All About the Bernedoodle: What they are like and How to Care for them!

There are over hundreds of mixed breeds out there, and I say the Bernedoodle is one of the best! Have you ever heard of them? You probably have. They are most known for their silly name and their purebred counterparts. You are probably wondering now what this mix breed is. Should I be considering the Bernedoodle at all? Am I going to like this breed? Let’s figure out! You and I will learn more all about the Bernedoodle: what they are like and how to care for them as we scroll further.

Let’s get going!

What is a Bernedoodle? The Origin

Let’s start with how the Bernedoodle began. The Bernedoodle is a mixed breed between a purebred Bernese mountain dog and a purebred Poodle. They also go by the name Bernese Mountain Poo. It was mentioned that their breeder was Sherry Rupke, the owner of SwissRidge Kennels. Sherry had her first two liters of Bernedoodles around the year 2003. She wanted to create a breed that shared the same characteristics and traits of a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle. This way, you will have both the advantages that you can get from the two breeds. The Bernedoodle, however, often gets mixed up with other breeds. People usually spot them as the Greater Swiss mountain dog, Entlebucher mountain dog or even the Australian Shepherd. But believe me, folks! They may almost look the same, but they are not the same breed!

Let’s get to know the Bernedoodle’s parents!

Bernese mountain dog

The Bernese mountain dog is said to be an extremely versatile working dog from Switzerland. They are part of the four large breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs. Initially, the Bernese mountain dog is trained to help in the farmlands. They are responsible for being drafts as well as pulling carts filled with either fully grown crops, fertilizers or anything the farmers wish to place.

Poodle

Here’s the poodle! Poodles are cunning dogs both inside and out. You may have known them mostly featured in movies and dog pageants. Despite their fashionable coats or looks, the poodle is initially a hunting dog. Shocking, right? In the past, they were bred to accompany hunters and aid during the process of hunting. However, they are still great dogs in any case! They are smart and friendly dogs.

The Bernedoodle’s Physical Attributes

Can you spot a Bernedoodle without confusing them of another? To do so, a Bernedoodle would have the following key points that make them unique from others:

• Most Bernedoodles have a coat color mixture of black, white and brown based on their Bernese mountain dog parent.
• They have ears falling downwards instead of staying upright
• Bernedoodles all have black or clear brown eyes

• Their nose color is black. In rare cases, they can be brown.
• Bernedoodle tails are straight but can curl when they want to
• The height of a Bernedoodle can reach 12 inches to 29 inches.

• They have wavy or curly coats. *Note: Bernedoodles can also have straight coats but are considered quite rare.
• Bernedoodles have a broad physical structure just like both its purebred parents.
• They can weigh 10 to 90 lbs based on their height or food intake.

These are the typical physical attributes Bernedoodle consists. Now that’s done, let’s move on to how Bernedoodles behave!

How do Bernedoodles behave?

Now, if we want to get a Bernedoodle, we have to know precisely how they are like when we are to spend our times with them. You might be asking: Are they friendly? Do they have the same traits as their parents? Will I be able to handle them? Well, to start, here are a few things to take note when it comes to a Bernedoodle’s behavior:

• Bernedoodles are said to be highly intelligent and take after their two counterparts
• They are considered hardworking dogs and are capable of pulling heavy objects just like the Bernese mountain dog
• Like their parents, the Bernedoodle is also a loyal companion once you have developed a loving relationship with them
• Bernedoodles intend to be a little bit goofy from time to time
• Children are safe when it comes to the Bernedoodle. They are friendly towards them
• While they are intelligent, they are also playfully stubborn!
• Bernedoodles are energetic dogs and may require frequent walks
• They love to crave for your attention! Enjoying the feeling of love is what they live for
• They like to play often and exercise
• Among other dogs, the Bernedoodle is friendly and playful towards them

These are the Bernedoodle’s common behavioral traits! However, a dog’s behavior may vary depending on their environment or how they are being raised. Dogs tend to adapt to their surroundings, and this dramatically affects how they behave.

How big do Bernedoodles get?

We wonder most of the time whether a Bernedoodle is capable or suitable to stay in the place we live. To assess, we look at the factors to consider, and one of them is a Bernedoodle’s height. Most Bernedoodles are observed to have a height of 12 inches to 29 inches. It’s all based on their poodle parent. Knowing that the poodle has three sizes, so does the Bernedoodle. The three sizes are toy, miniature, and standard. So how tall can a Bernedoodle be based on these three sizes?

