Bernedoodles have been gaining popularity in recent years, with more and more people deciding on dogs of this breed becoming their forever companions, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider all of their selling points.
There are several reasons why this mix between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle can be a great choice for any potential dog owner, including their good temperament, the fact that they’re good with children, which makes them amazing family dogs, their high intelligence, or their ability to adapt to different living conditions.
However, raising a dog, regardless of its breed, is not an easy task, especially when you haven’t had one before. And even if you have, there are many questions that owners might have whenever a new member joins their family. One of those is “How many puppies are there in a Bernedoodle litter?”
Generally speaking, a litter would contain anywhere between 6 to 8 Bernedoodle puppies. However, there are a lot of factors that can affect the size of the litter, including the mother’s age, size, or health. We will talk more about it in this article.
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Factors that Affect How Many Puppies Are in a Bernedoodle Litter
As we already mentioned, there are several things that affect how many puppies a litter will consist of – below, you will find some of the more important ones.
Mother’s Age
There’s no secret that the mother’s age can affect fertility in different species, and dogs are not excluded from that. Not only can it impact how hard it will be to conceive, but it will also impact the number of puppies in the litter, as well as their overall health. Generally speaking, the younger the parent dog, the easier it might be for her to conceive and nurture a larger number of puppies.
As the mother ages, her fertility gradually declines. Another thing is that several age-related conditions can affect a dog’s reproductive capabilities and the ability to carry a pregnancy to full term.
However, there’s one thing that you should remember about a unique aspect of canine fertility – the first (and often the second as well) litter that the female dog delivers tends to be smaller than the ones that come after that. This is due to the fact that her reproductive system matures as time goes on. If she hadn’t had any puppies yet, then her body is not adjusted to the process of carrying and delivering them. The more she grows accustomed to it, the higher the chances for a larger litter.
Parents’ Size
Another thing that can affect the number of puppies in a litter is how big the parent dogs are. Specifically, larger breeds tend to have larger litters than smaller dogs. The reason behind this is quite simple – it all comes down to the physical capabilities of the mother. The larger the mother is, the more space she has to house and nurture a greater number of puppies during pregnancy, which, more often than not, results in bigger litter.
This is especially true when it comes to Bernedoodles, who come in a variety of sizes depending on who their parents are.
There are three main sizes of Poodles – Standard, Miniature, and Toy. Bernese Mountain Dogs, on the other hand, is a large breed that, you could say, comes in one size – on average, a dog of this breed has an overall height of 30″-36″, withers height of 23”-27.5”, and body length of 35″-41.5″. So, quite big.
Now, the size of the Bernedoodle litter will depend on which Poodle size is the parent. A litter of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Standard Poodle is likely to be larger than that of the same dog combined with a Toy Poodle.
Genetics
The final thing that plays a role in how big a litter will be is genetics. There are some dogs that are genetically predisposed to have larger litter sizes.
For example, the average size of a Bernese Mountain Dog litter consists of 8 puppies, while for Standard Poodles, that number decreases to about 5 puppies per litter. When you combine those two breeds, it’s only natural that the litter size will fall somewhere in between the two, which is where you get the average litter size of between 6 to 8 puppies from.
Just keep in mind to take it with a grain of salt – those are just average numbers, and it’s not uncommon for Poodles to have litters as small as 2-3 puppies and for those of Bernese Mountain Dog to be as large as up to 10 puppies.
How to Ensure a Healthy Bernedoodle Litter?
While you can’t fully predict whether a Bernedoodle litter will be completely healthy, there are ways in which you can increase the likelihood of that happening. Here’s what you should do to ensure a healthy pregnancy for your female dog as well as healthy puppies:
- Provide your female dog with a healthy and well-balanced diet.
- Visit the vet on a regular basis to do check-ups.
- Provide your female dog with a safe and stress-free environment.
Whenever you’re looking for a breeder to buy a puppy from, make sure you’re choosing one that cares about the welfare of the puppies’ parents. A good breeder will have all the necessary medical documentation and provide the mother dog with all the necessary means to deliver a healthy pregnancy.
The Bottom Line
So, how many puppies are there in a Bernedoodle litter on average? The answer is between 6 to 8, although, as we already mentioned, those are average numbers, so you should take them with a grain of salt.
If you’re planning on welcoming a new family member, aka a Bernedoodle puppy into your household, one of the most important things to do is find a reliable and ethical breeder.
At Central Illinois Doodle, we take the health of our puppies very seriously, which is why we only breed dogs that are free from chronic genetic conditions, and that have good temperament.
We understand that a puppy is a huge responsibility, which is why we won’t pressure you into a purchase – instead, you can be sure to receive our full support when making this important decision. Whether you have questions or are already decided on expanding your family, we’re here for you. Get in touch with us today and start your Bernedoodle journey.
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