Do Mini Bernedoodles Shed?

If you’re a fan of the Bernese Mountain Dog mixed with Poodle and want to raise one of your own, you’d probably wonder: “Do Mini Bernedoodles shed?” You love the appearance and temperaments this Doodle breed carries but dislike the shedding side of dogs. However, you’re unsure. If this sounds like you, maybe the Mini Bernedoodle might be the right breed for you because the shedding is minimal due to its coat. The miniature version of the Bernedoodle comes with excitement and goodness. To learn more about the shedding of Mini Bernedoodles, this guide will provide all of the answers you need to know.

Before you scroll down this article “Do Mini Bernedoodles Shed,” you might be interested in these articles: Best Mini Bernedoodle Breeders in the United States and Bernedoodle vs. Goldendoodle.

What is a Mini Bernedoodle?

Bernedoodles are a hybrid mix between Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle. These dogs possess all the best qualities of both breeds, so they are a prevalent breed. Bernedoodles have the beautiful coat markings of Bernese Mountain Dogs, but the Poodle’s low-shedding (and often curly) hair. When it comes to their temperament, Bernedoodles are affectionate and playful. These dogs love their families but can be protective and wary of strangers.

However, because both Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs have high intelligence, so do Bernedoodles. This intelligence means these dogs are straightforward to train. They can be wary of new people, so socialization is essential. Socializing them from a young age ensures your Bernedoodle gets along with all people. Mini Bernedoodles are considered very energetic and playful, even more so than their larger counterparts (the Standard Bernedoodle).

If you plan on adopting one of these little guys, be sure you are ready to spend lots of time and energy with your puppy. This breed also prefers company, so they do exceptionally well with families and other dogs. Still, they can become bored or upset when left alone for extended periods, so make sure you can provide your dog with lots of attention.

Bernedoodle-Related Article: Best Australian Bernedoodle Dog Breed Guide

Characteristics of Mini Bernedoodles

Bernedoodles come in all different shapes and sizes depending on the size of the Poodle used for breeding. There are Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodles, leading to the three common sizes of Bernedoodles: Standard, Miniature, and Tiny. So regardless of what size dog you are looking to adopt, you will be able to find a Bernedoodle in that size.

Despite what their name might lead you to believe, Mini Bernedoodles are not considered a small-sized dog. Mini Bernedoodles more accurately fall into the category of medium-sized dogs. However, they are still much smaller than a typical Bernese Mountain Dog or Standard Poodle. Because of the cross between the two breeds, Bernedoodles tend to live long and healthy lives.

• Height: 18-22 inches
• Weight: 25-49 lbs
• Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

When it comes to the colors of Mini Bernedoodles, you have a wide range of choices. Poodles come in all different colors, whereas Bernese Mountain Dogs have a pretty uniform color and coat pattern. Some Bernedoodles take after their Poodle parent by possessing a solid black coat, while others can be black and white. Arguably the most popular look for Bernedoodles reflects the Bernese Mountain Dog’s distinct coat patterns and tri-colored fur.

Bernedoodle-Related Article: How Big Do Mini Bernedoodles Get?

Types of Coats & Grooming

Just like the variety in colors, Mini Bernedoodles also come in a variety of coat types. Some of these coats resemble the Poodle parent more, which leads to less shedding. In contrast, other coat types resemble the Bernese Mountain Dog more, which will produce more shedding. Below you will find the three primary coat types for Mini Bernedoodles.

Straight Coat

Mini Bernedoodles with straight coats most closely resemble their Bernese Mountain Dog parents. This is the least common coat type among this breed of dog. Straight coats are more extended and shaggier than their curly counterparts. This long hair typically has some slight waves or kinks due to the Poodle genetics in your dog. If you don’t mind a little bit of shedding, a straight-coated Mini Bernedoodle would be an excellent choice for you. Dogs with this coat type are the least hypoallergenic and tend to shed more than Bernedoodles with a curly coat. It’s recommended that you brush your straight-coated Bernedoodle 3-4 times a week to avoid matting. These dogs also need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks to keep their skin and hair healthy.

Wavy Coat

Wavy-coated Bernedoodles are also commonly referred to as fleece-coated Bernedoodles; this name is very telling of what the texture of your dog’s coat will be. This is the most common type of coat among Bernedoodles. The thick, wavy texture of this coat, along with the minor kinks, resembles fleece. This type of Bernedoodle is low to non-shedding, so if you are worried about allergies, this would be a good choice for you. This type of coat will need daily brushing, as the texture can mat exceptionally quickly. It is also essential to get your wavy Bernedoodle a professional haircut approximately once a month, as they do not naturally shed. If you avoid this basic grooming, your dog’s hair will become overgrown and unhealthy.

