The Bernedoodle is a relatively new hybrid dog breed, resulting from crossing a Poodle with a Bernese Mountain Dog and creating an adorably cute and fluffy puppy!

Before purchasing a Bernedoodle puppy keep reading below to learn some of the things that you should know to ensure this breed is right for you.

1. Bernedoodles Can Shed

Due to the nature of crossbred dogs, there is no guarantee about the kind of coat your Bernedoodle puppy will have. The Poodle has a tightly curly, non-shedding coat and the Bernese Mountain Dog has a long-haired straight coat that sheds frequently. Most Bernedoodle puppies have a long wavy coat, but you can also get straight and curly-coated puppies. Depending on the coat type your Bernedoodle may shed, but either way, they require a high level of grooming – this is not a low-maintenance breed when it comes to their coat!

Most breeders can tell from an early age what kind of coat each Bernedoodle puppy will have, but this may change over time. There are three main types of Bernedoodle coat:

  • Straight “hair coat” – The straight coats usually shed the most and are the least hypoallergenic of the three coat types. Even though this coat is called “straight” or flat, it may actually have a slight wave to it. The length of the dog’s straight hair depends mostly on the length of the parent’s hair. Straight-coated Bernedoodles are not very common; you’ll mostly find them with wavy or curly coats.
  • Wavy “fleece” coat – The wavy coat, which is low-to non-shedding, is probably the coat most seen on Bernedoodles. This coat is very free-flowing and often has a kinked or wavy appearance.
  • Curly “wool” coat – The curly coat will shed the least and is the most hypoallergenic of the three types. The curls on this coat are usually tight with a soft texture much like what you would see on a Poodle. Curly coats may still shed, but they shed the hair upon themselves rather than on your floor. Unfortunately, this shedding upon themselves is what makes it necessary for them to be brushed daily and trimmed frequently. The curly coat Bernedoodle is usually the most suitable for owners who have an allergy to dog dander. If you don’t want to deal with shedding, keep in mind that the curlier the coat, the less it’s going to shed.

2. The Bernedoodle Can Be Stubborn

A hybrid or crossbred dog combines the traits and characteristics of its purebred parents; with careful, conscientious breeding, the resulting pups may end up with the best attributes of each.

In the case of the Bernedoodle, the blend of the Bernese and the Poodle produces a smart, friendly, playful dog.

They tend to have the sweetness and loyalty of the Bernese, and the goofy liveliness and intelligence of the Poodle. Like the Bernese, they are gentle around children and the elderly, and because they love to work, they often make excellent therapy dogs.

Bernedoodles aren’t always perfect, however. Despite my efforts to breed only the best purebreds, some offspring may inherit stubbornness or sensitivity from the Bernese. Their training requires patience, a light touch, and positive reinforcement.

Unless a breeder is vigilant, Bernedoodles may also inherit the Berner’s cautiousness with strangers and end up being somewhat skittish. Further, from the Poodle they can inherit an extremely high level of energy. 

3. Bernedoodles Need Regular Grooming

Contrary to popular belief, low or non-shedding dogs require far more grooming than those who shed naturally. Non-shedding dogs still ‘moult’ or lose their hair, however they require regular grooming to remove this hair and to prevent matts and tangles. This matting is not always obvious until the Bernedoodle goes into the groomer for a thorough session, and knots are often discovered which are very uncomfortable for the dog. Be prepared to brush your Bernedoodle daily and have him professionally groomed every 6-8 weeks.

4. The Bernedoodle Comes in Many Sizes

The ultimate size of the Bernedoodle can vary quite a lot. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large dog reaching around 20-23 inches tall and 35-50kg at maturity, however the Poodle comes in three sizes – Toy, Miniature and Standard, so this will have some bearing on the size the adult Bernedoodle will reach.

Being a crossbreed, the size a Bernedoodle will reach as an adult is less predictable than a purebred dog. If you want a particular size of dog, make sure to enquire about the size of the Poodle parent.

A Toy Poodle reaches around 8-10 inches in height and weighs around 5kg. A Miniature Poodle usually matures between 11-15 inches in height and weighs 6-9kg and this cross produces the Miniature Bernedoodle puppy. A Standard Poodle is the largest of the breed at around 20-23 inches tall and 25kg and this results in a standard Bernedoodle puppy.

5. Bernedoodle Breeders Should Do Health Tests

It has been disproven that crossbred dogs benefit from ‘hybrid vigor’ and are less likely to suffer health problems. In fact, crossbred dogs are at risk of inheriting diseases and health conditions from both parents, which could result in a less healthy pup than a purebred.

When purchasing a puppy make sure you choose an ethical breeder who has done the recommended health testing for all relevant breeds involved in the breeding. In the case of the Bernedoodle the following health tests are recommended:

Bernese Mountain Dog
• Hip Evaluation
• Elbow Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• Cardiac Exam
• Von Willebrand’s Disease DNA Test

Poodle – Miniature
• Hip Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• PRA Optigen DNA Test
• Patella Evaluation


Poodle – Standard
• Hip Evaluation
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation


Poodle – Toy
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• PRA Optigen DNA Test
• Patella Evaluation

6. Bernedoodles May Not Be Hypoallergenic

Although some Bernedoodles are low or non-shedding, most people are actually allergic to dogs’ saliva rather than their hair, so choosing a dog based on its coat type is going to be ineffective at preventing the allergic reaction. Consider seeing an allergist or testing your allergies with various types of dogs before making a decision on the kind of puppy that you purchase. Alternatively, consider some other breeds which are more likely to be hypoallergenic.

7. They Come in Different Varieties

F1 – is a first generation cross, in which the pup is 50 per cent Bernese Mountain Dog and 50 per cent Poodle. The F1 cross is considered the healthiest, as the parents have the least likelihood of contributing genes for common inheritable diseases.

F1b – is a backcross in which a Bernedoodle is bred with a Poodle. The puppy is 25 per cent Bernese, and 75 per cent Poodle. F1b puppies are the most likely to be non-shedding and allergy-friendly. Some breeders have backcrossed a Bernedoodle with a Bernese, which results in a dog with more of the Bernese traits and a greater likelihood of shedding. 

F2 – is a second-generation cross, in which an F1 Bernedoodle is crossed with another F1 Bernedoodle. If this is done for 7 generations a breeder could apply to register this dog as a purebred. Some F2 pups may have an improper coat without the fleecy softness common in the ’doodles.

8. They Can be Very Active

Poodles are both very smart and very easily bored – they require a lot of mental stimulation and exercise in order to keep them out of trouble! If your Bernedoodle inherits more of the Poodle’s nature expect to have a very active puppy. They can also be highly strung and very sensitive, so take this into account when considering a Bernedoodle.

9. Bernedoodles Love the Outdoors

Both Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles love being outdoors. The Bernese Mountain Dog was originally bred in the Swiss Alps as farm dogs that pulled carts or drove cattle to market and Bernese thrive in cold weather. The Poodle is believed to have originated as a water retriever in Germany and is a hardy, intrepid dog that enjoys outdoor adventures despite their ‘precious’ reputation.

The Bernedoodle puppy generally will love to play, run, and hike with you, and may inherit the Poodle’s love for retrieving and swimming. 

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