Bernedoodle Dog Breed Introduction
Bernedoodle is a hybrid dog deliberately developed in 2003 by crossing a Bernese Mountain Dog with a toy, miniature, or standard Poodle. Depending on the size of the Poodle parent, Bernedoodles may be tiny-sized, miniature, or standard-sized. They make great companion dogs since they inherit a goofy, charming, and easygoing personality from the Bernese parent and the intelligence from the Poodle parent. This is a crossbreed that may closely resemble one parent than the other. However, it is difficult to make accurate predictions of the looks of individual dogs.
Bernedoodles are popular for their friendly, affectionate, playful, and intelligent personalities. They also tend to have a low shedding coat that is considered allergy friendly. Although, there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic pedigree or crossbreed. Most hybrids dogs are not recognized by major kennel clubs like AKC including Bernedoodles. However, this mixed breed is recognized by the Designer Breed Registry, American Canine Hybrid Club, the International Designer Canine Registry, and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.
Bernedoodle Origin | History
There is a possibility that natural crossing between Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs have existed way before 2003. However, Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels is credited for deliberately breeding the first litter of Bernedoodles in 2003. Before breeding the Bernesedoodles, Sherry had pretty mastered the breeding of Goldendoodles. She was successful in producing solid lines of toy-sized, miniature, and standard.
At the time, she was also breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs due to their sweet nature and beauty. However, Bernese dogs were plagued with serious health issues and have an average lifespan of 7 years. Bernese lovers are loyal to the breed, however, many came to Sherry saddened over losing their previous pets too young.
One day, her client suggested that she cross a Bernese with a Poodle. Sherry was fascinated with the idea. Therefore, she intentionally bred a Bernese with a Poodle. The first litter that was produced garnered great reviews from the clients and that was enough to keep her going.
Bernedoodle Lifespan | Life Expectancy
According to Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels, Standard Bernedoodles have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, Mini Bernedoodles have a lifespan of 17 years, and the Tiny Bernedoodles may live up to the age of 18 years. Therefore, Bernedoodles have an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years.
Bernedoodle Grooming | Grooming Needs
To prepare a Bernedoodle for a positive grooming process at home or with the professional groomer, get the pet accustomed to touch on the feet, tail, ears, face, and the entire body. Grooming at home offers great bonding time between the pet and the owner. While grooming your Bernedoodle, look out for lumps, rashes, and parasites like fleas and mites. A Bernedoodle may have a straight, curly, or wavy coat. A curly coat is inherited from the Poodle parent while a Straight coat is inherited from the Bernese Parent.
Wavy or fleece coat is a combination of both curly and wavy coat. Each coat requires a different grooming routine depending on the level of shedding and tendency to get mats and tangles. Curly coated Bernedoodles require regular brushings at least thrice a week using a slicker and a bristle brush to prevent matting and tangling. A curly coat is described as a low to non-shedding coat. This is because the shed hair is trapped in the coat. Frequent coat brushing is recommended to prevent matting and tangling.
The same goes to a wavy or fleece coat that will most likely trap the loose hair. However, straight-coated Bernedoodles require weekly brushing all-year round while they are shedding at moderate levels. A straight coated Bernedoodle has an undercoat that will shed off heavily during spring and/or fall. Therefore, daily brushing is recommended during this period to confine the loose hair in the brush that would otherwise spread around the house. Regardless of the coat type, always spritz it with a detangling spray or a water conditioner solution before brushing to prevent hair breakage. If a curly coated Bernedoodle has mats or tangles, work on them using a slicker brush or a metal comb.
Bernedoodles are relatively clean dogs that need an occasional bath every 2 to 3 months or every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the lifestyle of your pet. Regular baths deplete off the natural oils present on the skin resulting to a dry flaky skin. Before bathing your pet, always brush the coat first to remove dirt, loose hair, and tangles. Mats tend to get messier and tighter when they are wet. While bathing your Bernedoodle use a hypoallergenic canine shampoo and conditioner. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation.
Wipe the face using a damp washcloth or a unscented canine wipes instead of soapy water that irritates the eyes. Trim the nails of a Bernedoodle every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers to prevent splitting, overgrowth, and cracking. Remember to brush the teeth of a Bernedoodle at least twice a week if not daily to remove excess tartar using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax, dirt, or debris. While cleaning the ears, check out for odor, dark discharge, and redness that indicate the dog is suffering an ear infection.
