If you are looking for an absolute loyal pet and friend, both the Bernedoodle or the Aussiedoodle should make a great choice. Both are cute, fluffy, and family delight. These hybrid dogs are some of the easiest to train and they do not require much grooming even with so much hair on them and above all, they are a bundle of joy to have around.
However, there are a lot of differences between the Bernedoodle and the Aussiedoodle breeds and if you are trying to decide which of them will suit your lifestyle and could easily get adaptable to your family, the answer is in the following paragraphs below.
Bernedoodle Vs Aussiedoodle Origins
These two dog breeds are completely different dogs even when they typically look alike. Their difference comes from their ancestral parents.
The Doodles dogs came to the limelight because of their hypoallergenic coats and intelligence. Once their intelligence got noticed by people, the crossbreed syndrome took off like a wildfire.
The Aussiedoodle is a unique blend of Australian Shepherd, Poodle and the result is a social, intelligent, and intuitive companion. Unfortunately, these dogs are not Australian bred as the name implies but are bred in the USA – very handy as stock drivers and farmhands. The Aussie is so versatile that she has her eyes everywhere and nothing ever gets past her.
Bernedoodles are Bernese mountain dog mix with the poodle- these mountain dogs were also used as herding dogs in the Swiss Alps and they are also a very focused breed that never shies away from tasks and their loyalty and dedication to family is like no other.
Both these dogs will show off their traits of being experts at herding and farm chores when given such an opportunity.
Here are some more differences between these two wonderful breeds to make you decide which of them might be the right choice for you and the family
Bernedoodle vs Aussiedoodle Facts
The Aussie is believed to have a lot more energy in stock than a Bernedoodle; although both are considered as experienced herding dogs, the Aussiedoodle demands a more active lifestyle from their owners because of their hyperactive intelligence.
The coats of the Bernedoodle typically is a distinct tri-color coat including brown, black, and white color while the Aussidoodle also comes in trio-color but with a blue merle or a red merle coat.
Grooming is much more common with the Bernedoodle because of the nature of their coat and the way their hair grows out fast. However, this is not to say that the Aussie don’t require grooming.
The Bernedoodles, on the other hand, can be paired with other pets and still maintain their calmness and affection. They are both loyal to their owners, the children, and everyone in the family. They are very hardworking and love to take long walks and their calmness makes them excellent therapy dogs. They can be excellent to train especially when you pick them from a puppy and they are very adaptable to warmer weather with a significantly longer lifespan than a full Bernese mountain dog.
The Aussie mountain doodle or Aussie Bernedoodle or Swiss Doodle is a versatile breed with low to medium energy pumps. These doodles are very eager to please with great hybrid vigor for a family dog. Their willingness to please is a good trait of a service dog. The Aussidoodle can be a bit more aggressive and a little more active compared to a Bernedoodle but they are excellent for people with an active family or someone needing a trail companion.
Which breed is bigger?
When both the Bernedoodle and the Aussidoodle stand side-by-side, the Bernedoodle is a bit bigger. The Bernedoodle can weigh over 100 pounds while the Aussidoodle can go up to 80 kg in weight.
The Bernedoodles comes in 3 different sizes
- Standard Bernedoodles – 80 pounds in sizes in most cases and 29 inches tall from the shoulder
- Mini Bernedoodles – can weigh 20 – 40 pounds and about 18 – 22 inches tall
- Micro Bernedoodles – this is an offspring with toy poodle parent and weigh between 10-24 pounds and can be 11-15 meter tall
The Aussie also has 3 of its kind
- Standard Aussiedoodle – weigh between 40-70 pounds and can be as tall as 15+ inches.
- Mini Aussiedoodle -weigh between 20-40 pounds and can reach 11 to 15 in height
- Toy Aussiedoodle – weigh less than 20 pounds (maybe 15-19 average) and are generally 10 inches taller
But in most cases, the Bernedoodle breed dogs are larger breeds than the Ausiedoodles.
