How much do bernedoodles cost?
How Much Do Bernedoodles Cost? A Deep Dive Into Pricing and Influences
If you’ve ever shopped around for a Bernedoodle puppy, you’ve probably freaked out a bit as you ran into wildly varying price tags. One breeder is getting $1,000.00 for his puppies, another one $2,000, and still another $5,500 or more.
I can just hear you saying, “What in the world is going on!?” In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the factors that play into this wide range of pricing and help you make sense out of it all. We will break down typical cost ranges, explain what drives the prices, and give you some things to consider when looking at different bernedoodle breeders.
Typical Price Range for Bernedoodles
There's a number of things that contribute to the varying prices. One of the big things is everything that goes into raising happy healthy puppies. This is often not seen by the average onlooker. Reputable breeders spent tons of time and money making sure their puppies are receiving a solid foundation for life. (Been there, done that!)
Here are examples of what to expect with different price ranges…
Budget Breeders: $1,000 - $2,000 These are often backyard breeders or puppy mills with minimal overhead and ethical standards. Often their parents are not health tested, they only have a one year health guarantee, and customer support is lacking. If you have a tight budget and need to find a cheaper puppy, be sure to ask questions and carefully vet the breeder. There's a good chance that you can find a healthy puppy for your home.
Mid-Range Breeders: $2,000 - $3,500 These are often hobby breeders who might health test, but lack comprehensive programs. Quite honestly, you will find that the breeders in this price range vary quite a bit. There are definitely some good breeders selling puppies for this price, while there are others that are not doing more than budget breeders are but are simply getting more for their puppies.
Premium Breeders: $3,500 - $5,500+ These are usually breeders who go above and beyond with extensive health testing, socialization programs, longer health guarantees, and lifetime support. There is so much more happening and going on with/for the puppies and customers in these breeders’ worlds. Simply put, they care a lot and they do a lot.
So, if someone asks you, “How much does a Bernedoodle cost?” the safest answer is: expect $1,000 to $5,500+, with many of them landing in the $2,500–$4,500 bracket.
What Drives the Price?
Here are some of the major variables that influence what you’ll pay for a Bernedoodle:
1. Breeder Reputation, Ethics & Standards
One of the biggest factor is who you buy from. Reputable breeders invest much more time, money, and care in their puppies. We have found that it truly does take lots of time and money to develop a well socialized, healthy puppy. I’ve often been blown away at the crazy amount of overhead that we have. It takes a ridiculous amount of money to do it right.
Good breeders do genetic testing, health clearances, follow responsible breeding protocols, and provide support before and after sale. These costs are built into the price of the puppy.
Less scrupulous breeders or “backyard breeders” often cut corners and do less for their puppies and customers. This allows them to advertise cheaper puppies—but that carries higher risk for health or temperament issues.
Customer service and lifetime support tend to come with a higher priced puppy. You often get what you pay for when buying a puppy. Cheaper is definitely not always better.
2. Size / Type (Standard, Mini, Micro)
Bernedoodles come in different sizes, depending on what sized poodle stud is used in the cross. The size of the bernedoodle often influences the cost. Standard Bernedoodles (derived from a standard poodle + Bernese) tend to be larger and less in demand than miniatures. That, combined with the fact that the parents can naturally breed often makes the price of the standards slightly lower.
Miniature and micro Bernedoodles are often priced higher for a few reasons. There is a higher demand for smaller bernedoodles and they are more labor-intensive to breed. Our experience is that we annually spend thousands of dollars on bloodwork to make sure the females are bred at the perfect time and then many more thousands to have vets artificially inseminate them. (Toy and miniature poodles are too small to breed naturally to Bernese Mountain dogs)
3. Coat Type, Texture & Shedding Traits
Bernedoodles have varying coat types (straight, wavy, curly) and varying degrees of shedding. These traits affect desirability and breeding complexity. It's important to us that our puppies have wavy or curly coats. One of the highlights of the Bernedoodle is it's hypoallergenic coat. It's important to carefully select the parents to ensure the right coat type.
4. Color, Markings & Rarity
Color plays a surprisingly large role in the pricing of Bernedoodles. Tri-color and merle puppies are more sought after and are often priced higher than black/white and other varieties.
Anyone can produce Bernedoodle puppies out of Poodle and Bernese parents. Getting the correct parents together to produce the right colors in the puppies is a completely different story. We have found that finding the right parents takes time, patience, and a lot of money.
5. Health Testing, Genetic Screening & Vet Care
This is one of the more expensive and vital aspects of responsible breeding. Reputable breeders perform genetic testing on their parents for inherited diseases like hip dysplasia, elbow issues, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), and more.