• Toy Bernedoodle: Height may reach 12 to 17 inches weighing 10 to 24 pounds
• Miniature Bernedoodle: Height may reach 18 to 22 inches weighing 25 to 49 pounds
• Standard Bernedoodle: Height may reach 23 to 29 inches weighing 70 to 90 pounds

*Note: Male Bernedoodles usually are much larger than females. Knowing that the Bernese mountain dog is a large breed, your Bernedoodle may grow a bit bigger than the standard size.

Bernedoodle’s Coat Type and Shedding

Bernedoodles are certainly fluffy! They have a curly or wavy texture to their coats which connects them to their Poodle parent. Poodles are known to have such curly coats, and we can say where the Bernedoodles got it! While they have a curly or wavy fur, they are also:

• They don’t shed so much
• Hypoallergenic coats
• Fashionable
• Their fur thickness gives them the ability to withstand cold temperatures
• The skin is protected from the sun due to its coat density

As for the Bernedoodle’s coat colors, they can range from white, brown to black. Because of the Bernese mountain dog side, your Bernedoodle may inherit a tri-color coat with the mixture of black, white and brown. It’s often found in the mixed breed as well. However, it is still possible for your Bernedoodle to only have one or two colors.

Bernedoodles and Grooming

Now that we know that the Bernedoodle’s coat is thick, mild shedding, curly or wavy and hypoallergenic, there are other things you need to know as well when it comes to grooming your Bernedoodle. While they have such coat attributes, we need to consider what kind of grooming they would need. Even if the Bernedoodle does not shed as much as an advantage, they intend to develop a matting texture on their coats. Hairs will start to build up, making your Bernedoodle fluffier than he or she already is. It’s not always a good thing. So to prevent such things, here’s what you need to do:

• You have to make sure to brush your Bernedoodle daily to avoid buildups in your dog’s coat
• Always remember to clip your Bernedoodle every 8 to 12 weeks
• Professional grooming is optional. However, this is highly recommended to be done every 8 to 12 weeks as well
• check When grooming your Bernedoodle, have them bathed, ears clean and nails clipped. But remember, only do this when your pup is complete with all its vaccines.
• check Take in mind that bathing your Bernedoodle too frequently is not so beneficial for them. When done too often, their coat’s natural essential oils will be stripped off from them.

Well, there you have it! That doesn’t seem to be so much. Most people love having to spend their time grooming with their dogs which includes brushing them and having their coats cut. Be specific to the groomers whenever you decide to do so.

Feeding the Bernedoodle

If we are going to care for a Bernedoodle, we want to make sure we are not feeding them the wrong way! When it comes to feeding dogs, it would always depend on their size, age, and level of activities. If you have a toy Bernedoodle, you have to find a dog food that would be appropriate for their size. The same goes for the miniature Bernedoodle and the Standard Bernedoodle. There is dog food out there that contain the right amount of vitamins and nutrition for the particular size. If your Bernedoodle is still a puppy, it is best to give them puppy food since they are precisely made for teething and growing puppies.

*Note: It is not recommended for puppies to directly eat adult dog food. The kibbles could be too hard for them or too big. Adult dog food contains a lot of nutrients sufficient for an adult dog and is more than enough for your puppy and may result in vomiting or frequent excretion.

Bernedoodle’s Health and Life Span

Whenever we get a dog, it is normal to wonder how long they can stay by our side and what we can do to keep them any longer. The Bernedoodle is said to have a life expectancy that is between 12 years to 15 years depending on their health condition. So far, the Bernedoodle is recorded to be a very healthy breed. Because of them being a mixed breed, the possibility of having to inherit specific health conditions is less.

To be quite sure, you can try giving your Bernedoodle genetic testing to see whether they have certain health conditions or not. If you are confident that your Bernedoodle’s parents have health conditions, there could be a tendency where your Bernedoodle could inherit the same state. Common health conditions of Poodles and Bernese mountain dogs are hip and elbow dysplasia and eye and skin problems.

To learn more about Bernedoodles, here is a video to show you interesting facts about them!

The Pros and Cons of Bernedoodles

To summarize, here are some pros and cons you may want to know!

PROS

• The Bernedoodle is capable of living in cold weathers
• They are very affectionate with families
• The breed is friendly with children
• check They are playful as well as loving to some dogs
• check They are highly trainable and intelligent

CONS

• They are not so easy to groom
• Bernedoodles are susceptible dogs
• Does not do well with novice owners

Conclusion

The Bernedoodle is an excellent dog mix breed. They are friendly towards children, playful towards their comrade dogs, affectionate towards their owner and much more, they are dogs who seem loyal enough to stick with the family as they see it as their very own pack. Bernedoodles need a lot amount of care and love. In return for that, they become your greatest friend!

I hope you liked this article as well as learned so much about the Bernedoodle. Thank you for reading and share it with your friends and family!