Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle: A Comprehensive Showdown
Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Puppies – what is the difference? Which is the best family dog? Well look no further, here is the definitive showdown between these two breeds.
Find out which breed is perfect for your family!
The Bernedoodle and the Goldendoodle are both crossbreeds that are growing massively in popularity. Both breeds are have unique differences. So which breed is a better dog?
Both breeds
- Friendly to humans and other dogs
- Trainable and well behaved
- Low shedding and approaching hypoallergenic
A Bernedoodle is a cross between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain dog. They are sometimes called a ‘Bernese Poodle’ or a ‘Bernese Mountain Poodle’.
A Goldendoodle is a mix between a purebred Poodle and a purebred Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles are sometimes called ‘Groodles’.
Both of these crossbreeds are in high demand. They each make family friendly, energetic and healthy pets.
You will see the truth below – there is no clear ‘winner’ in the battle of Goldendoodle vs Bernedoodle. Both of these crossbreeds have amazing qualities. Once you understand the differences you will be able to make your final decision and pick a breed.
At a Glance: Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle
| Goldendoodle | Bernedoodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Miniature 13-20", Small Standard 17-20", Large Standard 20-24" | Tiny 12-17", Mini 18-22", Standard 23-29" |
| Lifespan | 10-15 Years | 8-12 Years |
| Purpose | Companion Dogs | |
| Suitable For | Families, Active Couples, Active Singles | |
| Color Variations | Gold, Caramel, Red, Cream, Phantom, Apricot | Tri-Colour (Jet Black, Clear white, Rust) |
| Temperament | Social, Happy, Sociable with Other Dogs, Trainable, Well Behaved | Social, Friendly, Sometimes Strong Minded, Gentle |
| Other Names | Groodle | Bernese Mountain Poodle |
10 Facts About Bernedoodle Puppies
Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle History
A crossbreed is also known as a ‘hybrid’, or ‘designer dog’. This means that Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles are both ‘mash ups’ breeds. Many of their defining characteristics come from their two breeds of heritage.
Crossbreeding can be unpredictable. In a perfect world the crossbreed Puppy inherits looks and traits from both parents.
Your Bernedoodle or Goldendoodle could end up very similar to a Poodle. The same Puppy could also end up resembling a Bernese Mountain Dog or Golden Retriever. A lot of crossbreed ing comes down to luck.
The history of the breeds does play a significant role in deciding which breed is best!
Bernese Mountain Dog History
The Bernese Mountain Dog originally hails from Switzerland. They lived on mountains and are very comfortable in snowy surrounds.
Bernese Mountain Dogs have worked as farmers and herders in Switzerland. They have also been family companion dogs for hundreds of years. Often the same working dogs were also family pets when their workday finished!
Sturdy and strong, a Bernese Mountain Dog can weigh up to 80-115 pounds (male), 70-95 pounds (female). That is 34-53 kilograms (male) and 31-43 kilograms (females).
These are large dogs that are very strong and loyal. Bernese Mountain Dogs are well known for friendliness and a distinct beautiful coat.
The purebred standard of Bernese Mountain Dog is tri-coloured. The majority of their coat is striking jet black, with tuffs of clear white, and splashes of rust. This tri-colour appearance is one of the most desired features of a Bernedoodle puppy.
Golden Retriever History
The sturdy and muscular Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Golden Retrievers work as guide dogs, support animals and rescue dogs. They excel in the home as loyal and easily-trained family pets.
Golden Retrievers began as a hybrid hunting dog hundreds of years ago. Today they are one of the top breeds in the world. Golden Retrievers have beautiful golden coat. Their temperament and trainability are important when breeding Goldendoodles.
Golden Retrievers come from Scotland. They were bred to create a hardy, loyal, friendly gun-dog. Their popularity grew as they spread to Canada and the United States in the 1900s.
They are a medium-size dog and weigh in at 65-75 pounds (male), and 55-65 pounds (female). That is 29-34 kilograms (male), and 25-29 kilograms (female).
Poodle History
Poodles came from Germany originally. They come in three different purebred size types – Standard, Miniature and Toy.
Poodles were bred originally as duck hunting dogs. They are active, smart, and can master advanced training. The smaller size standards developed as people desired Poodles as companion dogs.
The poodle provides some of the best qualities of Goldendoodle and Bernedoodles.
Poodles introduce size variance and hypoallergenic low shedding coats. A Poodle bred with a Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog produces soft, hypoallergenic fur.
Modern Hybrids: Mildly Controversial, but Incredibly Popular
A crossbreed is also known as a ‘hybrid’, or ‘designer dog’. There are so many different varieties of Oodle dogs! The most popular breeds are Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. Bernedoodles are also in hot demand.
Crossbreeding litters are more unpredictable than breeding purebreds. This can create health problems.
Today highly selective multigenerational cross-breeding has resulted in healthy, beautiful Oodle hybrids.
To compare the Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle, lets start with their Puppy characteristics.
Goldendoodle and Bernedoodle Puppy Comparison
| Characteristic | Bernadoodle Puppy | Goldendoodle Puppy |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity in 2020 | ||
| Friendliness | ||
| Cost | ||
| Trainability | ||
| Puppy Exercise Requirements | ||
| Puppy Sociability |
In 2020 Goldendoodles are on the most popular and desirable crossbreeds in the world. Demand is high and sourcing a quality puppy can involve waitlists. A positive aspect of this popularity is that breeders are extensively reviewed online.
Goldendoodles come in many sizes from Standards, right down to the incredibly tiny Toy and teacup Goldendoodles. The Teacup Goldendoodle size is so small that it is similar to an A4 piece of paper!
Bernadoodle Dogs are rising in popularity – but are still becoming more well known. There are a few passionate long established breeders. Well bred Bernedoodle Puppies are costly due to the rarity.
This means that there is more choice in breeders for Goldendoodle than Bernadoodles. Good genetics come down to the history of the breeder and some good luck.
Shared characteristics of Bernedoodle and Goldendoodle Puppies
- Both the Bernedoodle and Goldendoodle Puppies are trainable. Proper early training results in a puppy that knows many commands. Toilet training comes early, and Puppies are respectful.
- Toilet training a Goldendoodle or Bernedoodle can take a little time
- Consider building a DIY self draining porch potty to make toilet training easier
- Both breeds puppies are very social with humans and other dogs. Early and calm introduction to other dogs is essential for both puppies. You will be amazed at how well each breed gets along with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
Appearance Differences Between the Goldendoodle vs Bernedoodle
Goldendoodle and Bernedoodle Dogs are incredibly beautiful. They come in many varieties, and different coat types and colours.
A Bernedoodle is a shaggy haired teddy-bear dog. A Bernedoodle will often have a distinctive tri-colour coat of curly or wavy fur. The special three colour coat is mostly jet black. There is then clear white and splashes of the striking rust colour.
The tri-colour Bernese Mountain Dog mimicking colour scheme is tricky to predict. Wait times for Tri-Colour Bernedoodle Puppies can be long.
Most breeders attempt to balance the stoic and stocky Bernese Mountain Dog build with the lithe and sleek Poodle frame. Finding this middle ground gives fairly predictable shape and size. The size depends greatly on how large the Poodle parent was.
A Bernadoodle puppy is different than an Australian Bernedoodle. They look similar but are no the same. They are different breeds.
The name Goldendoodle comes from the hybrid breeding of the Golden Retriever and Poodle Dogs.
Goldendoodle Puppies can come in the colours Red, Gold, Caramel, Cream and Apricot. A Phantom colour (black or grey) can also occur. There is less colour variance compared with Labradoodle.
The typical fur of a Goldendoodle is curly like a Poodle. It is common though for Goldendoodles to have wavy or straight fur. The appearance and low shedding nature of a Goldendoodle is hard to predict and varies litter to litter.
Selective breeding can increase the likelihood of a lower shedding Goldendoodle.
A second generation Goldendoodle known as a F1B is also likely to be lower shedding. A F1B Goldendoodle involves back breeding a Goldendoodle with a Poodle.
Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Size
The size of both of these breeds will depend on the size of the parents, and a healthy dose of genetic luck.
