What is a Bernedoodle?

Mini Bernedoodle

Read on to learn about this amazing breed!

The Bernedoodle is a designer dog breed that is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The intelligent, sensitive Poodle combined with the calm, friendly Bernese Mountain dog is without a doubt an amazing adventure!

Even though these hybrid dogs have been around less than two decades, the breed is already insanely popular. That’s not really a surprise though. The family tree of the adorable Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle mix speaks volume about its qualities. This is a special dog comprised of some of the finest breeds around. Anyone seeking out a Bernedoodle can look forward to one of the finest designer dogs ever bred.

Bernese Mountain Dogs nearly went extinct in the late 1800s, and the effort to bring them back resulted in inbreeding which led to various health issues. As a result, they sadly have a relatively short lifespan (6-8 years). Crossing with the Poodle allows the bernedoodle to keep the Bernese qualities that so many people adore, while also having a much longer lifespan (14-17 years).

These sweet Bernedoodles have so much in their favor! If you like the loyal, easy-going nature of the Bernese, but want something with even more intelligence, minimal to no shedding, and better health and longevity, look no further. You have found it in the Bernedoodle! I am still amazed at the beautiful personality of these hypoallergenic, family-friendly puppies.

Mini Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles tend to be an all-around well-balanced dog with a friendly, sociable and playful disposition that is a good fit for owners of any experience level. First-time owners may want to consider obedience classes to ensure training is a positive bonding experience for them and their dog. Bernedoodles tend to be very trainable and fare really well with other people and pets with socialization. To help you get started on proper training while your pup is still young, we are recommending an online training program that we have found to be amazing! Read more on that here.

girl with Mini Bernedoodles

Our Generations of Bernedoodles

Depending on the parent dogs, there are many genetic variations of Bernedoodles. However, here at Walnut Valley, we only breed the following:

  • F1 Standard – Cross between a Standard Poodle & Bernese Mountain Dog.
  • F1 Mini – Cross between a Mini Poodle & Bernese Mountain Dog.
  • F1b Mini – Cross between a Mini Poodle & an F1 Standard Bernedoodle.
  • F1b Tiny – Cross between a Mini Poodle & an F1 Mini Bernedoodle.

We have Standard, Miniature, and Tiny Bernedoodles.

Our Bernedoodles come in three breed sizes - Standard, Miniature, and Tiny. A cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Standard Poodle will create a F1 Standard Bernedoodle. Our F1 Standard Bernedoodles will usually stand 23-29 inches at the shoulder and weigh 70-100 or more pounds. Most standard Bernedoodles are in the 70-90 pound range. Females are usually smaller than males.
An F1 Miniature Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Miniature Poodle. Our F1 Mini Bernedoodles usually stand between 17 and 22 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 25 to 65 pounds with most of them weighing 35-45 lbs. Again females tend to be smaller than males.
An F1B Mini Bernedoodle is a cross between an F1 Standard Bernedoodle and a Miniature Poodle. They are sized similar to our F1 Minis. Because these puppies are 75% poodle they tend to be more hypoallergenic and usually shed less than the F1 puppies.
An F1B Tiny Bernedoodle is the result of breeding an F1 Mini Bernedoodle to a Miniature Poodle. F1B Tiny Bernedoodles usually stand between 12 and 17 inches tall and weigh between 10 and 25 pounds. Again, these puppies tend to be more hypoallergenic and usually less shedding than the F1 Bernedoodles.

Mini Bernedoodles

Differences between male and female Bernedoodles.

We are often asked if there is a difference between boys' and girls' personality. Our experience is that there is a lot more difference from puppy to puppy in a litter (even in the same gender) than there is between boys and girls. Males might tend to be more affectionate and goofy, but also a bit more stubborn while females can be more independent but easier to train and less stubborn. The differences are actually quite subtle, and both males and females make absolutely amazing pets. Temperament is more important than gender when looking for the puppy that is the right fit for you. Male Bernedoodles tend to be larger than females, but beyond that there is not a major difference between the genders.

Our Bernedoodles have various coat colors and types.

Coat colors are generally a combination of both of the parents' breeds. Almost all of our F1 puppies have the beautiful tri-colored markings of the Bernese. This tri-colored coat is a less common variation and is generally the most sought after. We occasionally have black & white or black & tan puppies as well as blue merle. You will see the most variation in color in our F1b puppies.

