Mini Bernedoodle
May 26, 2021 2023-10-31 14:18Breed Overview
Breed Type
Poodle Cross
Care Level
Intermediate
Size
Medium
Trainability
Highly trainable
Sociability & Friendliness
Intelligence
Strength
Family Dog
Physical Exercise Needs
Mental Exercise Needs
Guard Dog/Protection Instincts
Suitability For Dog Sports
Health & Longevity
Grooming Needs
Shedding
Apartment Dog
Suitable For First-Time Owners
Bernedoodles are a highly popular Doodle breed. Their litter cousins, the Miniature Bernedoodles, are in high demand as well. Crossed from a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Miniature Poodle, these dogs are wonderful companions and pets.
They are good dogs with a friendly temperament, do not shed much, are cute and outgoing – what is not to love? Today we will look at the Mini Bernedoodle, his appearance and temperament.
Table of Contents
Origin of the Mini Bernedoodle
The Mini Bernedoodle is a delightful and relatively new hybrid breed that results from crossing a Bernese Mountain Dog with a Miniature Poodle. Like many designer breeds, the Mini Bernedoodle was created to combine the desirable traits of both parent breeds. Let’s delve into the origin and characteristics of the Mini Bernedoodle:
Bernese Mountain Dog:
Originating from the Swiss Alps, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large and sturdy working breed known for its friendly temperament, striking tricolor coat, and versatility in tasks such as herding and pulling carts. They are valued for their loyalty and gentle nature, making them excellent family companions.
Miniature Poodle:
The Miniature Poodle, a smaller version of the Standard Poodle, is renowned for its intelligence, hypoallergenic coat, and friendly disposition. Poodles are often crossed with other breeds to impart their desirable traits, including low shedding and high trainability.
Creation of the Mini Bernedoodle:
The exact origin of the Mini Bernedoodle is not as well-documented as some other breeds, given its relatively recent emergence. However, breeders aimed to combine the Bernese Mountain Dog’s affectionate nature with the Miniature Poodle’s intelligence and hypoallergenic coat. The resulting Mini Bernedoodle typically inherits the striking tricolor coat of the Bernese Mountain Dog, often with a mix of black, white, and brown markings.
Mini Poodle
Poodles originated in Germany, where they were initially bred as water retrievers. The Miniature Poodle was developed by selectively breeding smaller individuals from the Standard Poodle lineage. Over time, Miniature Poodles became popular not only as skilled water retrievers but also as companions and performers in circuses and dog shows.
The Miniature Poodle is an extremely smart dog. In the list of most intelligent dog breeds, Poodles rank #2!Â
They also have the typical non-shedding Poodle coat that makes all Poodles mixes so highly sought-after and popular. All Mini Poodles will pass these coat qualities onto their offspring to some extent.Â
Mini Poodles are very outgoing and friendly dogs. They love to be around people and generally get along well with other dogs, too. The Mini Bernedoodle inherits his friendly and social temperament from the Mini Poodle parent, too.
All Poodles have the tendency to be a bit nervy and anxious if not socialized properly. They are not the dogs with the strongest nerves. Owners need to take care to expose any Mini Poodle or Mini Poodle mix to a lot of different places and situations to avoid future anxiety problems.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog hails from the Swiss Alps and has a history of working as a farm dog. They were originally bred to pull carts, guard livestock, and serve as companions to farmers and their families. The breed’s strength, endurance, and gentle temperament made them well-suited to the harsh mountainous terrain.
The Mini Bernedoodle’s other parent is the Bernese Mountain Dog. These large and calm dogs are a perfect match for the small and wiggly Poodles.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly and social dogs. They enjoy being around people and dogs alike. Reactivity is very rare in this breed. They are great dogs for first-time dog owners due to their laid-back nature.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are especially calm once they have passed their second or third birthday. They pass this calm and friendly demeanor onto their Mini Bernedoodle offspring.
If raised properly these dogs often display surprisingly little prey drive as adult dogs. This makes them perfect dogs in households with cats or small dogs (always under supervision of course).
The Mini Bernedoodle – combining the best of both parents
The Miniature Bernedoodle will combine the traits of his parents. From his Mini Poodle father he gets:
- the low-shedding/hypoallergenic coat
- the happy and outgoing temperament
- the high intelligence
And from his Bernese Mountain Dog mother he will inherit:
- the friendly disposition towards all people and dogs
- the beautiful black and white coloring
- the loyal attachment to his owners
Appearance
What will your Mini Bernedoodle puppy look like?Â
How big do Mini Bernedoodles get?
If you are deciding on a Mini Bernedoodle, it’s in part because you like the smaller size of them. But how big exactly do these dogs get?
You can expect your Mini Bernedoodle to be 17-21 inches tall and weigh 22-45 pounds. Female will be at the lower end of this range and males towards the upper.
If you want to have a specifically small dog, you should always choose a female puppy.Â
You can also ask the breeder if they have any multi-generation Mini Bernedoodles. The first cross of two different breeds always produces the biggest differences in the offspring. If the first-generation puppies get bred again, the resulting litter will be more homogenous in size and appearance.
Some breeders cross their Mini Bernedoodles with Miniature Poodles to produce even smaller Mini Bernedoodles with excellent low-shedding coat qualities.
Coat & Colors
The coat of nearly all Mini Bernedoodles is black and white. It can (but does not have to) show tan points (red or brown markings on the cheeks, eyebrows and legs). This coloring is inherited from the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Mini Poodle parent’s coloring does usually not play a big role. If a Parti Poodle is used for breeding however, the Mini Bernedoodle pups may have larger amounts of white.
The Mini Bernedoodle’s hair is a combination of the coarse and curly Miniature Poodle hair and the wavy, thick coat of the Bernese Mountain Dog.
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Do Mini Bernedoodles shed?
One of the big selling points of any Poodle cross is the low-shedding quality of the coat. Mini Bernedoodles will shed minimally or not at all.
This does however not mean that no grooming or coat care is required! Mini Poodles’ hair tangles and mats quickly, and so does the Mini Bernedoodle’s. You need to brush your Mini Bernedoodle regularly and clip his coat. The hair is “ever-growing” and will become extremely long and matted unless you take good care of it.
While you do not have to plan on vacuuming hair, you certainly need to plan on brushing and grooming your Mini Bernedoodle throughout his entire life. There are a number of cute haircuts for Poodles and Doodles you can try out!
Are Mini Bernedoodles hypoallergenic?
Mini Bernedoodles tend to be a hypoallergenic dog breed. This means that they are less likely to provoke allergy sufferers. However, it is important to keep in mind that no dog breed is completely hypoallergic.
Dog allergies can be against different proteins – such as the ones found in dander, in urine, in saliva… While your Mini Bernedoodle will not lose hair all over the house, he may still trigger certain allergies.
If you have in the past experienced an allergic reaction towards a dog, you should spend some time around a Mini Bernedoodle before committing to this breed – to make sure that you do not purchase a puppy you have to later rehome!
Training & Exercise
As all dog breeds, your Mini Bernedoodle will require daily enrichment, training and exercise. During the puppy phase you need to teach your Mini all the skills you want him to know as an adult dog, such as:
- Coming when called
- Walking well on leash
- Not jumping up on people
- Behaving well in public
- Greeting people and dogs appropriately
We recommend to spend 10 minutes every day training your puppy. You do not need to train for an hour or two. Young puppies learn best through short bursts.
However, you do want to train daily at least for the first year of your puppy’s life. Consistency is crucial when it comes to training your Mini Bernedoodle.
As an adult dog, expect him to require 1-2 hours of physical exercise a day. This could mea playing frisbee with you, going on walks, playing with doggy friends or even going to an agility class.
Behavior FAQ
What kinds of behaviors can you expect from your Miniature Bernedoodle?
Do Mini Bernedoodles bark a lot?
Yes – your Mini Bernedoodle is going to have a tendency to bark. Poodles can be rather nervy dogs and they often react to being startled or surprised with barking. Bernese Mountain Dogs are laid back and calm, but they were once also bred as guard dogs. They will let you know if someone is at the door or entering your property!
Since the Mini Bernedoodle inherits the tendency to bark from both parents, you should definitely expect your puppy to bark. He should not be an incessant barker. However, if you live in an apartment with close neighbors, this might not be the right breed for you.
Some breeders claim that spaying or neutering a Mini Bernedoodle will make them less vocal. This might be true to a small extend, but you should generally assume that every Mini Bernedoodle – whether altered or intact – will be somewhat vocal.
Are Mini Bernedoodles cuddly?
Yes, Mini Bernedoodles are very cuddly dogs! They enjoy being petted and sitting on your lap. This breed is often used as a therapy dog for its love of cuddling and snuggling.
If you have children, teach them to pet your puppy gently from day 1. Especially for small kids it can be difficult to know how rough is too rough when it comes to cuddling and petting.
Most dogs do not enjoy being hugged! It can be perceived as threatening by them if we wrap our arms around them. Instead of cuddling your Mini Bernedoodle “like a human”, you should pet his neck, chest, back and hips. Your Mini Bernedoodle will appreciate the pets, and it will bond you closer to him.
Do Mini Bernedoodles make good family pets?
Yes, Mini Bernedoodles are often known for making excellent family pets. These delightful dogs are a crossbreed between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Miniature Poodle, combining the friendly and gentle nature of the Bernese with the intelligence and hypoallergenic qualities of the Poodle. Here are some reasons why Mini Bernedoodles are considered good family pets:
Friendly Temperament: Mini Bernedoodles are typically friendly, affectionate, and enjoy being around people. Their gentle nature makes them well-suited for families with children.
Intelligence: Poodles, known for their intelligence, contribute to the Mini Bernedoodle’s smart and trainable nature. This makes them adaptable to training and learning various commands.
Hypoallergenic Coat: The Poodle influence often results in a low-shedding and hypoallergenic coat, which can be beneficial for families with members who have allergies.
Size: Being smaller than the standard Bernese Mountain Dog, Mini Bernedoodles are more manageable in terms of size, making them suitable for various living environments, including apartments and suburban homes.
Versatility: Mini Bernedoodles can adapt to different lifestyles and are often up for various activities, whether it’s a family walk, playtime in the yard, or even more structured activities like obedience training.
Social Nature: These dogs generally enjoy socializing with both family members and other pets. They thrive on companionship and are likely to form strong bonds with their human family.
Healthier Lifestyle: The hybrid vigor resulting from the crossbreeding of Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles may contribute to a potentially healthier overall genetic makeup compared to purebred dogs.
How much does a Mini Bernedoodle cost?
Are you ready to get your very own Mini Bernedoodle? One question left is how much your puppy will cost.
Unfortunately, as with all designer breeds in high demand these dogs are not cheap. You can expect to pay up at least $1,700 for your Mini Bernedoodle puppy. (This is similar across all Miniature and Teacup breeds – also for e.g. Mini Corgis or Teacup Chihuahuas)
Many breeders will charge additional fees for puppies in high demand. If you want to have:
- a female puppy
- a puppy from extra-small parents
- a dog with a lot of white patches
- a very unusual brown-and-white Mini Bernedoodle from a second or third generation breeding
you should expect to pay an average of $2,600. Prices for the dogs in highest demand may even rise up to $4,500.
How long do Mini Bernedoodles live?
The lifespan of a Mini Bernedoodle, like that of many dog breeds, can vary based on factors such as genetics, overall health, diet, and living conditions. On average, Mini Bernedoodles tend to have a lifespan ranging from 10 to 15 years.
Factors that can influence the lifespan of a Mini Bernedoodle include:
Genetics: The genetic background of the individual dog plays a significant role. Responsible breeding practices that prioritize the health and well-being of the parents can contribute to a healthier genetic makeup in the offspring.
Healthcare: Regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive healthcare measures can contribute to a longer and healthier life. Detecting and addressing potential health issues early on can make a significant difference.
Nutrition: Providing a balanced and nutritious diet is crucial for overall health. Obesity, for example, can impact a dog’s lifespan, so maintaining a healthy weight is important.
Exercise: Regular exercise is essential for a dog’s physical and mental well-being. Keeping a Mini Bernedoodle active and engaged helps maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Living Environment: A safe and loving home environment, proper socialization, and attention to the dog’s mental and emotional needs contribute to a happier and more fulfilling life.
While Mini Bernedoodles are generally healthy dogs, it’s essential for owners to be proactive in their care. Regular veterinary visits, a nutritious diet, exercise, and attention to the dog’s overall well-being can help ensure a longer and healthier life for your Mini Bernedoodle.
The Bottom Line
Mini Bernedoodles are a loving and active dog breed. They are great companion dogs for families that like to spend a lot of time with their dog and are ready to commit to training and exercising their puppy daily.
Mini Bernedoodles shed minimally or not at all – which makes them highly popular these days. You still need to invest into coat care for your dog however. Brushing and clipping the hair will be important.
You can find Mini Bernedoodles through a variety of breeders. Because this designer dog breed is in high demand, expect to pay a rather high price for your Mini Bernedoodle puppy. You are unlikely to find these dogs in rescue because they are so highly sought-after.
The price and wait is worth it though: Mini Bernedoodles are fantastic pets that will be loved by your whole family.
