A bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. Sometimes you’ll hear this breed called a Bernese Mountain Poo, a Mountain Dog Poodle Mix, or simply the most well-known, Doodle.
This relatively new breed was first crossed in the early 2000s when a woman wanted a dog with the sweet temperament of Bernese mountain dogs but the low-shedding curly coat of a poodle.
Before choosing this mountain dog poodle mix for your family, you should understand its life expectancy.
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Average Bernedoodle Life Span
The average bernedoodle life span ranges between 12 and 18 years. This is an extensive range because life expectancy varies based on the size of your bernedoodle puppy, which is discussed more in-depth below.
The bernedoodle life span is significantly longer than Bernese mountain dogs, which only live six to eight years. However, it’s about the same as the poodle parent, which has a life span of between 12 and 15 years.
Life Expectancy by Size
There are three primary sizes of bernedoodle you can choose from: standard, mini, and toy. The puppy’s size will depend on how big the poodle parent was. Generally, smaller dogs live considerably longer than larger ones.
The standard bernedoodle will reach a height of 23 to 29 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 50 and 90 pounds. It’s a cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a standard poodle, with an expected life span of 12 to 15 years.
The miniature bernedoodle is crossed from a mini poodle and can live up to 17 years. Fully grown, a miniature bernedoodle will be between 18 and 22 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 25 and 49 pounds.
The toy bernedoodle life span is the longest, as they live up to 18 years. This is also the smallest possible breed, mixing a Bernese mountain dog with a toy poodle. Fully grown, you can expect this size to be between 12 and 17 inches, weighing about 10 to 24 pounds.
Life Expectancy by Generation
There are three recognized Bernedoodle generations your new bernedoodle puppy may be: F1, F1B or F2. Which one your dog is can affect its life span, as well as its personality traits and breed characteristics.
The F1 generation has a Bernese mountain dog parent and a poodle parent. These are currently among the most common breeds you’ll find, taking 50% of their traits from each breed. The information in this article applies to this generation.
The F1B generation has a Bernedoodle parent of the F1 generation and a poodle parent. In this situation, the dog shares only a quarter of its traits with the Bernese mountain dog and the rest with poodles. As a result, dogs from this generation may have a slightly longer life span than those in the F1 generation.
In the F2 generation, two F1 Bernedoodles are bred together. Although these dogs are technically half of each breed, they have the shortest life expectancy of any current bernedoodle generation due to losing hybrid vigor.
Helping Your Bernedoodle Live a Long, Happy Life
Experienced dog owners know an estimated dog breed life span is an estimate. However, by taking proper care of your mountain dog poodle mix, you can help it reach its maximum expected life span and potentially surpass it. The most crucial aspects of helping your bernedoodle dog live a long, happy life are a healthy diet, exercise, teeth cleaning, and regular vet visits.
Healthy Diet
An essential aspect of caring for all dog breeds is ensuring they eat a healthy diet that contains the necessary nutrients and stays within a certain calorie range.
Healthy diet requirements will be different for the puppy stage and adults. The size of your bernedoodle will also affect how many calories it needs to consume.
Feeding Puppies
Tiny bernedoodle puppies require more calories per pound of body weight than adults because they’re still growing. Calories fuel healthy, proper growth, and special puppy food is designed to meet these needs. Additionally, puppies require high amounts of protein and extra fatty acids to ensure proper development.
Feeding Adults
Adult dogs still need a high-protein diet but considerably less fatty acids, since they’re no longer growing. You’ll also want to be very careful about how many calories you feed your adult dog. If you provide it with too many calories, it’ll become overweight, resulting in numerous health issues.
To maintain a healthy weight, you should be feeding your adult dog between 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup of dry kibble food per 10 pounds daily, split between two meals. So, if your dog weighs 20 pounds as an adult, it’d require between 1/2 cup and one cup of food daily. If your dog weighs 80 pounds fully grown, it’d need two to four cups of dry kibble daily or one to two cups per meal.
There are exceptions to this rule.
If your dog seems to be losing weight on the food you give it each day, you might try giving additional food, no more than 1/4 cup per feeding at a time. If it continues to lose weight, you should consider taking your standard or mini bernedoodle to the vet to rule out any health problems.
If your bernedoodle seems to be gaining weight on the food, you feed it, cut its diet slowly by no more than 1/4 cup per feeding time. Specific dogs may have faster or slower metabolisms or receive more or less exercise.
You can provide treats during training as rewards for positive behavior and achievements. However, you should use treats sparingly, as they can significantly increase total daily calories.
In addition, wet food isn’t generally recommended since bernedoodles are prone to weight gain and digestive issues. However, if you choose to use high-quality wet food, it should be no more than one teaspoon to one tablespoon per feeding to avoid problems.
Exercise
A bernedoodle needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Since the Bernese mountain dog is a voracious eater prone to becoming overweight and the poodle is a highly intelligent dog breed, you’ll want to allow plenty of time to be active.
A smaller hybrid dog will need less exercise than a larger one. However, you’ll want to schedule regular walks with your canine. At a minimum, aim for two or three walks per day of at least 15 minutes.
If you’re gone from the house all day at work, you might consider hiring a professional dog walker or asking a family member to take your bernedoodle out in the middle of the day.
You should also play with your bernedoodle at least once a day. A good time for this is right after work or right after the day’s last meal. You can work a short training session into each playtime, which will provide your dog with physical and mental stimulation.
Since the poodle parents of bernedoodles are highly intelligent, this breed can learn many new tricks. If you start when it’s young, there are no limits to the tricks and commands you can teach your dog.
Teeth Cleaning
Good oral health is crucial to a long life span for your bernedoodle. You should be brushing its teeth at least three or four times each week to remove any plaque buildup.
If you take your dog to a professional groomer, request that they also clean your dog’s teeth. Improper teeth cleaning can lead to health issues like heart disease, significantly shortening your dog’s expected life span.
Regular Vet Visits
Regular vet visits are crucial for any hybrid or purebred dog pet. Preventive visits can find any problems before they become serious health issues. They can also help address any problems with weight or temperament if they arise.
When your dog is a puppy, you should schedule regular vaccine visits. Once an adult, you should see the vet twice a year.
Potential Health Concerns
Although bernedoodle dogs are a generally healthy breed, they do inherit the risk of some health issues from both their Bernese mountain dog and poodle parents. A few things to watch for include:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Heart disease
- Epilepsy
- Cancer
- Eye problems
- Skin allergies
- Digestive conditions
Buying your dog from a reputable breeder can help decrease the risk of health conditions. Before purchasing, make sure you ask about any health guarantees or genetic testing that may have been completed before breeding.
Learn More About Bernedoodle Puppies and Adults
If you want to learn more about our bernedoodles, you may check out our Bernedoodle puppy breed guide.
If you’re looking for a responsible breeder, contact us to learn more about our high Bernedoodle breeding standards. All of our puppies come with a substantive two-year health guarantee covering any life-threatening genetic issues that arise during the first two years of life.
