Bernedoodle, as the name suggests, is, in fact, a mix of two well-known designer dogs, the Poodle, and the Bernese mountain dog.
These two dogs have extremely sought-after traits that perfectly mesh together into this hybrid dog that is the ultimate family dog.
The unfortunate reality about this dog is that it is a designer breed and a very new breed at that. The American Kennel Club does not recognize this breed as of yet, even with the amazing trait this dog has.
This dog is more often found in animal shelters that are meant for the parent breeds. The Bernerdoodle is preferably adopted from any shelter or very well-known and trusted breeders like the Central Illinois Doodles.
Breed Popularity: Ranks 22 of 197
Height: 25-27.5 inches (male), 23-26 inches (female)
Weight: 80-115 pounds (male), 70-95 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 7-10 years
Group: Working Group
Source: AKC
History and origin of the Bernedoodle
Sherry Rupke is a swiss dog breeder of Swissridge Kennels, who has been credited for the first intentional breeding of the Bernedoodle in 2003. The idea was that no other human had bred the dog before her. The leap in logic is intense, as there might have been Bernedoodle to exist in nature before then already without human intervention.
The general idea was to make a dog with the sole purpose of being a perfect companion dog. This dog has no place in hunting, detecting scents, or being a service dog. Family life is suited for it, and the intense dependence on its owners shows in this breed.
The parent breeds
The Poodle is one of the parent breeds of the Bernese mountain dog Poodle mix. The Poodle is a water dog that originates from Germany. Bred to retrieve games that usually were in the water, and their somewhat water-resistant helps out in their endeavor. The Poodle has since changed its status from a hunter dog to a fancy status symbol for the rich and influential.
Bernese mountain dog is the other parent breed of the Bernedoodle. This dog is a hardy and stocky farmer dog in colder regions of the world like Switzerland. This dog has a very cool demeanor with a dash of wariness about it. Raised to drive cattle back home and keep away predators, Bernese mountain dog is made for cattle farmers.
Bernedoodle traits
One of the more important aspects of any dog is that it will have random traits from its parent breeds. This is called genetic variation, which helps individuals become unique from birth to get an edge in survival. This idea encompasses every living organism, and Bernedoodle is no exception.
The temperament of a Bernedoodle
The personality of a Bernedoodle is not set in stone, as differences in traits and personality in a litter of puppies are very evident to most dog owners. Almost 95 percent of the time, puppies will exhibit a mixture of various behavior from their parents. But the information below encompasses most of the varying behavior you can expect from an average dog of this breed.
Bernedoodle are a very energetic bunch and absolutely crave attention. Nothing will make them more depressed than not having you around and give them all your energy. This dog is very intelligent and can quickly adapt to its environment, unlike most dogs.
Bernedoodle have an affinity for children and can be trusted around them, which is a huge plus point for families with kids. They are friendly around other smaller animals and strangers alike. Their energetic behavior leads children and adults alike to be more active and healthy.
Bernedoodle are as goofy as they come. They are similar to Pugs, in the sense that Bernedoodle are also clowns of the dog world. Any family gathering can’t go without a laugh induced by this dog. Children often roll laughing due to their cartoonish antics.
Due to their high intelligence, the Bernedoodle can get a bit unruly. They tend to be over-smart at a younger age and often much harder to train. But this behavior mellows out in due time with age. So much so that they will better learn in that period of time and pick up commands much better.
The stature of a Bernedoodle
The Bernedoodle are quite good for people who prefer a certain size of dogs but can’t seem to get one of their likings. This might happen due to the breed itself not being able to produce a dog of that size as a standard. This is where the Poodle genes shine because Bernedoodle have body sizes that are all-encompassing. Just like a Poodle, they come in three different sizes, miniature, tiny and normal size.
Dogs, in general, have certain biases in size based on gender. Females are more compact while males are larger. Standard or medium-size or the normal weight of the Bernedoodle around 70 to 92 pounds. Its height is on average 23 to 30 inches. Tiny Bernedoodle, on the other hand, grow as tall as 10 to 20 inches and weigh as little as 24 pounds maximum on average. And the miniature weighs about 29 to 40 pounds and can be 18 to 22 inches in length.
These striking variations of the same dog are quite a hot topic in the dog world. It’s somewhat similar to how smartphones these days have multiple sizes of the same model.
Bernedoodle coat
The Bernese mountain dog mic Poodle has a very fine and thick luscious coat. They have long, curly and wavy coats most often than not. One of the biggest points this dog has is that it doesn’t shed as much as an average dog. This lends to their credibility of being hypoallergenic dogs, making them a very suitable candidate with family members with weaker immune systems and who are prone to have allergic reactions.
The coat, on average, comes in three colors, black, white, and brown. They can also be tri-colored or a combination of either two colors. Some have few patches of black or white in their coats.
Grooming
Grooming the Bernedoodle can be a huge undertaking due to its resilient coat. The consensus of most people suggests that the wavier and curlier coat of the Bernedoodle makes it very difficult to brush and take care of mats and knots. The wavier it is, the harder it gets in grooming.
A daily brushing session is a must, and it has to be very thorough to remove any sort of mat and knot. Regarding haircuts, according to an article from animalso.com, it is suggested that a haircut may be required every 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the climate and temperature.
Not to mention the lack of proper breathability of the skin, causing it to get smellier overtime under heat. This dog is not too resilient to heat and is better indoors than outdoors.
Showering this dog once a month two is more than enough. At the same time, it does need its nails clipped every month or so, whenever it gets overgrown.
Caring for Bernedoodle
The Bernedoodle have few major upsides. They are extremely human-friendly and can live in most apartments and houses. This also depends on their sizes- miniature and tiny Bernedoodle can stay in apartments but need a bit of space. Regular-sized ones need a bigger
space like a yard to cope and use up their energy.
They are not that destructive to property and only need attention to stay happy.
Training and exercise
Training a young Bernadoodle is a bit tougher as they are stubborn, but more other than not being patient with them helps a lot. They grow out of this rebellious faze with few more years and tend to really pick up on most things you want them to learn.
The Bernadoodle is a jittery dog and needs to vent its energy somewhere. Taking it to walks every day and playing with them fulfills this need of theirs. No Bernadoodle can be happy without doing some sort of physical activity.
Health
Bernedoodle is a very new breed and has not been thoroughly investigated and tested medical-wise like many other pure breeds.
Being a hybrid dog, the Bernadoodle is quite a bit healthier than its parent breeds. Even if some diseases do afflict it, this dog is less likely to be sick than an average purebred.
The more common diseases that a Bernadoodle has on average are hip dysplasia, blindness, skin problems, and allergies.
Adoption
Being a designer breed-hybrid dog, Berneddoodles are often found in shelters and under unsavory conditions in pet shops and groomed by lesser trusted breeders. Staying on the side of caution is a must if you want to adopt a Bernedoodle or any other dog in a humane way.
Trusted breeders like Central Illinois Doodles are the way to go when purchasing a puppy, and adopting from shelters or the street is also recommended.
To Conclude
The Brenedoodle is one of the most well-rounded family dog breeds to exist. And the upsides it brings are quite magnificent.It’s highly recommended to adopt one if you want to enjoy life with a great companion.
