The Bernedoodle is a delightful combination of the intelligent Poodle and the goofy yet loyal Bernese Mountain Dog. The result is a truly adorable pup that equally loves playing as it does a good cuddle with its human on the sofa. When you factor in that crossing the pair often results in fewer health problems than their individual parent breeds it is no wonder that these dogs find themselves in high demand.
The Mini or Miniature Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Miniature Poodle. As with all crossbreds, it can be difficult to determine how big they will be when they stop growing but on average they will weigh in 25lbs – 49lbs and be between 18” and 22” in height.
In this article, we are going to focus on the size of the Miniature Bernedoodle, the rate they grow, and how to evaluate how big your pup will be when they are fully grown. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Mini Bernedoodle.
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Standard, Mini or Toy (Tiny) Bernedoodle?
Still a relatively new crossbreed, the first purposely bred Bernedoodles began to appear in 2003. Most people when faced with picking a Poodle pairing for the Bernese Mountain Dog would identify the Standard Poodle. This creates, the perhaps most widely known, Standard Bernedoodle which averages between 23” and 29” tall at the shoulder and weighs in the region of 70lbs to 90lbs.
Like with so many other Doodles, we have seen the emergence of additional sizes of Bernedoodles. Namely the Mini Bernedoodle and the Tiny, or Toy Bernedoodle. Both are achieved by pairing the Bernese Mountain Dog mother with either a Miniature or Toy Poodle. The Bernese Mountain Dog is the mother due to the inability of a smaller Poodle to carry and birth pups sired by a father as large as a Bernese Mountain Dog.
The Mini Bernedoodle comes in smaller than their Standard sibling averaging 18” to 22” to the shoulder and weighing between 25lbs and 49lbs. The Tiny is smaller again averaging 12” to 17” tall and weighing between 10lbs and 24lbs.
| Height | Weight | |
| Standard Bernedoodle | 23” – 29” | 70lbs – 90lbs |
| Miniature Bernedoodle | 18” – 22” | 25lbs – 49lbs |
| Toy (Tiny) Bernedoodle | 12” – 17” | 10lbs – 24lbs |
Bigger is Better or Good Things Come in Small Packages?
It is common to wonder what is going through a breeder’s mind when they hatched a plan to match up two dogs that differ in size as much as the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Miniature Poodle. In reality, the development of smaller breeds is often driven by the demand for dogs that can live in smaller living spaces and insert easily into their human’s lives and activities.
The Mini or Tiny Bernedoodle generally would fare better with apartment living than their Standard counterparts who just physically take up more space.
There is always spirited debate about the ethics of reducing a dog’s size to suit human needs. In its extreme, we have seen this practice result in some breeds developing significant health problems purely as a result of seeking dogs that appear perpetually like puppies in size and features.
The Bernedoodle, while being relatively new however does not appear to experience any complications as a result of creating smaller sizes. Not everyone has the space to accommodate and meet the needs of a Standard Bernedoodle but can offer a loving home to one of its smaller relations.
Stuck Between the Standard and the Mini?
So, you have spent hours trawling the net. You have looked at every cute picture of a Bernedoodle there is. You know all about the different sizes, but you just can’t make that final decision to go with a Standard or a Mini.
As mentioned before your home environment is probably one of the biggest factors. A Standard Bernedoodle does well with space and ideally access to a secure yard to run off some of that energy. A bored Bernedoodle can quickly become a destructive Bernedoodle. The Mini will do better in apartment living and can comfortably be entertained with one good walk a day and some indoor games and stimulation.
It is worth casting your eye over your living accommodation from a Mini and Standard viewpoint. Mini Bernedoodles can squeeze into and under places a Standard cannot. Conversely Standard Bernedoodles are known to use those extra-long legs to access exciting places such as kitchen counters and tables.
If you are lucky enough to have plenty of space at home, it is worth thinking of what activities you envisage undertaking with your new Bernedoodle buddy. The Mini can go almost anywhere and is much easier to accommodate for travel in cars or on public transport with smaller travel crates or seat harnesses.
Both the Mini and the Standard have moderate exercise needs but if longer all-terrain style hikes are on the agenda then a Standard may be better placed to keep up. Just remember the bigger the dog the bigger the dog food bill. Standard Bernedoodles can be voracious eaters which requires not just additional dog food but can also take more monitoring to ensure they remain a healthy weight.
Mini Bernedoodle Growth and Weight
If after and writing your pros and cons list, you settle for the Miniature Bernedoodle it is a good idea to prepare yourself for what to expect in terms of growth and development.
As the Bernedoodle is still a relatively new crossbreed there is limited data about exact timelines and average growths. The following is therefore intended as a rough guide only.
At 8 weeks you can expect your Mini Bernedoodle puppy to weigh in the region of 7.5lbs. However, this will more than double by 16 weeks to somewhere closer to 18lbs.
At 24 weeks you can expect them to be approaching 27lbs to 28lbs pound. After this stage weight gain should begin to slow until they plateau at their adult weight.
Their adult weight will be determined by additional factors such as overall height and also their sex with females generally being up to 10% smaller than males.
Although by 32 weeks a Mini Bernedoodle may have reached or be approaching its fully grown weight there is still various other stages of development and maturity to achieve. Although most small breeds generally stop growing around 10 to 12 months, the slow-growing nature of the Bernedoodle’s Bernese Mountain parent can mean they will not be fully grown until 11 to 13 months.
Mini Bernedoodle Developmental Stages
Mini Bernedoodles generally follow normal puppy development stages and transition to a puppy adolescent developmental stage between 6 and 9 months. At this stage, your little Bernedoodle buddy may exhibit new behaviors such as hyperactivity, fear, and disobedience through a need for greater independence.
The Bernese Mountain Dog traits can also lead to some stubbornness in your pup but the good news this generally diminishes with age. Engaging your pup in mentally stimulating training is key to helping them through their “teenage” stage.
Another key milestone is sexual maturity which will occur between 8 and 12 months if they have not been neutered. Your Mini Bernedoodle may be fully physically mature at between 11 and 13 months and is likely to be reaching mental maturity at the same time. Signs of this include a reduction in energy, the ability to occupy themselves, and evidence that their intense curiosity in their environment reduces.
Don’t worry, your Mini Bernedoodle will still be a great, loyal companion and will still have bags of energy at 13 months they just won’t want to play 22 hours of the day like before. Many people comment on the lively and bouncy energy of their Mini throughout their lifespan which can reach a ripe old age of between 14 and 17 years.
Featured image courtesy of maverick_the_minibernedoodle