Breeding Bernedoodles or Goldendoodles is unpredictable. It is very possible to have 50 pound (22kg) parents and end up with either a 35 pound (15.5kg) OR a 70 pound (32kg) dog.
The measurements of the three sizes of Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodles given a guidelines of height and weight. (Bernedoodles.com Accessed Dec 2019)
| Height Range | Weight Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Bernedoodle | 12-17 inches at shoulder | 10-24 pounds |
| Mini Bernedoodle | 18-22 inches at shoulder | 24-49 pounds |
| Standard Bernedoodle | 23-29 inches at shoulder | 70-90 pounds |
| Miniature Goldendoodle | 13-20 inches at shoulder | 15-35 pounds |
| Small Standard Goldendoodle | 17-20 inches at shoulder | 40-50 pounds |
| Large Standard Goldendoodle | 20-24 inches at shoulder | 50-90 pounds (22.5-41 kilograms) |
Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Temperament
| Characteristic | Bernedoodle | Goldendoodle |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Friendliness | ||
| Ease of Care | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Ability to Be Alone | ||
| Behaviour as Adult | ||
| Adult Dog Exercise Requirements | ||
| Social | ||
| Stubbornness | ||
| Exercise Requirements | 30 minutes (mini size) or 60 minutes (standard size) | 30-60 minutes all sizes |
Neither the Bernedoodle or the Goldendoodle would be a good guard dog. Both are incredibly friendly and excited to be in social situations with humans and other dogs. Both are great with children.
It must be noted that the Bernese Mountain Dog part of the Bernedoodle can come out as stubbornness. This strong-willed nature can be inherited by the Bernedoodle Puppy.
Both crossbreeds are very intelligent. All three precursor breeds are brainy and clever.
Both breeds suffer from separation anxiety, and should not stay alone for long. The Bernedoodle is not the dog to pick if there will be extensive time spent away from the Puppy.
Grooming is easy for these low shedding dogs. The complexity of the grooming is simple. But a non-shedding coat does mean more frequent grooming and brushing.
Due to frequency, grooming and maintenance costs for Goldendoodle and Bernedoodles can be high. Comparing maintenance costs of Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle, the Goldendoodle is typically a little more expensive.
Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle in Apartments
Both breeds of dogs can thrive in apartments. This only works when their daily exercise requirements are hit. These requirements are higher for larger sized Goldendoodles or the very large Bernedoodles.
Miniatures and Toy sized Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles will be better in apartments.
Poodles can be very energetic. Crossbreeds can inherit this energetic nature. It is difficult to predict.
A Bernedoodle or Goldendoodle owner in an apartment could get caught out with a Puppy with high energy. You also need to consider how frequently these dogs need to use the bathroom – consider building a DIY apartment porch potty to make toilet training easier.
Always plan for an hour of daily play/exercise, even with the smaller hybrids. The time can be scaled back if the dog does not require as much exercise.
What is More Hypoallergenic, a Bernedoodle or a Goldendoodle
| Hypoallergenic and Low Shedding Rating | |
|---|---|
| Bernedoodle | |
| Goldendoodle |
For people who have allergies or just don’t like dogs that shed excessively, both dogs are good picks. No dog is truly hypoallergenic. The Poodle coat does vastly reduce the allergic reaction for many sufferers.
You need to know that some Bernedoodles do shed – so it is worth checking with the breeder. Sometimes F1B Bernedoodles or multigenerational Bernedoodles are the best pick for allergy suffers.
An issue that some Bernedoodle owners report with multi-generational Bernedoodles, is less of the Tricolour distinct appearance.
There are however many types of Goldendoodle that are hypoallergenic and non-shedding.
Often a F1B Goldendoodle is the best option to reduce the risk of shedding or allergies. This is when a first generation Goldendoodle dog has then been bred again with a purebred Poodle.
This increases the percentage of Poodle genetics – which makes it much less likely to shed.
Health Problems and Food Consumption of Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle
Bernedoodles and Goldendoodle are generally healthy dogs. Neither is well known for significant health issues. You need to know that crossbreeds are still prone to the health conditions of their parent breeds.
