Bernedoodle Pros and Cons | Must Read Before You Get
[Updated: 01/15/2021] If you don’t already know, the Bernedoodle dog is a cross between one of the three Poodles and the Bernese Mountain Dog. At the moment, Bernedoodle is among the most popular crossbreeds in the US and Canada.
Also known as Bernese Mountain Poo, it was crossbred by Sherry Rupke for the first time intentionally who wanted to get a dog with the cutest Bernese looks and Poodle’s intelligence. As a result, we got a dog breed that inherited intelligence, playfulness, smartness, and the hypoallergenic coat from its parent breeds.
Bernedoodle is a complete package. It is social, friendly, loving, cuddly, and whatnot, you just name it. Along with that, it is an ideal dog for those who are allergic to dog dander and hair because its low-shedding coat doesn’t shed much.
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Vets and dog experts suggest that you must do your research before getting a new dog breed. Especially, it is recommended to have a look at their pros and cons so you already have an idea about their positives and negatives, and how to take care of that. Likewise, if you are planning to get a Bernedoodle puppy, you should know about the breed’s negative and positive traits.
So, in this post, we are going to cover all the pros and cons of Bernedoodles. This post will help you for sure and you’ll be able to make a decision on the breed.
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Bernedoodle Pros and Cons
We receive tons of emails regarding the Bernedoodle’s pros and cons. Many dog parents are curious about their pup’s behavior and attitude while many ask about their energy levels and low-shedding coat. Luckily, many Bernedoodle breeders are on board with us and they help us understand this breed.
So, all the pros and cons are confirmed by some reputable Bernedoodle breeders and current owners. Let’s have a look at them below.
Pros:
What’s good about Bernedoodle? Well, they have lots of positive traits and some most important are mentioned below. Remember, it is you who is responsible for most of their positive traits because if you don’t socialize and train your dog well, he or she may grow up to be a spoiled dog.
Low-shedding coat:
First of all, you should remember that there is no such dog that doesn’t shed. All the dogs shed, some more and some less. The poodle is one of the dogs that have a low-shedding coat and Bernedoodle is more likely to inherit this trait.
So, the Bernedoodle’s low-shedding coat makes it the best choice for people who are allergic to dog dander and hair. Although no one can guarantee what coat they’ll have, still, if you want to make sure that you have a dog with a low-shedding coat the F1b Generation Bernedoodle is the right choice for you.
Exceptional Temperament:
An ideal dog is one that tolerates strangers, guests, and other pets. And when it comes to Bernedoodle, it is a matchless breed. It has the temperament and personality greater than the peak of Rocky Mountain. But make sure you socialize and train your Bernedoodle from an early age to avoid any behavior issues.
Overall, they are affectionate, loving, and happiest dogs who love to interact with their humans. As per our research, they are the ideal dogs for kids, seniors, individuals, and almost everyone.
Best for children and family:
According to most Bernedoodle owners, their pup is an ideal family dog for them because it is very loving and friendly. It is always ready to grab your attention and please you. If you have children, Bernedoodle will even be more vigilant for them. In fact, Bernedoodle loves the company of children and becomes a soulmate with them.
Pet-friendly:
You do not need to worry about getting a Bernedoodle if you already have other dogs or non-canine pets such as a cat, ferret, or rabbit, etc. The Bernedoodle has the ability to adjust with almost all the pets and it makes a strong bond with all of them.
One thing to remember, if you are planning to get a Tiny Bernedoodle while you already have a large-sized dog such as a Great Dane, you need to supervise them when they are playing or the puppy may get injured.
Cuteness overloaded:
With their unbelievable cuteness, Tiny and Mini Bernedoodle look like a toy. So, if you want to be an attention grabber, just get a small-sized Bernedoodle and leave the rest on your doggy. They are such an adorable dog that they can instantly grab anyone’s attention.
Your best exercise partner:
All dogs need to be exercised daily to ensure their health, some breeds need less and some need more. Likewise, Bernedoodle becomes your true companion during exercises, running, swimming, playing, and other activities.
Friendly:
Bernedoodles are socio-friendly and guess what? They have the ability to impress your guests at first sight.
So these were the detailed Pros of Bernedoodles, now, let’s move to their Cons.
