Why Are Bernedoodles So Expensive? Explained Simply

The Bernedoodle breed originated in 2003 and has gained a massive amount of popularity in such a short time. They’re desired by many for their beautiful appearance as well as lovable personality.

However, many dog lovers looking to get a Bernedoodle consider their price to be high, even when compared to other hybrid or designer breeds, which leads them to wonder about the reason behind that high price.

To find out, I’ve asked Bernedoodle owners, breeders, and enthusiasts, and my findings have been interesting. 

So, why are Bernedoodles so expensive? Bernedoodles are so expensive because they’re high in demand, and there aren’t enough breeders to meet that demand since the breed is still relatively new. Other factors that determine the price include the dog’s size, coat color and type, generation, place of purchase, and reputation of the breeder.

Keep reading to learn more about how much Bernedoodles cost, the factors that determine the price, and whether they’re worth the high price.

How Much Are Bernedoodles?

The price of Bernedoodles ranges from $2500 to $5000, on average.

This is considered to be expensive by many (including myself), especially since Bernedoodles are a hybrid breed and also a relatively new breed.

The main reason Bernedoodles are so expensive is the huge demand by dog lovers, which has created a gap between the supply the market has and this demand since there still aren’t enough breeders to meet this demand.

It’s not so simple for breeders to breed more Bernedoodles to meet the high demand as this will cause many risks to the dogs’ health, which could, in turn, damage the reputation of the breeders and their business.

Another reason Bernedoodles are so expensive is that there’s a low success rate for breeding them. 

In addition to the deficiency of breeders, there’s also not enough knowledge and experience in breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs with Poodles to create healthy Bernedoodles.

So, to sum it up, Bernedoodles aren’t always available for sale, and the higher the demand is for them, the higher their price will be.

Other factors determine the price of a Bernedoodle. We’ll be discussing these factors in more detail.

What Factors Determine the Price of Bernedoodles?

Certain factors determine the price of Bernedoodles that dog lovers interested in buying should be aware of before making any decisions.

Some of these factors are related to the dog’s physical characteristics, such as its size or coat color. For example, Merle Bernedoodles are famously more expensive than Bernedoodles of other colors, generally speaking. 

Meanwhile, other factors are more related to the place of purchase or the breeder’s reputation.

So, let’s discuss all of these factors in more detail to help make an informed decision about your Bernedoodle:

size

Bernedoodle sizes are classified into 3 main categories, which are standard, medium, and mini.

Let’s take a closer look at each category:

Size	Height	Weight
Standard Bernedoodle	23 to 27 inches	70 to 115 pounds
Medium Bernedoodle	18 to 22 inches	25 to 49 pounds
Mini Bernedoodles	12 to 17 inches	10 to 24 pounds

The price for standard Bernedoodles remains within the average for Bernedoodles as they’re the most common to breed.

Meanwhile, the price for medium and miniature Bernedoodles will be higher because breeding them can only be done through artificial insemination, which is a complicated and expensive procedure.

The exact size of the dog is actually affected by many factors, including the dog’s genes and general health. It can also on depend on the dog’s gender, as male dogs tend to be 10% bigger than female dogs.

You can learn about the other differences between male and female Bernedoodles here. 

Coat Type and Color

Another physical characteristic that’s significant in determining the price of Bernedoodles is the dog’s coat; this includes the coat’s type as well as color.

Bernedoodles can have one of 3 types of coats, and these coats are curly, wavy, or straight. 

The coats vary in characteristics such as texture or shedding frequency, so some types are more desirable than others, which drives their price up higher.

Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of each coat and how it affects its price.

Curlier coats have a thick texture, and they shed the least out of all types, which makes them the most hypoallergenic. This makes them highly desirable, especially for dog lovers with allergies, and therefore the most expensive.

Wavy and Straight coats, on the other hand, have a thinner texture, and they shed relatively more than the curly coats, so they’re less hypoallergenic. They’re not as sought after as curly coats, so they tend to be less expensive.

When it comes to the coat color, Bernedoodles come in various color variations, and some of these colors are also more desirable than others.

Standard (and more common) colors such as black, brown, tan, or cream tend to be less expensive, while unique colors such as sable, brindle, phantom, or tri-color will be more costly given how challenging it will be to breed them.

Speaking of their unique colors, you can learn more about them here as well. Here is your guide to the Sable Bernedoodle, and here is another guide to the super cool phantom bernedoodle.

Generation

The generation the Bernedoodle comes from affects many of its characteristics, including the dog’s general health and the type of coat it will have, so certain generations tend to be more desirable than others and more expensive.

