My Summary of a Bernedoodle:
Only recently adding the Bernedoodle into our breeding program, after many years of undergoing the import process to get some beautiful Bernese Mountain Dogs from Ireland, we have had our first two successful litters in 2023, after importing two beautiful stud boys from Ireland. We are predominately planning on breeding First Generation Standard Bernedoodles, but we also will do F1b Medium & Standard Bernedoodles (Standard F1 Bernedoodle x Toy/Mini Poodle). In a few years time we will hopefully also be breeding First Generation Mini Bernedoodles. In terms of previous litters and my own personal opinion on Bernedoodles, I can really only speak for my first 2 litters of puppies and than the research I have undertaken. The puppies were very calm, laid back babies up until the time they went to their new homes, and a couple of the puppies were sold for Therapy dogs as Bernedoodles have been widely used in other countries as therapy dogs. I have heard back from a couple of other families who said their Bernedoodles were very easily trained, very calm, and have beautiful temperaments, and another family who has said her puppy has turned into a full on 'teenager', but very smart and easily trained. Personally, I think they make a great all rounder large breed dog who have a calm enough temperament that they should be fine living in an apartment (mainly the bernedoodles with a mini cross), and they'll also enjoy a daily walk but it shouldn't bother them too much if they miss out for a day. My Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely loving, loyal, a little bit goofy, and very laid back, so I'm hoping these traits will show in their puppies. I also love my standard poodle girls they are being crossed with, who are also beautiful laid back girls, very gentle and graceful, and are happy to lay around the yard all day. The two litters I have bred which are first generation had beautiful non shedding fleece coats (all puppies in both litters).
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Bernese Mountain Dogs globally have quite a below average lifespan due to a cancer called Histiocytic Sarcoma (HS), where some studies state that Bernese Mountain Dogs have an overall cancer incident of 50%, and half of which is comprised of HS, and geneticists have not been able to pin point where this gene comes from, as in the hereditary ability of how in passes on to offspring or if it is just within the breed. Therefore, our aim in breeding bernedoodles is to increase the lifespan withinin the Bernese Mountain Dog breed by crossing a Bernese Mountain Dog with a Poodle in the hopes it significantly decreases the risk of cancer and increases their lifespan, as crossbreeds are known to have less problems than purebred dogs due to a stronger genetic diversity. Our Bernese Mountain Dogs that we have imported from Ireland have both sets of grandparents still alive at 12 years old, so we have done our research when importing them to try and find Bernese Mountain Dogs where the cancer doesn't seem to be in their lines, even though it is still unkown how HS works.
Photos of Bernedoodles we have bred
PHOTO FROM GOOGLE OF FIRST GENERATION BERNEDOODLE
(NOTE: HAIRCUTS/BRUSHING/GROOMING CHANGES THE LOOK OF A BERNEDOODLE BUT THE PUPPIES WE ARE BREEDING WILL LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO THE DOG BELOW DEPENDING ON COLOURING)
Maintenance Level: Medium
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Weight: Mini/toy 12-18kg, medium 15-25kg, standard 25-40kg
Height: 35-70cm (mini to standard sizing)
Temperament: Intelligent, affectionate, calm, playful, loyal
Health Risk: This breed is in the medium risk category for developing health issues, the main concern would be hip & elbow dysplasia, which is the main concern for all larger breed dogs. The cancer that is prone to develop in Bernese Mountain Dogs may also be an issue for Bernedoodles, but there have been studies undertaken that have shown Bernedoodles are much less likely to develop the cancers that are so prevalent in Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Behaviour
The Bernedoodle is a gentle, intelligent, and highly trainable hybrid dog breed that is a cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. “Invented” in 2003, Bernedoodles, as well as their smaller hybrid relatives, the Mini Bernedoodle, have exploded in popularity ever since, with some becoming social media stars. One of the most notable characteristics of this breed is their intelligence. As descendants of Poodles, famous for their sharp minds, this breed exhibits remarkable cognitive abilities. Loyalty is another inherent trait in this breed from their Bernese Mountain Dog heritage. Incredibly devoted to their pet parents, this breed strives to be a constant source of comfort and companionship. Whether it’s learning new tricks or obedience commands, they are quick studies and enjoy mental stimulation
Grooming
Bernedoodle coats can vary and look more Poodle-like or more closely resemble the Bernese Mountain Dog. Usually they have wavy, curly coats that don’t shed much, which can help make them more suitable for people with allergies to dander. Sometimes Bernedoodles can have straighter coats, which shed more and are less hypoallergenic.
The thickness of their coat helps this breed thrive in cool temperatures while providing them a fair amount of protection from the heat of summer months, as well. The color of Bernedoodle coats have quite a range. Some are pure black, others are black and white, and others are black and brown. Sometimes Bernedoodles are tri-colored with patches of black, white, and brown. They may even have other colors, as well.
The most popular coat colors and markings for people seeking a Bernedoodle tend to resemble the tri-colored Bernese Mountain Dog. The curlier the Bernedoodle’s coat is, the harder it is to groom. Because they shed less, they need to be brushed more often to prevent their coat from getting matted.
Some Bernedoodle owners brush their dog’s coat daily and treat it as a bonding experience, which this breed tends to love. Their coat must also be trimmed every few months, depending on how quickly it grows.
Exercise
Tiny and Miniature Bernedoodles are more suited to apartment life, while Standard Bernedoodles do better with a nice yard to run around. Generally, this breed doesn’t require much personal space, and as long as their moderate needs for physical and mental stimulation are met, they shouldn’t be too destructive.
Just how much exercise your Bernedoodle needs will depend on their size, with the toy versions needing slightly less than the standard. But all can benefit from a daily walk to explore the neighbourhood and socialise with other doggos.
It’s also important for your Bernedoodle to have designated playtime. While some pups are perfectly content with a long stroll or jog, the Bernadoodle is a goofy, playful doggo. They’ll have much more fun playing ball and tug-o-war than they would walking around sniffing bushes (not that they’ll say no to that, though!). And keep in mind that your Bernedoodle will expect your full participation. They’ll prance around and try to grab your attention until the whole family is involved in the game.
Please note with all puppies (particularly larger breeds that are prone to hip dysplasia), it is usually recommended to not over-exercise a puppy to not put too much stress on growing joints. The recommended daily amount is 5 minutes every month of life (for example, a 3 month old puppy only requires 15 minutes of exercise). Excessive stair use on large breed puppies can also lead to hip and elbow dysplasia. Getting pet insurance to cover hip & elbow dysplasia in your dog is highly recommended.
