Bernedoodle Breed Info: Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix
What is a Bernedoodle Dog?
Heritage:
Bernedoodle Breed = Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix
Other Names:
Bernese Mountain Poo, Bernesepoo, Bernesedoodle, Bernepoo, Bernese Mountain Dog Doodle, Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix
Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix Breed History
Bernese Mountain Dog Breed History:
The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Bern, the capitol of Switzerland. Bern was, and still is, known for its dairy production which contributes to the infamous Swiss imports of cheese and chocolate. These dogs were used not only for herding cattle but also as drafting dogs. Due to their size, strength, and determination, they would help pull heavy carts of milk wherever farmers needed it to go.
Alas, when mechanical farming and ranching was popularized in the late 1800s, the breed’s numbers began to dwindle. Luckily, in 1907, a club was formed in Switzerland to help repopularize the breed. As a result, the Bernese Mountain Dog became a top choice not just for farm dogs but for family companions as well.
The breed made its way to the United States in 1926 when a Kansas farmer imported a pair of them. It didn’t take long for them to catch on and the Bernese Mountain Dog was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937.
Poodle Breed History:
While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.
Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.
While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”
Bernedoodle Breed History:
While Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles were likely bred a long time ago, the first intentional pairing of these two breeds is claimed to be by Sherry Rupke of Ontario, Canada in 2003. She continues to develop the Bernedoodle breed to this day and has even added a new hybrid breed to the mix—the Australian Bernedoodle (a blend of Irish Water Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Bernese Mountain Dog).
Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming
How Big Do Bernedoodles Get?
A Bernedoodle’s size is determined mostly by whether its Poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or tiny. On top of that, the gender of the puppy and the genetics of the parents play important factors.
With that in mind, a Tiny Bernedoodle (a.k.a. Toy Bernedoodle) will typically weigh between 10-24 pounds and have a height of 12-17 inches. A Miniature Bernedoodle will weigh in at around 25-50 pounds and stand roughly 18-22 inches tall. The largest of the three, the Standard Bernedoodle, will weigh approximately 50-110 pounds and stand about 23-29 inches tall. The term “Medium Bernedoodle” is also used to describe Bernedoodles estimated to fall somewhere in the middle of the Mini and Standard sizes.
The coat of a Bernedoodle can be any combination of black, white, and brown. The most common color is likely black and white, sometimes called “Oreo Bernedoodles.” Tri-color puppies tend to be rarer and thus more expensive than their duel or single color companions. Bernedoodles can also come in beautiful, unique color patterns such as merle, phantom, and sable.
A Bernedoodle’s fur can range anywhere from wavy, like the Bernese Mountain Dog to curly like the Poodle and usually is of medium length. How curly your dog’s fur is dictates how often they must be brushed. A minimum of brushing once per week is required for Bernedoodles, with the ideal frequency being every other day if not every day for more curly-haired dogs.
Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic? Do Bernedoodles Shed?
Due to the presence of the Poodle’s genes, the Bernedoodle breed is sometimes promoted as being hypoallergenic and/or non-shedding. While this can be true, due to the unpredictability of genetics, there is no guarantee that any particular dog, or litter of dogs will be hypoallergenic. Some individuals’ allergies are more sensitive to certain breeds than other breeds, but there is no scientific evidence that shows that certain hybrid breeds are universally more or less hypoallergenic than others.
With that being said, as a rule of thumb, the larger the percentage of Poodle is in a dog’s heritage, the more likely they are to be hypoallergenic or non-shedding. So an F2B Berndoodle is more likely to be hypoallergenic than an F2 Bernedoodle which is more likely than an F1B Bernedoodle which is more likely than an F1 Bernedoodle.
Bernedoodles may be susceptible to the common health problems of both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. However, due to the genetic diversity from crossing these two breeds, the result may be a lower chance of developing these inherited health concerns.
Some of the more common genetic disorders to be on the lookout for in the Poodle Bernese Mountain Dog Mix include Elbow Dysplasia, Sebaceous Adenitis, Hip Dysplasia, Cataracts, Color Dilution Alopecia, Hyperadrenocorticism, and Hypoadrempcprtocosm.
Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.
Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality
Bernedoodle Dog Breed Behavioral Traits:
Intended to be great companions, the Bernedoodle breed lives up to that reputation. Bernedoodles are extremely friendly and can be a bit of a goofball, however they’re most known for their affectionate, calm, and gentle demeanor. They’re extremely family-focused and are very fond of both children and other pets. Being so loyal and loving, they should always be indoor pets and aren’t a good choice for families who aren’t home often, as they can often develop separation anxiety. These lovable dogs are moderate when it comes to ease of training, as they can be a bit curious and stubborn as puppies.
Bernedoodle Dog Breed Activity Requirements:
Bernedoodles are active, but are also highly adaptable to the lifestyle of their family. They do have moderate exercise needs though so a minimum 30 minute daily walk is mandatory with additional exercise or playtime icing on the cake.
Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix Pictures
Alternative Breeds to the Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix
