There’s nothing quite like mixing two intelligent, loyal dog breeds to make one adorable companion hybrid that will melt your heart and love you to the moon and back! Of all the designer dog breeds out there, one of our personal favorites is the Bernedoodle. Read on to find out what makes the Bernedoodle a […]
There’s nothing quite like mixing two intelligent, loyal dog breeds to make one adorable companion hybrid that will melt your heart and love you to the moon and back! Of all the designer dog breeds out there, one of our personal favorites is the Bernedoodle. Read on to find out what makes the Bernedoodle a puppy you’ll forever love!
The Bernedoodle hybrid dog breed is a mix of two purebred dog breeds, the Poodle (or Miniature Poodle) and the Bernese Mountain Dog. The best qualities and characteristics of both breeds come to the forefront in the Bernedoodle.
From its Poodle parent, the Bernadoodle inherits high intelligence, loyalty, and its soft, hypoallergenic hair. From its Bernese Mountain Dog parent, the Bernadoodle gets its strong work ethic, readiness to please its owner, and adaptable, gentle attitude that makes it great with children and other animals.
When combined, the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog create Bernedoodles that are both companion lap dogs and energetic athletic partners. Whether you want to go for a jog or snuggle on the couch, your Bernedoodle will want nothing more than to stick by your side and smile up at you to show you how much he loves you.
Generally speaking, Bernedoodles are considered medium-sized dogs, and if their Poodle parent was a Standard Poodle and not a Miniature Poodle, then there’s a good chance a Bernedoodle will grow to become a large dog. Typically, Bernedoodles are bred from Miniature Poodles and so they end up being medium-sized. The average Bernedoodle stands at 23 -23 inches, paw to shoulder; and can weigh between 70 – 90 lbs. Of course, the male dogs are larger than the female dogs, but again, the parents’ genetics will ultimately dictate the adult size of your Bernedoodle. Luckily, Bernedoodles are among the longest living dog breeds. They can live up to 18 years!
Both the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog have elevated energy and stamina. The Poodle might like to lounge around the home, but when it’s time to play, the Poodle will sprint, jump, and bound around, getting rid of a ton of energy. Bernese Mountain Dogs also have a lot of energy, though it comes in the form of steady, all day stamina. As a dog from the working dog group, this dog breed used to work on farms as shepherds herding cattle from day break to sunset.
It follows that the love child of these two high energy breeds will also have a lot of energy and need to exercise substantially each day. Interestingly, the Bernadoodle doesn’t require an abundance of daily exercise. This hybrid dog breed needs no more than 60 minutes of daily exercise, with plenty of space to run. Going for a long walk followed by a hefty game of fetch will satisfy your Bernedoodle and keep him relaxed and calm the rest of the time.
Thanks to the high intelligence of the Poodle and strong work ethic of the Bernese Mountain Dog, your Bernedoodle will be easy to train. Bernedoodles are willing to please their owners and respond quickly to positive reinforcements. They’re naturally smart, and so it doesn’t take long for them to pick up on basic command and house rules that are unique to your home and family.
That being said, Bernedoodle puppies may have a challenging time focusing on their training when they’re bursting with energy. This can make them seem stubborn and easily distracted. Puppy training will be most successful if you incorporate physical games and exercise into your training sessions. Alternatively, we recommend you play a high-energy game with your Bernedoodle for 5 minutes to help discharge some of his energy right before a 10 minute basic commands training session.
One of the greatest things about Bernedoodles is that they’re hypoallergenic thanks to their Poodle parent. Their hair is silky and lacks much of the danger that can cause serious allergies. While this is the upside of owning a Bernedoodle, there are some grooming downsides. Most Bernedoodles have “curly” hair that can grow to medium length if not longer. This type of hair is prone to tangles and matting, and so daily brushing is best. You should brush your Bernedoodle at home no less than twice a week.
Also, this is not a low-maintenance dog breed. In addition to brushing your Bernedoodle and giving him a monthly bath, he’ll probably need to see a professional dog groomer about 4 times a year for a thorough bathing, hair and nails trim, and good ear cleaning. A great benefit of taking your Bernedoodle to the groomers is that the pro will be able to identify whether your Doodle’s hair takes after its Poodle or Bernese Mountain Dog parent, and can proceed accordingly. The Poodle only has a single-coat of hair, whereas the Bernese Mountain Dog has a thick double-layer. What type of coat will your Bernedoodle have? It depends, and a professional dog groomer can tell you upon inspecting your dog.
This hybrid dog breed gets along with other dog breeds and children, no problem. This is one of the major reasons that the Bernedoodle has risen in popularity as a trustworthy family dog. In terms of other dog breeds that the Bernedoodle will get along with best, you can always count on the other family breeds. We recommend:
Bernedoodles can potentially get along with other domestic animals, but we advise that you proceed with caution if you have resident cats. A Bernedoodle puppy will get along with a kitten. When both are raised together, these animals naturally accept one another and learn to respect the needs of the other. Matters can be much more complicated if you bring a Bernedoodle puppy into a home with a resident, adult cat. Cats are territorial by nature and they don’t always appreciate the exuberant energy of the Bernedoodle dog breed, especially when that breed is an extra energetic puppy.
This doesn’t mean you can’t make it work. Be sure to provide your resident cat with his own safe space, preferably an entire room or area with lots of natural sunlight where your cat can “escape” the high energy of your puppy. With time, both will learn to accept and respect one another within the grander ecosystem of your household.
Are you ready to take home a Bernedoodle puppy to love forever? Come into Petland Texas to meet our new arrivals and see which Bernedoodle puppy will melt your heart!