Bernedoodle Haircuts | Grooming Styles | Grooming Needs
For easy maintenance of the coat, owners trim the coats of their pets every 4 to 6 weeks to reduce the number of brushing per week. Although, the coat of a Straight-coated Bernedoodle should not be trimmed or shaved. This is because it has a double layer that acts as an insulator against extreme hot or cold weather. However, the ears, paws, and the rear end can be trimmed for a smooth and clean look. The type of haircut chosen depends on the lifestyle, coat type, and the climate the pet lives in. Some of the haircuts that are suitable for Bernedoodles include:
Teddy bear cut – To achieve a teddy bear look, the fur on the face of a Bernedoodle is trimmed in a circular manner. The body fur is trimmed to at least 2 inches.
Puppy Cut – This is an easy maintenance cut that requires few brushings per week. Trim the body fur to about one inch. The hair on the face and tail is left a little longer.
Kennel Cut – This is a cut that is especially suitable for summer months. The fur on the body is clipped to about 1/2 an inch. It may also be referred to as a summer cut.
Winter Cut – The fur on the body is clipped to a length of 3 inches while the hair on the face and chest is clipped to about an inch all over.
Bernedoodle Grooming Brush
While grooming a Bernedoodle, use a pin brush, bristle brush, or slicker brush that is accompanied with a metal comb if the dog has mats or tangles.
Do Bernedoodles Shed | Bernedoodle Shedding
The level of Shedding in Bernedoodles depend on the type of coat and generation. Straight-coated Bernedoodles have a Bernese coat that sheds throughout the year at moderate levels and heavily while experiencing seasonal change. Wavy and curly coated Bernedoodles also shed at low levels. The shed hair is trapped by the coat hence barely noticeable unless while brushing the coat. An F1B Bernedoodle has 75% poodle genes and 25 % Bernese genes, therefore, it is likely to shed less as compared to F1 Bernedoodle. F1BB Bernedoodles have 87.5 % Poodle genes and 12.5 % Bernese genes. Therefore, they will shed at low levels as compared to F1B Bernedoodles.
Bernedoodle Coat | Coat Types | Coat Change | Hair
A Bernedoodle may either have any of the three coat types; straight, curly, or wavy. The wavy coat is a combination of the curly and straight coat. The former is inherited from the Poodle parent while the later is inherited from the Bernese parent.
Bernedoodle Hypoallergenic
Curly and Wavy-coated Bernedoodles are considered hypoallergenic. This is because they have low-shedding coats as compared to straight-coated Bernedoodles. Family that suffer from allergies prefer an F1B or F1BB Bernedoodle generation that has more of Poodle genes in them. However, owners should note that there is no 100% hypoallergenic pure bred or crossbred dogs. Therefore, they should spend lots of time with a particular dog before adopting to ensure it doesn’t aggravate their allergies.
Bernedoodle Training | How To Train A Bernedoodle | Training Tips
A Bernedoodle is most likely to inherit traits from both parents or one of the parent. In most cases, these hybrids are charming, curious, loving, goofy, smart, calm, and eager to please which makes them highly trainable. However, some Bernedoodles may inherit that sensitivity or stubbornness from the Bernese parent. Therefore, their training requires patience, consistence, and use of positive reinforcement methods. Some of these crossbreeds may also inherit the cautiousness with strangers from the Bernese which makes socialization training very essential.
Some Bernedoodles may inherit the extreme high energy level of a Poodle and will require exercise before training so that they can concentrate better. To have a friendly, charming, well-adjusted, and well-mannered dog, socialize your pet. This training normally starts at the age of 3 weeks while the puppy is with the breeder, dam, and its litter mates until the age of 16 weeks after a Bernedoodle has settled in its new home. Normally, owners take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. Bernedoodles were bred as companion dogs. Therefore, they need to be included in each and every family activity.
These dogs will suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for long periods of time. Pet parents should also not take their pets home before the age of 8 weeks so that the puppy can build on its social skills in the long run reducing the severity of separation anxiety. Crate training is a must to teach a Bernedoodle to stay alone for a few hours. To raise a socialized Bernedoodle, expose it to different people, places, experiences, situations, animals, sight, smell, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, whistles, lawn mowers, sirens, vacuum cleaners, and washing machine.
Enrolling a Bernedoodle in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. Puppy classes provide an opportunity for canine interaction in a controlled environment. These classes also enable the pet owner to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Puppies tend to have a short concentration span. Teach for a period of 3 to 5 minutes making the sessions fun and challenging. The training span will increase to a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day as the dog matures.
Use positive reinforcements method to encourage positive behaviors through the use of treats, toys, petting, playtime, and verbal praise. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as shoving, kicking, beating, or use of prong or choke collars. Bernedoodles are generally sensitive and will shut down due to negative training methods. Harsh corrections methods also strain the relationship between the pet and the owner.
Start teaching basic commands words like sit, stay, come, lie down, heel, leave it, etc., one at a time until the pooch understands before proceeding to the next command word. Owners are cautioned against issuing a command while too frustrated or excited since the command word will not sound the same for your pet. To effectively housebreak a Bernedoodle, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is recommended.
Bernedoodle Potty Training | How To Potty Train A Bernedoodle
A Bernedoodle is intelligent, charming, loving, and eager to please which makes potty training a bit easier. This training immediately begins after the pup comes home from the age of 8 weeks. The rule of thumb when potty training is understanding that an 8-week-old pup will be able to hold for 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old puppy will hold for a period of 3 hours. This is especially true for the standard and miniature Bernedoodles. A Tiny Bernedoodle will be able to hold for an hour before eliminating at the age of 8 weeks and 2 hours at the age of 12 weeks.
Before bringing a puppy home, choose a designated area where it will be relieving itself. Parents should also decide whether the Bernedoodle will eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a yard or street. Indoor potty training makes use of the puppy pads and litter boxes that are available for retail in the pet stores. Although, an owner should not start indoor potty training if he or she wants the puppy to eliminate outside later on and vice versa. This will confuse the pet hence having a relapse in house training.
While potty training, a crate has proven to be an indispensable tool. This device allows the parent to monitor a Bernedoodle for signs that it wants to eliminate outside such as whining, sniffing, circling, squatting, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door. The crate should be able to hold a mature tiny, miniature, or a standard doodle depending on the size of your pet. If the crate is too big, use a divider to adjust the crate size gradually as the pet matures. This will ensure the crate is not too big for the dog to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other corner. Although, dogs will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
If a parent is not comfortable to use a crate, he or she may use the umbilical cord method. This is where the leash end is attached to the owner. This method enables the parent to monitor the dog within a 6-foot range. Before a Bernedoodle is fully housebroken, it should not roam freely in the house to minimize accidents. For positive outcomes while potty training, take a Bernedoodle to the delegated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 1 to 2 hours or 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of your Bernedoodle, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, after naptime, and before bedtime.
In outdoor potty training, the designated toilet area should be far from the Patio deck or BBQ spot. Once you take your pet to the delegated elimination spot, utter the command word “toilet” or “potty” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two command words even if they mean the same since it will be confusing for your dog. Wait in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the dog to relax the bowel and bladder muscles for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back to the house and return it to the delegated area after a period of 20 to 30 minutes.
Before a Bernedoodle is fully housebroken, it may experience accident in the house. If you get your pooch in the act, clap your hands to distract the dog and utter a firm No. Immediately scoop the pup to the delegated area. If the pet eliminates there, give it a treat so that it will associate the area with elimination. Remember to clean the mess using an iodine solution or an enzymatic detergent to get rid of the odor.
If the odor is retained, a Bernedoodle will likely eliminate in the same spot encouraging future accidents. Prior to the age of 16 weeks, pet parents should set an alarm to take the pet to the delegated area at least once during the night. From the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be after every 6 to 8 hours since the bladder and bowel muscles have strengthened.
Bernedoodle Crate Training
A crate provides a sense of security for dogs contrary to the belief that it is a device for caging animals. It is a safe haven where a Bernedoodle can retreat to. This device is also instrumental while potty training. It allows the Bernedoodle owner to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate. A crate also helps to keep a Bernedoodle safe while in the house if the owner is not closely watching.
This tool also assist the pet to have confidence in staying alone for a few hours reducing the severity of separation anxiety. A crate makes it easier for parents to transport their Bernedoodles by car or air for brief distances or long vacations. It should be positioned in a room where they are ongoing family activities so that the pet will not feel isolated. While in the house, a pet parent should always leave the crate door open if the pet is fully housebroken. This will assist the Bernedoodle to understand that spending time in a crate is not a forced experience.
Make a crate comfortable by lining with a comfortable blanket or a bed linen. Throw a favorite treat or toy while the dog is watching. This will entice the dog to get into the crate. Once a Bernedoodle gets in the crate, close the door. Stay there for a few minutes. There is a possibility the Bernedoodle will start whining to be left off the crate. However, do not open the crate door until the whining ceases. This will prevent the dog from associating whining as a means of getting it from the crate. Repeat this process several times a day while increasing the duration.
Avoid crating a Bernedoodle for more than 4 hours at a time. Owners should not also use a crate as a form of punishment. Position a crate in a room that does not get too warm or too cold so that the dog can relax. Before letting a Bernedoodle into the crate, remove a harness or collar for safety purposes. A Bernedoodle can also sleep in the crate overnight. Cover the sides of a crate with a towel or a pair of sheets to block light only leaving the front side open. Put the crate in your room so that the pet will not feel isolated.
Bernadoodle Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Sociable.
- Loving.
- Intelligent.
- Charming.
- Happy.
- Affectionate.
- Curious.
- Friendly.
- Gentle.
- Playful.
- Sensitive.
- Calm.
- Eager to please.
Bernedoodle Exercise
A Bernedoodle has moderate energy levels and needs daily exercise in form of daily walks, playing, running, or hiking with you. If their exercise needs have been met, this breed will happily join you for a snuggle on the coach.
Do Bernedoodles Bark A Lot | Bernedoodle Barking
A Bernedoodle is a sociable dog that barks at moderate levels. However, it may develop a habit of barking excessively if left alone for long hours and when releasing pent-up energy due to lack of exercise.
Bernedoodle Height
Bernedoodles have three size varieties, tiny, miniature, and standard that have varying height range as discussed below:
Tiny Bernedoodles have a height of 12 to 17 inches ( approx. 30 to 43 cm).
Miniature-sized Bernedoodles have a height of 18 to 22 inches ( approx. 46 to 56 cm ).
Standard Bernedoodles have a height of 23 to 29 inches ( approx. 58 to 74 cm ).
Bernedoodle Weight
Standard Bernedoodles have a weight of 70 to 90 pounds ( approx. 32 to 41 kg ), although, they should generally weigh above 50 pounds ( approx. 23 kg ).
Miniature Bernadoodles have a weight of 25 to 49 pounds ( approx. 11 to 22 kg ).
A Tiny-sized Bernedoodle has a weight of 10 to 24 pounds ( approx. 5 to 11 kg ).
Bernedoodle Size | Size Chart
There are three size varieties of Bernedoodles, tiny, miniature, and standard categorized according to height and weight as discussed below:
A Tiny Bernedoodle has a height of 12 to 17 inches ( approx. 30 to 43 cm) and a weight of 10 to 24 pounds ( approx. 5 to 11 kg ).
Miniature Bernedoodles have a height of 18 to 22 inches ( approx. 46 to 56 cm ) and a weight of 25 to 49 pounds ( approx. 11 to 22 kg ).
A Standard Bernedoodle has a height of 23 to 29 inches ( approx. 58 to 74 cm ) and a weight of 70 to 90 pounds ( approx. 32 to 41 kg ).
Bernedoodle Aggressive
A well-socialized Bernedoodle is neither aggressive nor vicious. However, if poorly bred, socialized, and trained, Bernedoodles may develop fear-based aggression.
Bernedoodle Bite Force
A Bernedoodle may have a bite force of at least 200 PSI.
Bernedoodle Biting
Pup biting is rampant with Bernedoodles when they are exploring their surroundings, playing, or when teething due to discomfort. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not until the dog matures to have serious biting issues. Parents are urged to curb the biting behavior before it gets out of hand through redirection and bite inhibition training.
Bernedoodle Ear Infection
A Bernedoodle has floppy ears that protect the ear canal against dirt or debris. However, they prevent air flow resulting to moisture accumulation especially if the ears are not cleaned on a weekly basis. Floppy-shaped ears also create a dark and warm environment where bacteria thrives. Causes of ear infection in Bernedoodles include moisture accumulation, excessive cleaning, ear mites, excess wax, dirt, or debris, injury to the ear canal, yeast imbalance, and endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism.
Bernedoodles and other dog breeds are predisposed to three types of ear infections, externa, media, and interna otitis respectively. Externa otitis is far more common and causes inflammation to the cells located in the external ear. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the middle and inner ear canal causing media and interna otitis respectively. These infections result in deafness, facial paralysis, and vestibular signs such as disorientation, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Some of the signs that a Bernedoodle exhibits while suffering from an ear infection include rubbing the affected ear against the surface, walking in circles, pain, redness, scabs in the affected ear, head shaking, dark discharge, and odor.
Bernedoodle Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that may affect Bernedoodles include:
Cataracts – A Bernedoodle that is suffering from this eye condition has whitish and cloudy eye lenses that eventually lead to vision loss.
Progressive retinal atrophy ( PRA) – This is a group of degenerative diseases that affect photoreceptors cells in the eyes.
Bernedoodle Health Issues | Health Problems
A Bernedoodle is a crossbreed that benefits from hybrid vigour that lower the chances of susceptibility to diseases and the risk of inbreeding depression. Bernese Mountain Dogs are affected by various healthy issue hence have an average lifespan of 7 years. However, Bernedoodles tend to live longer with an average of 12 to 18 years due to hybrid vigour. Generally, Bernadoodles are healthy dogs. Although, they are affected by various health issues including eye disorders like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, allergies, and ocular diseases.
Bernedoodle Names
A Bernedoodle owner may decide to find a name for the pet before it leaves the shelter or a few days after the Bernedoodle pup joins them home to understand better the personality of the particular dog. Pet parents may get name inspirations from the coat color, personality, celebrity Bernadoodles, movies, songs, food, books, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where the parent gets the inspiration, he or she should ensure the selected name freely rolls off the tongue without making them embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Bernedoodles and other dog pets better understand names that have vowels. If your pet has a long name, find a cute nick name for the Bernadoodle.
If a Bernadoodle shares a name with the household members or guest who frequent your home, it may result to confusion. Parents are cautioned against giving their pets a name that rhymes with the command word to avoid confusion.
Female Bernedoodle Names
- Emma.
- Annie.
- Charlotte.
- Zoey.
- Sophie.
- Elsa.
- Clara.
- Madison.
- Amelia.
- Bailey.
- Dakota.
- Erika, etc.
Bernedoodle Neck Size
A Standard Bernedoodle has a neck size of 16 to 22 inches ( approx. 41 to 56 cm ). However, Miniature and Tiny Bernadoodles will have a smaller neck size.
Male Bernedoodle Names
- Rascal.
- Augie.
- Scout.
- Chase.
- Milo.
- Bernie.
- Skip.
- Milo.
- Rascal.
- Chase.
- Murray, etc.
Bernedoodle Heat Cycle
A Bernedoodle experiences a heat cycle for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. Small-sized dogs experience their heat cycle earlier as compared to large sized dogs. A tiny Bernedoodle may experience the first heat cycle from the age of 4 months while a Standard Bernedoodle from the age of 8 to 12 months. Miniature Bernedoodles may go on a heat season for the first time from the age of 6 months. Parents are urged to spay or neuter their pets if they have no intention of breeding. Intact dams experience an estrus cycle throughout their lives. Therefore, it is possible for a Bernedoodle to get pregnant in its senior years.
Some of the signs that a Bernedoodle exhibits while on a heat cycle includes bloody discharge, swollen vulva, mood swings, changes in eating habits, increased urination, nesting behavior, and tail flagging. Before breeding a potential dam and sire especially for F1 Bernedoodles, ensure the Bernese parent is screened for cancers that are predisposed to the breed, blood disorders, progressive retinal atrophy, and blood disorders.
The Poodle parent should be screened for sebaceous adenitis, idiopathic epilepsy, von Willebrand’s disease, and immune-mediated disorders. Breeders and parents should wait until the age of 2 years before breeding a Bernedoodle dam to reduce the risk of dystocia during child birth. Dogs that give before the age of 2 years are likely to reject the puppies.
Bernedoodle Litter | Litter Size
A Bernedoodle may have an average litter size of 6 to 8 puppies.
Bernedoodle Collar
A collar is suitable to walk a dog while on a leash if it has proper leash manners. However, a dog that has a tendency to pull should walk in a harness which distributes the pressure evenly on the shoulders and back. This accessory also allows the owner to have better control of the pet.
Bernedoodle Food
The amount of food that a Bernedoodle feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Bernedoodles feed on two meals a day.
Bernedoodles may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Bernedoodle parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for toy-sized, small, and medium to large-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age and size variety of your Bernedoodle. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Bernedoodle has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another quality food should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Bernedoodle is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Bernedoodle, other dog breeds include:
American Staffordshire Terrier.
Bernedoodle Colors
The most common colors found in a Bernedoodle litter include black and white, solid black, black and brown, and tri-color( black, white, and brown). Occasionally, some Bernedoodles have certain coat colors including brindle, sable, merle, phantom, and chocolate.
Bernedoodle Black
A Bernedoodle may have a solid black coat color. However, it is difficult to find one since it originates from a recessive gene present in both or one parent.
