The Bernedoodle is a hybrid breed created by crossing Bernese mountain dogs with poodles. Standard poodles are most commonly used. Depending on their size, Bernedoodles are typically classified as standard, miniature, or tiny. Every Bernedoodle is an individual with a unique personality, but you can generally expect that this dog will be fun, cuddly, friendly, and playful. And, thanks to their low- to non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat, these dogs are also a good option for those with allergies.  

Learn more about the Bernedoodle, including the breed’s history, temperament, and needs.

Characteristics of the Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle is an attractive breed known for its affectionate and friendly personality. These dogs make great family pets because they can get along well with children and other pets, including other dogs.

People who breed Bernedoodles say that you get the best of both worlds: a calm, loyal, intelligent, trainable dog with a non-shedding coat. In reality, a Bernedoodle’s temperamental and physical traits are highly variable. Some Bernedoodles are outgoing and some are reserved with strangers. Some Bernedoodles are hyperactive rather than calm. Some are stubborn, which makes training difficult.

History of the Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles were first created in 2003 by Sherry Rupke, in the wake of the “doodle” craze that swept the world after the Labradoodle came on the scene in the 1990s. Although it’s possible the first Bernedoodles may have been the result of accidental breeding, a few breeders began intentionally crossing Bernese mountain dogs and poodles.

Purebreds have been bred for generations following a special blueprint—the breed standard, which is the written description of the ideal physical and temperamental traits of the breed. For this reason, purebred dogs are very standardized, with predictable height and weight, body structure, color, coat type, and temperament. Because the Bernedoodle is a hybrid and not a purebred dog, it is not recognized by any of the reputable purebred dog registries, such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. The Bernedoodle also does not have an official breed standard, so there is a lot of variation in how individual Bernedoodles look and act. Different breeders may have different ideas of what makes a Bernedoodle, so it’s hard to know what you might get if you buy a Bernedoodle puppy.

Bernedoodles may be first generation crosses (called F1), second generation (F2), third generation (F3), and so on. An F1 Bernedoodle is a 50-50 cross between a purebred Bernese mountain dog and a purebred poodle. The resulting puppies in an F1 litter are quite variable. Some may look more like Bernese mountain dogs and some may look more like poodles. Some puppies might look like a mix between the two parent breeds, and some might look nothing like either parent breed. Coat type and level of shedding can be all over the map in a litter of F1 Bernedoodle puppies.

F2 Bernedoodles result by crossing two F1 Bernedoodles. F2 Bernedoodles also have variable coat types. Some breeders introduce more poodle into the bloodlines to help achieve more consistency in coat type. This is called backcrossing and is indicated by a B (for instance, F2B). Bernedoodles that are 25% Bernese mountain dog and 75% poodle are more likely to have a low-shedding or non-shedding coat.

Bernedoodle Care

Because Bernedoodles are a mix of the poodle and Bernese mountain dog, you could have two of these dogs that are quite different in terms of their coat and temperament. No matter what, training your dog, spending time with them, grooming them properly, and making sure they get the exercise they need is necessary.

Exercise

Bernedoodles need plenty of daily exercise, including one or two walks a day plus off-leash games of fetch in a safely enclosed space like a fenced yard or dog park. Athletic Bernedoodles with biddable temperaments might also enjoy training for fun dog sports. They are likely to have a great time with the following activities:

• Agility
• Hiking
• Flyball
• Running
• Swimming
• Rally
• Dock jumping
  

Grooming

Some people believe that Bernedoodles are hypoallergenic, but this is not always the case. Some Bernedoodles shed and mat a lot, some shed moderately, and some shed very little or not at all. The higher the percentage of poodle in the mix, the better the likelihood of a low-shedding coat. Depending on the nature of an individual Bernedoodle’s coat, it may be less likely to cause issues in people with dog allergies. Before bringing home a Bernedoodle, allergic people should spend time with the dog in question to be sure the dog doesn’t elicit allergy symptoms.

Grooming requirements for the Bernedoodle vary depending on the type of coat. Although most Bernedoodles have wavy to curly coats, some have straighter coats. Coats that are more straight than wavy tend to shed more, so need more frequent brushing—daily or every other day—to remove loose hair and prevent matting. Curlier coats shed less, but also need regular brushing to keep the coat untangled. Brush wavy and curly coats a few times a week.

Like poodles, wavy-and curly-coated Bernedoodles need trimming from a professional groomer every four to eight weeks.

In addition to brushing and grooming, trim your Bernedoodle’s nails every two weeks, and look inside their ears weekly, cleaning them with a pet safe ear cleaner if they look dirty. If you see excessive dirt or redness in the ears, schedule a veterinary visit.

Training

Bernedoodles are smart, but how trainable they are depends on if they inherited the more agreeable nature of the poodle or the stubborn side of the Bernese mountain dog. Either way, positive training methods like clicker training paired with tasty treat rewards will help you get the best results from your Bernedoodle.

Start obedience training using positive reinforcement from a young age so your puppy can grow into an adult dog who knows the rules and gets along great with people and other pets.