Temperament At Home
The Aussiedoodle temperament often depends on the environment and some other factors such as the parents because they can easily take up other behavior and get influenced by people and other dogs around them. The way they socialize also plays a role in their temperament and this is why it is very essential to make sure that an Aussiedoodle gets socialized from a young age.
Their natural herding ability is a trait they pick from their Australian Shepherd parents and is ingrained in their DNA. Many times Aussie owners have reported their dog trying to herd together family members by gently nudging them to where he wants them to be.
The Aussie Doodle is not the aggressive type of dog and they are not shy to perform some brave tasks either. Their well-balanced personality and extreme intelligence make them a handy dog around their owners. The best way to get these types of dogs to be in their best performance is to reward them with treats and positive reinforcements so that they may feel useful and also feel desirous to work.
The Aussie Doodle is a great pet to have in a family but they are more suitable for children much older due to the way the Aussiedoodle nips.
The Bernedoodle on the other hand is the very playful and affectionate type which makes them a great playmate for children. Their intelligence helps them to quickly understand social cues and commands especially when they found themselves in unfamiliar terrain and around strangers.
Their charismatic and charming personality helps them adapt to training very easily. These great traits including a wonderful temperament plus a fun sense of humor make the Berne Doodle a high in demand dog breed for many homes.
Life Expectancy Of These Breeds
So, what is the life expectancy of these dogs?
The Bernedoodle can live up to 12-18 years while the Aussie has a span life of 10-12 years. However, both these dogs are healthy dog breeds, and since both these dogs are crossbred, both inherited a trait known as the Hybrid Vigor.
What this means (Hybrid Vigor) is that any crossbreed dogs will be healthier than the purebred parents. The reason is that most purebred dogs will continue to give birth to their kind and therefore continue to pass down genetic diseases to their offspring. This is why cross breeding a dog will eliminate most of the genetic diseases associated with the parent breed.
Health conditions
Most people don’t think it is necessary to consider the medical condition of their dogs before taking them home. However, there are reasons why you should show concern before buying a doodle breed to avoid costly future medical treatments and sometimes premature death.
These dog breeds are although healthy breeds however, they could possibly inherit some diseases. For instance, the Bernedoodle could easily inherit and experience what is called allergies, ocular diseases, and predisposed elbow including dysplasia. They can easily gain weight and so they need regular exercise and a healthy diet to prevent them from obesity.
Sometimes also, they can develop skin irritation like hot spots caused by their thick coats. so when you notice your dog excessively chewing and liking a specific area on the body, it might be a sign that your dog has a hot spot.
Aussie, on the other hand, inherits varied conditions from their parent and are at risk of developing cataracts, autoimmune thyroiditis, dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and sebaceous adenitis. This is not to say that all Aussiedoodles will experience all these diseases but some might.
This is why it is important to ask the breeder of the puppy’s lineage and their breeding program so you can quickly determine how high or low is the dog at risk of developing any of these mentioned diseases.
How Much Grooming Do They Need
Both of these breeds – Ausiedoodle and the Bernedoodle both have a similar type of coats which they inherited from their poodle parents. This is often in a curly, frizzy, or shaggy form.
The longer the hair the more difficult it is to groom and they have the potential to knot and tangle easier than shorter hair.
Understanding your doodles coat type is very important for lots of reasons because not all doodles are hypoallergenic. For instance, Aussiedoodles can have a curly or wavy coat and both are considered hypoallergenic because curly coats almost do not shed.
Bernedoodles can have straight, curly, or wavy coats. Dogs with straight hair are considered non-hypoallergenic and shed quite a bit of their hair.
The grooming requirement for both of these breeds includes brushing their coats regularly during the week, nail cutting, lipping, and bathing. The two breeds are considered to be high maintenance dogs because of their curly hair. This is why a pin brush or a slicker brush is a perfect tool to help their coat detangle the hair knot, mats, and tangles.
Taking your dogs to a professional groomer is very important and you should inculcate the habit into your dog as early as 12 weeks old. This is because, without a strict grooming program, your Doodle will quickly grow into an unmanageable kind.