Let’s take a closer look at the genetic makeup of each generation:

• The First Generation (F1) – This generation is a cross between a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The puppies will typically carry 50% of each of the parent breed’s genes.
• Backcrossed Generation (F1B) – This generation is a cross between an F1 Bernedoodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog or Poodle. The puppies will carry 75% of the genes from the parent breed they have been backcrossed to.
• Double Backcrossed Generation (F1BB) – This generation is a cross between an F1B Bernedoodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog or Poodle. The puppies will carry 87.5% of the genes from the parent breed they have been backcrossed to.
• The Second Generation (F2) – This generation is a cross between an F1 Bernedoodle and another F1 Bernedoodle. The puppies will carry 50% of each of the parent breed’s genes.

Now that you have a better understanding of the genetic makeup of each generation let’s discuss which generation is the most desirable.

Bernedoodles from the first and second generations are highly desirable as they tend to be the healthiest.

That is because they carry 50% of the genes from each parent, which makes them less likely to carry any genes responsible for severe health problems that either one of their parents might have had. 

Bernedoodles that have been backcrossed to purebred Poodles are also highly desirable as they are the most hypoallergenic.

That is because they carry a larger percentage of the Poodle parent’s genes which makes them more likely to have curly coats that are thick and low shedding so they won’t spread dander easily.

Place of Purchase

The place where you purchase the Bernedoodle will also determine its price.

Generally, rescues and shelters sell dogs at low prices because their goal is to provide homes for the dogs, not to make a profit. 

There are also not a lot of choices when it comes to the characteristics of the dogs.

Pet stores and breeder mills, on the other hand, sell dogs at a high price because their goal is to make a profit, and the demand for dogs is much higher in those places.

Purchasing a Bernedoodle from a shelter or a rescue would be less expensive; however, it’s not very common to find them in these places since they’re a hybrid breed.

So, it’ll be easier to purchase Bernedoodles from a pet store or directly from the breeder’s mill, even if it’s more expensive.

Breeder’s Reputation

If you’re purchasing the Bernedoodle directly from the breeder’s mill, its price would still be affected by the reputation of the breeder.

There are two main categories of breeders which are reputable breeders and backyard breeders.

Reputable breeders have established businesses that have the resources and experience to breed healthy dogs while taking all the necessary safety measures and abiding by the standards for ethical breeding.

On the other hand, Backyard breeders might not have the same resources or experience as reputable breeders as they mostly sell puppies that come from unplanned pregnancies. 

They won’t always take the necessary safety measures or abide by the standards for ethical breeding.

That’s why it’s more expensive to purchase Bernedoodles from reputable breeders, and the more reputable the breeders are, the higher the price will be.

Are Bernedoodles Worth the High Cost?

As we have established, Bernedoodles have a high cost which leads many to wonder whether they are actually worth that high cost.

So, to help you determine their worth, here’s a quick breakdown of all the benefits these dogs can offer you as well as the drawback:

Benefits of Bernedoodles

• They have a sweet temperament, and they are very affectionate with their family.
• They’re very loyal and obedient to their families, so they’re eager to please them.
• They are good with children as they’re energetic, playful, and friendly.
• They are good with other dogs when properly trained and socialized.
• They’re easy to train, they can pick up on commands quickly, and their behavior is manageable.
• They come in various sizes, so they’ll be ideal whether you live in a small apartment or a big house.
• They are low maintenance when it comes to their grooming needs as well as exercise.
• They can have hypoallergenic coats so they won’t shed or spread dander to trigger any allergies.

Drawbacks of Bernedoodles

• They’re in high demand, so it might not be easy to find a Bernedoodle with the characteristics you want.
• They need lots of attention, and they won’t tolerate being left alone for too long as they’re prone to developing separation anxiety.

As you can tell, Bernedoodles are lovely dogs, and they would make great companions to any family. While their cost might indeed be expensive, it will be worth all the benefits that raising them could bring you.

Related Questions

Are Bernedoodles Good for First-time Owners?

Bernedoodles will be good for first-time owners. They have a good temperament, and their behavior is easy to manage. They’re also low maintenance when it comes to their care, including grooming them or exercising them. You just need to make sure you have enough time to give them attention.

Are Bernedoodles More Expensive than Goldendoodles?

Bernedoodles are slightly more expensive than Goldendoodles. The cost of Bernedoodles ranges from $2,500 to $5,000, on average. Meanwhile, the cost of Goldendoodles ranges from $2,000 to $4,000. Other factors that affect their price include their size, coat color or type, and the reputation of the breeder.

Are Bernedoodles Recognized by any Kennel Cubs?

Some kennel clubs recognize bernedoodles for hybrid breeds such as the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club. However, they’re not recognized by any of the major kennel clubs, such as the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club, as they only recognize pure breeds.

Helpful Resources 

The Bernedoodle – Breed information and standards

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