Golden Mountain Doodle 101: An Intro to the Bernedoodle-Goldendoodle Mix

With Doodles being such trendy dogs, it was only a matter of time before things went one step further. So-called “Double Doodles” are the result of pairing two different types of Doodles. One such pairing is the Golden Mountain Doodle, also known as GMD. Let’s take a look at why the Golden Mountain Doodle might very well be the perfect dog for you.

Table of Contents

• What Exactly is a Golden Mountain Doodle?
• 3 Interesting Facts About Bernedoodle-Goldendoodle Mixes
• Physical Appearance
• Size
• Personality & Temperament
• Variations & Generations
• Health
• Exercise & Training
• Coat & Grooming
• Where Can You Get Golden Mountain Doodle Puppies?
• Frequently Asked Golden Mountain Doodle Questions
• Final Thought

What Exactly is a Golden Mountain Doodle?

The Golden Mountain Doodle is a hybrid cross between three breeds – the Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Poodle. They’re most commonly bred by crossing a Goldendoodle to a Bernedoodle, resulting in a wonderful combination of the three breeds. 

The reasoning behind pairing multiple Doodles is to add a little something, something into the mix that makes these dogs even more desirable pets. With so much Poodle in there, chances of the offspring of these dogs inheriting the much-coveted low-shed hypoallergenic Poodle coat is relatively high (but not wholly guaranteed). However, such pairings can also be used to offset temperament or behavioral issues.

The GMD is actually a really new type of Doodle, first bred in the United States in 2013. The first GMD pups were produced by Lazeeza, the chocolate Goldendoodle, and Henry the tri-colored Bernedoodle. They received the name Golden Mountain Doodle through a competition run on social media. 

While breeding two of the most popular family-friendly Doodles – the Goldendoodle and the Bernedoodle – seems inevitable, the main reason it was done at this time was to try and counteract a couple of lesser desirable qualities. After all, Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles have very distinct temperaments. 

Bernies are loving and loyal, but they have a hint of stubbornness in their nature that makes them trickier for newbie owners to handle. Goldies, on the other hand, are known people pleasers. They are also sometimes a little too energetic and downright boisterous compared to the more chill, laid-back Bernie. By combining the two, the hope was to create a more relaxed pup that is super easy to train. 

3 Interesting Facts About Bernedoodle-Goldendoodle Mixes

1. Despite that lovely name, there is no guarantee that a Golden Mountain Doodle puppy will be golden. With so many colors in the mix, they could be anything but. 
2. GMDs are just the latest in a whole range of Double Doodles. The first was a combination of the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle – the Golden Labradoodle. 
3. Unlike with most Doodles, there are currently two sizes of the Golden Mountain Doodle: Standard and Mini. Despite the names, both are on the larger end of the doggy-size spectrum. 

Physical Appearance

When it comes to looks, Doodles are always a mixed bag – that’s what you get when combining breeds. The effect is magnified if the pups are entirely distinct. With three quite different dogs, you can only begin to predict what you might end up with. Any which way, you know that any Doodle offspring are bound to be as cute as can be.

In terms of colors, you have the Golden Retriever’s various shades of gold, coupled with the Bernese Mountain Dog’s tri-colored combination of black with white and brown accents, and the Poodle’s rainbow variety of hues. So, the output is…well, it could be anything really – Golden Mountain Doodles can have black, brown, cream, beige, solid, parti, tri, phantom, merle, and many other coat colors and patterns. Seeing what colors the parent breeds are might help some.

Golden Mountain Doodles are usually quite stocky and well-built dogs (from the Bernese). However, Standards are typically closer in size to the Golden Retriever, with Minis being just a bit smaller. The Poodle genes often come through strong in their faces and features, though, making them very clearly Doodles.

Size

In calculating the potential size of an adult GMD, things can also get a little hazy – there are a lot of genes in that pool! The Bernese Mountain Dog is considered a large breed, Golden Retrievers are medium to large, and Poodles come in a variety of sizes.

Most breeders specializing in Golden Mountain Doodles are currently offering two sizes: Standard and Mini. Confusingly the Mini Golden Mountain Doodle is much more of a Medium than a Miniature at 16 to 22 inches to the shoulder and 25 to 50 pounds. The Standard Golden Mountain Doodle would probably also be considered a medium-to-large dog at 23 to 29 inches to the shoulder and 50 to 90 pounds.

Chances are, though, these dogs may be bred to be a little smaller in the future – that seems to be the general trend among Doodles. Many people enjoy all the perks of a larger, more laid-back dog in a handy apartment-sized package.

For further details on growth rates for GMDs and for help with predicting the potential adult size of your pup, take a look at our size chart and interactive growth calculator here.

Personality & Temperament

In general, Golden Mountain Doodles are loving, friendly, outgoing, and highly intelligent dogs. They’re great family dogs due to their gentle nature, but they also have a cheeky and playful side that’ll surely keep you and your whole family entertained. 

As GMDs are such new pups, it can be difficult to predict their temperament and personality. It’s also important to note that every dog is unique and even puppies from the same litter can have different personality traits, especially when it comes to hybrid crosses. In fact, standards for appearance, size, and especially for temperament take many generations to develop. What we can do, though, is look to the parent dogs for a hint of what we might expect from these adorable pups.

Firstly, we have the athletic, hyper-intelligent Poodle. Despite their super glamorous, slightly snobbish reputation, Poodles are actually born entertainers. They adore learning and displaying new tricks to please their owners, and with their smarts, they do this with ease. Poodles are loving, goofy, and have tons of energy. In the past, they often worked as clowns in traveling circuses.

Next is the Golden Retriever, perhaps the most famous family dog of all time. Aside from being gorgeous, these dogs are sweet, sociable, and get along with just about everybody – people and animals. Goldies are naturally happy pups and love to romp about with children of all ages. They are also pretty smart and are frequently used as service and therapy animals.

Finally, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, loyal breed best known for their stunning tri-colored coats. Friendly and affectionate, Bernies are also calm, tolerant but sometimes a little shy of strangers. They are usually incredibly protective of their owners and families, although they aren’t aggressive dogs. Bernies just love to be with their people. They thrive in a close and loving environment.

Variations & Generations

When we talk about Doodle generations, we are referring to which dogs have been used in the breeding, e.g., purebred vs. other Doodles. Often breeders combine first-generation Doodles (ones with two pedigree parents) with Poodles to make it more likely they will inherit the ‘hypoallergenic’ coat. 

With three dogs in the mix, there is no possibility of a first-generation GMB – the parents are already hybrid dogs. So, starting at the second generation, we have the following possible GMD combinations: 

	1st Parent	2nd Parent	% Golden Retriever*	% Bernese Mountain Dog*	% Poodle*
F2 Golden Mountain Doodle (second-generation)	F1 Goldendoodle	F1 Bernedoodle	25%	25%	50%
F2B Golden Mountain Doodle (second-generation backcross)	F1 or F1b Goldendoodle	F1b or F1 Bernedoodle	Varies	Varies	62.5%
F2B Golden Mountain Doodle (alternate cross)	F2 Golden Mountain Doodle	Poodle	12.5%	12.5%	75%
F3 / Multigen Golden Mountain Doodle	F1B Golden Mountain Doodle or higher	F1B Golden Mountain Doodle or higher	Varies	Varies	Varies

Health

Golden Mountain Doodles are usually healthy dogs, especially when compared to their purebred parents. With careful breeding, hybrid dogs tend to be much healthier than their parent breeds. This will likely be even more the case with so many different genes in the mix. 

Based on the parent dogs, we can probably say Golden Mountain Doodles will likely live 13 years or more (with Minis outliving Standards – as is the way with all dogs). Larger pups might have problems with hip and elbow dysplasia. Eye problems, skin issues, and food intolerances could all come into play with GMBs of all sizes.

Be sure to purchase your pup from a reputable breeder to avoid any serious health conditions. Check that relevant certification is in place and that the parent dogs have undergone proper testing for hereditary problems, among other things. 

For more on this, check out our article: How to Choose A Responsible Breeder. 

Exercise & Training

When it comes to training, this combination of three highly intelligent work pups (most especially the Poodle, which is numbered among the smartest dogs in the world) should make things effortless. Golden Mountain Doodles are generally easy to train, as they’ve got the smarts and they’re eager to please. However, they may be a bit stubborn, so you’ll have to be patient and consistent with these Doods.

We recommend positive reinforcement techniques with these dogs (as with every other kind of Doodle). With this method, you are encouraging positive behaviors rather than punishing negative ones. Punishment is not very effective for training and could even make the dog scared and consequently aggressive. Baxter and Bella detail positive reinforcement well and provide plenty of resources in their Online Puppy School. 

Socializing should be relatively pain-free too. Bernies can be a little more reserved, but both other dogs are super friendly. Just be careful when introducing your puppy to unfamiliar people, animals, and situations. The slower you take things right at the start, the easier things will go for the both of you, and the quicker your pup will develop in confidence. 

In terms of exercise, the idea was to slightly lessen the Goldie’s naturally bouncy nature with the Bernies more chilled-out demeanor. However, Golden Mountain Doodles will still need plenty of outdoor time to help them burn off that excess energy and relax. Aim for around one hour a day of walks and active games, and don’t forget that these dogs also require plenty of mental stimulation. Canine puzzle toys are great for this. 

Coat & Grooming

With so much Poodle in the mix, chances are the Golden Mountain Doodle will end up with either a fleecy and wavy coat, or a woolen and wiry one. While the second may look super cute, it is the more challenging of the two to care for. 

While a curly coat may be low-shed and great as your pup won’t be trailing hair all about the place, any hair that does shed will likely get caught up in healthy coat. The curls can quickly tangle up around this, leading to knots and matting. Once this gets wet, it will be impossible to remove without outright shaving your dog. To keep your curly-haired pup in good shape, make sure to brush them daily. 

A wavy coat can also develop knots, but this won’t happen as quickly or as thoroughly as with a curly one. Still, it’s best to brush these dogs every two to three days to keep them looking and feeling great. The problem these coats have is that they can grow out very quickly. Unless you’re keen to learn how to trim your dog at home, you may need to take them to a professional groomer on a regular basis.  

As both Bernies and Goldies have double-layered straight coats, this is a possibility for GMDs that can’t be discounted. This type of fur is super low maintenance in terms of knots, but of course, it does shed… Regular brushing is needed to remove the dead coat. The frequency will depend upon exactly how much you love having dog hair all over your furniture. 

Where Can You Get Golden Mountain Doodle Puppies?

GMDs currently go for anywhere between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on coat, colors, parents, etc. The more colors they have, the more expensive they are likely to be. This is similarly the case if they are Mini rather than Standard sized. (In calculating the cost of dog ownership, be sure to factor in grooming, food, vet bills, and accessories, too.)

When selecting a breeder, it’s a good idea to do careful research to ensure you get the happiest and healthiest of puppies. Pay close attention to online reviews (from third-party websites) and recommendations from expert sites. 

Frequently Asked Golden Mountain Doodle Questions

Final Thought

Golden Mountain Doodles are relatively new members of an increasingly large Doodle clan. They have been explicitly bred to make great pets for singles, families, and everybody in between. If you like the sound of these darling hounds and are considering adopting one, we hope that the information here has been useful in helping you prepare yourselves and your home to do just that.