Designer breeds are becoming more and more common in today’s world. Though not recognized by the AKC, many designer breed dogs are becoming popular with breeders and dog lovers, typically because of the specific traits the dogs are bred for.

Bernedoodles are another in the doodle family that has become exceedingly popular. These crosses between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle are incredibly adorable, generally sweet-tempered, and amazingly intelligent. The mixture of characteristics from both breeds makes for a loyal and loving pet, who, because of its Poodle parentage, sheds very little.

How Much are Bernedoodle Puppies?

Because they are considered a designer breed, buying a Bernedoodle can be an expensive endeavor, but depending on generation, size, and color, the prices can range greatly. On average, the cost of a Bernedoodle is $3,000-$5,000, though prices could be much lower or higher. An example of a reputable Bernedoodle breeder in Central Illinois Doodles selling their puppies for $4,995.

Color

Coat color can be a large factor in the cost of your puppy. Single or bi-colored coats, the most common, fall in the lower range of the price bracket, while the rarer tricolor or multi-colored coats will be more expensive. Black coats are the most common, and therefore the least expensive, while tricolor is the rarest and so the most expensive.

Generation

Generation refers to how far down the line your puppy is from their purebred ancestors. A first-generation(f1) Bernedoodle has one Poodle parent and one Bernese parent. These are considered to be the most expensive.

F1b results from the breeding of an F1 dog with a Poodle, giving you a Bernedoodle who is 75% Poodle. These dogs are midrange in price, whereas an F2, the result of breeding two F1 generations, is considered the least expensive.

Size

Bernedoodles typically come in 3 sizes: Standard, Mini, and Micro Mini (toy) size. The smaller the size, the larger the price tag that comes with it. Micro Mini and Mini sizes are the most popular sizes, and demand is very high, which in turn causes the price to be high as well, Micro Minis averaging around $5000.

Breeder

The breeder you purchase your puppy from can also affect the price. A lot of work and care go into breeding and caring for puppies. Their location, demand, and availability also impact the price for individual breeders.

A good, trustworthy breeder will have a good track record and perform several health tests on their parent dogs to ensure that there is a smaller chance of the offspring inheriting health issues. They will also spend a lot of time and money making sure that their parent dogs are healthy and free of any medical issues. These tests can be expensive and time-consuming, but they go a long way in knowing that your puppy comes from healthy parents.

A breeder’s geographic location will affect the price in some unforeseen ways. The cost of living in the area that your breeder lives could raise the price, especially in high-population areas like New York or Los Angeles. Areas with lower costs of living may see lower breeder prices. You will also want to take into consideration how far the breeder is located from you. Shipping a dog can be expensive and can drive up your costs. If you’re able, choose a breeder who is closer to home.

Where Can You Get Bernedoodle Puppies?

Anytime you are thinking of adding a dog to your family, it is important to consider your options when it comes to obtaining your new pet. There are many things to consider when spending a large amount of money on a family pet, and you want to be sure that your money is well spent.

Breeders

As mentioned before, many times you will look at breeders when purchasing a pet, such as a designer breed dog, but you don’t want to just pick one out of a hat. It is important to do your research to make sure that the breeder you ultimately choose is reputable and reliable.

When researching breeders, you will want to look into their reviews and possibly talk to previous clients that have bought from them. If possible, you can ask to inspect their facility and the parent dogs. You will always want information on the parent dogs, such as health screenings, medical history, and the like, to make sure that any puppy you pick from their litter has the best chance possible to be free of any genetically inherited problems.

It is important to be discerning when deciding on your breeder. Pick breeders with experience but know that experienced breeders do price higher. Do your homework when researching your breeders to be certain that you are not buying from a breeder who is possibly fronting a puppy mill, or the dog you take home could come with a lot of medical problems that you weren’t prepared to deal with. While there are no absolute guarantees that there won’t be medical bills involved, find a reputable breeder to minimize the chance.

Rescues

When possible, rescues are always an option for adopting a pet. When adopting from a shelter or rescue, you have an opportunity to give an animal a second chance at a loving home. As well as the local animal shelters or humane societies there are also specialized rescues for several breeds of animals, including Bernedoodles.

If this is an option that you would like to pursue, numerous organizations deal with stray or unwanted animals. Several organizations deal specifically with Doodle breeds, like the Bernedoodle. Many rescues will require an application to be filled out and there is an adoption process that is more involved than going through your local animal shelter. Some of these processes can be very rigorous and thorough, to ensure that you and your home environment are a good fit for their animals. There can also be an adoption fee involved, and these fees vary depending on the organization and requirements.

Bringing an animal into your home always comes with some costs associated with it. The initial purchase price of a Bernedoodle can be steep, depending on a lot of factors. The size and color of the dog that you want, as well as the breeder that you are purchasing from, or the organization that you are adopting from, could all greatly influence the price that you are going to pay to acquire your new pet. With an average cost of $3,000-$5,000, obtaining a Bernedoodle is not an endeavor taken lightly, but it is very rewarding.