The large and lovable cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle, the Bernedoodle is what many would call the perfect canine companion. As a hybrid dog, Bernedoodle can be large or small and show a range of different colors and markings.
Though no Bernedoodle puppies are exactly alike, you can count on them to combine the best characteristics of their parent breeds in beautiful and unique ways. Like the Poodle, these hybrid pups are intelligent, athletic and incredibly loyal.
Like the Bernese Mountain Dog, Bernedoodles form remarkably strong bonds with their family and absolutely adore children. In addition to a hypoallergenic coat, the Bernedoodle is also easy to train and remarkably low-maintenance.
The Bernedoodles temperament and personality is affectionate, friendly, comical and joyful. They are always energetic and eager-to-please and eagerly greet people in a happy, friendly manner. They are exceptionally loyal and known to possess an intuition about the emotional state of family members. As a general rule, Bernedoodles love children and get along well with other pets.
Appearance
Due to their parentage, Bernedoodles are almost always black, black and white or a combination of black, white and brown. In general, the Bernedoodles appearance combines characteristics of both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle – they are both lean and sturdy and flaunt a shaggy, hypoallergenic coat.
As crossbreeds, Bernedoodles come in a range of sizes (50-90 pounds), though females are generally smaller than males. Regardless of size, Bernedoodles are always well-mannered, affectionate and very seldom aggressive. They love children and make fantastic family companions.
Head
The Bernedoodles skull is flat on top and broad, with a slight furrow and a well-defined, but not exaggerated. The muzzle is strong and straight. The nose is always black. Its head is of moderate width and well-developed but without exaggeration and in proportionate in size to the rest of the dog. Face should be shorter than the skull, clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks.
Ears are set low on the head and should not stick up or out. Eyes are large, wide-set, expressive and animated. Nose is large and square in appearance but never small, narrow or pinched.
Body
As a hybrid dog, the size and substance of the Bernedoodle’s body can vary from dog to dog according to its pedigree. However, as a general rule, Bernedoodles blend characteristics of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle – medium to large, sturdy but not bulky and never over-lean. The neck is strong, muscular and of medium length. The chest is deep and capacious with well-sprung, but not barrel shaped.
Legs and Feet
The Bernedoodle’s legs are straight and strong and the elbows are well under the shoulder when the dog is standing. The pasterns slope very slightly but are never weak. Feet are compact and turn neither in nor out.
Tail and Hindquarters
The Bernedoodle’s tail should follow the topline and carried happily but should never curl completely over the back. The tail tip should not touch the back nor curl upon itself. Hindquarters are well-muscled for power in movement.
Coat and Colors
As hybrid dogs, the Bernedoodle’s color and markings can vary from dog to dog, though the variation is slight. The Majority of Bernedoodle coats are wavy and almost always black, black and white or a combination of black, white and brown.
Height and Weight
As crossbreeds, Bernedoodles come in a range of sizes (50-90 pounds), though females are generally smaller than males. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a substantial dog, so Bernedoodles that “lean Bernese” are likely to be larger than those who “lean poodle”, generally 23 to 29 inches.
Health
Like all dogs, Bernedoodles require specific care to keep them fit, happy and healthy. They need plenty of exercise, a nutritious diet and lots of love and attention from their owners. As with most breeds, the earlier you begin housebreaking your Bernedoodle, the more successful you’ll be.
You may have to make an effort to keep your dog motivated and care for your Bernedoodle physical, mental and social well-being. Training a Bernedoodle also calls for a broad range of activities to avoid boredom and optimize the learning process.
It helps to create a schedule that is both convenient for you and helps you provide meals on a predictable schedule; establish a bedtime; take your puppy outside to “go potty” at regular intervals and exercise/play with your puppy frequently and at regular intervals.
Nutrition
It’s very important that new Bernedoodle owners feed their puppy a nutritious diet and discourage others from feeding it human food. In our program, your puppy was weened slowly off momma and was started on moistened puppy food starting between the forth and fifth week, and is now eating dry puppy food. We recommend feeding them between 2-4 times a day and to keep them on puppy food for atleast 6 months to a year to ensure full development.
Remove their food after 10 minutes even if they haven’t finished to help them learn that food will not be provided unless you provide it. Stay away from dog food brands that use artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers like grain, wheat and brewers rice.
Don’t forget to monitor your puppy’s health and wellness in the early stages. If they appear skinny and eagerly finish every meal, then you may need to increase the amount of food in their diet and vice versa.
There are some foods you should never feed any dog, like caffeine, grapes ,dairy, nuts, pitted fruit, chocolate, alcohol, onions and garlic. Dogs who ingest these foods should be taken to the vet immediately.
Grooming
Like all dogs, Bernedoodles require regular grooming and brushing to keep their fur clean and free of tangles. They will also require regular bathing. We recommend giving your Bernedoodle a bath once per month, unless their activity level calls for more.
Be careful not to over-bathe your Bernedoodle. Over-bathing will remove the natural oils in your puppy’s coat that protect its skin and keep its fur strong, shiny and looking its best. You should also brush your puppy once a day.