Image by Namaste Poodles and Doodles
Cons:
Like all other dog breeds, Bernedoodles also have various cons that you should consider before making any final decision because most people give up their dogs due to these reasons. So, let’s explore them.
Daily exercise:
Well, you must be wondering how exercise has become a negative trait. Actually, it is a negative trait for those owners who cannot give enough time to exercise and walk their dogs. And Bernedoodle is an exercise lover and would not like to miss its daily walks and exercise.
At least 30 minutes of a daily walk, exercise, and other enrichment activities are highly recommended or they may develop behavioral issues and can become a real mess for you in their adulthood.
If you are a busy person and can’t give enough time to exercise your Bernedoodle regularly, you should consider getting some other dog breed that has moderate or low exercise needs such as a Shih Poo, Maltese, Pug, or Pomeranian.
Inheritance of health-related issues:
As they are a designer breed, they may inherit diseases from their parent breeds just like they inherit their habits and features. To avoid any such health issue, try to buy a dog from a certified and well-reputed breeder. Also, it is highly recommended to get them checked to avoid any genetic issues.
You are more likely to face this issue if you get a Bernedoodle puppy from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder who simply breeds dogs for the sake of money and no relevant genetic tests are performed. By doing a little research and choosing the breeder wisely, you can easily figure out this issue.
Not a guard dog:
Bernedoodles have several types and generations but unfortunately, none of them becomes a good guard. So, if you are looking for a guard dog, consider other smart breeds such as a German Shepherd. Actually, they are so much friendly that they’ll end up helping your predator with their friendly behavior.
More than enough playfulness:
The Bernedoodles are high energy dogs and their activity level is high; therefore, they’ll be more demanding. Their playfulness and responsiveness may sometimes become a headache for you because they hate to be bored and show bad behavior. Remember, a bored dog is a destructive dog and it can further lead to many complex issues such as separation anxiety, excessive barking, and destructive chewing, etc. Read everything about Separation Anxiety.
Regular grooming:
The low-shedding coat has many advantages but at least one disadvantage; regular grooming. A Bernedoodle shed very little because of its curly coat, so you need to brush them regularly, or either they’ll have a matted or tangled coat. They should be brushed twice every week while professional grooming is needed every 2-3 months.
Expensive:
The Bernedoodle’s cost may vary between $3000-$6000 because of their high demand, which means, they are relatively expensive than other dog breeds. We checked with several breeders, and now, these dogs come in several beautiful color patterns that may cost you even more. Moreover, it is a high-maintenance breed especially the Standard Bernedoodle that may cost you around $600-$1000 every year.
What Bernedoodle Owners say about this breed?
We have collected feedback from over 50 Bernedoodle owners and found out some important facts and figures. So, we thought to summarize what they have said and present it to you so you’ll have a clearer idea about the breed. Actually, it is important to know the instance of owners along with breeders and experts.
Remember, the below-given feedback is collected from different owners and the situation may be different for other owners because every dog is different and mostly, it depends on you how you raise and train your dog. We are sharing this feedback and reviews just for the sake of our readers, especially those who are planning to get a Bernedoodle puppy
So, read them to know more about Bernedoodles.
Positives:
- We got our puppy at the age of 8 months and he had already developed many bad habits but we trained him and he is now a champion dog. We spent some extra time training him and got the fruit. (~Jeff – Standard Bernedoodle owner)
- Very easy to potty-train. Easily trained and picked up all commands. Great with children. Requires a lot of exercises. (~C.D. Williams – Mini Bernedoodle owner)
- Incredibly easy to train. We potty-trained him in one week after he arrived to our home. He wakes up at 4 am sharp to pee and sleeps instantly after doing the job. Very loving and intelligent. (~Brianna – Mini Bernedoodle owner)
- Our 2-year old F2 Bernedoodle doesn’t shed at all. He know how to open the door. He is very loving. (~Melissa – F2 Bernedoodle owner)
Negatives:
- Velcro dog and cannot be left alone because it gets highly destructive. Needs daily brushing. (~Urshela)
- My Bernedoodle is very stubborn and does not like to be left alone. Sometimes, he shows very bad behavior, such as jumping and biting. (Pat – an F1 Bernedoodlw owner)
- My Bernedoodle is excessively hyper and extremely mouthy. (~Cindy – F2 Bernedoodle owner)
- My Standard Bernedoodle sheds although his coat is thicker and straighter. He eats everything and swallowed a chew toy so we need to keep an eye over him all the time. (~Tyler)
So, these were the 8 responses from the current Bernedoodle owners that may help you in making the final decision. Also, if anyone from your family or friends have a Bernedoodle, take reviews from them them about the dog, its temperament, and the breeder, etc.