Curly Coat

The least shedding option among Bernedoodle coats is the curly coat. Often known as a wool coat, this type of Bernedoodle has thick, curly hair that closely resembles that of the Poodle parent. Because of the dominance of the Poodle parent’s genes in these dogs, these dogs shed less. The hair is soft and highly curly, making them a great cuddly companion. This is considered the best choice for allergy sufferers, as any stray hairs that do shed off this coat will stay embedded instead of being released into the air. Because stray hairs remain in the fur, it is essential to provide curly-coated Bernedoodles with daily brushing to remove those stray hairs. This dog will also need the most frequent trimming among these choices because it has the least amount of shedding.

Bernedoodle-Related Article: Best Types of Bernedoodle Haircuts and Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic?

Do Mini Bernedoodles Shed?

Now that you’ve learned about the different coats Mini Bernedoodles can have, you can see that there is no guarantee your Mini Bernedoodle will be completely shed-free. Because Bernedoodles have Bernese Mountain Dog genetics, there is always the chance that their fur sheds a little.

Mini Bernedoodles with more Poodle genetics than Bernese Mountain Dog genetics are your best bet at having a low to non-shedding dog. This is something to keep in mind when adopting a Mini Bernedoodle puppy. This can be determined based on the generation the puppy is a part of. Below you will find the Mini Bernedoodle generations that are least likely to shed.

• F1B Bernedoodle: 75% Poodle & 25% Bernese Mountain Dog
• F1BB Bernedoodle: 87.5% Poodle & 12.5% Bernese Mountain Dog
• F2B Bernedoodle: 62.5% Poodle & 37.5% Bernese Mountain Dog
• F2BB Bernedoodle: 81.25% Poodle & 18.75% Bernese Mountain Dog
• Multi-generation Bernedoodle: Varies

Bernedoodle-Related Article: Do Bernedoodles Shed and Best Bernedoodle Generations

Tips and Tricks to Prevent Mini Bernedoodles From Shedding

As you can see, there are certain coat types and generations to look for if you want minimal shedding from your Mini Bernedoodle. That being said, there is no guarantee your dog will never shed. Even the lowest shedding dogs lose a little bit of hair, just like humans do. However, some essential tips and tricks ensure your Bernedoodle has healthy skin and hair, which reduces shedding to the bare minimum.

• Regular Brushing: As you can see above, regardless of the type of coat your Bernedoodle has, it will require regular brushing. Straight hair Bernedoodles require brushing every 3-4 days, whereas wavy and curly-coated dogs will need daily brushing. Brushing ensures that any stray hair gets removed from the dog in a concentrated spot instead of flying around all over the house.

• Regular Trimming: Mini Bernedoodles, particularly wavy and curly-coated ones, require regular trimming typically done by a professional. These two curlier Bernedoodles need to be trimmed more often than their straight-haired counterparts. They do not shed their excess hair; therefore, their hair can become matted and overgrown when not appropriately groomed. Wavy and curly hair will require grooming once a month, while straight hair can go about 6-8 weeks between trimmings.

• Stress-Relief: Regardless of your dog’s coat, it can lose excessive amounts of hair if it is very anxious or stressed. If you think your dog is shedding because of stress, try to remove the stressors from its life. Some dogs experience anxiety when life changes are happening around them. To prevent this, you should ensure your dog is following a routine. Giving it lots of love and cuddles helps too!
• Good Nutrition: Nutrition is essential for your dog’s overall health, including its skin and hair. Omega-3 unsaturated fats have been proven to improve dog’s skin and coat health. To ensure your dog is getting the proper amounts of this in its diet, you can give it supplements created explicitly for dogs.

Bernedoodle Product Recommendations: Best Dog Food For a Bernedoodle

Conclusion For “Do Mini Bernedoodles Shed”

Mini Bernedoodles are beautiful dogs inside and out. When it comes to shedding, some variables affect the amount of shedding that occurs. The generation of Bernedoodle you adopt and the type of coat your Bernedoodle has will influence the amount of shedding that happens. Overall, Mini Bernedoodles are considered low to non-shedding dogs, but that doesn’t guarantee your pup will never shed at all.

For articles with mentions of Bernedoodles, check out:

• Best Bernedoodle Breeders in California
• Sheepadoodle vs. Bernedoodle
• Best Bernedoodle Rescues For Adoption

To learn more about the Bernedoodle dog breed, watch “Bernedoodle Dogs 101: Is a Bernedoodle Right For You” from PetGuide.com down below: