MEET AUGGIE 🖤
Ladies + Gents ...
Meet Auggie!!
The newest addition to the PHNW team decided to make an official “Greetings!” to all of his new friends out here in the virtual world! Our new baby Auggie turns 4 months old today.. we brought him home on June 3rd at 8 weeks weighing less than 17lbs and this morning he weighed in at 43lbs He is so smart, learned right away how to sit and shake, is obsessed with sticks, loves sleeping in weird positions, car rides, having his picture taken and going to the garage with dad but doesn't like to leave his mama’s side for long!! Although he still wakes me up at 5am on the daily we are over the moon in love with our big sweet boy! #bernedoodle #auggiethenaughtydoggie #puppyoverload #sorrynotsorry
Are you in the market for a new furry family member too? Before taking on the commitment of a large breed, make sure this fur baby will be a good fit for your family + lifestyle!
History
The Bernedoodle is a cross between a and a poodle. They were bred solely for companionship, so they love attention and lots of cuddles from their families. Bernedoodles are just as happy curling up on the couch as they are hiking a trail alongside their humans. They're playful and active dogs who can be willful as puppies but are highly trainable thanks to their big brains.
Being a relatively new breed, the history book on Bernedoodles is a short one. The Bernedoodle (or at least the first intentional pairing of a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle) was born in 2003. Now, dog owners everywhere have fallen in love with the loyal, loving breed that looks like a huggable teddy bear.
Bernedoodles are goofy, charming dogs who love to play outdoors just as much as they love to cuddle up on the couch. They’re the perfect family dog and have a special fondness for children. Plus, they inherit a nearly hypoallergenic coat from their poodle parent.
Appearance
Though Bernese mountain dogs have a black, tan, and white uniform, poodles can have a much wider range of coat colors. Because of this, Bernedoodles can vary in color. While they're typically tricolor like their mountain dog mom or dad, they can also be pure black, black and white, or a random mix.
Their fur can also be curly like their poodle parent or straighter like a Bernese Mountain Dog. As a general rule, the straighter the coat, the more your Bernedoodle will shed. In both cases, the thickness of a Bernedoodle mane makes this breed suitable for colder temperatures. A curly Bernedoodle coat is typically sought-after because it’s considered hypoallergenic. While no dog is 100-percent allergen-friendly, this breed's coat can be a good option for those who tend to sneeze, sniffle, or itch around dogs.
Because poodles can come in three sizes - toy, miniature and standard - Bernedoodles can be different sizes, too. Bernedoodle breeders typically offer a tiny, miniature, and standard size, which allows for flexibility with the care and living needs of each pup. A smaller mix could easily live in an apartment as long as she gets plenty of walks and exercise. The standard Bernedoodle can reach up to 29 inches in height and weigh up to 90 pounds. A mini is between 18–22 inches tall and weighs 20–45 pounds. A "tiny," bred from a toy poodle, is only 12–17 inches and weighs 10–24 pounds, according to the United Bernedoodle Registy. Temperament
Affectionate and playful, Bernedoodles are a perfect family pet. They are especially fond of younger kids and provide a wonderful lifelong companion as children grow into adults. Though they’re intelligent pups, they tend to be goofy and love attention from their humans.
Though they can't get enough of their family, Bernedoodles might first be apprehensive, sensitive, and skittish around strangers. As with all breeds, it's important to socialize your Bernedoodle puppy so she'll be comfortable and affectionate around new people, too. She can be very charming and charismatic with positive reinforcement training
When you get a Bernedoodle from a mindful, responsible breeder, you get the sweet, mellow temperament of a Bernese blended with the sociability, smarts, and sense of humor of a poodle.
Living Needs
Bernedoodles are the best of both worlds—they love to be active outdoors (hiking, running or swimming etc.), but they also love being your snuggle buddy. Personal space is not a part of their vocabulary, and they should not be left alone much. Loneliness can result in separation anxiety, which could cause nervous habits like whining or chewing.
Bernedoodles require lots of TLC, room to stretch their paws, and work. Give them a job to do ... going for walks, agility trials, or even placing a backpack on their back can help mimic a job. They will end feeling more fulfilled and have less anxious, OCD behaviors.
A mini- or tiny-size Bernedoodle can easily live in an apartment as long as they get frequent outdoor time and lots of attention. And no matter the size, this hybrid is especially gentle-natured and loves children. They're so gentle, in fact, they don't make good guard dogs: They bark infrequently and are more likely to befriend an intruder than scare them away.
Care
Most often, a Bernedoodle will have a wavy or curly coat that's ideal for those with allergies. In some cases, a Bernedoodle can have a straighter coat similar to that of a Bernese mountain dog. This means they'll shed more and might not agree with an owner who's allergic to pet dander. Once the litter is a few weeks old, a Bernedoodle breeder will be able to tell what kind of coat each puppy will have in order to match the right dog to the right owner.
But with that curly coat comes a greater need for grooming. Bernedoodles don’t shed much, so they'll need frequent brushing to prevent painful matting. Most doodles love being brushed, and the routine allows the owner to bond with their dog. Keep in mind a very curly, "hypoallergenic" dog will need a haircut every few months. Just because they're low-shedding doesn't mean they're low maintenance
Standard Bernedoodles do best with a fenced in yard to run around and play in. They'll need daily walkies to burn off their energy, but so long as their physical needs are met, they likely won't turn to undesirable behaviors like digging or chewing to keep themselves entertained. They'll also need consistent social stimulation to reinforce positive behaviors. The more exposure they have to new pets and humans, the more likely they are to be well-behaved when introduced to a foreign person or situation.
A Bernedoodle's smarts makes them typically easy to train. It also means she can learn behaviors (good or bad) quickly—that's why it's important to keep up with training, even past their puppy days. Training a Bernedoodle requires positive reinforcement and, in some cases, a high level of patience.
While all Bernedoodles are responsive to training, they have their own unique personalities and are not as uniformly predictable as a fully purebred dog. Should the puppy inherit the Bernese's willfullness or the poodle's high energy, they'll need more of your time and attention. The training process can be somewhat of a hit or miss in that you're not sure if you'll get the intense focus of a poodle, or the more laid-back attitude of the Bernese.
The Bernedoodle lifespan is 12–18 years. Luckily, the hybrid breed does not inherit the same health risks as the Bernese mountain dog. The Bernese side of their lineage has a life expectancy of only seven years and a high rate of cancer, heart disease and epilepsy. And while Bernedoodles are far healthier than a purebred Bernese, they can still be predisposed to hip dysplasia,elbow dysplasia, ocular diseases, and some allergies. Overall, the Bernedoodle is a healthy breed and makes for a great family addition!