So you’re thinking about buying a Bernedoodle? We understand you 100%! Despite being a relatively young breed, the adorable cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle has taken the world by storm.
Why? Well, have you seen the pictures?
Jokes aside, Bernedoodles aren’t in high demand only because of their cuteness. Due to their high intelligence and calm yet friendly personality, Bernedoodles are excellent family dogs. Furthermore, since they practically don’t shed, they make wonderful pets for people with allergies.
However, we’re not here to discuss what makes Bernedoodles special. We’re here to answer one simple question – how much do Bernedoodles cost?
And like with most simple questions, the answer is it depends.
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How Much Does a Bernedoodle Cost?
Bernedoodle prices can range anywhere from $500 to over $5,000. The exact cost will depend on whether you adopt or buy your Bernedoodle. And if you buy, from where.
There are also other factors that come into play when determining the Bernedoodle price, which we’ll discuss in a moment. However, when buying from a quality breeder, you should expect to pay at least $3,000 for a purebred Bernedoodle puppy.
At Central Illinois Doodles, our Bernedoodle prices start from $4,000. That fee, however, includes all the necessary vaccinations, a blanket, and more.
Furthermore, all our Bernedoodle puppies come with a 2-year health guarantee, which covers all the potentially dangerous genetic health problems a pup might develop within the first two years.
To learn more about our Bernedoodle prices and check the available puppies for sale near your area, you can refer to our Doodle pricing page. And now, let’s discuss what impacts the cost of a Bernedoodle.
What Affects the Price of a Bernedoodle?
The Bernedoodle price varies depending on multiple factors, such as its coat type, color, size, demand, and the breeder you’re purchasing from.
Coat Color
Bernedoodles come in numerous coat color types. And the more unique the color, the more you can expect to pay for a Bernedoodle puppy.
Tri-color Bernedoodles are the most difficult to breed. They resemble Bernese Mountain Dogs the most and are in the highest demand, making them the most expensive.
Next are Phantom Bernedoodles, Parti Bernedoodles, and Merle Bernedoodles. The first two are two-color combinations, whereas Merle Bernedoodle is the most inconsistent and, therefore, the rarest.
How much does the color affect the Bernedoodle price? You can expect to pay an even $1,000 extra for your desired coat color.
Coat Type
Staying with coats, their types will also affect how much a Bernedoodle costs. In general, Bernedoodles come in three coat variations – curly, straight, and wavy.
Wavy and curly coats are usually less prone to shedding, making them a more suitable option for people with allergies. It also makes them more expensive than Bernedoodles with straight coats.
Size
The size of a Bernedoodle has a massive impact on its price. There are three size types of Bernedoodles – a Mini Bernedoodle, Medium Bernedoodle, and Standard Bernedoodle.
Mini Bernedoodles are the most challenging to breed and are in the highest demand. And you already know what that means – they are the most expensive.
By how much? That depends on the breeder. In some instances, Mini Bernedoodles can cost even as much as $1,000 more than their larger counterparts.
Generation Type
When shopping for a Bernedoodle puppy, you will notice that dog breeders use letters and numbers to describe the pup’s generation type. Namely, you can find F1 and F2 Bernedoodles, which further divide into F1B, F2B, etc.
As you probably already suspect, these aren’t just random markings.
Essentially, an F1 pup is a first-generation Bernedoodle, deriving from two purebred parent dogs, where one is a Bernese Mountain Dog and another is a Poodle.
An F1B Bernedoodle is born when an F1 dog is mixed with a Poodle, which makes an F1B pup 75% poodle.
Finally, there are F2 Bernedoodles, which are bred by mixing two F1 dogs.
First-generation Bernedoodles are the most expensive, with prices starting from at least $4,000. Again, they are also in the highest demand, which further increases their costs.
Breeder Performance and Reliability
Finally, how much you can expect to pay for a Bernedoodle depends on who you buy it from. As covered, Bernedoodle prices can vary quite significantly, starting from as low as $500 for an adoption fee and reaching even $4,000/5,000 when buying from reputable breeders.
Now, while adoption is the most cost-friendly option, given how rare Bernedoodles still are, finding one in an adoption center is almost impossible.
You can also find Bernedoodles at lower prices at puppy mills, but you should stay as far as possible from these places. A puppy mill is a farm where puppies are bred and raised in inhumane conditions, resulting in weak and sick dogs.
Some also consider backyard breeders, which are families who decide to breed their family pet to earn some extra bucks. However, while their intentions are often good, such people usually have no idea how to breed healthy dogs. They may also not conduct health testing or provide vaccinations.
Therefore, when buying a Bernedoodle (or any other dog breed, for that matter), you should only purchase from quality breeders. While a reputable breeder will charge more for the pup, all their breeding dogs are healthy and come with all the essential vaccinations, health tests, and guarantees.
Any Additional Costs
When buying a Bernedoodle, you may also have to pay additional fees. For example, at Central Illinois Doodles, we also charge a microchipping fee and, if that’s our client’s preference, a shipping fee.
We also ask our future puppy owners to place a non-refundable deposit of $500 upon reservation.
Such fees are standard among quality breeders. It’s also important to note that in our Bernedoodle price, there’s a set of initial vaccinations, a 2-year health guarantee, and a complimentary basket containing all puppy essentials, including a chew toy, collar and leash, puppy training guide, and more.
Long-Term Bernedoodle Costs
Buying a Bernedoodle puppy is one thing. Another is upkeeping it.
It’s important to understand a puppy is a long-term investment. And even though Bernedoodles aren’t overly demanding dogs, you should expect to spend at least $1,000 a year on your furry companion.
Here’s a breakdown of the most significant expenses a Bernedoodle owner should prepare themselves for:
Food
How much you spend on dog food heavily depends on the size of your Bernedoodle. Mini Bernedoodles generally eat less than Medium or Standard ones. Still, high-quality food can cost even as much as $500 a year, whereas cheaper foods can add up to around $300 annually.
Grooming
One of the most significant benefits of Bernedoodles is that they don’t shed excessively, thanks to their Poodle genes. Still, considering their relatively long hair, regular grooming is recommended.
Essentially, taking your Bernedoodle to a groomer 4 or 5 times minimum should be enough. That might add up to a little over $400/500 (you should count around $100 per session). That, however, includes a bath, trimming, and ear care.
Health Care
Although Bernedoodles are, in general, healthy dogs, they are prone to several genetic health issues, such as hip dysplasia. If it develops, you may be forced to correct this issue surgically.
Of course, you shouldn’t take your dog to the vet only with potential health problems. Regular visits are a must; these, along with any possible surgeries, can cost anywhere between $800 and $2,000 per year.
The good news is that when buying from a quality breeder such as ourselves, you can rest assured your puppy is health tested and has all the initial vaccinations. We also provide our customers with a 2-year health guarantee.
That is one of the reasons why you should always buy from renowned Bernedoodle breeders. Dogs sold at pet stores often come from backyard breeders or puppy mills, which can’t guarantee any testing.
Therefore, while these pups are often cheaper to buy, they generate higher health-related expenses in the long run.
Dog Training
Although professional dog training isn’t mandatory, it’s always recommended as it will help ensure your dog is well-behaved and socialized. Luckily, Bernedoodles are highly intelligent and easy to train, so you shouldn’t face too many problems in this department. If you opt for training classes, you should expect to pay around $100 annually. As said, though, this isn’t a must for all owners, especially experienced ones.
Accessories
And last but not least, there are dog accessories, such as toys, treats, a puppy crate, and a dog bed. These will depend on the quality or the brand you opt for, making it difficult to calculate such costs. For the purpose of this guide, however, let’s say that $300 a year should cover the essential dog accessories.
Buying vs. Adopting a Bernedoodle
While adopting a Bernedoodle is the cheapest option, the adoption fee usually ranges between $100 and $500; it’s practically impossible. Bernedoodle is still a relatively new breed, and there aren’t that many quality breeders around.
Despite that, Bernedoodle puppies are in incredibly high demand due to their high intelligence and calm personality traits, which make them excellent family dogs. That high demand makes finding a Bernedoodle to adopt an almost impossible task.
Another issue is that most Bernedoodles available at dog shelters come from puppy mills, meaning they are much more demanding to raise. If you’ve never had a dog before, purchasing a pup from a reputable breeder is a much better idea.
Finding a Quality Bernedoodle Breeder
As covered, there are four primary ways of becoming a proud Bernedoodle owner. You can either adopt one from a shelter, buy from a backyard breeder or puppy mill, or purchase from a reputable breeder.
We’ve already discussed that adopting a Bernedoodle is practically impossible, whereas puppy mills and backyard breeders aren’t to be trusted. If you want to ensure your new puppy is healthy is to buy one from a quality breeder.
The issue here is that there aren’t that many Bernedoodle breeders in the US, especially breeders who provide their services nationwide. This is one of the reasons that make Central Illinois Doodles the favorite choice among American families searching for a renowned breeder.
As the best Bernedoodle breeder in the Midwest, CID has the experience, expertise, and love needed to breed beautiful and healthy Bernedoodle pups.
All the puppies available for sale at Central Illinois Doodles are carefully bred, undergo health testing, and are raised in a loving environment along with their dog parents on-site.
Learn more about our high breeding standards and reservation process, and find your perfect Bernedoodle pup.
Summing Up: What Is the Cost of a Bernedoodle?
Once you start summing up all the costs related to buying a Bernedoodle, the total amount can quickly reach several thousand dollars. First, it’s the Bernedoodle price, which starts from $4,000 for a Mini Bernedoodle puppy from a quality breeder like Central Illinois Doodles.
Then there are the long-term costs a new owner needs to consider, such as food, grooming, health care, accessories, etc. That will vary but usually can exceed $1,000 annually. With the expected life span of 10-12 years, it means you can expect to pay at least $14,000 for buying and upkeeping your Bernedoodle.
That is a significant expense, which is why it’s so essential to ensure that buying a dog is something you can afford in the long run.
And if you believe you’re ready to add a new family pet to your family, choose Central Illinois Doodles.
As the #1 breeder in the Midwest, we’ve been providing families across the US with beautiful and healthy Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles for years.
Browse our available litters and reserve your pup today. And if there are no new pups available, be sure to sign up for our waiting list and be notified the moment the new litter is on its way.
