FAQ

Bernedoodles are a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The percentage of each breed will vary based on the generation.

Bernese (or Berners) are exceptional dogs!  They have even temperaments, are easy going nature and loyalty makes them a people pleaser! Berners have a shorter lifespan of only around 7-8 years. Berners are prone to hip dysplasia, cancer and heart disease. The mix provides the low to non shed coat and a longer life expectancy of 12-15 years.  Of course the hybrid vigor of the mix helps to rule out all of the inbreeding that has been done for generations and generations.  Berners would make wonderful service or therapy dogs but are not a first choice because of their shorter lifespan so the addition of the poodle and the increased lifespan makes them a wonderful fit for a possible service or therapy dog!  In fact many of our puppies have went on to do therapy work and we have one puppy who is a service dog for a person with Alzheimers.

My F1 Bernedoodles shed very minimally. I do not find hair on my clothes or in the car , but occasionally find little dust bunnies of hair. Our F1b puppies so far have been zero shed and done well with families with extreme allergies. It is very common for a puppy to lose hair between 8-12 months, this is not shedding, but simply a transition to their adult coat. A Bernedoodle’s coat needs to be brushed regularly (the shorter you choose the keep the hair the less brushing required). It is very important the you follow up brushing with a steel comb and make sure you are getting all the way to their skin. They will require clippling, how often really is determined by how long you choose to keep their hair. One of the fun things is you can change up their hair cut. Kizmet has had many different styles, from 5 inches all over to clean feet and face. I find I prefer to keep her body at about and inch, full tail, clean feet and a fluffy head

The size of the parents will be a large determining factor on the pups grown sizes.

Standards can range from 60-100 lbs with heights from 22-26" at the shoulder.
Mediums can range from 35-50 lbs and heights from 20-22" at the shoulder.
Miniatures (minis) can be half the size of standards. Most miniatures will range from 25-35 lbs and from 16-18" tall at the shoulder.
Tiny BD will be under 25 lbs and around 12-15" tall at the shoulder.

Bernese are described as easy going, pleasant, placid, and people loving. With the loving nature, intelligence and coat of a poodle, they are amazing dogs with a heart of gold! Paired with a well-bred poodle, they are simply amazing. I find my pups to be easily trainable, very family focused lovable companions. We raise our puppies with Puppy Culture, so they are off to a great start for a smooth transition to their new family and a big headstart. Our parents are carefully selected for outstanding temperament, health and conformation.

The F1 Bernedoodles usually have a thick, fleecy, wavy coat. When allowed to dry naturally, they will have beautiful shaggy look, but when blow dried they will have a super soft fluffy coat. Some can have wavy coats and some can have curly coats. There can be variations in all the generations coats, just as humans can have straight, wavy, curly or super tight curls. F1b Bernedoodles can have a wavy or curly coat.. Some think this coat might be a bit easier to maintain and less prone to matting, but again, all can be different. It also depends on the length of coat you chose to have on your dog. The longer coats will need lots of brushing and heavy conditioning to keep the mats down, whereas the shorter length will be easier and less maintenance.

Classic Tri Color is most similar to a Berner with a black body, tan points (cheeks, chest, eyebrows and under tail) and white on face, chest and feet.
Chocolate Tri Color these puppies are very rare.  They have a chocolate base color with tan points and with the beautiful white markings.  Like a chocolate Bernese - yummy.
Phantom is black with the rust markings and sometimes a tiny white dot on chest, chin or toes.  Sometimes the phantom markings can not be visible until the pup is around 2-4 weeks old, and they can even grow in later.  Some phantom markings can also be a brindle color The bi-color coat is black with about 25-40% white similar to a parti that turn silver when the pup is grown.
Parti simply means they have extra white, more chrome
Black is the color that is still that same sweet BD but just lacks that striking black/white/rust flashy look.
Red/Apricot/Cream are less common, but are beautiful as well.  They tend to look like goldendoodles!

Pet puppies with a spay neuter contract and limited registration are $3500. Full breeding rights will be considered for small in-home approved breeders. Please contact me for information and pricing.

F1 is the first cross of the Bernese and the poodle. F1b is the cross bred back to a poodle (75% poodle). A multigeneration Bernedoodle is a bernedoodle bred to a bernedoodle and preferably an f1 to an f1b (as F2 bernedoodles can have inconsistent coats).

Moyen just means medium. In the US and UK, Poodles are divided into three size classifications: Toy (under 10 inches), Miniature (10–15 inches), Standard (over 15 inches).   Moyens or mediums are usually 16-20 inches.

