodle will look less like a Poodle and more like a Berner, these are still pretty dogs that offer a unique coat. These are dogs that weigh between 60-100 pounds but they will not appear as massive and bulky as the Berner does. You get a nice blend of traits from this cross and the beauty of the breed combined with the temperament is a winning combination.

What Size Does a Bernedoodle Get?

Bernedoodles will be about 60-100 pounds and they will stand about 23-29 inches tall. This is technically a large dog breed, but this breed never feels that way due to the lightness of the body that tends to come from the Poodle DNA. This breed can be tall and lanky, or they might be heavier in the body and bulkier like the Bernese Mountain Dog side of their pedigree.

You will appreciate that this is a large dog that never takes up a lot of space like a large dog. The Bernedoodle always fits into the spaces that you want them to fit into. This means that a small apartment or a small home will be fine with your Bernedoodle. You will get all the perks of a big dog when you choose this breed without most of the downsides of large dog ownership.

This is not a dog that will knock things over with its tail or run into things. You can trust your Bernedoodle to be the perfect size for almost any location. They are so attentive to their surroundings that they almost never cause a problem, even in small spaces.

Bernedoodle Lifespan

This breed lives for 12-18 years which is really amazing when compared to some of the other Poodle crosses like the Goldendoodle. The Bernese Mountain Dog is not a long-lived breed at all, so this is a big step up from the shortcomings of the Bernese Mountain Dog in this regard. Being able to enjoy longer with your dog is always better and for those who have been discouraged by the short lifespan of the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Bernedoodle might the perfect fit.

Training the Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle can be a bit lazy at times due to the nature of the Bernese Mountain Dog. Not all Bernedoodles are really mellow and a bit lazy, but most of them are quite low energy compared to some other Poodle crosses. They are still smart and active and like to learn new things but you might have to take more breaks and be a bit more patient when you are training this breed.

Bernedoodles can either be quite smart and high-drive like the Poodle side of their pedigree, or they might be more laidback and quieter like the Bernese Mountain Dog parent. You will just need to make adjustments in your training plan for the energy level of your unique dog. These dogs are all easy to work with, but you might need to take things a bit more slowly for the mellow dogs within this cross.

Because this dog breed is so smart, many people make sure that they give them lots of different kinds of skills to learn. This can help keep things fresh and prevent your dog from getting bored. Since the Bernedoodle is a very smart breed, this might help keep them engaged in their training and might also prevent them from wanting to give up and be distracted when learning new and hard things.

Bernedoodle Common Health Problems

This breed benefits from hybrid vigor and you will have far fewer health issues to take into consideration when you are caring for a Bernedoodle. The Bernese Mountain Dog is known for bad backs and bad hips, and the Bernedoodle might inherit elbow and hip dysplasia from the Berner side of their parentage. They might also be more prone to cancer than the Poodle.

Eye conditions are also quite common in both Poodles and Berners, so this is a factor for the Bernedoodle as well. You will want to be sure that you pay attention to skin health as well since the thick coat of the Bernedoodle can lead to some kinds of problems that are not present in other breeds. Foot irritations and skin allergies are common in the Bernedoodle.

Larger dog breeds like this one can also be prone to arthritis as they age. You can prevent this condition from becoming debilitating with some supplements that can be given in your dog’s food. There are also injective joint fluid improvers that you can get from your vet that might help your dog to be more comfortable if they have arthritis as they age. Make sure that you are aware that this can be a problem and provide support for your dog’s joints before they start to experience the pain of arthritis if possible.

Most of the basic needs of your dog can be met with grooming and you might avoid hot spots and skin irritation with ease if you are taking your pet to the groomer regularly and caring for their coat on your own each week as well. The coat of this breed will be one of the things that makes it quite an attractive pet, but neglecting your dog’s coat can lead to other health issues and major skin problems.

Grooming Needs of the Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle will need to see the professional groomer at least a couple of times a year. They will likely have a mixed coat, which means that shedding season might be hard on their coat health. You can eliminate some of the issues that might crop up to do with coat care by brushing your dog at home yourself and making sure that you keep their haircoat clean and free from mats.

Addressing shedding and matting of the hair is critical to the grooming process for this breed. If you do not let the coat of your Bernedoodle get away from you, you should not have any trouble with hot spots, skin infections, or other issues.

Make sure that you have the right tools when you are grooming your dog at home so that you do not cause issues that could have been avoided. There are special tools for mixed coats that you can invest in and your groomer can probably advise about some of the best ways to make sure that your pet’s coat does not have to be shaved off or trimmed down quite close to the skin due to issues with a lack of proper grooming.

Shedding of the Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles will shed more heavily in the fall and at the end of the winter but you can pick these times to have them be looked after by a groomer if you are worried about dealing with the shedding season on your own. Dogs with a Poodle-style coat will experience less shedding each year than dogs that have straighter coats like the Bernese Mountain Dog. This does not mean that you can skip grooming dogs with this coat style, however.

When your dog has a mixed coat, you can expect that shedding will happen to some degree all year long. The less you groom your dog, the more they will shed as well. Staying on top of the grooming process is really important to be sure that your dog is happy and healthy and to control shedding. There is nothing that is more frustrating than cleaning up after a dog that sheds all the time, and you will find that regular brushing and care can go a long way toward preventing frustration to do with your dog’s shedding.

Bernedoodle breeders will also help you to get the right coat pattern for your comfort with grooming. This means that longer-coated dogs or those with Poodle-specific coats will be offered to people who have experience in the care of these two coat styles. If you say that you do not want to have to deal with a lot of grooming or a lot of shedding, your breeder can probably help to pick out the pet that has the right coat for you. Litters can have mixed coats of various kinds all in the same litter which makes this process much easier for you as the person shopping for a dog.

Is the Bernedoodle AKC Recognized?

The Bernedoodle is not AKC recognized. Many mixed breeds are not. The AKC takes a wait-and-see approach when it comes to AKC recognition and waits until breeds have been established for some time before they recognize them. There are many breeds that are made by mixing poodles and other dog breeds, but the Bernedoodle is not a recognized breed yet despite its popularity. Potentially some of the poodle mixes that are being bred in large numbers will eventually get AKC recognition, but the Bernedoodle is still a breed that cannot receive AKC papers.

Make sure to be on the lookout for this when shopping for a Brenedoodle. If a Breeder claims that their dogs can be purchased with registration papers, this is a lie and should make you avoid this breeder at all costs. There are not many people who would be so dishonest when breeding dogs, but you should be very concerned if a Bernedoodle breeder tells you that you can get papers with your puppy that they have bred.

Bernedoodle Cost

This is one of the more expensive designer breeds out there and these dogs will cost you from $2,000 to $5,000. The more unique the coat color of your dog, the more likely it will be that you will need to spend top dollar on your dog. The better the breeder, the higher the cost overall, but that is sometimes offset by all the extras that you get when you shop with a skilled breeder.

Make sure that you do your research carefully before you select a breeder to buy from. You do not want to find out down the road that your breeder was not being careful about line breeding or that the dogs that were used for breeding had lots of genetic issues. Despite being unable to get AKC registration, breeders of Bernedoodles should still be able to provide certification of the health of their dogs.

If you cannot get any promises from the breeder about freedom from major ailments and testing that has been done to make sure that the parents will not pass on various serious health conditions and concerns, you might want to find another breeder to buy from. There is no reason that a skilled breeder would not be responsible for how they create litter and you should expect this from any breeder that you work with.

Bernedoodle Breeders

• Best Bernedoodle Breeders in Ohio (OH)
• Best Bernedoodle Breeders in Florida (FL)
• Best Bernedoodle Breeders in Illinois (IL)
• Best Bernedoodle Breeders In Pennsylvania (PA)
• Best Bernedoodle Breeders in Colorado (CO)

Feeding the Bernedoodle

There are various ways that you can feed your Bernedoodle. The amount of exercise that your dog is getting is a factor in how you feed them, as is the size that you think that your dog will get to be when it is full-grown. You will want to be sure that you are feeding a good quality kibble and that it is not made with too much grain. Also, make sure that you do not feed a puppy food for too long as this can be bad for your dog’s joints and bone health.

Your Bernedoodle should be fine eating kibble, but some people prefer to feed raw food or pre-prepared raw foods. This can help dogs with sensitive stomachs to feel their best and it might also benefit the health of your dog’s coat and their joints and bones. You will need to be careful that you do not get the wrong kind of raw food as well since only the best quality raw food is really safe for your dog to eat.

Make sure that your Bernedoodle does not get too heavy either. When these dogs carry too much extra weight, they can suffer from back problems, hip issues, and skin problems. This is a dog that will do best when kept a little bit lean to prevent strain on their body that can be avoided with ease. Your dog might think that it deserves table scraps, but you should also avoid feeding human food to your pets. Your Bernedoodle will be healthiest on kibble-form dog food that is made for their size and their breed.

Remember to consult with your vet if you are not sure what to feed your Bernedoodle. Your vet will be able to help you to find the right food for your pet’s needs to make sure that they grow up healthy and strong and to prevent issues with their health in the future.  Feeding your dog correctly can be critical when you are caring for a large breed dog and their joint health will be much better overall if you feed them correctly from the start.

Conclusion

The Bernedoodle is a really ideal pet for your family for so many reasons. This is a kind and loving dog that loves to learn new tricks and that is great with kids. The Bernedoodle comes in some lovely colors and can have many lovely unique coat patterns as well. While you will need to provide more grooming for this breed than for some other dog breeds, the beauty and softness of their coats are well worth the added effort and time. Make sure to plan to have groomer care for your dog’s coat a few times a year to help keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy.

There are so many things to love about the Bernedoodle and you will never regret getting this dog for your family. Between a longer lifespan than many other Poodle mixes and a really enjoyable personality, there are many reasons that the Bernedoodle might be the perfect dog for your family. Make sure to research the breeders that you are looking to buy from carefully to ensure that they offer certifications of health for all major illnesses.

Getting the right dog is easy if you take the time to look into the people who are selling Bernedoodles in your area. You will not regret making the choice to get a Bernedoodle and you will enjoy years of fun with your new canine companion.