Dogs crossbred from Poodles and something else possess special genes, which makes them highly sought after. One such mix is the Bernedoodle, a crossbreed between the Poodle and Bernese Mountain dog.

The Bernedoodle is a designer dog, and one of the most expensive pups due to its cuteness. It’s a new breed that features the Bernese Mountain dog’s tri-color coat with the classic teddy bear curled fur of poodles depending on the dominant parent. Its appearance coupled with a friendly and calm temperament makes this hypoallergenic breed a wonderful family pet.

But how much do these dogs cost, seeing as their demand is quite high? The average monthly cost ranges from $255–$865. Here’s a thorough breakdown of how much you should expect to spend on this dog, along with initial costs for veterinary procedures and continuing maintenance.

Bringing Home a New Bernedoodle: One-Time Costs

Bringing a Bernedoodle puppy home will cost you from $500 to $5,000 and beyond, depending on whether you’ve bought, adopted, or sourced your pooch for free. If you’re buying a puppy, factors that determine how much you’ll pay will include the Bernedoodle’s heritage, how reputable a breeder is, and where you live.

Bernedoodle puppies will also differ in price depending on characteristics like their looks such as if their coats are tri-colored, merle, parti, or phantom. Each variation has a price range attached to it but the most cost-driving factor that makes this breed expensive is its high demand among the breed’s enthusiasts.

Free

Although it’s not common, you may end up receiving a Bernedoodle through unusual means such as a gift or a request to rehome a pup that someone is having challenges looking after. But even though you may not pay anything to acquire the dog, there will be costs for vaccinations, health check-ups, and other procedures before you can bring it home.

Free dogs are often neglected or abused and taking them on will necessitate vet exams, deworming, flea treatment, and spaying or neutering. A Bernedoodle that’s not well trained or looked after will require behavioral therapy and house training if it’s to make a suitable pet for your household.

Adoption

While adopting a Bernedoodle will prove cheaper than buying a pup from a registered breeder, you will pay an adoption fee of an average of $150 to $500. However, some organizations add charges relating to its upkeep while at the shelter, depending on how long they’ve had the dog.

Similar to receiving a Bernedoodle for free, you’ll find that dogs for adoption will require vet care for services like medication, worm and flea treatment along with neutering or spaying. In addition, an adopted pup may have to get shipped to your location for rehoming, which on average, costs more than $100.

Breeder

Reputable and registered breeders sell high-quality Bernedoodle puppies that have a clear breed heritage and are healthy. As such you can expect to pay anything from $2,000 to above $5,000 depending on several factors that include:

Initial Setup and Supplies

Besides the upfront costs of buying, adopting, or otherwise giving a Bernedoodle a new home, you’ll spend time and money preparing your house for your pup. That’s necessary to give the pooch a smooth and quicker transition while ensuring that other issues don’t crop up during the first few days of its arrival.

Expect to spend anywhere between $200 and $600 for the initial setup and supplies for your new Bernedoodle pup. Before bringing your new pooch home, you’ll buy food, dishes, grooming items, a leash or collar, a bed, toys, and treats.

These figures can be higher if there are medical vaccines, behavioral training, pet insurance, and other additional costs to consider.

List of Bernedoodle Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Bernedoodle Cost Per Month?

While the monthly costs of owning a Bernedoodle are substantial, they’re not much different from the maintenance expenses associated with any other breed. Consistent purchases each month will include items like food and the replacement of regular supplies including grooming items, toys, and medication.

Recurring costs like food will set you back anywhere from $45 to $115 for a 25-pound bag of nutritious high-quality kibble depending on your dog’s age, size, and feeding habits. Vet expenses aren’t that significant, especially if the Bernedoodle’s heritage is carefully selected, and you can offset these costs with affordable pet insurance coverage.

The curly coat of Bernedoodle (while it’s non-shedding) is prone to matting and thus needs constant brushing along with shampooing as part of your weekly if not daily routine. A bottle of standard quality shampoo and conditioner costs between $25 and $55, while additional items like toys can bring that expense to over $100 each month.

Health Care

Regular procedures are included in the monthly vet visits for your Bernedoodle, including tick, flea, and heartworm prevention. Alongside any other health-related expenses your pooch may have, the cost of each month’s medical checkup can inflate to nearly $200, not to mention dental care.

One of the Bernedoodle’s parents, the Bernese Mountain dog, has some of the shortest lifespans in the domestic canine world as a result of several health-related concerns. Some problems like hip dysplasia can also mean frequent potential surgeries that add to the monthly cost of your pooch’s vet visits.

With the average cost of a vet visit for your Bernedoodle at around $60, tests and vaccines will see you shell out more than $100 each month. However, you can set the monthly health-related expense budget at a constant with a reliable pet insurance policy that charges premiums of less than $40.

Food

The amount of food you’ll budget each month for your Bernedoodle depends on the dog’s size, weight, and activity level, along with the quality of products you purchase. Your pooch will typically eat between 1,500 and 2,500 calories daily, which are split into two meals, and there’s also the cost of treats to consider.

Standard Bernedoodles aren’t heavy eaters, and you can supplement their commercial food diet with homemade varieties as long as they’re providing sufficient caloric requirements. Expect to spend anywhere between $75 and $150 each month on high-quality kibble and wet feed products.

While better food products are recommended to maintain your Bernedoodle’s health, keep an eye on their weight as this breed is prone to obesity.

Grooming

Bernedoodles don’t require constant grooming, especially if your only option is to visit professional groomers. The non-shedding breed has curly teddy-bear-like hair that’s inherited from its ancestry, but that trait decreases if the dog is bred with less than 50% poodle heritage.