How Affordable Are These Dogs
If you are one of those that prefers cheap kinds of stuff, such habits can cost you when deciding on your new best friend. The price for Aussiedoodle can range from $700 and can be as high as $1,200 depending on your location. For Bernedoodles, they could be more expensive and cost anywhere between $2,500-$5,000.
Aussiedoodles can be bred by amateurs in the backyard so you have to be very careful where you are buying your Doodles from. If you get to find where Aussiedoodle is sold for less than $700, these breeds are most likely from a backyard breeder.
The Bernedoodle is more expensive because of their ancestry. It is generally very expensive to own a Bernese Mountain dog with great genetic backgrounds. So this type of breed is less likely to come from a mill.
Aussiedoodle tend to eat more than the Bernedoodle because of their energy level and they also have a higher level of developing medical conditions that require professional attention. But the Bernedoodles cost more because of their grooming.
Are They Hard To Look After?
Taking good care of a pet is the sole responsibility of the owner. The following items are what is needed before considering getting a dog.
Food costs – Bernedoodles and Aussiedoodles generally have healthy appetites. This is especially true for Bernedoodles because their appetite is inherited from their Bernese Mountain dog parent. Buying their foods and treats every month can add up to the family expenses and therefore you need to buy these in bulk to save money over time.
Veterinarian care – This is one of the most important requirements you will need to offer your dog. Vet care is required for your dog at all times and throughout the entire lifespan of your dog. These dogs need vaccination, regular vet visits, and emergency ailments treatments. Vet care can be a bit expensive and so it’s important to first contact your nearby vet to ask for general pricing for office and home visits so you can have a good understanding of how much you will need to spend on veterinarian care.
Bed – Both of these dogs love to nap and they need a soft bed to cuddle up into. This is why a large dog bed is recommended; created to last long and offer the soft cushion comfort that most dogs love.
Toys – Because these breeds are very intelligent, they will need more toys to play with, including interactive designed toys to keep their mind stimulated and busy. You can buy these toys in bulk especially if you have more than one dog at home.
Kennels and crates – Dogs like to have an area carved for their privacy, even when they are already used to sleeping on your bed. They need these kennels to feel secure and be left alone and these crates are very ideal for training purposes and they can be a safe place for the dog to relax. crates and kennels come in different shapes, colors, and sizes.
Pets Daycare – if you are the type that goes to work early or you will be leaving the house for some days, then you need to factor in a pet daycare to help you take care of your dog when you are not around. Inquire how much you need to pay for daycare so you can work it into your budget as well.
Grooming – Due to the nature of Doodle hair (curly and scruffy), they need frequent grooming and clipping. So, if you will be taking your dog to a groomer you need to find one that is professional and can work on all the services the dog will need and at an affordable price.
Pet Health Insurance – having pet insurance for your dog is a good habit as this will help you save some money especially for dogs that need a constant checkup for chronic issues like allergies.
Aussiedoodle vs Bernedoodle: How to Decide?
Before you decide to bring your pet home, you need to first consider how much it will cost you to raise a Doodle dog. Also, you need to consider the children at home, their age, and the size of the home the dog is coming to.
These dog breeds need plenty of space to run around and play. If they don’t have a large place to play like a yard, consider taking them on a walk very frequently or you can take them on a visit to a local dog park as often as you can. These breeds can easily chew up your furniture or shoes, clothing, or other household items when they are bored and restless, so they do all these to let out their energy.
Also if you have a yard where the dog can play, the Aussiedoodle and the Bernedoodle need to be socialized in an environment that is conducive like a dog park, or a ride in a car and also being around strangers. This is why early socialization is most recommended to these types of breeds.
For farmhand or you have a ranch, having a Bernedoodle or an Aussiedoodle as an assistant will make your work easier since they both naturally have this herding instinct to work in these kinds of environment.
So in conclusion, both the Bernedoodle and the Aussiedoodle are excellent family dogs. Their fluffy ball of coat makes them an excellent playmate for kids of young ages and their goofy personality makes them an easy pet to be around. Just don’t give them too many treats if you don’t want them looking overweight quickly.
Lastly don’t forget that these dog breeds love to be the center of attention, so you need to have lots of hugs and affection ready for them.
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