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Writer's pictureDoodles Elite

Bernedoodle VS Goldendoodle: A guide to choosing the right dog for you

Two of the most popular doodle hyrbrids right now are Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles.

a girl with her two dogs
Alli with Luna & Nova

Each have their own merits which we will be discussing here today. Hopefully by the time you are done reading this you will have a better idea of which of these two breeds will fit into your family the best. We do have waitlists for both breeds for Spring and Fall litters, please inquire for more information at our website HERE.


WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOLDENDOODLES & BERNEDOODLES

The first and most obvious of differences is their parentage, Goldendoodles are Goldren Retriever and Poodle Hybrids and Bernedoodles are Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle Hybrids. Okay, okay you get it, but here is where we start breaking down the differences based on breed types:


PUREBRED PARENTAGE

  • The Golden Retriever is a gun dog bred to retriever waterfowl and known for their soft mouth. The hallmark of this breed is their temperament: trustworthy, kind, friendly, confident, and incredibly social. They are great pets for families because they are patient with children, and are not considered "one-man dogs" being equally amiable with both strangers and friends alike. Their trusting, gentle disposition and exceptional eagerness to please make them poor guard dogs, but they are well-known to be incredible service dogs in many categories. There's a good reason Golden Retrievers are the 3rd most popular breed in the U.S. and Canada according to pet registration, this ambassador for the dog nation is an ideal breed for any growing family.

  • The Bernese Mountain Dog is a big, powerful breed, and built for hard work. They are also strikingly beautiful and blessed with a sweet, affectionate nature. Berners are generally placid and easy-going but are always up for a romp with the owner, whom they live to please. Bernese Mountain dogs are among the breeds known as “nanny dogs”, because they tend to be lovely with babies and young children. The thick, silky, and moderately long coat is tricolored: jet black, clear white, and rust. The distinctive markings on the coat and face are breed hallmarks making this dog a classic beauty.

  • The Poodle is a an aristocratic breed that stands out proudly amongst other breeds. Originally bred for hunting and waterfowl retrieving they have become increasingly well-known for their high intelligence, hypoallergenic qualities, which are great for families that have pet and dander allergies, and capability of being great service dogs. They are an elegant athlete and companion for all reasons and seasons.

male poodle sniffing
Buddy, our Moyen Poodle Stud

Now that you know the purebreds that go into making these two sweet natured doodles let's take a look at what sets them apart from each other.

  • SIZE Winner: Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles can be much smaller in size compared to that of his Bernedoodle counterpart, you can still find Toy, Mini, and Standard in either breed thanks to the Poodle parentage, but because Bernese Mountain Dogs are significantly bigger than the Golden Retriever you will find the weight and height to alway be a bit bigger


goldendoodle puppy in the grass
One of our Goldendoodle puppies

 
  • PROTECTION Winner: Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles will outclass the Goldendoodle in this category as the syrupy sweet

personality from the Golden Retriever will make your lovable Goldendoodle roll over and ask belly rubs from any and everyone. Bernedoodles are incredibly gentle and lovable with familiar friends and family, but will be aloof towards strangers he will be suspicious of everyone who comes into his territory or approaches his family. He makes an excellent watchdog.


bernedoodle puppy running
One of our Bernedoodle puppies

 
  • TRAINABILITY Winner: Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles will shine here as their heritage will give them the eager to please mentality to make them the easiest to train. Bernedoodles, although not a difficult dog to train, may tend to be a little bit more independent and stubborn than the latter.


Goldendoodle dog with cornfield
Luna, F1 Goldendoodle girl

 
  • GROOMING Winner: Bernedoodle

Both breeds need daily grooming to prevent any matting. The Goldendoodle does have longer fur around the ears, neck, belly, and tail, which require extra attention because the hair is prone to tangling. The Bernedoodle doesn’t have feathering fur, but his coat is thicker. Either way you would probably be wise to invest in a deshedding tool and slicker brush, both and more can be found HERE.