One of the huge attractions to the bernedoodle is its hypoallergenic coat. Bernedoodle coats can vary in thickness, consistency, and color. Keep in mind that Bernedoodles come from both the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog. In an F1 (first generation) breeding, you might get a puppy with a coat that looks more similar to a Poodle and get another puppy with a coat more like a Bernese (Sometimes even within the same litter). While most of our bernedoodles have minimal to no shedding, a curly, Poodle-type coat will shed less than the one that is more straight, like the Bernese Mountain Dog. We encourage a more curly coat for people that have allergy issues. If you have intense allergies you should consider a curlier coated F1 or an F1B puppy.

Bernedoodle coats are generally put into three main categories - Curly, Wavy, and Straight.

Please note when looking at the examples below that the appearance of our Bernedoodles is greatly affected by whether they are groomed and how short the coats are if groomed. Be sure to consider this when looking at the pictures.


-Examples of a Curly Coat

Coat types

Curly coat – The curly coat will shed the least and is the most hypoallergenic of the three types. The curls on this coat are usually tight with a soft texture much like what you would see on a Poodle. Curly coats may still shed, but they shed the hair upon themselves rather than on your floor. Unfortunately, this shedding upon themselves is what makes it necessary for them to be brushed daily and trimmed frequently. The curly coated Bernedoodle is usually the most suitable for owners who have an allergy to dog dander. If you don’t want to deal with shedding, keep in mind that the curlier the coat, the less it’s going to shed.


-Examples of a Wavy Coat

Coat types
Wavy coat – The wavy coat, which is low-to non-shedding, is probably the coat most seen on Bernedoodles. This coat is very free-flowing and often has a lightly kinked or wavy appearance. Most people with allergies to dog dander (i.e., experience sneezing, watery eyes) are fine with a wavy coated dog. Note, if you are unsure if this coat type will be fine for you, we suggest that you get further allergy testing done as well as take some time to interact with doodles and their humans in your area before purchasing a puppy.


-Examples of a Straight Coat

Coat types
Straight coat – The straight coats usually shed the most and are the least hypoallergenic of the three coat types. Even though this coat is called “straight” or flat, it may actually have a slight wave to it. The length of the dog’s straight hair depends mostly on the length of the parent’s hair. Straight-coated Bernedoodles are not very common; you’ll mostly find them with wavy or curly coats.


-Groomed Versus Ungroomed

The appearance of our Bernedoodles is greatly affected by whether they are groomed and how short the coats are if groomed. Be sure to consider this when looking at any pictures. Here is an example of the same dog with the pictures taken before and after a haircut. How you groom your dog is a big part of what gives them the look they have.
Photo credits © Winston

Coat types

They make good therapy dogs.

Due to their well-balanced temperament and high trainability, our Bernedoodles are often trained as therapy dogs. They are a really excellent fit for the training regimen and tend to enjoy having a job to do. As a therapy dog, they get lots of human interaction, which they thrive on. Plus, it's a job that allows their cuddly and affectionate personality to shine!

Instagram

Our Bernedoodles do well in apartments.

Both Standard and Min Bernedoodles will adapt well to apartment living. Their Bernese Mountain Dog mom is a working breed however, so they need to get plenty of exercise and attention to remain happy and healthy. They don't like to be left alone for long periods of time because they love human interaction, but are usually fine when left alone for shorter periods of time.

They are a true companion dog.

One of the reasons our Bernedoodles do so well as therapy dogs is that they are true companion dogs. They are very intelligent and are often described as having a happy-go-lucky, goofy, and charming temperament. They are happiest when spending time with their families. Bernedoodles love human interaction, affection, and attention and enjoy playtime and cuddle-time equally. Our Bernedoodles are excellent around children and the elderly. They are a dog who simply wants to love and be loved in return, which makes them a fantastic companion for single owners and for families.

Puppy and boy

A Bernedoodle puppy can certainly light up your life with love and laughter. Though they can sometimes be stubborn with training at first, they are eager to please and always happy to receive plenty of cuddles. If you think a Bernedoodles might be the right fit for you, head over to our Reservation List page.

For more info on Bernedoodles check out this article...

• Bernedoodle Pros and Cons