I'm often asked what the difference is between Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles! As far as temperament goes, aside from color, let's keep this short and simple. It requires us to look at each of the original breeds involved (Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers and Poodles), and what they were originally bred for. There are also potentially other factors to look at, like the temperaments and qualities of the individual parents which may differ from the breed standard to an extent. So its not always cut and dry to look at the differences between Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles, but lets look at some of the potential factors.
Bernese Mountain Dogs are bred as livestock guardians. For this job they need to be loyal to their people/families/properties/animals. They can be more closed off to strangers and more strongly bonded with their intimate circle. They are very observant of their surroundings. They are big, goofy, and often clumsy dogs that don't know their own size. They can be protective, and can bark to "alert" their people of unusual activity. They really are gentle giants, and family dogs, who are lower energy in general, and are tolerant, but can be both independent as well as exuberantly loving!
Golden Retrievers are bred as hunting retrieval dogs! They are loyal, and athletic, and love to fetch and carry things around in their mouths. Goldens are dogs who rarely meet a stranger, and are generally happy-go-lucky. They are friendly to a fault - almost indescretionately. They are bred to work, and as such can be trained for a number of different service positions. It's no wonder that Retrievers are often selected as service dogs, due to their love of people as well as their adaptability and desire to work. It's been well known for years that they are the perfect, classic family dog, and really their only downfall: that hair!
Poodles are really not the froofy dogs that people make them out to be! They are actually bred as hunting dogs, and even the show poodle haircut is specially designed to allow them to keep their joints warm, but still be agile during hunting! Poodles are incredibly smart, and there are so many of out favorite doodle traits that come from these dogs! There is a huge gene pool to draw from in poodles, and they are a generally healthy breed with less health concerns than either Bernese Mountain Dogs or Golden Retrievers! Poodles themselves are often trained as service dogs. Some poodles are friendly, some are more reserved and loyal. Standard poodles are known for their even temperaments, and most standard poodle people don't want one that is less than 60lbs! Smaller poodles can be more energetic and excitable - though not always. There are so many great qualities that poodles bring to the table.
Some people caution against doodles, because, while breeders can promise the best of both breeds, it's always possible that the parent dogs can pass down negative qualities to their puppies. A lot of this stigma can be traced at a genetic level - breeding dogs that have temperament flaws can most certainly have repercussions. Sometimes it simply comes down to training and socialization, on either the breeder's part, or the owner's part. Ultimately, both these qualities can play a role, and it is a breeder's responsibility to breed dogs that have sound temperaments. The more that I breed dogs and raise puppies, the more I realize how important this is!
So, what is the difference between Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles? To answer this question, it requires not only looking at what the original breeds were bred for, but also looking at the character traits of the individual parents. Beyond this, here at Centerpiece Puppies, we temperament test our puppies, so that you can have a good idea of the specific traits that each pup has inherited or developed. We use The Badass Breeder's Puppy Aptitude Test to determine a puppy's level of Assertiveness, Nerve Strength, Confidence, Energy Level, Prey Drive, Sight/Sound Sensitivity, Touch Tolerance, Motivation Level, Tender-heartedness, and Dog Friendliness to help you make the best decision possible when choosing your next family member.
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