Bernedoodle: everything you should know about this breed

Do you love Poodles?

If so, you will most likely love the cute descendant of a Poodle and a Bernese mountain dog known as the Bernedoodle.

If you're not familiar with the Bernedoodle name, you also might recognize its other names, such as the Bernepoo, Bernese Mountain Poo, and Bernesedoodle.

Either if you do or don't, we feel you deserve to know about this marvelous crossbreed. Similarly, if you're looking for a dog that does not shed much or trigger allergies, you'll be in luck. Likewise, these dogs are the perfect pet for any home with a family as they're placid and loyal to their owner.

Quick overview of the Bernedoodle

Temperament

• Outgoing
• They love to be around people
• Playful
• Intelligent

Appearance

• Tricolored coat
• Dark oval eyes
• 23-29 inches in height
• Three different types toy, miniature and standard Bernedoodle

Health

• Epilepsy
• Elbow dysplasia
• Progressive Renal Atrophy
• Von Willebrands disease

History of this breed

To really understand the Bernedoodle, we have to look at its parents. First of all, its Poodle parent originated from Germany but later developed in France. The Poodle was bred to be a water retriever and hunter.

Whereas the ancestors of the Bernese Mountain Dog originated 2000 years ago and were first discovered in the Swiss Alps. Their purpose was to pull carts, herd cattle and be a watchdog.

Now given these two ancient breeds, it's believed that the Bernedoodle is a relatively new crossbreed. A breeder known as Sherry Rupke from Swissridge Kennels stated that she first bred the Bernedoodle intentionally during 2003. However, it is believed that the Bernedoodle may have come into existence long back but not for intentional reasons.

Because it's not a thoroughbred and is a hybrid breed, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, it is recognized by other hybrid Kennel clubs. Typically the Bernedoodle is recognized under the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, International Designer Canine Registry, Designer Breed Registry.

Breed Appearance

One of the brilliant things about the Bernedoodle is that they're diverse in appearance. The truth is their image can depend on what genetics they inherit from either their Poodle or Bernese Mountain Dog parent.

When it comes to the size of a Bernedoodle, you can typically find them in three sizes depending on its Poodle parent. Just like its parent, the Bernedoodle can come in toy, miniature, and standard.

The texture of their coat can either be straight, curly, or wavy.

Most of the time, it's impossible to predict what textured coat a Bernedoodle will have! If you're looking for a specific type of coat when it comes to the Bernedoodle, we recommend visiting a breeder and speaking to them first.

Alongside their coat, they have floppy ears that hang near their head, dark-colored oval eyes, a distinct triangle-shaped muzzle, and a high bushy tail. They're also renowned for their thick cushioned paws and have a square structure. They tend to be longer than taller also.

Colors of the Bernedoodle

Like mentioned earlier, a Bernedoodle's coat color can depend on what it inherits from either parent. Their coats are quite diverse and can come in the combination of the following:

• Black
• White
• Black and brown
• Fawn
• Cream
• Sable
• Blue
• Tricolored – black, white, and brown
• White and brown
• Merle
• Apricot
• White and brown

Generally, the most common coat color types for a Bernedoodle consist of a tri-color, and the colors tend to resemble more of the Bernese mountain dog.

Morphology of this mixed breed

If you're looking to get a Bernedoodle puppy, note that there are quite a few different types available. The one you buy depends on how their parents were bred. For example, you can get the following:

• F1 (First Generation) Bernedoodle: A Poodle bred with a Bernese Mountain Dog.

• F1B Bernedoodle: A Bernedoodle bred together with a Poodle.

• F2 Bernedoodle: Two F1 Bernedoodles bred

• F2B Bernedoodle: F1 Bernedoodle and F1B Bernedoodle bred.

Tips about this breed

• Bernedoodles require a lot of brushing, and you should start brushing them from a young age. This will allow them to become used to the grooming routine, and it will be easier for you to groom them when they're adults.

• Don't leave a Bernedoodle on their own for a long time. They're known as velcro dogs and like to stick onto you. If left for too long, they can develop separation anxiety.

• Bernedoodles are great with kids. If you're looking to bring one home to your family, it's ok, but you must socialize them from an early age.

Health of the Bernedoodle

On average, a Bernedoodle can live up to 12 to 18 years if looked after well. They generally tend to be a lot healthier than their parents, however, they can be prone to the following health conditions:

• Epilepsy: When a Bernedoodle has a change in brain activity contributes to a neurological disorder. This disorder can cause seizures, muscle tightness, lethargy, and, if left untreated, death.

• Elbow dysplasia: When their forelimbs are displaced, causing pain and mobility difficulties.

• Progressive Renal Atrophy: An inherited disease that causes a dog's retina to deteriorate over time and trigger blindness.

• Degenerative Myelopathy: This is when a Bernedoodles hind limbs are paralyzed. Typical signs of this are difficulty walking, wobbling, and your dog falling over easily.

• Von Willebrand Disease: An inherited bleeding disorder that can occur in the nose, mouth, reproductive tract, and intestinal tract.

• Sebaceous Adenitis: An inflammatory skin disease that can cause infections.

GROOMING

If you're looking to bring a Bernedoodle home, you must dedicate a lot of time to grooming. Generally, a Bernedoodle should be brushed thoroughly at least 2-3 times a week. You must do this to remove any mats or tangles from its coat and keep its coat glossy.

It would be best to take it to a groomer to have their coat professionally groomed every 3-4 months. You mustn't wash a Bernedoodle regularly as you could strip away any natural oils from their coat. Therefore you should aim to wash them every couple of months.

Plus, their nails should be clipped and filed every 3-4 weeks. Generally, if you hear their nails clicking against the floor, then it's a sign for them to have them cut. You can choose to clip them yourself or get them done professionally.