Complete Guide to Raising a Happy and Healthy Bernedoodle
Nutrition
It is important to choose the right food for your Bernedoodle based on its ingredients and nutritional value. We recommend TLC and Health Extension dog foods for their good balance of nutrients and lack of common allergens such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and beef.
More information on our recommended brands can be found here: https://www.bestbernedoodles.com/#puppy-food
Most doodles are able to regulate their eating, but it is still important to keep an eye on your Bernedoodle’s food consumption. If you aren’t sure how much your Bernedoodle should be eating, it is a good idea to check with your vet and look at the information on your puppy’s dog food. As your Bernedoodle puppy grows to maturity, it needs more nutrients than an adult dog and will eat more during this time. After growing to adulthood, you will need to transition it to adult food.
Schedule
It is a good idea to have a clear schedule for your Bernedoodle, as puppies thrive on routine and predictability. A good schedule for your Bernedoodle should include planned times for feeding, play, napping, and training. Generally speaking, you should feed your Bernedoodle around 3 times a day, have potty breaks after meals, have playtime before napping, and take around 10-15 minutes a day when training your Bernedoodle.
More detail on scheduling can be found at our sister site: https://www.crockettdoodles.com/puppy-schedule/
Exercise
While Bernedoodles generally have a more moderate energy level, they do need regular exercise in order to stay healthy. Having set aside times during the day for your Bernedoodle to play or walk with you will give your puppy exercise and stimulation while also helping to strengthen the bond between you and your Bernedoodle.
Training and Socialization
Training and socializing, especially early on in your puppy’s life, are an important part of making sure your Bernedoodle can live a happy and healthy life. Socializing your Bernedoodle involves exposing it to new sounds, sights, smells, and experiences with new people, animals, and situations. This is essential for teaching your Bernedoodle how to behave in unfamiliar circumstances. Though our puppies are socialized in a family environment before adoption, socialization is a process that must continue throughout your Bernedoodle’s life. You should allow your Bernedoodle about a week after adoption day to get used to you before you begin socializing your puppy.
While Bernedoodles are generally more intelligent and easier to train, they often have a stubborn streak from their Bernese Mountain Dog ancestor, especially when they are young. This requires patience and an early start in training them. Training methods that are based on positive reinforcement usually produce the best results in the long run.
Vet Care
To keep up with your Bernedoodle’s health, it is important to plan ahead for any potential health problems by having times set up for your Bernedoodle to be well-checked by your vet after an initial visit in the first week. Bernedoodles are often very healthy dogs, but can sometimes experience health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia as well as eye and skin problems. If you notice symptoms of these or others, it is best not to wait very long to have your Bernedoodle checked, as an early diagnosis and treatment are usually the most effective.
If you’re interested in potentially adding a Bernedoodle to your family, be sure to apply today and qualify to adopt a healthy puppy from our network of reputable breeders.
