9 Things to Know Before Getting a Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle is one of those newly developed crossbreeds that even kennel clubs haven’t quite figured out yet. A cross between the giant Bernese Mountain dog and the Standard Poodle, the Bernadoodle can also be called the Bernese mountain poo if you’re feeling funny.

Joking aside, however, do these dogs make for good family pets? And what even is a Bernedoodle anyway, aren’t Bernese mountain dogs way too big to be crossed with Poodles? Let’s find out by going over the following 9 fascinating facts about the Bernedoodle.

What do you need to know about the Bernedoodle?

The Bernedoodle is a very unique and curious crossbreed to look into. New and not fully standardized yet, the Bernedoodle has many different looks, sizes, and needs, depending on exactly how the dog turns out. This means that we don’t really have a lot of statistics or data to go on here but we will still try to give you as much information as we can, based on what we know of the Bernedoodle and its parents.

1. The Bernedoodle can come in various sizes and can have many different lineages

The standard height of a purebred Bernese mountain dog is up to 27.5 inches or 70 cm at the shoulder. As for their weight, these heavy canines tend to weigh as much as 110 pounds or 50 kg. This isn’t as heavy as some other breeds but it does put the Bernese mountain dog squarely in the “giant dog” category.

The Standard Poodle, on the other hand, has a maximum height of 22 inches or 56 cm at the shoulder and a maximum expected weight of no more than 70 pounds or 32 kg. This puts the Standard Poodle close to the 75-pound border between large and giant dog breeds but still only in the “large dog” category.

What does all of this mean for your Bernedoodle, however? Well, it means that a Bernedoodle puppy from a Bernese and a Poodle parent can be anywhere between 18 and 27 inches tall and anywhere between 50 and 110 pounds heavy. This is quite a range for dogs of this size so, when adopting or buying a puppy, you need to be ready for every eventuality.

What’s also worth noting, however, is that Poodles don’t just come in the “Standard” variety – they can also be Medium or Small and Miniature. Surely, breeders don’t try and breed the giant Bernese mountain dog with Miniature Poodles though, right?

Well, if you know a bit about dog breeding, you ought to know that some breeders will try almost anything even if it’s just to see what happens. And, thanks to modern technology, crossbreeds can even be made via artificial insemination, making the size difference between breeds a bit less of an issue.

Does this mean that you can get a miniature Bernepoodle?

Well, yes, if you can find one. Naturally, the breeding of dogs from such vastly different parents is ill-advised and frowned-upon. Even if the artificial insemination process is successful and the Bernese mountain dog mother manages to successfully birth the litter, the risk of health problems in the puppies is far too great to be worth it. So, most of the Bernedoodles you’ll see will be crosses of a Bernese with a Standard Poodle as well as a Bernedoodle with another Bernese or another Standard Poodle.

Whatever the case, you always want to know what the parents of the pup were exactly.

2. This mixed breed is not recognized by the AKC or most other big kennel clubs and here’s why

For all the reasons above, kennel clubs like the AKC continue not to recognize this crossbreed as official. If you’ve managed to find a healthy puppy this shouldn’t matter much – it’d still be a great pet for your family. However, this lack of recognition makes the breeding of healthy puppies less likely as there isn’t a specific breed standards for the breeders to be held to.

3. Most Bernadoodles won’t shed much but do have gorgeous multi-colored coats

Bernese mountain dogs have gorgeous coats but they do shed a lot. Not the Poodle, however – these dogs are famous as very light shedders which is why a lot of people love them. The Bernedoodle cross can shed a little more or a little less, depending on which parents it takes more from. However, the breed will rarely shed as much as a purebred Bernese. They won’t drool as much either.

As a neat bonus, the crossbreed will still often have the awesome black, brown, and white tri-color pattern of the Bernese.

4. The energy levels of this cross can vary but most dogs are quite relaxed and laid back

Poodles are quite energetic but this is balanced out but the Bernese’s calm personality. You can expect a lot of chill evenings and interactions with such a dog and less of a circus at home.

5. Even calmer Bernedoodles still need regular exercise and are big fans of long hikes

The above doesn’t mean that your Bernedoodle won’t need exercise, of course. Both Poodles and Bernese mountain dogs were bred to move a lot – one for hunting, the other for herding. So, your dog will need at least an hour or hour and a helf of daily walks. Despite their low energy, Bernedoodles have lots of endurance so they’ll also love long hikes on the weekends.

6. This mixed breed is highly intelligent and fairly trainable too

Some say that their Bernedoodles are exceptionally stubborn but that’s usually just due to a lack of obedience training. A properly raised and trained Bernedoodle is more than intelligent and loyal enough to be easy to live with and follow your lead. It may not have as much of a people-pleasing personality as a purebred Poodle but it should still be a very trainable and obedient dog.

7. The calm personality of the Bernadoodle is supplemented by its gentle and loving nature

As you’d expect from a smart and loyal dog, the Bernedoodle is a very loving pet. This is a dog that loves to cuddle even if it’s a little too big to be a lap dog. Especially after a long walk or some playtime, your Bernedoodle will love nothing more than to cuddle in your feet or next to you on the couch.

This loving nature does mean an increased risk of separation anxiety, of course, but that’s the case with most social and smart pet breeds. Just keep it in mind if you have to work long hours away from home and make sure that your dog doesn’t feel lonely too often.

8. With good socialization, a Bernadoodle should easily get along with everyone and everything it meets

By all accounts, they get along very well with people of all ages and with families of all sizes. When socialized well, the Bernedoodle should get along perfectly fine with kids, other dogs, and even non-canine pets too. It should tolerate guests and strangers too, again, given proper socialization.

9. The life expectancy of this mixed breed isn’t too high but there also shouldn’t be that many health problems along the way

Purebred Poodles have a pretty good lifespan but Bernese mountain dogs tend to live to about 6 to 8 years on average. This brings the expected lifespan of Bernedoodles down quite a bit but there’s still variation. If you’ve got a healthy Bernedoodle and you take good care of it, you can expect the dog to live past the 10-year mark.

Are these dogs healthy, however? Well, as an unrecognized breed, we don’t have that much data yet. Crossbred dogs can either avoid all the health issues of their parents and be incredibly healthy or they can inherit all the health problems of both parents. That’s why it’s incredibly important to always ask for health certificates for both the pup and its parents.

Some of the health issues you’ll need to keep an eye for include Hip and Elbow Dysplasia , Allergies , Cataracts , and others.

All in all, the Bernadoodle is a truly unique animal. So much so that many breeders and kennel clubs are still against the breeding of this dog as they can’t figure out a consistent standard for the resulting crossbreed.

Does this mean that you shouldn’t adopt or buy a Bernadoodle when given the chance? Not at all. Adoption, in particular, is always the way to go. However, even if you’re buying, all that matters is that you make sure that you’ve got a healthy pup that’s been bred properly.

That is, as long as you’re sure that this is the right breed for you – as adorable as they are, Bernadoodles do have their specifics and requirements. If the two of you are a match, however, your Bernadoodle will make you a very happy dog owner in no time.