I love everything about the medium size poodle.  They are a great size for families, not so tiny as to be fragile and not too big to take along.  The best part, they have the mentality and personality of the standard size poodle.  A well-bred moyen should not be yippy or hyper.  They will have nice square conformation and a friendly loyal attitude.  All this and no shedding!  Poodles are also considered the gold standard for allergy sufferers.

Yes. Poodles require regular brushing. Since poodles have hair instead of fur which is what gives them their hypo allergenic quality they do require clipping as their hair will continue to grow. A nice caveat is there are so many different grooming options that you can “change up “ your poodles look. There are so many fun variations or you can make your own. Shorter cuts require much less brushing.

Poodles come in more colors than most any breed. Solid colors: Apricot, Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Café Au lait, Cream, Gray, Red, Silver, Silver Beige and White. They also come in several patterns, Brindle, Sable, Tuxedo, Ticking, Parti, Abstract, Phantom(tan points) and can be a variety of combinations. We strive to raise Phantom, Abstracts, and Partis in Black or Brown.

Please complete my online application. I will review it, call your references, and get back to you soon!

Pet puppies with a spay neuter contract and limited registration are $2500 and up. Full breeding rights will be considered for small in-home approved breeders. Please contact me for information and pricing.

You are always welcome to pick your puppy up. We can also discuss meeting you part way. Or, I have a trusted flight nanny who will travel in cabin with your puppy and will meet you at your airport and hand deliver your new family member.

We keep a Wait List for coming puppies. Puppy selection will be in order of deposit.  Deposits are accepted with signed, approved application and purchase contract.  Breeder retains first choice.  This does not mean I will keep a puppy from every litter but does mean I have the option of first choice.  Puppy selection will be between weeks 4-5.

We have a flight nanny available to fly with your puppy in cabin and hand deliver your puppy to you. He is a dog lover and is just great! We will not ground ship puppies as I feel their risk of being exposed to disease is too high. I will and have often met families part way. This option will be discussed ahead of time.

Deposit for your puppy is $500.00. It is non-refundable.  The initial deposit to be on our waiting list is $250.00; the remaining $250.00 will be due when the puppies are 1 week old.  Your initial deposit of $250.00 is transferable to a future litter should you decide that the timing is not right for you.  After puppies are 1 week old and the  remaining $250.00 is paid, deposits are not transferable.  Payment in full is due when your puppy is 7 weeks old.

Puppies can go home at 8 weeks old. You should make arrangements in advance for your “Gotcha Day”.

I do offer to keep puppies for additional training for families who want an even easier transition with a puppy who is crate trained, well on their way to being completely housebroken, knows basic commands, and has been introduced to walking on a leash. I only make this available to one puppy per litter so that I have the time to commit to doing a good job with your puppy. The fee for one month of training is $1200.00 (above the cost of the puppy).
For puppies not being held for training, special arrangements need to be made in advance if they are not being picked up at 8 weeks old. There will be a $350.00 per week (or $50 per day) fee for any puppy not going home at 8 weeks.

We do our best to make your puppy's transition to his new home as stress-free as possible for you and your puppy.  Your puppy will be socialized with dogs, cats, children, and adults.  Your puppy will be desensitized to common household noises like vacuums, voices, loud noises, and the TV.  Please remember your world changed a little, but your puppy’s whole world changed.  Your puppy may be feeling a little overwhelmed.  A nice walk, a short training session with just sitting and a reward, and a little cuddle time will go a long way.  It is not uncommon for a puppy to have an upset tummy.  He is being exposed to all new bacteria and is likely a little stressed from all the changes.  I suggest adding a tablespoon of 100% pumpkin and/or some yogurt to his food daily.  You may also choose to add a probiotic.  The probiotic I use is on our supply list and I have been very happy with it.  Please remember, if your puppy is overexcited or shy he probably needs  a nap.   I would suggest a walk to go potty when you get home, a snack, and a 30-minute nap (longer if you puppy is resting comfortably).

Your puppy will probably cry at least a little.  Here’s what we have done to try to make your first night as a family go as smooth as possible.  Bedtime here is 9 pm.  Every night, the puppies get a hollow bone (filled with peanut butter or coconut oil and a small treat). I will send their favorite bone home with you in their gift bag.  A licking puppy has a hard time crying and after all that licking is soon a sleepy puppy.   Puppies here listen to the same music every night and it is lights out at 9.  They are all quiet here by 9:05 Following their pre-programmed bedtime routine will help your puppy feel secure and at home.   I will send home a scented blanket for each puppy.   Snuggle puppies are also an option to help your puppy not feel alone.  You can find them on our supply list.

Click here for the puppy playlist.

We are in southern Wisconsin; 1 hour south of Madison and 1.5 hours from Chicago.