Bernedoodle 101: An Intro to the Bernese Mountain Dog-Poodle Mix

A Bernedoodle is a mix of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. Not only are they super cute, they make great companions, as well! In this article we’ll cover all the basics of Bernedoodles – their sizes, characteristics, personality, and more!

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Bernedoodle Generations

You may have heard people talking about F1, F1b, and F2 Doodles. This basically refers to whether they have purebred parents or are the product of other Bernedoodles.

Here are a few of the most common Bernedoodle generation types:

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% Bernese Mountain Dog*	% Poodle*
F1 Bernedoodle (first-generation)	Bernese Mountain Dog	Poodle	50%	50%
F1B Bernedoodle (first-generation backcross)	F1 Bernedoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F1BB Bernedoodle (first-generation backcross backcross)	F1B Bernedoodle	Poodle	12.5%	87.5%
F2 Bernedoodle (second-generation)	F1 Bernedoodle	F1 Bernedoodle	50%	50%
F2B Bernedoodle (second-generation backcross)	F1 Bernedoodle	F1B Bernedoodle	37.5%	62.5%
F2B Bernedoodle (alternate cross)	F2 Bernedoodle	Poodle	25%	75%
F3 / Multigen Bernedoodle	F1B Bernedoodle or higher	F1B Bernedoodle or higher	Varies	Varies

*These are generic calculations only – genetics are rarely mathematically accurate.

As seen above, an F1 Bernedoodle, or first generation, is a mix of 50% Bernese Mountain Dog and 50% Poodle. Some experts and breeders claim this to be the healthiest generation.

F1b results when a Bernedoodle and a Poodle have been crossed. As this is statistically a mix of 75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog, it will inherit more Poodle characteristics. This usually results in curlier hair and less shedding.

Barney the F1b Bernedoodle. Photo used with permission. Credit: Debi, pintsizepub.

F2, or second generation Bernedoodle, is a cross between two F1 Bernedoodles. Consequently, if this cross is being done over several generations, hybrid vigor starts diminishing and more genetic issues may start to reappear.

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Bernedoodle Appearance

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Colors

Most commonly, Bernedoodles come in pure black. In addition, there are many varieties of tri- and bi-colored pups that have brown, black, white or gray patches.

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Coat, Shedding, and Hypoallergenic Level

Most Bernedoodles have long hair and their coat can vary from wavy to curly. On the other hand, some also have straighter hair.

What makes a Bernedoodle special is the fact that even with a big, fluffy coat, most of them shed minimally. A useful rule of thumb is that the curlier the hair, the less it sheds. This means that they are perfect for people who are allergic to dogs! (If you’re allergic to dog saliva, this, unfortunately, won’t help you much.)

	F1	F1b	F2
Coat Description	Coats are usually more wavy than curly, which grows to a typical length of 3-5 inches. May or may not have an undercoat.	Coats are more likely to be curly than wavy, and grows to a typical length of 3-5 inches. May or may not have an undercoat.	Coats can vary greatly – curly, wavy, and anywhere in between – with varying lengths. May or may not have an undercoat.
Grooming/Coat Maintenance*	High care	Very high care	Moderate to very high care
Shedding	Some to light-shedding	Very light to non-shedding	Very light to non-shedding
Allergy Friendliness	Great for people or families with mild allergies	Recommended for people or families with moderate to severe allergies	Recommended for people or families with moderate to severe allergies

Size and Weight

Depending on the doodle parents, there are three main sizes of adult Bernedoodles that you can find: standard, miniature, and toy.

	Tiny/Toy Bernedoodle	Mini/Medium Bernedoodle	Standard Bernedoodle
Weight	10-25 pounds	25-55 pounds	55–90 pounds
Height*	15 inches or less	15-22 inches	23-27 inches
Age at Full-Grown	9-11 months	11-13 months	12.5-16 Months

*A dog’s height is measured from their withers, which is the highest part of their shoulder blades.

A smaller Bernedoodle can very well live in an apartment. But keep in mind the bigger the dog, the more space they will need.

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Bernedoodle Temperament

Bernedoodle gets the best of both worlds from the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle. They are loyal, affectionate, playful and love spending time with their human parents. Bernedoodles love being the center of attention and will probably follow you around everywhere. Your Bernedoodle will become your best buddy ever!

Bernedoodles love their exercise, so take your doodle out for daily walks and play with them. This is a great time for bonding, as well! Because of their loving and sweet nature, they also get along well with other pets and children. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect family dog?!

Keep in mind that every dog needs proper training and early socialization for them to become well-mannered. It is your responsibility to provide these opportunities to them.

In summary, Bernedoodles truly are such great dogs! They are friendly, loyal, playful and pour their hearts out to their humans. A Bernedoodle won’t make a great guard dog, but they surely are amazing, cuddly, family-friendly companions.

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Where to Get Bernedoodle Puppies

Due to the growing demand and competition for doodles, they are unfortunately rarely available to rescue from shelters or families (especially puppies), though it is possible.

That said, an infant puppy is easiest to buy from a breeder. There are many high-quality breeders out there who have been breeding healthy Bernedoodles for years, and they all specialize in breeding different generations, sizes, and colors of them.