You can negate any monthly grooming costs by carrying out brushing, shampooing, or conditioning at home, along with bathing and nail clipping. If you don’t have the time or inclination, professional services will set you back upwards of $100 a session depending on the procedures performed.

Medications and Vet Visits

While your Bernedoodle may not require monthly visits to the vet, it’s sensible to set aside money for medical expenses and emergencies. You’ll also need to budget for the times that your pooch goes for medication, which may include parasite treatment and vaccination.

The vet and medication costs will increase if your pet suffers chronic health issues or congenital problems. With optimal nutrition, exercise, and regular checkups, however, you can stay on top of your dog’s well-being due to early detection and quick efficient treatments.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is beneficial if your dog is prone to constant health issues or if you don’t want to set money aside for medical procedures or emergencies. Bernedoodles are typically healthy dogs depending on the parent poodle and Bernese Mountain dog heritage, but coverage will also provide you with peace of mind.

Compared to the thousands of dollars some procedures such as hip dysplasia surgery can cost, it’s affordable to get a pet insurance policy that charges less than $50 a month. You can also consolidate pet insurance on some types of homeowner’s coverage or reap benefits and discounts on various employment schemes.

Environment Maintenance

Environmental maintenance expenses involve replacing potty and cleaning supplies for your Bernedoodle, which assist in keeping their kennels, food, and water dishes or toilet items clean. You’ll also replace certain grooming items that while not in each month, may feature in your monthly budget.

Entertainment

Bernedoodles are extremely playful pooches; if not well-occupied, they can be somewhat destructive through chewing and scratching. Depending on how much time you’re able to spend with your dog, they’ll require a few toys, activities, and mental exercises to keep them entertained.

An excellent way of making sure your Bernedoodle is constantly supplied with new toys is through a subscription service, which typically costs between $15 and $50 a month. You’ll receive appropriately sized toys for your pooch with different replacements that won’t let your pet suffer any boredom.

Other entertainment sources for your Bernedoodle include adding enrichment to their lives with agility classes or dog walking sessions. While membership can amount to more than $50, you’ll also be required to purchase items like Kong toys, puzzles, harnesses, collars, and leashes.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Bernedoodle

Depending on the age of your pooch and the area where you live, the monthly cost of owning a Bernedoodle could prove these estimates for 2024. With a wide selection of commercially available products, it’ll also depend on the quality of items you purchase and how soon you’ll have to replace them.

It’s not uncommon to spend at least $255 a month on your Bernedoodle’s maintenance, especially if your pooch has existing health conditions or you’re not around to do grooming or walk them. Buying food, treats, and other items in bulk helps save costs while supplementing with homemade supplies also works to bring down the monthly budget.

Additional Costs to Factor In

You should prepare to factor in other costs in the maintenance of a Bernedoodle, especially if you’re constantly away from your house or out of town. For instance, you’ll engage the services of a pet sitter to look after your pooch while you’re traveling, and they may charge by the hour or day.

Additionally, dogs like Bernedoodles, especially when they’re adopted or rehomed from another owner, will need behavioral and house training. These sessions typically cost around $50 although you can find trainers that offer expense-limiting packages.

Your pup Bernedoodle is also playful and bound to cause a level of destruction within your home, necessitating your replacing household items. Also, unless you have pet insurance, dogs are prone to eating things that make them sick, and you must set aside some money for such emergency occurrences.

Owning a Bernedoodle on a Budget

Owning a Bernedoodle isn’t out of your reach, even though acquiring one upfront from a breeder will certainly strain your finances. However, with proper planning and budgeting, you’ll find it’s easy to raise and maintain this pup due to the low level of demands and requirements common to this breed.

You don’t have to make recurring purchases of things you can rotate or make at home, such as toys, puzzles, or games that keep your Bernedoodle entertained. It’s also possible to buy items that last longer along with creative budget ideas such as buying food and grooming supplies at discount stores or during clearance sales.

Make plans for those expenses that can’t be skipped, which you’ll purchase every month, and do procedures like grooming yourself instead of relying on professionals. With medical and healthcare, pet insurance beats setting money aside for emergencies as you’re confident of the amount you’ll spend monthly on the cover’s premiums.

Saving Money on Bernedoodle Care

Watch brick-and-mortar or online stores for discounts and sales or collect coupons for Bernedoodle supplies when you’re looking to save money on your pup’s care. Buying in bulk also ensures significant savings on food, toys, and treats, grooming, and cleaning supplies while subscription services won’t dig into your wallet each month.

Invest in the best nutrition and care for your Bernedoodle, which ensures you save on expensive medical procedures and constant vet visits. Put money into good food, exercise, and activities for your pooch to ensure they have a healthy lifespan while proper vet care negates the occurrence of budget-breaking illnesses.

Conclusion

Regardless of how expensive it is to acquire a Bernedoodle due to the high demand from dog enthusiasts, you can own the breed despite being on a budget. You can buy the pooch from a reputable breeder at a cost of around $2,000 and spend around $1,000 to $2,000 on initial setup and supplies, then budget for monthly spending of between $255–$865.

There are also money-saving options for the care and maintenance of a Bernedoodle where you forgo professional groomers, trainers, or pet sitters for DIY options. A low-priced pet insurance policy also ensures that you’re not breaking the bank with healthcare and medication for which emergencies can form the bulk of your expenses.

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Featured Image Credit: jcburke, Shutterstock