When compared to most other breeds, Bernedoodles are a relatively new hybrid, making their official appearance in 2003.
This fantastic family dog has seen a huge growth in popularity because of their loving nature, playful energy, and allergy-friendly coat.
A lot goes into breeding healthy Bernedoodles, and it can be seen in the price tag many of them can fetch.
How much does a Bernedoodle puppy cost? You can expect to pay between $2500 and $5000 for a Bernedoodle from a reputable, quality breeder. The average cost is somewhere closer to $4000. Tri-color coated Bernedoodles are the most coveted and typically the most expensive.
Not all are created equal, so it’s best that you do your research on any and all breeders you might consider. This is especially true if you find cheaper Bernedoodles ranging from $800 to $1,500.
Not all Bernedoodles are created equal. Here are some factors that impact the cost of a Bernedoodle.
- Color
- Size
- Generation Type
- Coat
- Breeder Reputation
- Maintenance Cost for the mom and pups
- Geographic Location
Actual Bernedoodle Costs
Here are some actual prices of Standard Tri-Color Bernedoodles from reputable breeders across the US and Canada.
All breeders included offer a health guarantee, backing the health of their puppies.
| Breeder Name | State | Cost |
| SwissRidge Kennels | Ontario, Canada | $4,900 |
| Rocky Mountain Bernedoodles | Montrose, Colorado | $3,950 |
| HC Bernedoodles | Trenton, Missouri | $3,200 |
| Hurricane Creek Doodles | Nashville, Tennessee | $3,500 |
| Cottonwood Creek Doodles | Salt Lake City, Utah | $4,000 |
Here’s our complete list of Bernedoodle breeders across the US, including those who ship puppies.
What Impacts The Cost Of Bernedoodles?
Several factors come into play when determining the price you may have to pay for a Bernedoodle.
In addition to the following price influencers, keep in mind that the puppy’s price isn’t the only upfront cost when purchasing a new dog.
A new puppy requires a lot of gear.
Sure, you’ve probably already thought about a cute, little collar and puppy food (we explain how to pick the healthiest option in our guide to dog food), but what about a crate?
How about treat pouches for training, ID tags, and everything else you’ll need? What about a small mountain of puppy chew toys?
(This 12 pack is perfect for active little mouths, has an awesome variety of toys, and is a terrific bargain – it even comes with an IQ treat ball!)
Be sure to check with our new puppy checklist to be sure you’ve got all your bases covered and have an accurate idea of how much you’ll actually spend on your new pup.
Here are a few things to consider when researching your Bernedoodle.
Color and Size
Coat color and size can have a big impact on the cost. Typically Bernedoodles with a tri-color coat and mini Bernadoodles are the most expensive.
Generation Type
The cost of the Bernedoodle can be affected by the generation or the make-up of the parents used in the specific liter.
An F1 (first generation) Bernedoodle is one where one parent is the Poodle and the other parent is the Bernese Mountain Dog.
An F1b is where an F1 is bred with a Poodle, making the pups 75% Poodle.
An F2 is where two F1 dogs are bred together. The F1 generation, generally the most expensive, can be $4,000 or more while an F2 might go for $800.
Coat
If the buyer requests a certain coat type, this can cost more money. Generally, expect to pay more for curly-coated dogs.
Different coat types will require a slightly different approach to grooming (see what I use on my Doodle dog in this article) and will display differing shedding tendencies.
A quality breed guidebook is usually the best route to gain a thorough understanding of coat types, but with dogs as new as the Bernedoodles, there aren’t that many good ones available yet.
However, I found this well-recommended book on Amazon that is actually written by someone who is intimately familiar with these dogs.
It’s not a generic, can-be-applied-to-any-breed guide but a book dealing with specific Bernedoodle concerns.
The author gives you deep insight into your dog’s behavior and traits by sharing facts about the whys and hows of the breed’s creation – all from first-hand experience.
New Breed
The fact that Bernedoodles are a fairly new breed has added to the cost. Almost anytime something new comes out on the market, it comes with a higher price tag.
Even though they’ve been around since 2003, they’re still a new breed of dog and a popular one at that.
Fewer Quality Breeders
Because they’re still a newer breed and one that requires mixing two breeds of dogs, there are not yet that many quality breeders available.
This is bound to change with time, but for now, the lack of breeders is one reason these dogs are on the pricey side.
Health Issues with Bernese Mountain Dogs
This plays a big part in the cost of Bernnedoodle puppies. When trying to produce Bernedoodles, breeders want to make sure that both parents are healthy.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to several health issues, and their life span is only 6 to 9 years.
Therefore, it may be difficult to find many healthy Bernese Mountain Dogs, which can drive up the price.
Reputable Breeders
Breeders who have been in the business longer and raise only high-quality Bernedoodles tend to charge higher prices than someone new to the business.
Reputable breeders go to great lengths researching their breeding stock, traveling to see them, and even import them from other countries.
High-quality breeding stock can easily fetch 5-figure dollar amounts.
Health Screenings
Breeders invest a great deal of time and money finding and testing their breeding stock to ensure they are free from genetic disorder and disease.
Maintenance Costs
Female Bernese Mountain Dogs do not have a high success rate with pregnancy and often require extra care to breed and care for the puppies.
