6 Reasons Why Bernedoodles Are So Expensive!

Bernedoodles are an incredible dog breed and they are adored by their owners for their affectionate personalities, but why are they so expensive? Aren’t doodles mutts in the end?

There is nothing more exciting than bringing a new dog into your life and Bernedoodles are a trendy breed at the moment. However, when aspiring Bernedoodle owners look into buying one of these pups, they are often shocked by how much they cost. 

Why are Bernedoodles so expensive?

Bernedoodles are expensive because they are in very high demand, there is a shortage of breeders, they are high-maintenance dogs, their hair is hypoallergenic, they often require skilled breeders, and they come in a variety of different sizes. 

The Bernedoodle is a breed regarded for its intelligence, playfulness, and affectionate nature. These loyal canines were first introduced back in 2003 when the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog were bred together. 

Bernedoodles are similar to Goldendoodles but have some key differences that make them unique.

The Bernedoodle has since been a sensation among pet owners, as it combines the cleverness of the Poodle and the positive attitude of the Bernese Mountain Dog. With that being said, adding this canine companion to your household for you and your kids comes at a steep price – with them costing quite a bit more compared to other breeds.

To help you understand this further, we are going to take a closer look at the reasons why Bernedoodles are so expensive. 

After extensively researching Bernedoodles, I have been able to gather enough information to determine the reasons behind their high costs. My research has shown me that Bernedoodles that there are a number of different factors that contribute to their price tag – with high demand being the biggest.

1. High Demand

The main reason that Bernedoodles are so expensive is due to them being in such high demand. 

They are currently one of the most popular breeds in the entire country and people are willing to pay a lot to bring one of these pups into their lives. 

Whenever there is a high demand for a good or service, the price tends to get marked up significantly. Bernedoodle breeders are well aware of this, which is why they find themselves in a position to increase the price tag of their litters and still have plenty of people that will commit to buying them. 

This pup is in such high demand that many breeders have waitlists for eager owners that want to get a Berendoodle – adding to the asking price even further. Although the demand for any Bernedoodle is high – this is particularly the case for puppies.

Virtually all people looking for a new dog want a puppy, which is why the demand for a young Bernedoodle is higher than just about any other breed. 

2. Shortage of Breeders

To make the high demand factor even worse, there is also a shortage of Bernedoodle breeders. This has been a sought-after dog breed since the early 2000s for their coat texture, but its popularity has significantly surged in recent years, as well as other ‘Doodle’ variations.

This is a very specific dog breed that is less common than other kinds being sold. They are almost never up for adoption.

With that being said, dog breeders across the country are taking notice of the growing trend and demand for Bernedoodles. Although the number of Bernedoodle breeders on the market is increasing, there are still very few out there compared to other types of dogs.

3. High Maintenance 

If you have owned a dog in the past, you understand that the initial cost of buying one is only the beginning of how much you will actually spend over the course of its life. Naturally, you need to consider standard costs such as food and visits to the vet, but with Bernedoodles there are some other factors involved. 

The main thing is keeping your Bernedoodle groomed. This breed has a beautiful coat that needs constant maintenance and great care to keep healthy. 

Unlike a lot of dogs that have fur, Bernedoodles have hair, which will grow back quite quickly – meaning that you need to take your pup to get groomed routinely.

On average, you can expect your Bernedooodle’s hair to grow back in as little as two months, which implies that you will need to take care of this at least 4 to 6 times per year. These costs will add up a lot over the course of your Bernedoodle’s life – with most grooming sessions costing anywhere from $60 to $100. 

We also need to take into account the personality traits of a Bernedoodle. These are very lovable and affectionate dogs, but they can be quite needy. Your Bernedoodle is going to require constant attention – much more than most breeds.

If you have someone at home who can give your Bernedoodle the attention that it needs, then you should not worry about this affecting your wallet. 

However, if you are living alone and need to leave your Bernedoodle at home while you go out to work, you will likely need to hire a dog walker and potentially even a house sitter. Paying for a dog walker can easily amount to $100 (or more) per week. 

4. Hypoallergenic 

One of the key characteristics and selling points of the Bernedoodle is the fact that it is hypoallergenic. There are a lot of people out there that want to buy dogs but often back out due to their allergies.

Benedoodles are a unique breed that triggers a significantly lower allergic response than other breeds. 

The reason for this is that Bernedoodles do not have fur that sheds throughout the year. Instead, these pups have hair, which does have nearly as much impact on people’s allergies. 

The costs of hypoallergenic dogs, in general, are increasing quite a lot, as more and more people want to buy them, which is another reason why Bernedoodles are so expensive.

5. Skilled Breeders

Breeding dogs requires time, patience, and competence – with Bernedoodles being a particular type of dog that is more challenging to breed than others. This generally requires a skilled breeder, which can considerably add to the cost of a dog. 

You can certainly find Bernedoodles for a cheaper price from amateur breeders, but the majority of people that buy this kind of dog want a guarantee that a skilled breeder was involved. 

There are a lot of puppy mills that capitalize on dog breeding for income and they do not have integrity for their work. 

The conditions of these puppy mills are generally poor and often even inhumane, which are not the types of breeders that most aspiring Bernedoodle owners want to deal with. 

A skilled breeder will nurture and care for your Bernedoodle to ensure that it has a healthy transition into your household. With that being said, a skilled breeder costs quite a bit more than an amateur one. 

6. Size

When you pick out Bernedoodles, you will find that each breeder may have different sizes available. This is due to the size variation of the poodle, which can be found in standard, as well as miniature forms.

A skilled breeder will understand how to mix a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle to get different sizes. Although the cost of virtually every kind of Bernedoodle is expensive (regardless of size), smaller options tend to be priced higher. 

If you are on the market for a Miniature or Toy size Bernedoodle, you may end up paying quite a bit more for your pup.