If you want to add a puppy to your family, you'll want to find a breed that fits your family's stage and lifestyle well.
And sometimes, figuring that out is a little complicated!
At Infinity Pups, we're dedicated to matching the right dogs with the right families, and we've written this article to help you understand one very special dog breed: The Bernedoodle!
Bernedoodles are family dogs that seek companionship, love having fun, and have a touch of goofy. If that's what you're looking for, the Bernedoodle is the perfect dog!
The Bernedoodle is a crossbreed between a Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog. Crossing the two breeds not only brings out the best character traits in each breed, but also reduces the health risks associated with each breed.
And what positive attributes does a bernedoodle acquire from each parent breed?
The Bernese Mountain Dog brings loyalty, friendliness to children, and a fun, playful attitude. From the Poodle, you find intelligence, low shedding, and obedience.
Ready to discover if a bernedoodle puppy is a perfect fit for your family?
Let's get started!
Bernedoodle History
Bernedoodles are a recent crossbreed. While some may have been bred earlier, many experts agree that breeders officially created the Bernedoodle in 2003.
The original goal with the Bernedoodle was to have a companion dog with lower shedding tendencies and fewer health concerns than its parents.
Bernese Mountain Dogs have outstanding personalities but are also high shedders, a problem for allergy sufferers. They also have shorter lifespans due partially to health issues commonly found in this specific breed.
Breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs with Poodles created the ideal crossbreed that addressed the concerns of the Bernese Mountain Dog while maintaining its playful and loyal attitude.
The result?
A designer dog called the Bernedoodle that combines attributes from both breeds.
Designer dogs take a purebred Poodle and cross it with another purebred breed. Most designer dogs are bred to link the Poodle's non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat with the positive characteristics of another breed.
So what is the result of mixing two different pure breeds?
Intentionally mixing two pure breeds creates a crossbreed, such as the Bernedoodle or Goldendoodle (Read our related blog post for more information about Goldendoodles).
A pure breed means people have deliberately bred the same type of animal over many generations. In other words, the breed has been kept pure and unmixed with other breeds.
If you mix the offspring of two pure breeds, you have a crossbreed as long as they are the same species.
Although people have bred multigenerational Bernedoodles together to emphasize different traits of the Poodle or Bernese Mountain Dog, the most popular mix is still a first-generation crossbreed directly from a purebred poodle and purebred Bernese Mountain Dog.
Bernedoodle Variations
There are three main variations of Bernedoodle—toy, miniature, and standard. The variation you want depends on how large a dog you have space for and feel comfortable handling.
Toy: Toy bernedoodles range from 12 to 17 inches in height and 10 to 24 pounds in weight.
Miniature: Miniature bernedoodles range from 18 to 22 inches in height and 25 to 49 pounds.
Standard: Standard bernedoodles are the largest type, ranging from 23 to 29 inches in height and 50 to 100 pounds.
The size of the bernedoodle is determined by the size of the Poodle used in the mix.
Because they are a relatively new crossbreed, we only have semi-accurate information about the average lifespan of a Bernedoodle. However, many experts estimate that your Bernedoodle should live 12-15.
Personality Strong Points
Bernedoodles were bred to bring the best of the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog together. At least, that is the hope—there is no guarantee for what a crossbreed will be like.
Because of this crossbreeding, each Bernedoodle puppy will have a different appearance and personality, and it's impossible to predict what each puppy will be like. However, Bernedoodles do display a few dominant characteristics.
Here are the top five traits of the Bernedoodle:
Companionship
Bernedoodles are one of the top crossbreeds for craving attention, love, and care from humans.
They will soak up all the love and attention you give them!
Bernedoodles want to be with people whenever they can. Whether snuggling on the sofa, being the center of attention in a game, or spending quality time together, the Bernedoodle will love any time and attention you can give!
If you decide to purchase a Bernedoodle, be prepared to give it some of your time and attention. They are not dogs you can ignore.
Intelligence
Inheriting strong intelligence from the Poodle side of the family, Bernedoodles are intelligent and can quickly adapt to various situations they face. Their quick, agile brains also make them more trainable than some breeds.
Loyalty
Bernedoodles display a strong sense of commitment to their families, particularly the children they know and love.
Families love Bernedoodles because of the strong bonds they can form. Loyalty is such a strong trait in the bernedoodle that some call it the "velcro breed" because it will stick to its family like velcro!
Playfulness
Bernedoodles take the fun to the next level.
Because of their love for human companionship and their special bond with children, Bernedoodles are a wonderful breed when it comes to spending quality time with their people.
The Bernedoodle is also known for being a bit goofy and having a sense of humor. You can see this coming out in the Bernedoodles' playful side.
One thing to consider with Bernedoodles, mainly the toy and miniature breeds, is to play with them carefully to avoid injury. Be sure to show your children how to interact with bernedoodles in ways that will not cause harm.
Stubbornness
Bernedoodles are known to be more stubborn and headstrong than some breeds, especially when they are puppies. This is a trait that comes from the Bernese mountain dog.
Although this may seem negative, Bernedoodles usually outgrow this as they become older and more mature. Owners who train their Bernedoodle consistently and patiently as a puppy will quickly find this trait becoming less of an issue.
Also, remember that Bernese mountain dogs mature slower than some breeds. So don't be surprised if your Bernedoodle acts like a puppy even when it appears mature. Don't worry—he will grow out of it eventually.
Other Characteristics
Like other animals, the exact characteristics of the Bernedoodle vary based on the puppy you choose, the environment it is raised in, and the regular attention and care it receives.
There are a few characteristics of the Bernedoodle that some people may not find the ideal for their particular situation or wants.
These are not necessarily negative characteristics, but you should consider them before you choose your puppy.
Regular exercise needed
The Bernedoodle is an active, playful dog and requires daily exercise. Bernedoodles should get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise as a general recommendation.
What constitutes exercise?
Exercise includes playing in the backyard or local park, walking or running, or swimming.
Remember that you shouldn't involve your puppy in vigorous exercise activities such as jogging until they are six or eight months of age. Over-exercising at an early age can cause joint problems. Begin with taking your puppy on short walks with frequent breaks.
The bernedoodle may not be the best breed for you if you are looking for a low-energy dog that will not require regular aerobic activity. If you choose a Bernedoodle, you must be prepared to give it the necessary exercise.
Not the best watchdog
Because they enjoy human interaction, the Bernedoodle does not make the best watchdog.
Bernedoodles aren't everyone's best friend at sight. But they also aren't a watchdog breed and aren't as quick to alert you to danger or protect as some breeds are.
Space Considerations
Space is a concern with any pet, and Bernedoodles are no different. Because of their need for regular exercise and potential size, you must ensure enough space in your house or backyard for your bernedoodle.
Many people do not recommend standard Bernedoodles for small apartments or spaces because of their active nature and size. If you have a small space, getting a toy or miniature Bernedoodle may be best.
Grooming
Although the Bernedoodle has the Poodle's DNA and easier groomability, you can't ignore your bernedoodle's coat.
It is vital to perform regular grooming on your Bernedoodle, preferably several times a week. A slicker brush tends to work well on their curly hair.
Owners find that Bernedoodles respond well to regular grooming, especially if you start when they are young. If you start young, they will quickly learn that grooming means time with their owner, which they love!
How necessary is regular trimming since they are partly Poodle?
Most Bernedoodles have wavy or curly hair, but a Bernedoodle can have straight hair. Straighter coats mean more shedding; therefore, you should trim these Bernedoodles regularly.
Overall, Bernedoodles have the Poodle's curly hair, and you should care for their coat. We recommend that you clip the hair several times a year—regular trimming results in a cleaner dog and faster, easier grooming.
If you groom and trim them properly, Bernedoodles will not need to be bathed regularly. The exception is if they are filthy. Similar to a poodle, their skin will have its own oils and moisture; regular bathing can remove these from your Bernedoodle.
Other care for the Bernedoodle is routine dog care: Maintain trimmed nails, keep them clean, and brush their teeth several times a week with approved toothpaste. Also, be sure to feed them healthy amounts of good dog food.
Health
Your Bernedoodle's health is critical to its quality and length of life.
As mentioned, the Bernedoodle is a relatively new crossbreed, and there is not as much data on them as older breeds. However, Bernedoodles may face many common health issues facing dog breeds.
What is your first line of defense?
The best time to look for health issues with your Bernedoodle is during regular grooming. Looking for sores, rashes, unusual skin or hair color, or other issues when you groom your Bernedoodle will help you spot problems early. When you spot problems in the beginning stages, they are easier to take care of.
Hip and elbow dysplasia is a common problem in many dogs.
Dysplasia occurs when a dog's leg or hip joint becomes weakened or malformed. This can result in arthritis or even total lameness if it goes untreated. One thing that can cause dysplasia is if your puppy runs too much on hard surfaces at too young.
Thankfully, since it is a genetic disorder, you can test dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia. Ask your breeder if they have any dysplasia testing or health records on your puppy's parents. If your puppy shows any adverse signs, have your local veterinarian check them.
Because of their long ears, watch for infections inside your Bernedoodle's ears. When moisture gets in their ear, a Bernedoodle's larger ears restrict airflow. This can result in ear infections if their ears are not thoroughly dried.
This ear infection can occur in any breed with more prominent ears. The best prevention is ensuring the ears are thoroughly dried after your bernedoodle has been swimming or gets significantly wet.
Bernese Mountain Dogs can also be susceptible to cancer. However, although the Bernedoodle crossbreed is still young, many veterinarians have noticed that most Bernedoodles do not carry this genetic health concern.
Allergy Characteristics of a Bernedoodle
As we already mentioned, one of the original purposes of the Bernedoodle crossbreed was to create a human companion dog that would not shed as much or cause as much allergic reaction.
This raises the question: Are Bernedoodles more hypoallergenic than standard breeds?
This question is difficult to answer with a definitive "yes" or "no."
However, it does raise a second question we need to answer: What causes people to be allergic to dogs in the first place?
The simple answer is dander.
Dander is dead skin cells shed by dogs and other animals, including humans.
Because of their Poodle genes, Bernedoodles tend to have less dander because of their shorter, curlier hair. It is important to note that low dander levels are best achieved when you perform regular grooming, trimming, and brushing.
So your Bernedoodle may be more hypoallergenic than some dogs. However, remember that it's difficult to predict what a crossbreed will be like. Your Bernedoodle may have longer, straighter hair like the Bernese Mountain Dog, which results in more allergies.
Choosing Your Dog
When it comes to choosing a dog, you have several options.
You can purchase from a previous owner, adopt from a shelter, or buy them as a puppy.
What are some pros and cons of the three places you can get your dog?
Buying from a Previous Owner
The first 16 weeks of a puppy's life are critical stages in its development. When you buy an older dog, you miss those first stages. This means that a lot of their early training and development has already happened, whether good or bad.
A well-trained dog will save you a lot of time and energy because they are already in good habits, but a poorly trained dog with bad habits takes a lot of time and work to retrain.
It can also take more time to bond with a Bernedoodle if they were owned by a previous owner, mainly if they are older. Thankfully, Bernedoodles are social and can quickly adapt and bond with new owners if they are properly loved.
You should also ask for veterinarian records. This will allow you to keep up-to-date records on your dog's health and help you and your veterinarian know that your dog is current on all recommended vaccinations.
Adopting from a Shelter
Adopting from a shelter provides a loving home to a dog in need, and the results can be beautiful.
Animal shelters continually look for good homes and families to adopt their animals. Adopting a puppy can be an excellent way to give back to your local community and humane society.
If you choose to adopt from a shelter, you want to know that it might require additional TLC and training. Much of this depends on your dog's condition when it arrives at the animal shelter and the environment it came from.
The animal shelter may know little about the dog's background, so spending time with your Bernedoodle in person will help you learn more about its personality.
Another thing is that puppies from shelters may not have papers.
Buying as a Puppy
Many people like to get their Bernedoodles as puppies to be part of their home for their entire life.
One of the most significant benefits of adding a Bernedoodle to your home while they are still a puppy is maximizing the time you have to spend with it.
Why is this important?
Bonding with your Bernedoodle as a puppy quickly establishes a robust and life-lasting bond between it and your family.
Another benefit of purchasing a puppy is providing a quality, controlled environment from day one. It may also allow you to meet one of the parents, which will help you see your dog's overall health and personality.
One negative in purchasing a puppy is that you are responsible for all the training. You can do all the training yourself or enroll your puppy in a local obedience school.
However, if you purchase your puppy, beware of puppy scams! They are a real thing. However, if you know them, it's pretty easy to avoid puppy scams.
Read more about avoiding scams on our blog post: How To Spot and Avoid a Puppy Sale Scam.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a family-friendly, loyal, and fun dog, look no further than the Bernedoodle!
Purchasing a Bernedoodle will bring much joy and life to your home. We hope you enjoy every minute you get to spend with your dog.
If you are ready to add a Bernedoodle to your family, head over to Infinity Pups to view our available Standard Bernedoodle puppies or Mini Bernedoodle puppies for sale! We never sell puppies from puppy mills; all our puppies have a 1-year health guarantee.
Or, if you don't think a Bernedodole is right for you, check out our other breeds!
Or read about some of them in our other articles:
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CORGIS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAVAPOOS
We're so excited to match you with your new furry friend.
This was very informative. I did not know that there were three different sizes available. It would be nice to know where they can be purchased.