Bernedoodle Black And White
Bernedoodles have high chances of producing Black and White puppies as compared to pure black in a litter. In most cases the white color patches are present on the chest, paws, muzzle, and head while the black color is on the body.
Bernedoodle Types
Depending on the size of the Poodle parent crossed with the Bernese Mountain Dog, a Bernedoodle may be Tiny-sized, miniature, or Standard. The three size varieties may be bred into several generations. A cross between a Bernese with a Poodle produces first generation Bernedoodles referred to as F1 Bernedoodles. If the F1 offspring are crossed, they produce F2 Bernedoodles. The F2 crossing to another F2 Bernedoodle results to F3 generation. However, if an F1 Bernedoodle is backcrossed to either parent, the offspring produced is known as F1B Bernedoodles. If the F1B Bernedoodle is backcrossed to either parent, it results to F1BB Bernedoodles.
Bernedoodle Allergies
A Bernedoodle is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin Allergies – A Bernedoodle may suffer from skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. One of the environmental allergens, flea, cause flea allergy dermatitis. This insect normally bites the back legs and underneath the tail. This causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. If the sores are left unattended, they may result to fungal and bacterial infectionn. Environmental allergies cause atopic dermatitis, an itchy skin condition that occurs when the dog inhales house dust, pollen or ingests harmful substances. Bernedoodles may also suffer from sebaceous adenitis which results to itchy, scaly, and dry skin as well as hair loss.
Food allergies – Although rare, a Bernedoodle may be affected by a true food allergy that causes an immune response. Apart from food allergies, this crossbreed may also be affected by food intolerance or sensitivities.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of a Bernedoodle comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Bernedoodles include plastics, lawn chemicals, latex, grooming products, bed linens, carpet cleaning detergents, and medication. Commonly affected body parts include the feet, around the muzzle, and paws.
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergies that affect Bernedoodles include fleas, mites, pollen, grass, ragweed, trees, dust and dust mites, and house molds. Symptoms of environmental allergies include sneezing, nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, eyes, ears, muzzle, groin, underarms, belly sides, and between the toes.
Bernedoodle Food Allergies
A Bernedoodle may be affected by food allergies, although in rare cases. A true food allergy results to an immune response that is normally accompanied by skin issues symptoms and gastrointestinal stress. Some of the skin issues that Bernedoodles manifest due to food allergies include hives, sores, pruritus, dermatitis, and crusting lesions. On the other hand gastrointestinal issues include acute diarrhea and vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, and bloating.
Bernedoodle parents may confuse food sensitivities with food allergies since they both cause vomiting and diarrhea. However, food sensitivity in dogs does not cause an immune response. Instead, it occurs as a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet of the dog. Some of the ingredients that cause food intolerance in Bernedoodles include fillers, corn, soy, wheat, chemicals, preservatives, additives, lamb, chicken, beef, pork, turkey, fish, milk, eggs, etc.
Signs of food intolerance in Bernedoodles include vomiting, diarrhea, poor skin and coat, foot infections, ear infections, and itchiness. Parents are urged to work closely with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the dog through elimination methods. However, some parents may decide to totally switch to a fresh and raw diet.
Bernedoodle Eyes
A Bernedoodle has dark oval shaped eyes.
Bernedoodle Tail
A Bernedoodle has a furred tail that reaches the hock.
Are Bernedoodle Hypoallergenic
Generally, curly and wavy coated Bernedoodles are considered hypoallergenic since they shed at low levels. This coats also trap the shed hair that is only noticeable while grooming. However, there is no 100% hypoallergenic crossbred or pure bred. Therefore, a pet parent should spend lots of time with the dog before adopting to ensure the dog does not aggravate their allergies.
Are Bernedoodles Easy To Train
Yes. Bernedoodles are easy to train since they are intelligent, eager to please, calm, and outgoing pets.
Are Bernedoodles Smart
Yes. Bernedoodles are smart dogs that inherit this trait from the poodle parent.
Do Bernedoodles Need Haircuts
Yes. Curly and Wavy coated Bernedoodles require a haircut every 4 to 6 weeks for easy maintenance.
Bernedoodles Quick Facts
- They are long-lived breeds as compared to their Bernese parent having an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years.
- Bernedoodles were deliberately created in 2003 by Sherry Rupke of SwissRidge who crossed Bernese Mountain Dogs with a Poodle.
- A Bernedoodle has three size varieties; tiny, miniature, and standard that may either have a straight, wavy, or curly coat.