Grooming is also a great opportunity to check your Bernedoodle for potential health concerns like cuts and abrasions to their legs and paws, ear and eye infections and especially fleas and ticks. Nail trimming should be done every few weeks with a special clipper you can buy at any pet shop.
How to Groom a Bernedoodle?
Wash your Bernedoodle with dog shampoo being careful not to get any shampoo in your Collie’s eyes, ears or mouth. It is very important that you work the shampoo into your Bernedoodle’s top coat and undercoat to remove dirt and debris.
Rinse your puppy with warm water. Be sure to remove all shampoo to prevent irritation and dryness. Apply dog conditioner if your puppy has dry skin. Brush their coat with a pin brush, which is gentle enough to prevent hair breakage but also removes knots and untangles their dense undercoat.
Brush your puppy’s thicker areas of fur. Use a slicker brush to groom harder-to-reach areas, such as behind the ears and elbows. Trim your Bernedoodle with thinning shears. Bernedoodle should have a long, but neatly trimmed coat. Trim the feet, feathers on the legs and excess fur on the hocks if desired.
Exercise
The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle are both substantial breeds with hefty exercise requirements. Like its parents, the Bernedoodle needs plenty of exercise to stay fit and occupy its active brain.
Any physical activity you can safely manage with your Bernedoodle is a great idea and good for its physical and mental well-being. Take your Bernedoodle running, hiking, rollerblading – anything that gets you and your Bernedoodle up and moving.
Daily exercise also improves circulation, and provides opportunities for your puppy to socialize and explore its environment, which is critical to proper socialization. Remember to keep your Bernedoodle on a leash whenever they are outside.
Training
Bernedoodles are obedient, friendly and eager-to-please. All they need to unlock their amazing potential is consistent training from a dedicated owner. Like all dogs, Bernedoodles learn best with positive, reward based training methods.
Remember, you’re working to establish yourself as your puppy’s pack-leader with positive reinforcement, not fear of punishment. The key to achieving amazing training results is to be confident, consistent and positive throughout each training session. Don’t forget that food is always a great motivator.
Housebreaking
Housebreaking begins the moment you bring your new Bernedoodle puppy home and introduce it to its new environment. Your puppy will be very excited to explore its surroundings and learn about its new home.
Remember, puppies learn by putting things in their mouths. So, it’s very important that new Bernedoodle owners keep a close eye on their puppy for the first few months until it learns what it should and shouldn’t do.
Start by confining your puppy to one room of the house for the first couple of days with their bed, water, food and toys. Once they have become used to that room, you can begin to introduce your puppy to the rest of the family.
How to Potty Train a Bernedoodle Puppy?
Potty training a Bernedoodle is a fairly straightforward process. Remember to use the same words and phrases to indicate when, where and how you want your puppy to do its business.
Watch for signs that your Bernedoodle needs to go potty like pacing, sniffing, and squatting. When you notice these behaviors calmly and quickly hustle your puppy outside and to the spot you’ve chosen.
Then say a phrase similar to “go potty” and praise them when they get it right. With practice your Bernedoodle will learn where to “go potty.” It can take up to 6 months to fully housebreak a Bernedoodle puppy.
How to Crate Train a Bernedoodle Puppy?
Crate training provides your puppy with a place to sleep and to feel safe and comfortable when you’re not at home. Bernedoodles are not small puppies. So, it’s important to purchase a crate that is big enough for a Bernedoodle to stand, turn around and sit or lie down in without issue.
It’s best to place your puppy’s crate in your bedroom for the first few weeks so they associate the crate with the comfort of your presence. Introduce your puppy to their crate with a few treats inside.
Then feed your puppy once they move inside the crate so they begin to associate food with the crate. Remember to place your Bernedoodle puppy in their crate and give them a treat when it’s time for bed. Repeat this process every day until your puppy sleeps in its crate without instruction.
Socialization
Bernedoodles are remarkably kind and friendly but they still need frequent socialization to learn how to behave in public. As with housebreaking, the early you begin socializing your Bernedoodle puppy, the easier it will be for it to adapt to new situations and environments.
Tug-of-war and supervised trips to the dog park are also great ways for a Bernedoodle puppy to explore their environment, meet other people and play with other dogs while feeling secure in your presence.
A great way to socialize your Bernedoodle is to sign up for a puppy training class with other puppies the same age, or set a play date with a well behaved adult dog that you know is friendly, so your pup can learn how to behave from an experienced pooch.
Obedience Training
Like the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Bernedoodle is born with high intelligence and innate ability to grasp training and respond to commands. Though training a Bernedoodle is not particularly challenging, there are things you can do to make the process easier for you and the dog.
The best thing you can do to ensure the success of obedience training is to begin early and practice positive reinforcement techniques with consistency and patience. Like all dogs, Bernedoodle thrive on positive-reinforcement training.
Rather than punish your puppy for unwanted behavior, motivate them to complete the desired behavior by praising them when they get it right. Offer them treats and food when they correctly execute the command. Then reinforce the behavior by practicing the command until they get it right every time.