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F1 Bernedoodle
Our guardian dog, Daisy F1 Bernedoodle

 
  • HEALTH Winner: Draw

Both dogs are relatively healthy and will enjoy a long lifespan. Goldendoodles will likely live a bit longer simply because he is a smaller pup and the smaller the dog the longer they typically live, but remember that every dog is different. They are both at risk of inheriting elbow and hip dysplasia, eye conditions, and cardiac concerns, and if you have a smaller dog of either mix, there is also the chance that they could inherit patella luxation, this does not affect the standard sized hybrids. The Golden Retriever genes make the Goldendoodle more susceptible to cancer and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. The Bernedoodle can inherit Von Willebrand’s disease. All of these health concerns that you potentially can see is why you should purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, who do both health and genetic testing to ensure that these diseases are not passed on to the puppy offspring.


girl and goldendoodle puppy
Allie and Luna our F1 Goldendoodle

 
  • EXERCISE Winner: Bernedoodle

Although both breeds will require at least an hour or two of exercise whether that be physical or mental stimulation, the Bernedoodle due to being larger may require less vigorous exercise, and is likely to be more partial to a snooze, will probably need a little less mental stimulation than the Goldendoodle. However, both breeds are incredibly intelligent and would benefit from having a variety of doggy toys and games to entertain and mentally stimulate themselves during the day to prevent boredom and destruction, you can find our recommendations HERE.

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Wookie, the mini Bernedoodle with his boys

 
  • LIFESPAN Winner: Draw

A Standard Bernedoodle will have a lifespan of about 12-15 years. A Goldendoodle’s lifespan is about 10-15. Both breeds come in mini and toy sizes that can have a lifespan of up to 18 years. With proper care, both the Bernedoodle and Goldendoodle have the same average lifespans.



QUALITIES OF GOLDENDOODLES VS BERNEDOOLES


BERNEDOODLE:

  • “Velcro-dog” – The Bernedoodle is known to be very loyal to its owners and family members. They will hardly leave your side and therefore has gotten the name Velcro-dog. This trait is good because it means that your dog is attentive and understands your feelings on a deeper level than most dogs.

  • Docile – This does not mean that your Bernedoodle won’t love to play. It just means that as an adult, it will be less likely to pound around and have any aggressive behaviors to look out for.

  • Relaxed – Bernedoodles are known for being a relaxed and calm breed that loves to cuddle and make their owners happy.


bernedoodle puppy litter on a bench
Bernedoodle puppy litter

GOLDENDOODLE:

  • Energetic – Goldendoodles have been known to be very active throughout their lives. They need a lot of exercise and playtime to keep them from seeking out trouble.

  • Friendly – Goldendoodles love people. They very rarely will come across a person that they don’t like. Everyone is a potential friend and playmate.

  • Highly Intelligent – Though Bernedoodles are intelligent also, the Goldendoodle ranks higher in dog intelligence. This intelligence has made them great for seeing-eye dogs and other various service dogs.


Goldendoodle puppy litter
Goldendoodle Puppy Litter


SIMILARITIES BETWEEN GOLDENDOODLES AND BERNEDOODLES


whilte goldendoodle
Lulu our Guardian Dog F1 Goldendoodle

You will find that Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles will share a lot of the same qualities that people look for in "doodle dogs". Both of these hybrids are fantastic fun-loving family dogs that you will find to be incredibly patient and tolerant of children, which many people look for when adding a puppy to their growing family.

They each will carry that classic "doodle" look, with the eyebrows and beard and shaggy hair, depending on if you opt for an F1, or F1B you may find you get a straight to wavy coat or a tighter curl pattern with the high poodle percentages to retain more of the hypoallergenic qualities.

Either breed you will find an incredibly intelligent and eager to please dog with lots of love to give! They are also known to be greedy when it comes to food, so be sure to keep an eye on their weight and monitor their treats. Healthy snacks, such as carrots are known to keep the insatiable pups at bay for a while.

Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles both make great therapy and service dogs, since these Doodles are known to be very in tune with their owner’s feelings, they make excellent therapy dogs for people with PTSD or anxiety. They know just when to give a comforting hug.

Both are very adaptable and can readily accept changes that are thrown their way when life circumstances come in, such as travel, new baby, moving, new job, new puppy and more. These breeds go with the flow and will readily accept new things as long as they have you beside them.


FINAL THOUGHTS

Bernedoodle Puppy

We love both breeds and that is why both are apart of our breeding program! Both the Bernedoodle and Goldendoodle have fantastic attributes that we adore, and it can be incredibly hard making a final decision on which breed is right for your family. But, we hope with this comparison article we have made it a little bit easier for you, and if you are interested in learning more about our breeding program or you are still struggling to find which breed would best suit your lifestyle you are more than welcome to reach out us HERE and we would be happy to have one-on-one conversations with you to help you navigate this task of picking the best breed for your family!

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