Bernedoodle: Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle Mix Personality, Temperament, Grooming and Adoption

Bernedoodles are adorable dogs and are ideal for families with children. In addition, they inherited an almost hypoallergenic coat from their poodle parents. Bernedoodles (tiny and mini) perfectly adapt to life in an apartment and are very fond of attention and communication.

The Bernedoodle is a designer breed derived from the breeding of the Bernese mountain dog and the poodle. Some people think that the Bernedoodles is a cross between a Saint Bernard and a border collie but, in fact, it is not. Since this is a relatively new breed, information about Bernedoodles is limited. But understanding its parent breeds will help us get to know this dog better.

Characteristics

Weight	10-90 pounds
Height	12-29 inches
Colors and Patterns	Brown, chocolate, black, white
Lifespan	12-15 years
Suitable for	Families with children, active singles and seniors, houses with yards

If you want to buy a Bernedoodle, you need to contact a breeder. It is difficult to distinguish among the tiny, mini and standard size Bernedoodle; however, the difference becomes noticeable with age.

When choosing a puppy, you first need to study its living conditions and the behavior and health of the mother. She shouldn’t have any genetic diseases. Next, the puppies must have a veterinary passport and all the necessary age-appropriate vaccinations. ^[1]​

The average price of a Bernedoodle is about $4,000; when you buy a Bernedoodle from a trusted breeder, the range can be anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find the price of a Bernedoodle in a lower range ($800 to $1,500).

History of the dog breed Bernedoodle

The first cross between the Bernese mountain dog and the poodle, known worldwide as the Bernedoodle, belongs to Sherry Rupke from the SwissRidge kennel. She wrote a book about the breed, Burnedoodles: A Complete Guide. This book describes how Sherry planned to create Bernedoodle.

In 2003, Rooke first tried crossbreeding purebloods, wanting to produce a dog with the sweet nature of the Bernese mountain dog and the intelligence and rare molt of a poodle. The Bernedoodle got much more from its parents than these traits. Let’s get to know each parent breed to find out what else these dogs can inherit.

Bernese Mountain Dogs

The Molossians, whose breeding was carried out by the ancient Romans, are considered the distant ancestors of today’s Sennenhunds. This breed was considered a universal dog, as each individual combined fighting, herding and guard qualities. Molossians accompanied the Romans in military campaigns, which helped the dogs reach the Alps and leave offspring in the territory of modern Switzerland, which gave rise to the family branch of the Sennenhunds.

Swiss farmers appreciated the endurance and good-natured quality of these large dogs. Until the middle of the nineteenth century, mountain dogs regularly grazed cows on alpine lawns. For a long period of time, Swiss mountain dogs were equated with mongrels and were not quoted by breeders. Only at the end of the nineteenth century, these dogs began to arouse the interest of specialists, which was the main impetus for the emergence of the Bernese shepherd branch.

The peak of the popularity of the Bernese mountain dog was in the 80s of the last century. Calm and friendly sheepdogs enjoyed constant authority among European and American breeders.

Poodle

The poodle is the second parent of the Bernedoodle. The poodle is one of the oldest breeds of dogs. There is no consensus about its origin, and for many centuries, there have been disputes about the poodle’s homeland, its ancestors and the breeding process. Most scientists believe that the poodle originates from several countries and crosses several breeds of dogs. Among the poodle ancestors are the barbet, Maltese, water spaniel, retriever and greyhound.

The first images of dogs are found on bas-reliefs of Roman tombs and on Greek and Roman coins. Images of the poodle can also be seen in the drawings of the columns of the monastery of Mont-Reale in Sicily and the paintings of the cathedral of the Abbey of Saint-Remy, in France. In addition, images of these dogs (with a lion’s haircut) are found in the works of artists of the Dutch and Flemish schools.

The long curly coat kept the dog warm, protected the chest from the effects of cold and injuries and interfered with the hind limbs’ movement. To make the work easier, the dogs were sheared. Hairdressing developed in Europe in the nineteenth century; at this time, the first salons for dogs and the first groomers began to appear. France, which is now recognized as the country of origin of the breed and the standard, began to dictate the fashion for hairstyles. The poodle got its current name during the Baroque period: the word “pudel” comes from the German “pudeln” (“to splash”). The breed standard uses the French name “caniche.”

