Breed Information
BERNEDOODLES
The Bernedoodle, first introduced in 2003, is a cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle. They were bred solely for companionship, so they love attention and lots of cuddles from their families. Bernedoodles are just as happy curling up on the couch as they are hiking a trail alongside their humans. They're playful and active dogs who are highly trainable with positive reinforcement methods.
Bernedoodle History
​Being a relatively new breed, the history book on Bernedoodles is a short one. After years of breeding Bernese mountain dogs, Sherry Rupke of SwissRidge Bernedoodles wanted a way to make the purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs more free from the health issues that plague the breed. After successfully breeding goldendoodles, Rupke wondered if she could create a version of the Bernese that achieved the same health results. Thus, the Bernedoodle (or at least the first intentional pairing of a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle) was born in 2003. Now, dog owners everywhere have fallen in love with the loyal, loving breed that looks like a huggable teddy bear.
Appearance
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Though Bernese mountain dogs have a black, tan, and white uniform, poodles can have a much wider range of coat colors. Because of this, Bernedoodles can vary in color. While they're often tri-color like their mountain dog mom or dad, they can also be tri-color phantom, phantom, tri-color sable, sable Phantom, sable and white, brindle and white, black, black and white, parti, tri-color merle, merle and white, merle phantom, cream, cream and white, chocolate, chocolate and white, chocolate and more.
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Their fur can also be curly like their poodle parent or straighter like a Bernese mountain dog. As a general rule, the straighter the coat, the more your Bernedoodle will shed. In both cases, the thickness of a Bernedoodle mane makes this breed suitable for colder temperatures. A curly Bernedoodle coat is typically sought-after because it's considered hypoallergenic. While no dog is 100 percent allergen-friendly, this breed's coat can be a good option for those who tend to sneeze, sniffle, or itch around dogs.
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Because poodles can come in three sizes—toy, miniature, and standard—Bernedoodles can be different sizes, too.
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Bernedoodle Temperament
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Affectionate and playful, Bernedoodles are a great family pet. They are especially fond of children and provide a wonderful lifelong companion as children grow into adults. Though they're intelligent pups and tend to be goofy and love attention from their humans.
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Though they can't get enough of their family, Bernedoodles might first be apprehensive, sensitive, and skittish around strangers. As with all breeds, it's important to socialize your Bernedoodle puppy so she'll be comfortable and affectionate around new people, too. She can be very charming and charismatic with positive reinforcement training.
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Living with a Bernedoodle
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Bernedoodles are the best of both worlds—they love to be active outdoors (hiking, swimming, running, etc.), but they also love being your snuggle buddy. Personal space is not a part of their vocabulary, and they should not be left alone much. Loneliness can result in separation anxiety, which could cause nervous habits like whining or chewing. ​No matter the size, Bernedoodles are especially gentle-natured and love children. Each dog is different, but in general, they bark infrequently and are more likely to befriend an intruder than scare them away.
Bernedoodle Care
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Most often, a Bernedoodle will have a wavy or curly coat that's ideal for those with allergies. In some cases, a Bernedoodle can have a straighter coat similar to that of a Bernese mountain dog. This means they'll shed more and might not agree with an owner who's allergic to pet dander. Once the litter is a few weeks old, a we are generally able to tell what kind of coat each puppy will have to match the right dog to the right owner.
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But with that curly coat comes a greater need for grooming. Bernedoodles don't shed much, so they'll need frequent brushing to prevent matting. Keep in mind a curlier coat will need a haircut every few months. Just because they're low-shedding doesn't mean they're low-maintenance.
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Standard Bernedoodles do best with a fenced-in yard to run around and play in. They'll need daily exercise to burn off their energy, but so long as their physical needs are met, they likely won't turn to undesirable behaviors like digging to keep themselves entertained. They'll also need consistent social stimulation to reinforce positive behaviors. The more exposure they have to new pets and humans, the more likely they are to be well-behaved when introduced to a foreign person or situation.
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A Bernedoodle's are smart and typically easy to train. It also means she can learn behaviors (good or bad) quickly—that's why it's important to keep up with training, even past their puppy days. Training a Bernedoodle requires positive reinforcement and, in some cases, a high level of patience.
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While Bernedoodles] are responsive to training, they have their own unique personalities and are not as uniformly predictable as a fully purebred dog. Should the puppy inherit the Bernese's willfulness or the poodle's high energy, they'll need more of your time and attention. With consistency and patience a well-trained Bernedoodle is a wonderful companion and a joy to own.
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Health
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The Bernedoodle lifespan is 12–18 years. The hybrid breed may not inherit the same health risks as the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernese side of their lineage has a life expectancy of only seven years due to a high rate of cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and epilepsy. Overall, the Bernedoodle is a healthy breed and makes for a great family addition.
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Skin issues like hot spots can develop due to their thick coats. Hot spots are primarily caused by excessive licking or chewing of an area. This is why it's so important to keep up parasite control and grooming—a Bernedoodle is more likely to pick at their skin when their coat is dirty and matted.
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Bernedoodle Sizes
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Miniature
20 - 45 Lbs
Medium
45 - 65 Lbs
Standard
65 + Lbs
The mature size of a bernedoodle is an estimate based on each parent’s weight and previous litters’ adult weight. We cannot guarantee the adjust weight of your bernedoodle puppy.
Bernedoodle Generations
Bernedoodle generation labels and their meanings:
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The F stands for "Filial Hybrid." This means that it is a hybrid dog that came from two purebred
dogs of two different breeds.
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​The number is the generation of the Bernedoodle. 1 means first generation, 2 means second generation, 3 means third generation, etc.
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When a Bernedoodle generation includes a B it means that it is a backcross. Backcross means that the current Bernedoodle generation was bred back to a Poodle or Bernedoodle.