Final words:
You are once again recommended to buy from an expert and certified breeder, and make sure your dog has had all the necessary vaccinations.
As we have listed the major Pros and Cons of Bernedoodles, if you feel you can easily bear them, they are the best of the best dogs for you. They literally become your life partners and the best companions.
If you have any questions about Bernedoodles, we would like to answer them.
Note: If you are looking for a reliable Bernedoodle Breeder, you can email us at [email protected] and we can give you some recommendations.
Looking for dog names? Check for the following breeds: Corgi | Boston Terrier | Golden Retriever
Image: Walnut Valley Puppies
It’s interesting to know that Bernedoodle makes the best pet because of its friendly and loving behavior. My brother is thinking about adopting a dog for his kids, and we are looking for advice. I will let him know about the benefits of Bernedoodle puppies to help my brother to choose.
I see that the real nitty gritty about bernedoodles are not found on the internet.
Allow me to expand the cons list:
Stubborn breed very very difficult to potty train, have your carpet cleaner on standby. Velcro dog, anxiety when left alone; destructive; hide your favorite anything. Daily brushing, bath every 3 to 4 weeks. Thinking about getting a large crate? Well get ready to purchase a minimum or 2 to 3 per year did I mention this is a Velcro dog leave it alone and it becomes completely destructive.
Thanks, Urshela! You have shared fruitful info with our readers. Are you sure all Bernedoodles are like that or is it just yours? Also, will you please share some other info with our readers, such as it’s generation(F1, F1b, F2, etc), type(Mini, Tiny, Standard), and the breeder too.
I’ll expand on this with our experiences so far. We picked up ours at about 8 months old, and we are his third (and final) family. He’s standard size and 70 pounds of black curly happyness. He’d had some puppy training but had a LOT of bad habits (jumping. mouthing, barking, digging, chewing). He was house trained, and we think on pee pads, but after a few initial incidents he’s been awesome. He’s almost 2 now, and has some amazing bladder control. We can sleep in on weekends quite late, and he’s very rarely ever “itching” to get out right away. He does not like being alone, and at first when we all went off to work/school, we confined him to our foyer with gates, where he chewed on baseboards/door frames/boot box/shoes, but just out of boredom. That’s not an issue at all anymore and will just sleep for ~8 hours in the foyer. He is crate trained, doesn’t like it of course, but will sleep in it when we go away to my moms with no tantrums. We have lots of toys to keep him occupied; rope and ring tugs are his favourite, along with sticks, he loves his sticks! And man, does he like to play. We did spend quite a bit on some training (Sit Happens) and it was fantastic results. We get compliments constantly when out and about how good he is. He does have his moments now and then of course, but dont we all. Best dog ever .:)
I have a Bernadoodle 7 months 0ld and I will agree with some of the issues described by Urshela Morris my Murphy is adorable and I love him ,but he is a real challenge I’ve tried every suggestion and so far no luck with potty training but I’ve also learned not to leave him alone much or he gets real hyper
he’s also very stubborn and hard to train he’s very smart and knows many commands but will only perform when he wants to ,he displays some bad behavior like jumping and biting at me
Certainly not what I expected when I got him I’ve tried obedience classes already he’s a F1 Bernadoodle
Hi Pat!
Thanks for the fruitful info. It will help other people to decide whether they should get a Benredoodle or not. Also, it is recommended to mention the breeder and type of Bernedoodle (Standard, Mini, or Tiny) so we have a clearer idea.
My F2 is driving me crazy. I never had problems with my lab. Miss him everyday. My Bernie May never potty train, and she is excessively hyper. It has reached a level at six months that I dread being around her. She crushed puppy training-very smart, but she is mouthy (biting all the time), and very stubborn and hyper.
We used a bell on the door for ours. He does great only ever had one accident
Hi all. I got my wife a mini bernadoodle in November. He is currently 5 months old. We have not seen any of the characteristics that you all have shared. He was easy to potty train and quickly picked up on basic commands: sit, lay down, and stay. We are still working on jumping up, especially when we first get home from work, but we just started caring because of his growth. He is great with our children and quickly adapts to our nieces and nephews during family dinners.. He does require exercise, a lot of it. We take him out and let him run in the backyard in the morning and then take him for walks after work.
