Through Kaleigh’s Eyes

What Is a Bernedoodle Temperament Really Like? Kaleigh Shares Her Experience

October 14, 2026

What Is a Bernedoodle Temperament Really Like? Kaleigh Shares Her Experience

My name is Kaleigh Horst. I have always loved animals. Growing up, I was always bringing home animals that were injured or just needed a temporary home. My family got their first dog when I was around 5 years old. She was 3 years old when we rescued her from a shelter in Virginia. They told us that she had come from a home with domestic violence and as a result, developed fears of certain people and situations. It took some time and patience for her to find comfort in a new environment, but as a family, we worked with her so that she could learn to feel safe and loved again. After a long life of love and adventures, I sadly had to say goodbye to my furry best friend and it was one of the hardest things to go through as a family. After 2 years in a house with no dog, we were beginning to feel ready to open our hearts to another dog; only this time…we wanted a puppy. In our search of doodle breeders, we came across Berry Patch Puppies. It took one visit of “just looking”, for us to fall in love with who would be the newest addition of our family at the time. Through working with Berry Patch in the adoption process, I was offered a part time job in kennel maintenance and puppy socialization.

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As I worked with the dogs and an experienced breeder, I started to learn more about the early stages of a puppies life and how crucial that period of time is for their development and the overall course of their life. I began doing research and introducing socialization programs based around human touch and care earlier on in the puppies life. As I got more comfortable with socializing and basic training procedures, I was asked if I would want to “foster” a puppy in my home to begin house breaking. I was already working with the puppy everyday at work but this was more of a trial run to see how a home environment would affect her learning, and of course I said yes! At this point, our family Bernedoodle was well adjusted and almost a year old, which meant that she was a big help in the training as well. The puppy would watch the older dog and just by observation, she would learn. It’s really quite fascinating! At the end of that summer, we found her a great home and watched her transition very smoothly into her forever family.

Later on, my family decided that we wanted to have a litter of puppies with our dog. I had become comfortable in whelping puppies and knew that we would have the support of Berry Patch through the whole process. The experience came with struggles but it was a family commitment and something we all worked together on. It brought us closer and gave me even more experience with socialization and each stage of puppyhood inside a home environment.

All this to say, the past years of my life have introduced me to the world of dogs that I wouldn’t have been exposed to if it weren’t for Berry Patch Puppies. I have learned so much and I hope to continue learning in this field so that I can be a part of it for the rest of my life. It is such a special thing to be able to raise dogs that will become a beloved member of families, just as my own dogs have been such a special part of my life.

When I first began working with Bernedoodles, I didn’t know much. I had done some research about the breed but nothing would have prepared me for what I learned over these past few years. From my personal experience, Bernedoodles are affectionate, loyal, intelligent and goofy dogs that have a way of becoming the center of your family.

When it comes to the temperament of these dogs, there are so many factors that can affect what you will get in a dog’s disposition. A Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog, known for their loyalty and gentle nature, and the extremely intelligent Poodle. Depending on the generational cross, you can get an alert, high-energy puppy that has more of the poodle traits, or if you have more Bernese traits in the mix, you can get a dog who is a little bit more cool, calm, and collected. No matter which parent traits are favored, there is no doubt that you will end up with a very loving, intelligent, and friendly dog. While these genes are pretty much the most important deciding factor, there are also many other variables that can determine the temperament of these dogs.

Male vs. Female Bernedoodle Temperament

In my personal experience, I have found that there is potential to be slight differences between males and females. Some male dogs can be very clingy and attached to a certain family member. They can be more playful and puppy-like for longer, sometimes maturing slower than females. Some female dogs can be more independent and content to be off on their own. They can also be more territorial or possessive of toys or people. That being said, some of these traits are hormonally driven and can change or disappear after the dog is spayed/neutered. Now keep in mind that it is very dependent on each dog and how he or she will show personalities.

Mini vs. Standard Bernedoodle Temperament

Along with gender, size can play a role as well. As I continued to work with this breed, I began to notice that Miniature Bernedoodles can have a higher energy level and are overall more active than standard Bernedoodles. This can be due to the mini poodle in the cross. In my experience, smaller dogs tend to be more emotionally reactive and they can be louder and more hyper than some larger dogs. I see this during their play times. The minis will get super excited and go puppy crazy when they start playing but after they get over the first excitement, they calm down and play amongst themselves. I don’t see this as much in the mediums to standard puppies, they are a little calmer and aren’t always as hyper in those situations. However, we can’t assume this for every dog and we have to know that they are all puppies and it’s expected for them to be hyper and energetic to some degree; as they develop and learn to regulate themselves.

How Parents Influence Bernedoodle Temperament

Now it’s to be expected that mom and dad have a big effect on temperament as well. Personality traits from both parents have a high chance of showing up in their offspring. For example, if the father has a very sweet and gentle demeanor, you are more likely to see those traits among his puppies rather than dogs who are cautious and distant. The same can go the other way, a high energy mother is more likely to pass that down to her pups, than raise young who are shy or skittish. Some of these traits can be learned too. A Bernedoodle who is very reactive and anxious as a puppy can learn to trust and feel comfortable with people or in new situations with the proper training and handling.

On the topic of training, socialization plays another large role in disposition. I’ve observed that this breed is very eager to please when it comes to training. They are very food motivated and love to have a job to do. As responsible breeders, it is greatly important to us that we give our puppies a headstart on basic commands and habits so that they not only transition into their new homes well, but also so that they begin to learn how to be calm and adaptive to new and stimulating situations. This early exposure and training really does make all the difference when it comes to a well behaved puppy and wonderful family dog.

Bernedoodles and Children

Bernedoodles are a popular choice for a family dog because of all their great qualities. They are specifically good with children because of their affection and playful energy but also their loyal and gentle traits. While this is part of their nature, it is also important to put time into exposure with young children, for the puppy but also for the child, so they understand how to treat and handle the puppy with respect and care. I have noticed that a lot of the time, how a child acts towards a dog will determine if a puppy feels safe or not and will affect future behaviors. Something else I want to mention is their social connection. Due to their strong sense of loyalty and human affection, it is an easy risk for growing puppies to develop separation anxiety but teaching independent behaviors is very valuable. Overall, these lovable goofballs fit right into your family with patience and devotion.

All of the information I’ve shared is based on my personal experiences and observations from working with this breed. Not all dogs and puppies are the same. Sometimes as a puppy grows up, they develop new personality traits that they didn’t have as puppies. They might learn different behaviors from their environment or social situations that can be beneficial or harmful. Whether a dog is male or female doesn’t always determine whether they are clingy or independent. Their size isn’t always related to how hyper or laid back they are. Lastly, the parents’ temperaments won’t necessarily be fully passed down to their offspring. It’s all dependent on each individual animal and their own unique nature. The best we can do is use our knowledge and experiences to form opinions and predictions to help our customers choose the puppy that is the best fit for them.

Written By: Kaleigh Horst

I’m Kaleigh, and I’ve been part of the Berry Patch Puppies family since my own Bernedoodle came home. I work hands-on with our puppies, helping with socialization, early training, and whelping. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a puppy go home with a family who’s the perfect fit.