The following conditions are ones to watch out for. In general though, regular Veterinarian checks will screen and catch these early.
Golden Retrievers are more prone to
- Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
- Hypothyroidism
- Eye disorders
- General issues with skin health
(More Golden Retriever Health information at PetMD.com)
They are also affected more frequently by cancers than the average canine.
Poodles are more prone to
- Skin tumours (typically benign)
- Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
- Epilepsy
- Addison’s Disease
(The Poodle Club of America list more Poodle health concerns, as does the Pedigree pet food company.)
Bernedoodles are prone to
- Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
- Elbow dysplasia
- Eye troubles in Progressive Retinal Atrophy
(More Bernedoodle health information is listed at the Canine Journal.)
Both Golden Retrievers and Bernese Mountain dogs have a higher risk of cancers. Regular veterinary checkups are strongly recommended to catch these early.
“Bernese Mountain Dogs have a higher incidence of death by cancer than other breeds with up to 50% of Berners dying of the disease, 20% more than the rest of the canine kingdom”.
In terms of food consumption for a Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle, the larger dogs will consume more. A Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant dog and will have a higher food intake than even a standard Goldendoodle.
They can get by with traditional dog diets – but the volume for larger Bernedoodles can increase the yearly cost of the pet significantly.
Lifespan of Goldendoodle Vs Bernedoodle
| Lifespan in Years | |
|---|---|
| Bernedoodle | 8-12 years |
| Goldendoodle | 10-15 years |
The Goldendoodle and the Bernedoodle are hardy and healthy dogs with long lifespans. The smaller size hybrids live longer.
Extra large Goldendoodle or Bernedoodles tend to live shorter lives.
Lifespans of the Purebred parents dogs
- A purebred Bernese Mountain Dog has a lifespan of around 8 years (Journal article)
- A purebred Poodle has a lifespan of around 12 years (Journal source)
- A purebred Golden Retriever has a lifespan of around 10-12 years
Rescuing a Goldendoodle Vs Rescue Bernedoodle
Getting a rescue dog is an amazing, caring and kind thing to do. Rescuing a dog in need and giving them a loving home is a beautiful gift.
It is rare but not impossible to find different types of Goldendoodle in shelters. Browse local websites and Facebook groups to be notified early.
Often rehomed Goldendoodles are larger sized with high exercise requirements. If you have an active lifestyle consider adopting a larger Goldendoodle.
Rescuing a Bernedoodle is less common. They are simply a very rare dog, and as a result you will rarely come across Bernedoodles Dogs or Puppies in homes.
When Bernadoodles need rehoming, often the breeders who raised them will help. They are rare dogs, and true Bernedoodle F1 and F1B dogs are expensive. These dogs are less often brought into a home on a whim than other dogs. They rarely require rescue.
The best bet for finding a rescue Bernedoodle is to either be VERY active on the shelters social media. Alternatively contact a breeder and ask about adult Bernedoodle adoption.
Results of the Bernedoodle Vs Goldendoodle Showdown
Both breeds are popular dogs for very good reasons. There is no clear winner between the Goldendoodle and the Bernedoodle. Both have great temperaments, are social and healthy, and get along with families.
Bernedoodle puppies are a little stubborn and could be more difficult to train..
Goldendoodles vary in size and coat type. Research the parents before choosing your puppy.
- Both breeds come in different sizes that vary. Look carefully at the size of the parents and average it – this is the ‘best guess’ about the size of the puppy
- Bernedoodles are growing in popularity but it might be difficult to find breeders. Because they are rare they can be very expensive
- A tri-colored Bernedoodle is in hot demand and the waitlist is usually long
- If you are picking a Bernedoodle Puppy, be prepared to battle a stubborn puppy initally
- A Goldendoodle comes in a variety of different fur types. Look a t the parents and siblings to predict the coat
- Considering a F1B Goldendoodle may improve the hypoallergenic coat
- A F2 might have unpredictable appearance, but the coat can be more predictable
- Both Goldendoodles and Berenedoodles are kid friendly, and social with other dogs
Both are great family dogs and would make a great addition to your household.