I completely agree with the article, being proactive and attentive to the dogs needs will prevent a lot of the behaviors. However, if you have only a little time for the dog, you should consider another breed. They crave your attention, and like children, will get it anyway they can. We love ours so much that we are going to be purchasing another one from the same breeder.
Thanks, Williams. Informative comment. We hope your comment will help many people decide about their next breed. Also, would you please mention the breeder’s name too? Thanks
We are reaching out to breeders now in hopes of finding a puppy. Do you mind sharing your breeder? It sounds like you got the perfect Bernedoodle!
I have a F1 Bernadoodle 9 months old
I’m having so many problems with him it’s so disappointing I’ve tried obedience training
and many suggestions offered online he lunged at me jumps on me tears up everything , cant get him potty trained he’s smart he knows commands but only for a treat that doesn’t solve the problems
I’m elderly but active I love him but he’s just so hard to handle he doesn’t want to snuggle at any time he’s in constant motion any suggestions I take him to the dog park once a week and play with him outside I have a large yard
This with all dogs need daily exercise!!! They need a job!!! Get this dog busy and active every day and the behaviors will change.
Try taking doggie outside for potty trips every hour and put on feeding schedule ASAP…
I have a 10 month old standard Bernedoodle. (Mom is a standard poodle dad is a Bernese mountain dog)I love him to the moon and back and will continue to love and care for him for hopefully another 20 years +.
However my baby so far has eaten one couch, one recliner and one kitchen chair. We look away or tend to an important phone call and he’s destroying anything in his sight. He bites and jumps on us. We have taken him to a boarding school for one week twice and he’s come home with even worse ideas. Both times. We have spent over 2000US on training alone. Nothing works. Unless u plan on being with this breed 24/7 and I do mean 24/7 this breed may very well destroy ur home. But yes I love him regardless He will not be going anywhere. Xx
Its good to hear that you love him regardless of all the issues. Have you tried to exercise him more than your normal routine?
I have a routine with him where by we go for a morning 30 minute brisk walk, and again at 7 pm This is all my day can allow for. These two walks may buy me an additional 30 minutes of peace before his engines start up again lol. I often wonder if dogs can have ADHD lol
I think it’s so cute that Bernedoodles are too friendly to make a good guard dog. My husband wants our dog to be friendly because we have two little kids. The friendlier, the better!
Hi can u recommend a good breeder?
Our breeder is great !
NaturalGoldenandBerndoodles
Utah
I have a standard bernedoodle- 3 months old now and doing really well. He is attached but crate training has gone well so that he will sleep through the night in his crate and will nap in his crate if I have to leave to run errands. We do have to keep an eye on him because he’s teething and likes to gnaw at things but he hasn’t been otherwise destructive. He is wonderful with my kids and loves snuggles and belly rubs.
I have a mini bernedoodle, he was incredible easy to train. Within a week of bringing him home he was potty trained. He is still only 10 weeks old but has not made any mistakes in his cage or any where in the house. Along with this, he has been sleeping through the night, only waking up steadily at 4 am to be let out onto his pad then falls asleep quickly after. He also has learned three tricks so far – sit, down, and stay. He’s a very loving puppy and I would recommend this breed to anyone- if they have the time. He is very attached to my family and does want attention pretty much all the time which isn’t an issue for us since someone is always home. Very playful, loving, intelligent and loyal puppy for only 10 weeks old! Looking forward for what’s to come with him.
Who is the breeder? We are planning to get one and we will be first time dog owners so am getting little nervous reading the various cons about bernedoodles.
Can you tell us your breeder info?
We have a 10 month old f1 standard. She was so easy to potty train only peed in the house a handful of times never one poop. We make sure she has plenty of her own toys an so far has not destroyed anything in our house.she loves to dig holes an hide sticks in our yard but other than that she’s been a great dog a little jumpy an hyper but even that starting to get better.