Judging by the rich past of the Bernedoodle’s ancestors, we can say that this dog combines endurance, good nature and activity. As a rule, cute Bernedoodle is playful and likes to have fun with people. ^[2]​

Interesting facts about the Bernedoodles

• A standard Bernedoodle, also known as a Bernese mountain poo, Bernese mountain doodle or a Bernese poodle
• They’re happy to blend into your multi-dog family
• The tiny Bernedoodle was created by crossing a toy poodle with a Bernedoodle.
• They love to be outside – rain or shine.

Personality bernedoodle dog

Mixed breeds can inherit different traits from their parents, so it is impossible to know exactly how each puppy will look and behave. Before buying a Bernedoodle, you need to learn from the breeder about the character and appearance of the puppy’s parents. To imagine what the Bernedoodle puppy will be like, you can learn more about the personalities of the parent breeds.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese mountain dogs are large, long-haired dogs of black and red color with white asymmetrical spots on the muzzle, neck, chest, paws, and tail tip. Their distinctive feature is the “signature smile” that occurs when the muscles of the muzzle relax.

The head of these dogs is proportional, massive, rounded. The eyes are small, dark brown. The ears are medium-sized, triangular. The body is strong and compact, the back is broad. The tail is lush, straight. The coat is thick, long, glossy, straight or wavy, but not curly. The color is always tricolor. The predominant color is black.

The Bernese mountain dog looks quite intimidating, but it is a good-natured dog despite its impressive size. The Bernese mountain dog is affectionate, loyal and intelligent. The dog is characterized by an incredible love for its owner; however, training this dog is a process that requires patience and perseverance. In psychological terms, the Bernese mountain dog develops quite slowly – it remains a puppy for up to two years, so it is necessary to behave appropriately with it: no slaps and physical punishments — this dog is too gentle and kind.

READ MORE: How to Train a Puppy to Walk on a Leash

Poodle

The poodle is a brilliant, elegant and proportionally built dog with a narrow muzzle and a long neck. The coat of a standard poodle is plentiful and curly. Often they make stylish hairstyles. The colors can be different: black, white, blue, gray, silver, brown, apricot and cream (for details, see the breed standard).

The standard poodle is an affectionate, lively dog that becomes a worthy companion. He can be a good guard dog, announcing the approach of visitors, but will never be aggressive. Poodles are brave, cheerful, love a busy life and participate in all family affairs. These dogs love to run. Indoors, they often behave like relaxed homebodies. However, in the open air, they are constantly looking for objects to pursue.

They are happy to be in the fresh air, although they can be aggressive towards unfamiliar cats and other small furry creatures. They are calm, although they rarely openly show their love for people. They usually get along well with other dogs. The standard representative of the breed requires a lot of physical activity and a large space. Most of them like to swim and search for objects; therefore, ensure safety if there is a body of water nearby. They are well trained and achieve success in many dog sports; for example, in tasks requiring speed and obedience.

Each Bernedoodle can inherit the qualities of its parents to a greater or lesser extent. Therefore, the personality of Bernedoodle depends on many factors. As a rule, these dogs, like poodles, can quickly adapt to new conditions.

Bernedoodle breed variety and mixes. These dogs vary in size:

• Tiny Bernedoodle can reach 8-10 inches in height with a weight of less than 10 pounds.
• Mini Bernedoodle: 10 to 15 inches tall, and the weight can range from 10 to 30 pounds.
• Standard Bernedoodles ranges from 15 inches to 29 inches, with weights ranging from 50 pounds or more.

Adaptability
Adapts to apartment living	4 out 5
Tolerates being alone	3 out 5
Tolerates cold weather	3 out 5
Tolerates hot weather	3 out 5
All-Around Friendliness
Affectionate with family	5 out 5
Kid-friendly	5 out 5
Dog friendly	4 out 5
Cat friendly	4 out 5
Friendly toward strangers	4 out 5
Health Grooming
Amount of shedding	2 out 5
Drooling potential	2 out 5
Easy to groom	3 out 5
General health	4 out 5
Trainability
Easy to train	3 out 5
Intelligence	3 out 5
Tendency to bark or howl	3 out 5
Activity
Energy level	4 out 5
Intensity	4 out 5
Exercise needs	5 out 5

Activity

These dogs are very energetic and agile, and they love to walk and play. Bernedoodles are very loyal to their owners, jealous and do not tolerate separation. A Bernedoodle of small or tiny size can easily live in an apartment. However, the dog needs a sufficient amount of physical activity. Bernedoodles requires new experiences and outdoor games. It is advisable to walk them 2-3 times a day for at least half an hour. Several times a week, it is recommended to take the pet to the dog playgrounds or take it out of the city, so that it can freely frolic without a leash.

Another reason why the popularity of Bernedoodles is growing is that these dogs can easily and quickly remember commands. The main thing is to conduct education and training consistently and calmly. You can not interrupt the course of training, unless it is required by health concerns. The Bernedoodle is designed to please a person and demonstrate its skills. But you can only achieve perfect obedience with daily exercise.

Even an inexperienced owner of a poodle will feel like a skilled trainer in the classroom with his pet. First, you can teach the puppy simple commands at home, then take lesson after lesson of the basic training course. After that, having decided what you want from your dog, proceed to more complex training. ^[3]​

Care and Diet

After buying a bernedoodle puppy, you need to allocate for him a place to sleep and put a house or a bed there. You need a separate place for eating. There should always be a bowl of clean water. It is recommended to buy a puppy a lot of different toys. Bernedoodles are very active, and they do not sleep much during the day as they like to play.

Balanced feeding is essential for all Bernedoodles, regardless of their size. Considering such a variety of appearance and the risk of developing certain diseases, it is recommended to choose ready-made industrial food for feeding.

The choice of food depends on the age and size of the dog. For feeding mini Bernedoodles, is suitable for dry, full-fledged dog food for small and dwarf breeds. For adult dogs belonging to large group, it is better to feed full-fledged food for medium breeds of dogs.

This breed does not inherit the same health risks as the poodle or Bernese mountain dog. The Bernedoodle is much healthier than pure-bred Bernese, but they can still be predisposed to dysplasia, eye diseases, and some allergies. The disadvantages of this breed are excessive salivation and the ability to quickly gain weight.

Grooming

Most often, the Bernedoodle will have hypoallergenic wavy or curly hair. In some cases, the Bernedoodle may have a straighter coat, similar to that of the Bernese mountain dog.

The breeder must tell you what kind of coat each puppy will have in order to choose the right dog and the right care. The peculiarity of Bernedoodle care is that they need to be combed regularly (at least several times a week) or even cut about once every 1-1.5 months.

Regular cleaning of the eyes and ears is also required, but this can be done at home using only water and a cotton pad. You should also brush your dog’s teeth with an enzyme toothpaste designed for dogs.

Rescue and adoption

You can find Bernedoodle dogs in shelters. Remember that a lot of Bernedoodles need adoption and care! Rescue or adopting Bernedoodles will be much cheaper than buying a puppy. However, finding the Bernedoodle may not be so easy because it is a popular breed. Many organizations can help you find and adopt Bernedoodles:

• IDOG Rescue and Rehome.
• Doodle Rescue Collective.
• Pet Finder.
• All 4 Paws Rescue.
• Doodle Rock Rescue.

Conclusions

The Bernedoodle is a kind and active dog that can be a great companion for your family. It is important to make sure that you have enough space for the puppy. Dogs of this breed need physical activity. They are not very well suited for people who do not have time to walk them.

It is an ideal pet for families with children and single people. It is obedient, affectionate and loyal. He’s just as cheerful and bright. But before you but such a dog, you need to study the description of the breed, pros and cons and frequent questions.

READ MORE: Are Two Dogs Better Than One?

FAQs

Article Sources:

1. “Bernedoodle crossbreed. Cross-breeding between two or more recognized dog breeds.” wiki2.org/en/Bernedoodle.
2. “Designer Dog.” Encyclopedia Britannica, britannica.com/animal/designer-dog.
3. “Prize Poodles And Doodles – Online.” Prize Poodles and Doodles, 1 May 2021, prizepoodlesanddoodles.com/.