We’ve had to re-home a number of adult Poodles and Bernese dogs in bygone years because they didn't pass our standards. To say the least, it's very disappointing and disheartening to raise a healthy puppy, only to find out that we can’t use them in our breeding program.
When looking for a puppy, be sure to ask about the genetic health guarantee. Good breeders will have good guarantees. They have done their homework and are confident that they are placing healthy puppies in people's homes.
6. Additional Services, Guarantees & Early Socialization
Some breeders include extra value-adds, which push the price higher. Here are some things to look for and ask about when looking for a good breeder.
• A Health Guarantee protecting your investment. Budget breeders often have a 1 year genetic health guarantee while reputable breeders can confidently offer longer and better guarantees - some up to 5 years or more.
• Coat type and color, adult size, and temperament is important to a new puppy owner. Good breeders carefully analyze their puppies and can usually make fairly accurate predictions about the puppy’s future. They keep track of all past puppies and have tons of data on their development into adulthood. This gives them the ability to much more accurately predict the outcome of future puppies.
• Training and socializing is a critical part of a young puppy’s life. Many budget breeders spent very little time with their puppies. Good breeders use ENS, expose their puppies to random life sounds, make sure their puppies are properly socialized, and more. Some even start the crate training process long before the puppies go home.
• Lifetime support is a big plus in reputable breeders. Premium breeders are not just out to make a quick sale. They genuinely care about their customers and the future of their puppies.
• Proper vaccinations, deworming, micro chipping, registration, go home packs, and other similar things will vary a lot between a budget breeder and a premium breeder.
• Pictures, video updates, FaceTime calls, and face-to-face meet ups are all important parts of selecting your new puppy and staying in touch from the time you pick your puppy to when it goes home. Budget breeders often have other jobs and don't spend the time needed.
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How to Evaluate Whether a Price Is Fair
When looking at a puppy ask for health testing and genetic reports. Breeders should willingly share documentation (OFA, PennHIP, eye clearances, etc.). Best case scenario is that they will show these things directly on their website.
Ask Questions about socialization and how the puppies are cared for. Proper early socialization is critical for puppies. Visit the puppies or request videos of them. You want to see happy clean puppies that are obviously loved and taken care of.
Check what is included in the purchase of the puppy. Is the price “all-in” (vaccines, microchip, registration, starter kit) or are those extra? Also, make sure to check out the contract / guarantee. A solid guarantee protects both you and the breeder. If none is offered, that’s a red flag.
When possible, talk to people that got puppies from the breeder. Check out reviews like Google and Trust Pilot, and if possible find other second party opinions. Always remember that there are tons of scammers out there. Check out our article on scams to learn more about scammers and things to look out for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is there such a huge range (from $1,500 to $6,000)?
Because so many variables affect price—breeder quality, size, coat type, color rarity, health testing, additional services, geographic costs, and more. The low end often lacks strong guarantees or quality controls, while the high end reflects top-tier breeding and support.
Are mini or micro Bernedoodles always more expensive?
Not always, but often yes. The smaller sizes require more precise breeding, carry higher risk, and are more in demand so breeders often charge more.
Should I avoid breeders that sell “cheap” Bernedoodles?
Be cautious. Extremely low prices might signal shortcuts in health testing, inbreeding, poor care or environment, Lack of proper socialization, lack of guarantees, or higher risk of health or behavioral issues.
Is it cheaper to adopt a Bernedoodle or mix?
While it's fairly rare, you may find Bernedoodles in rescues or shelters, or mixed doodle crosses, for less money. Adoption from these places often comes with unknown background and risk, whereas a responsible breeder has so much more predictability.
Do I get value for paying more?
In many cases, yes. A more responsibly bred puppy often means fewer health problems, more stable temperament, better support, and more peace of mind.
What other costs should I expect after purchase?
Regular grooming, vet care, food, training, toys, insurance, and occasional health surprises. These ongoing costs are not trivial and should be factored into your total budget.
What is a “health guarantee,” and how long should it last?
A health or genetic guarantee is a promise from the breeder that the puppy is free from certain hereditary conditions within a defined window. Good guarantees often last 1–2 years or more.
Final Thoughts
In the end, a Bernedoodle isn't just a purchase – it's a long-term relationship. Take your time and ask the hard questions. It's worth your time. Over their lifetime, the difference between a $2,500 puppy and a $4,500 puppy amounts to very little per month, but the difference in quality of life for both you and your dog can be huge.
When choosing a breeder, prioritize health, temperament, reputation, and transparency over just price. A slightly higher upfront investment in a well-bred puppy often pays off in reduced health issues, better temperament, and peace of mind. Check out our available puppies and start your journey with a trusted breeder now!!
