Born from crossing the Bernese Mountain Dog with the Poodle, the Bernedoodle has become one of the most sought-after crossbreeds within just a few years — combining the affectionate temperament of the former with the low-shedding coat of the latter.

A crossbred dog, not a recognized breed

Unlike the breeds in most of our portraits, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by international kennel clubs as a breed in its own right — it's a crossbreed, sometimes called a "designer breed," whose traits remain more variable from puppy to puppy than in a breed stabilized over generations.

Physical characteristics

Highly variable depending on the crossing generation (F1, F1b, F2) and the size of the Poodle parent (standard, medium, or toy):

  • Height: 30 to 70 cm at the withers depending on the line
  • Weight: 10 to 45 kg depending on size
  • Coat: curly to wavy, generally low-shedding, tricolor inherited from the Bernese or more varied

Temperament

Affectionate, sociable and intelligent, the Bernedoodle generally inherits the Bernese Mountain Dog's gentleness and the Poodle's quick learning ability — a combination that makes it an excellent family dog.

The hypoallergenic myth

As with many Poodle crosses, the Bernedoodle is often marketed as hypoallergenic — an oversimplification. The low-shedding coat reduces dander and allergen dispersal into the environment, but no dog is fully hypoallergenic, and allergic reactions vary widely between allergic individuals.

Roles and disciplines

Mainly a family companion, the Bernedoodle can also do well in gentle disciplines like rally obedience or nose work, depending on the temperament inherited from each line.

Health: a crossbreed issue still poorly documented

The genetic predispositions of both parent breeds — hip dysplasia in the Bernese Mountain Dog, patellar luxation in the Poodle — can theoretically combine or lessen depending on the line, without statistics as robust as those for long-stabilized breeds.

Choosing the breeder, a decisive factor

Given the crossbreed's growing popularity, careful vetting of the breeder — genetic screening on both parent breeds, transparency about the crossing generation — remains an essential point.

This article is one of the first fully translated into English on our blog — also available: cyanobacteria in stagnant water, the Dutch Shepherd and choosing a dog club. To structure a working dog's training from the very first months, our K9 handler selection and training service is here to help.