Saint Berdoodle 101: An Intro to the Saint Bernard-Poodle Mix

Will you look at that cutie! The Saint Berdoodle is a huge, yet cuddly dog. They’re oh so soft, fluffy, and have a heart of gold. It’s a fairly new hybrid breed with the most amazing qualities inherited from its parents – Standard Poodles and Saint Bernards. Here are the top things you should know!

Saint Berdoodle Generations

While Saint Berdoodles are a younger Doodle breed, they are gaining in popularity. Let’s take a quick look at the Saint Berdoodle generations and what each of them means:

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

F1 stands for first generation. This is a cross between a purebred Standard Poodle and a Saint Bernard. A responsible breeder will cross a female Saint Bernard and a male Poodle. Even in the same litter, each dog will be unique! 

F1b Saint Berdoodles result when an F1 Saint Berdoodle and a Poodle or a Saint Bernard have been crossed. With this generation, it is easier to predict how the puppy will turn out. If the mix has 75% Poodle and 25% Saint Bernard, your puppy will most likely have more traits from the Poodle. This theoretically results in a less-shedding coat! 

F2, or second generation, Saint Berdoodles are a mix of two unrelated F1 Saint Berdoodles. This cross results in a more predictable dog.

Appearance Of A Saint Berdoodle

Colors

Saint Berdoodles come in so many color variations. The most common ones are black, but you can also find white, brown and white, apricot, black and white, fawn, mahogany, grey, or silver coats.

Coat, Shedding, And Hypoallergenic Level

As with many other hybrids crossed with Poodles, Saint Berdoodles have a low shedding or even hypoallergenic coat. This makes it a great dog if you have a dog dander allergy!

Naturally, if you have an F1b Saint Berdoodle with 75% Poodle, the coat will be more curly and less shedding. If your doodle inherits more St. Bernard qualities, the coat can be wavy and shed a bit more.

	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

We all know that Saint Bernards are enormous dogs. Thus, your future Saint Berdoodle will most likely grow to a very large size.

Usually, male St. Berdoodles are bigger than females. Males can weigh up to 150 pounds. They stand around 27 to 30 inches tall.

Likewise, a female Saint Berdoodle can weigh up to 130 pounds and stand at about 24 to 27 inches tall.  

	Mini Saint Berdoodle	Standard Saint Berdoodle
Weight	30-55 pounds	55-150 pounds
Height*	14-24 inches tall at the shoulder	24-30 inches tall at the shoulder
Age at Full-Grown	12-18 Months	18-36 Months

Furthermore, giant dogs like Saint Berdoodles will grow to their maximum size at about 18 to 24 months, but can take up to three full years. Also, the F2 (the second generation) St. Berdoodle is usually a bit smaller than the F1 hybrid.

Of course, you can find miniature Saint Berdoodles. However, keep in mind that a miniature version will involve other smaller breeds like Cocker Spaniels. 

Saint Berdoodle Personality And Temperament

Saint Berdoodle loves to be at the center of attention. A perfect addition to a family! They are social, loving, cuddly…but also clumsy. 

Nevertheless, early socialization and training is needed as soon as you bring your doodle home. Especially because of their size and strength!

From its parent Poodle, the St. Berdoodle will inherit a very intelligent nature. From the Saint Bernard side, they’ll inherit a very loyal streak. You will surely find this breed very easy to train. 

Keep in mind that because of their loyal nature, they can get separation anxiety – especially if you’re not paying them much attention. To avoid them becoming stressed and destructive, make sure your St. Berdoodle gets plenty of attention and affection. 

Moreover, a Saint Berdoodle probably won’t make the best exercise buddy. They aren’t the most active dogs, so don’t make them run at a fast pace. Rather, make sure you spend about an hour or two each day for playtime and long walks. 

Where To Get Saint Berdoodle 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 Saint Berdoodle breeders out there who have been breeding healthy Doodles for years, and they all specialize in breeding different generations and colors of them.