We got our Bernedoodle from someone who wanted to re-home him in February. He’s about 8 months and We absolutely love him. He’s grown. He has walked with me so much. Loves to play but responds very well to settling down. He doesn’t like to be alone but is very good. My only complaint is the shedding. He has curly hair. Of course, with the Corona, groomers are closed. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem and possibly know if it will go away after he gets older and groomed on a regular basis? We’ve also used furminator products on him.
My bernedoodle shed too. He’s a standard. He’s only 6 months so I’m assuming this is his puppy coat. His coat that’s growing in is much thicker/coarse and straighter. I also had some issues with potty training at first, but putting him on a schedule works. We take him out 3-4 times a day and bring him in immediately after he potties. He has started growling when he hears people at the door too, so getting protective. Also, he has learned sit, lay down, shake, and up. However, he does love to jump up at people which has been hard to train him not to do – any tips? Also, he eats everything. He even swallowed a chew toy!!!! So now we are very careful in watching him with anything in his mouth.
How much are/were you guys feeding your bernedoodle puppies around 6 months? Thanks!!!!
I have a 6 month old standard Bernedoodle and he’s been really easy to train. He’s incredibly smart and learned basic commands like sit, stay, and paw all right around 3/4 months. He now knows how to give hugs too. He eats about 4 cups of dry food a day give or take a little. He goes out in the back yard for about 20 minutes a day and we walk for about 30 minutes in the evening. He does chew on things here and there but nothing out of the ordinary and nothing I haven’t ever experienced with other puppies previously. We live in Florida and I got him from Dandelion Doodles in Jacksonville! Absolutely love my boy!
I have a F1B mini doodle who’s now 9 months old. I got him at 9 weeks and was very easy to potty train. He got potty training down within a month. The biting and nipping is a stage they go through, I recommend oven mitts. This will pass.
My Bernie has a lot of energy yet is lazy. I’ve never had to crate him, He sleeps when he’s alone.
He is stubborn & determined. Loves to play and has a hard time shutting down but overall I love seeing how he’s maturing
I have a 5 month old standard bernedoodle. He is such a smart, loving dog. He was potty trained at about 12 weeks old. He has a daily routine and food schedule and is doing well. We have had a few one on one training sessions when he was 3 months old. Now we have him in a group training session. I have to say that he is a really good puppy and is pretty low key. He loves to just hang out and chill.
I have an F2 mini and she’s 7 months old. She displays many of the traits y’all talk about but at 7 months she is starting to ‘calm down’ a bit. She is an amazing dog. She has a strong tendency to eat anything she can get her hands on. Very concerning! It took roughly 4-5 months for her to be fully potty trained. I also have a mini australian shepherd that’s almost 2 yrs old. I think my bernadoodle has learned good behaviors (pottying outside, sit, stay, down, fetch…) and bad behaviors (barking at strangers, jumping). Overall she is fantastic and I can’t imagine life without her. In my experience, all puppies are challenging and it’s important to be up for the challenge and be consistent and patient in training them. Before you know it, they mature and become a great family member that is comfortable with the same lifestyle as their people!
I have a 2 year old who is driving me crazy. He’s very clingy but if left alone for 2 min he finds things to get into. His favorite is reaching into the kitchen sink to grab/eat whatever leftover dishes he can find. I caught him eating leftover spaghetti on my couch straight out of the container that he got from the sink. I have to hide things in cabinets or above the fridge or else he will get it. He knows he is in the wrong and hides when I come home but continues to do it every time. We gave up crate training when he was 4-6 months old because he constantly pooped in his crate and rolled in it multiple times a day. I’ve about had enough with him.
I have a 2 yr old beautiful f2 bernedoodle. Hes black and white. He doesn’t shed at all.. He requires grooming ($80 plus $20 dollar tip) every 6 weeks. When he was a baby he ate everything from our couch to socks and underwear. He was hard to potty train. UNFORTUNATELY he was breed at a puppy mill and we adopted him at 4 months from our local humane society after no one bought him.. He DOES NOT LIKE STRANGERS AND LITTLE KIDS until they’ve been at house for at least 25 minutes then he calms. Now he knows how to open our doors, lift the heavy trash can lid and the bread drawer. He has eaten 4 loaves of bread when we aren’t home (smartie pants waits till we leave to open bread drawer). We can’t leave ANYTHING on our countertop or he will eat it! But, he LOVES HIS FAMILY so much. We wouldn’t trade this big boy for anything. He is 100lbs.