They often charge higher prices because of the additional maintenance costs.
Geographic Location
Bernedoodles generally go for higher prices in larger cities.
Finding Quality Bernedoodle Breeders
Because Bernedoodle dogs are still somewhat a newer breed of dog, you’re not going to find as many local breeders available as if you were lucking for a more common dog breed.
Therefore, it might be a little more difficult finding quality Bernedoodle breeders and you may need to be open to traveling a bit to get one.
Here are some tips on finding good, reputable Bernedoodle breeders and knowing that they’re quality breeders.
Check Their Website
Not everybody has a website today, but most businesses do. If you can’t find their website, try to find them on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
You can gain a lot of information just from looking at a breeder’s website.
Are they informative? Is there a “contact us” section? Do they get back to you right away? What kind of support do they offer after the puppy goes home with you?
Check Reviews
The internet can be a wealth of good information for people looking for reviews.
Whether they’re reputable or shady, there’s probably information out there on the company. All you have to do is some research.
Visit Their Pups
How the puppies and the parents behave is often an indication of how the breeder takes care of the dogs.
Bernedoodles can be stubborn dogs that require training and socialization.
If the parents or pups don’t appear to be happy, sociable, and playful, they may not be getting the attention they need.
Are They Responsible Breeders?
Responsible breeders truly love that particular breed of dog. They may be selling the dogs for money, but they’re not going to sell to just anyone.
They will want to get to know a little about the people buying their pups. They’re also going to be willing to answer any questions buyers may have.
Is the Breeder’s Place Clean?
If possible, always check out the place where the puppies are born and being raised.
The place should be clean, and the breeder should be only breeding Bernadoodle dogs and not several other breeds, which can be an indication of a puppy mill.
Knowledge
Bernedoodles are a popular dog breed but still relatively new, and you may have many questions about the breed.
A quality Bernedoodle breeder is not going to know everything but should be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions.
Guarantees & Contracts
Quality breeders will generally offer a health guarantee on the dogs they sell, commonly for 12 to 24 months.
Some will even ensure the pup passes a temperament and health test before they’ll allow it to be sold.
Tips For Working With A Breeder
Imagine that after months of shopping around for a Bernedoodle puppy, you’ve finally found your dream dog but the price is a little steeper than you’d like to pay.
Do you have to give up on your dream? Not necessarily.
Sometimes, it’s all a matter of not just finding the right breeder but knowing how to work with a breeder.
- Check Dog Registries – Check with registries where the Bernedoodle dogs might be registered. They might be registered with AKC Canine Partners or with organizations like the International Designer Canine Registry or the Designer Breed Registry.
- Get References – If the breeder is a reputable and quality breeder, he will have no problems providing you with at least two references. This is where Facebook can come in handy too!
- Visit in person – If possible, avoid telephone conversations over the phone. Ask to meet in person at the place where the dogs are kept.
- List Out Questions – Make a list of questions you want to ask the breeder, and don’t be afraid to ask each and every question. Quality breeders will not only be happy to answer your questions but will expect you to want all the information you can get.
- Ask to see the parents – Always ask to see the parents of your pup in person. Don’t settle for just getting pictures. The way the parents behave says a lot about how the puppies will turn out as adults.
- Ask for medical history – Quality breeders will ensure their dogs are all in good health and will not be afraid to provide you with the dogs’ medical history.
- Develop a relationship – Get to know the breeder as much as possible and develop a good relationship with them so you can always feel free to contact them with any concerns or questions you may have now or in the future.
Many times, dedicated breeders are willing to lower their price if they know the dog is going to a loving home and will be well taken care of.
Related Questions:
What coat colors and types do Bernedoodles come in?
Bernedoodles come in one of three coat types: straight, wavy, or curly.
Although curly usually requires the most maintenance, it’s often the one most preferred because they are the most allergy-friendly.
Bernedoodles come in a variety of colors, and most of them have a base or background color. The base coat may be cream, chocolate, or red, but black is the most common base coat.
There are sable colored, tri-colored, and solid-colored, but the most common is the tri-color Bernedoodle.
What is meant by the phrase, “hybrid vigor”?
This much-talked-about term has been used more frequently since the practice of breeding and creating hybrid or designer dogs has become so popular.
Hybrid vigor, which is also known as heterosis, is used to describe using crossbreeding to improve on an animal’s form or function.
Hybrid vigor is used on various types of breeding, not just dogs. It’s often used when a breeder mixes two dogs together in an attempt to eliminate a bad trait and increase the gene pool with more “positive” traits.
For instance, if one breed of dog is prone to developing a certain health defect, the breeder might breed that dog with another dog breed that isn’t prone to that health defect.
Among dog breeders, the term hybrid vigor is one some believe as fact and others believe as a myth.
Summarizing Bernedoodle Cost…
With so many dogs available today in shelters, rescues and reputable breeders, you would think that it would be easy to get a good dog for a good price. That’s not always the case.
Bernedoodle dogs may appear to come at a high price for some dog owners, but they’re a great dog with a good life span.
Finding a good breeder is the most important step in finding the ideal Bernedoodle at the right price.
