Bernedoodle puppy
adopted in Orlando
born 12/29/2022, Black/White

The Bernedoodle is a hybrid, designer breed of dog. Some people think the Bernedoodle is a cross between a Poodle and a Saint Bernard or a Border Collie. However, it's a cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. They are also known as the Bernese Mountain Poo, Bernepoo, Bernesedoodle, and Bernesepoo. This breed was created as a companion dog most appropriate for families with children, active seniors, or singles, and a house with a yard is preferable. They are also highly adaptable and easygoing with an even temper and a calm manner. They tend to have a less energetic demeanor than Goldendoodles or Labradoodles. The best thing about the Bernedoodle is that they are a combination of the best attributes of the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog. They inherit the intelligence and low shedding coat of the Poodle and the easygoing and loyal nature of the Bernese Mountain Dog. 

The height and weight of the Bernedoodle vary significantly because the size of the Bernedoodle can differ considerably. They can be 10 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder, weigh 10 to 90 pounds, and their life span is 12 to 18 years, with the smaller Bernedoodles living longer. The size of your dog will depend on whether the Poodle parent was a tiny, miniature, or standard-sized Poodle. A Tiny Bernedoodle will be 12 to 17 inches tall and weigh 10 to 24 pounds. A Miniature Bernedoodle will be 18 to 22 inches tall and weigh 25 to 49 pounds. The Standard Bernedoodle will be 23 to 29 inches tall and weigh 70 to 90 pounds.      

Because they are a new breed, it's difficult to predict what your Bernedoodle will look like as an adult dog. They can have curly and wavy or straight coats (even though this is rare), and their colors vary significantly. If they inherit the coloring of the Poodle parent, they can be all black, black and white, black and brown, or spotted. However, they will most likely inherit the tri-colored coat of the Bernese Mountain Dog, white, black, and brown. They are described as "shaggy teddy bears." 

As mixed breed dogs, they are generally healthy. These hybrid dogs tend to have "hybrid vigor," which means that they are only likely to inherit the health problems of the parent breeds if both parents carry the gene for a health problem. The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle do not generally share the genetics for the same health problems. Therefore, the Bernedoodle tends to be healthier than its purebred parents. The mother of the Bernedoodle is always a Bernese Mountain Dog, while the father is a Poodle.  

The origins of designer breeds are often challenging to determine. It's unknown exactly when the first combination of a Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog occurred; However, the breed of the Bernedoodle was recently created. This makes making predictions of what your Bernedoodle will be like difficult. This mixed breed dog was first bred in 2003, specifically as a companion dog. Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels in Canada claims to be the first breeder to intentionally breed the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog in 2003 to create this breed. 

Since this is a new hybrid breed, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, the breed is recognized in the Designer Breed Registry and the International Designer Canine Registry. They are also recognized by the Designer Dogs Kennel Club and the American Canine Hybrid Club.

The Bernedoodle breed is friendly, playful, intelligent, affectionate, loyal, hardworking, and goofy dogs. The Bernedoodle is a great family pet because they are great with children, but they will also be an excellent breed for singles. They are playful dogs that enjoy romping in a yard, but they are equally happy cuddling with their human families. While they can be energetic and playful dogs, the Bernedoodle is very gentle. Therefore, they are great around children and the elderly. Miniature and Tiny Bernedoodles may be slightly more active than the Standard Bernedoodle. They also love to work, and they thrive with attention, so they make good therapy dogs as well.

The Bernedoodle is a social dog that loves family time and attention; therefore, this may not be the right dog for you if you have limited time to spend with it. They are happiest when they are with their human family, whether inside watching TV on the couch or outside playing fetch, walking, or hiking. They do not do well being left alone for long periods of time since they thrive with the attention from their human family. Short shopping trips or appointments are optimal to avoid Separation Anxiety, which could lead to barking, chewing, hyperactivity, and accidents. The Bernedoodle is also a vocal breed. They do not bark excessively or make much noise, but they use different vocalizations to communicate with their human family.   

Of course, you cannot predict exactly which traits your Bernedoodle will inherit from its respective parent breeds. The Bernedoodle tends to inherit the best personality traits from its Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog parents. The Bernedoodle is a brilliant dog because it inherits its intelligence from its Poodle parent. The Bernedoodle also inherits the Bernese Mountain Dog's nature to protect its territory. It's unlikely that they will be fierce or aggressive, but they are good guard dogs to protect their human family. 

The Bernedoodle puppy can be stubborn, but they will usually grow out of this with age. Stubbornness seems to be more characteristic of the Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles. As brilliant dogs, they are easily trained by owners who will be patient with them. Their intelligence allows them to learn commands and tricks quickly. 

Early socialization with the Bernedoodle is essential. While they are good with children and other dogs, early socialization will ensure that you will have a dog who remains calm and comfortable in new situations. Socialization is also important when they are puppies because they may inherit the Bernese Mountain Dog's tendency to be apprehensive around strangers, leading to skittishness. It's a good idea to begin exposing and socializing your puppy to new people and other dogs or pets early so that they remain well-behaved and calm when they encounter new people or other animals. To avoid anxiety or over-excitement when facing unknown situations, it is also essential to get them accustomed to different sights, sounds, and places.  

In addition to the possibility of stubbornness, your Bernedoodle may also inherit the Bernese Mountain Dog's tendency for sensitivity. While they are easy to train because of their intelligence and eager-to-please nature, training also requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement because of their sensitivity. If your Bernedoodle inherits the higher energy of the Poodle parent and the stubbornness of the Bernese Mountain Dog, it will require more attention, more vigorous exercise, and incredibly patient training.    

Consistent training and socialization will prevent the development of any unwanted behaviors. Training is just as necessary as socialization because it provides the intelligent breed's mental stimulation to avoid depression and lethargy. The breed is eager-to-please its owners so that it quickly picks up on the boundaries set by its owners. To prevent the Bernedoodle getting bored with training, it's recommended to keep training sessions short and vary the activities. 

They are also known to be adaptable and generally easygoing. Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles adapt better to apartment and city life. However, any sized Bernedoodle can adapt to any home, whether it's an apartment in a large city or a house with much land in the countryside. On the other hand, the Standard Bernedoodle would do better in a larger home with more space as their size may make it difficult to maneuver in small living places. The breed generally does not need much personal space provided their moderate exercise needs are met, and they receive sufficient mental stimulation. However, a yard would be ideal for the Bernedoodle to burn off some energy, especially for the smaller Bernedoodles.

The coat of the Bernedoodle varies significantly between the coat of the Poodle and the coat of the Bernese Mountain dog. They usually have wavy or curly coats that do not shed much. However, the Bernedoodle can also have the straighter coat of the Bernese Mountain Dog, which means that they would shed more than the wavy or curly Bernedoodle coated dogs. The wavy or curly-coated Bernedoodle is generally more hypoallergenic because it does not shed as much as other breeds, making it a good dog for people who have allergies. They have a thick coat, which helps them do well in cold climates. The thick coat also protects them from the heat in warmer climates.  

Bernedoodles with curlier coats is more difficult to maintain with grooming. They also shed less, which means they need to be brushed more often to avoid matting. To prevent matting and tangles, brushing two to three times a week is recommended. The coat also needs to be trimmed every couple of months. However, clipping a puppy's coat before seven to nine months old can cause the fur to not grow properly for the rest of its life.

The Bernedoodle needs to be bathed every four to eight weeks. Over-bathing can dry the Bernedoodle's skin and coat, causing itching or other skin irritations. It's recommended to clean their eyes and ears once a week and trim the nails whenever you bathe them. A routine of brushing their teeth will also prevent tooth decay and cavities. It can also increase your dog's lifespan.

This is a fairly active breed that requires moderate exercise. However, their level of activity will vary depending on the size of your Bernedoodle. Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles tend to have higher energy levels, while the larger Bernedoodles tend to be more sedentary. They all require at least one long walk a day. They love to play, run, hike, and walk with their human families. They may inherit the Poodle's love of fetching and swimming. The Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles adapt well to apartment living; however, they still require at least one long walk a day. The highly adaptable breed can match its human family's activity level and lifestyle as long as they get sufficient exercise and mental stimulation. Since they are brilliant dogs, mental stimulation is as essential as physical exercise. Interactive and puzzle toys will assist with mental stimulation to avoid boredom. Another way to avoid boredom is to vary the activities you have with your Bernedoodle, and you will develop a stronger bond with your dog.

The Bernedoodle is generally a healthy dog. They tend to be more beneficial than either of their parent breeds, the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog. Since this is still a new breed, information regarding health remains limited. However, a good diet is always essential to maintain your dog's health. Because the size of the Bernedoodle varies significantly depending on whether it's a Tiny, Miniature, or Standard Bernedoodle, their dietary needs will also differ greatly. It's best to consult your veterinarian regarding dietary needs for the size of your Bernedoodle. A Standard Bernedoodle should get food appropriate for larger dogs, while the Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles should get food appropriate for smaller dogs. A Standard Bernedoodle should eat 1400 to 1800 calories a day, a Miniature should eat 800 to 1400 a day, and the Tiny should eat 500 to 900 calories a day. Also, food appropriate to your Bernedoodle's life stage (puppy, adult, or senior) is always essential. A combination of wet and dry food is recommended to avoid dental issues from the dry food and digestive problems from the wet food. Treats are great for training since Bernedoodles are usually trained easily; however, caution should always be used with treats to avoid excessive weight gain.