Common Health Problems

Although many hybrid dog breeders claim that crossing two different purebreds results in puppies that are healthier than either parent breed, science tells us that genes don’t necessarily work this way. Most purebred dogs have certain inherited health disorders in their family history. Crossing Bernese mountain dogs with poodles means the puppies can potentially inherit any of the genetic diseases common to either breed. 

Also, some breeders use miniature or toy poodles to create smaller Bernedoodles. Crossing giant breeds with small breeds is risky and must be done carefully to avoid complications in the breeding mother or in the resulting puppies.

Bernese mountain dogs are prone to:

• Cancer: A leading cause of death among Bernese mountain dogs is malignant histiocytosis (MH), which develops when there are too many white blood cells known as histiocytes.
• Hip and elbow dysplasia: These orthopedic disorders cause the hips or elbows to develop abnormally. They cause pain and difficulty moving.
• Eye diseases: Various conditions, such as entropion and ectropion (the eyelids roll in or out), progressive retinal atrophy (leads to blindness over time), and cataracts (lens of the eye becomes cloudy), can affect this breed.
• Cardiac disease: Work with your vet to ensure your Bernese mountain dog doesn’t have inherited heart problems like subaortic stenosis (SAS), which might not cause any symptoms but can result in sudden death.
• Hypothyroidism: This condition occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms include lethargy, weight gain, and cold intolerance.
• Autoimmune diseases: When a dog’s immune system is overactive, it can lead to various conditions. For example, Bernese mountain dogs are at risk of meningitis, which is inflammation of the spinal cord and brain.
• Von Willebrand disease: This is a blood clotting disorder. Symptoms include bleeding while teething, spontaneous hemorrhaging, and prolonged bleeding.
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus: Also known as bloat, this happens when the stomach expands and rotates because of too much food, gas, or fluid. Prompt veterinary care is needed, as this can be fatal.  
  

Like Bernese mountain dogs, poodles can be prone to bloat, hip dysplasia, eye diseases, autoimmune diseases, and von Willebrand disease. These dogs can also be affected by certain genetic health conditions, including:

• Idiopathic epilepsy: This is a neurological disease that causes seizures. Symptoms include chattering jaw, staring blankly, and uncontrolled movements.
• Sebaceous adenitis: This hereditary skin disease causes hair loss as a result of inflamed sebaceous glands.
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: This is a congenital hip joint disorder that causes degeneration of the joint. Symptoms include limping, restlessness, and stiffness.
• Luxating patella: This condition causes the kneecap to slip out of place, resulting in limping. A dog might also lick their knee and hold the leg bent.

Responsible breeders start with healthy, well-bred adult purebred dogs and test them for the genetic diseases common to those breeds before breeding them together. Reputable breeders should also test their adult Bernedoodle hybrids before breeding them to decrease the probability that the puppies will be affected by genetic issues. And they should offer a health guarantee on their puppies should they develop a genetic disease later in life. 

Diet and Nutrition

The amount of food you’ll need to feed your Bernedoodle daily will depend on their size. Feed measured meals twice a day rather than free feeding (leaving food out all the time). It’s important to keep your Bernedoodle lean to prevent the development or worsening of joint disorders like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, as well as weight-related health problems like diabetes.

Standard Bernedoodle puppies that may grow to be giant-sized by adulthood should eat food formulated for large-breed puppies to encourage slow and steady growth.

Talk to your breeder or veterinarian to get a recommendation for a healthy food for your Bernedoodle, as well as an ideal healthy weight for your adult Bernedoodle.

What Is a Designer Dog Breed?

Where to Adopt or Buy a Bernedoodle

If you’re thinking about purchasing a Bernedoodle puppy, you have two options: rescues and breeders. The price of a Bernedoodle from a breeder may depend on factors like the dog’s size and whether they’re an F1 or F2, but these dogs can cost $2,000 to $5,000, on average.

You can check your local animal shelters and rescue organizations for Bernedoodles looking for new homes. Most Bernedoodles in rescues are adults, but sometimes, Bernedoodle puppies might find themselves in need of a new family.

If you have your heart set on a Bernedoodle puppy, you will want to look for a responsible breeder who tests their breeding dogs for health issues common to both the Bernese mountain dog and poodle. Responsible Bernedoodle breeders paint a realistic picture of Bernedoodle ownership rather than make promises about the “perfect breed” that may not be true for every individual Bernedoodle.

Bernedoodle Overview

Bernedoodles are great dogs that combine the qualities of Bernese mountain dogs and poodles. They can make loyal companions, but they do require a good amount of exercise and training, so there is a lot to consider before bringing one home.

Pros of Bernedoodles

• Intelligent
• Affectionate with family
• Some are low-shedding
  

Cons of Bernedoodles

• May be skittish with strangers
• May be stubborn or hard to train
• Not always non-shedding or hypoallergenic 
  

More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you like the Bernedoodle, you might also like these breeds: 

• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Goldendoodle
• Poodle
  

Otherwise, check out all of our other dog breed articles to help you find the perfect dog for you and your family.