If you’re considering bringing a Bernedoodle into your home, you almost certainly know that they are a mix between a Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog. But, if you’re in the early stages of researching this amazing dog, you may be wondering: what exactly is an F1B Bernedoodle? In short, an F1B Bernendoodle results when the first generation (“f1”) offspring of a Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog is mated “back” with a purebred Poodle. F1B Bernedoodles contain a greater mix of Poodle (don’t shed) than Bernese Mountain Dog (heavy shedders), and will therefore tend to be more hypoallergenic than Bernedoodles that haven’t been back-crossed with a Poodle.
Below, we break down for you exactly what an F1B Bernendoodle is and what makes this loyal, intelligent, and low-shedding dog such a great option for families and individual pet owners alike.
The Bernedoodle
Technically speaking, Bernedoodles – as is the case with all doodles – are not a breed of dog (they cannot join the traditional AKC Purebred registry). They are the offspring of two genetically dissimilar parents, which makes them a hybrid dog. A hybrid dog that results from the intentional crossing of two purebred parents is a crossbreed or “designer dog.” In the case of a Bernedoodle, a Bernese Mountain Dog (purebred) is crossed with a standard, miniature, or toy Poodle (purebred).
Bernese Mountain Dog:
These large, beautiful dogs have black-and-tan markings that resemble a Swiss flag. Originally from the Swiss Alps, Bernese Mountain Dogs are loyal, friendly, and hardworking animals. They are known to be devoted and gentle companions with an even temper.
Poodle:
Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds, known for their high intelligence and friendly disposition that makes them great family dogs. Poodles, also known for their uniquely curly coat, can be found in three size varieties: toy, miniature, and standard.
Bernedoodle Generations (Genetic Makeup)
Providing an accurate overview of the Bernedoodle requires a discussion of the letter-and-number classifications (e.g., f1, f2, f1b, etc) that breeders use to distinguish the different generations of hybrid dogs. Essentially, the classifications can tell you two important things:
- the approximate percentage of Poodle and of Bernese Mountain Dog in the doodle pups; and;
- how many generations removed the pups are from the initial Poodle x Bernese Mountain Dog crossbreeding.
To help you truly understand and interpret what these letters and numbers mean, we need to quickly give you a simple biology refresher.
F1 (vs. F2 vs. F3) Bernedoodles: What’s the Difference?
In genetics, when an experiment is conducted with a pair of controlled initial parents – in our case, the purebred Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog – the first generation of offspring is called the first filial generation, or F1 generation (filial means relating to offspring). Just as F1 represents the first generation of offspring, each subsequent set of offspring are also considered a filial generation: F2 for second generation, F3 for third generation, and so on.
In terms of genetic makeup, the purebred parents are 100% Poodle and 100% Bernese Mountain Dog and their F1-generation offspring Bernedoodles are 50% Poodle and 50% Bernese Mountain Dog. And, when two F1 Bernedoodles are bred with each other, you get an F2 Bernedoodle, which is still equal parts Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog.
As with other doodle varieties, each Bernedoodle’s characteristics – size, weight, color, coat length and texture – depends on their individual parentage. But even Bernedoodle pups from the same litter can exhibit physical characteristics that are very different from each other – one can’t predict which traits from the Bernese Mountain Dog and which traits from the Poodle will show up in any one of their cross-bred offspring.
Hybrid Vigor:
First-generation hybrid offspring, such as F1 Bernedoodles, generally exhibit superior functioning of many of the desirable traits of each purebred parent. This results in improved biological fitness known as hybrid vigor. But, since there is always some variation around the average for any trait, some individual F1 pups may not show much of the superior functioning that exists for that trait in that crossbreeding. Additionally, some of the vigor tends to be lost if hybrid offspring are mated together, in part because harmful recessive genes have a greater likelihood of being expressed (i.e F1 Bernedoodles tend to be healthier than F2 and later generations), or in the case of a backcross – more on this just below.
F1b Bernedoodles
As a reminder, all “doodle dogs” are descended from an intentional crossbreeding of a Poodle with some other purebred dog. In addition to their high intelligence, one of the main reasons Poodles are chosen to be one of the purebred parents is because of their non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat (though technically, no dog is 100% hypoallergenic).
Backcross (“b”):
One way to help ensure that a Bernedoodle will turn out to be low-shedding and the perfect pet option for a family with allergies, is to create a doodle that has a greater mix of Poodle than Bernese Mountain Dog. This is accomplished by “crossing back” an F1 Bernedoodle with a purebred Poodle (hence an F1 Backcross or f1b), so that the resulting offspring are 75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog.
In addition to less shedding than an F1 Bernedoodle, an F1B Bernedoodle will also have less hybrid vigor. And, assuming the backcross was with a Poodle, rather than a Bernese Mountain Dog (a fairly rare case), as in our above example, the coat of an F1B Bernedoodle will likely be more curly or wavy than an F1’s.
F1B Bernedoodle Characteristics
A Bernedoodle’s characteristics are, of course, a function of its parent breeds. And, as discussed above, because F1B Bernedoodles are almost always bred to have a high genetic mix of Poodle (75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog), their characteristics will tend to skew more toward Poodle than Bernese Mountain Dog.
Size of F1b Bernedoodles
Bernese Mountain Dogs are very large, standing 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 70 to 115 pounds (females at the smaller end of the range, males at the larger end).
A Bernedoodle’s height and weight will vary primarily based on the Poodle side of its lineage because Poodles range in size much more so than Bernese Mountain Dogs. The American Kennel Club recognizes three breeds of Poodle: Standard (shoulder height: 15+ inches / weight: 40-70 pounds), Miniature (shoulder height: 10-15 inches / weight: 10-15 pounds, and Toy (shoulder height: no more than 10 inches / weight: 4-6 pounds).
F1B ‘Standard’ Bernedoodle Size
The F1 Standard Bernedoodle will typically weigh 70 to 95 pounds and stand 23 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder. An F1B will tend to skew toward the smaller end of this range. (again, because it has a greater mix of Poodle than the large Bernese Mountain Dog).
F1B Mini Bernedoodle Size
An F1 Mini Bernedoodle will typically weigh anywhere from 20 to 50 pounds and stand approximately 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder. An F1B will tend to skew toward the smaller end of this range.
F1B Toy Bernedoodle Size
The F1 Toy Bernedoodle (usually produced through artificial insemination) will typically weigh 10 to 20 pounds and stand 12 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder. An F1B will tend to skew toward the smaller end of this range.
Life Expectancy of F1b Bernedoodles
The Bernese Mountain Dog: has an average life expectancy of only 7 to 9 years (a relatively recent Swiss study of 1,290 Bernese Mountain Dogs put the median life expectancy at 8.4 years), shorter than other similar sized breeds and to purebred dogs in general. This short life expectancy is a function of both the Bernese Mountain Dog’s large size and its relatively high susceptibility to neoplasia.
Poodles have an average life expectancy of 10-18 years, with the Standard Poodle falling toward the lower end of the range and the Toy Poodle falling toward the higher end of the range.
Bernedoodles generally has an average life expectancy of 12-17 years (variable depending on size – smaller varieties tending to live longer). F1b Bernedoodles will tend to live longer than F1 Bernedoodles because they have a higher percentage of Poodle genes.
Coat Types of F1b Bernedoodles
The Poodle: has a single, fairly dense coat of curled hair. The hair tends to be coarse in texture and grows much longer than the fur does on other dog breeds before it falls out. The Poodle hairs that do eventually fall out, tend to get stuck in the dog’s coat before ending up on furniture, clothes, or the ground. This makes the already minimal shedding of a Poodle even less noticeable than that of other breeds.
The Bernese Mountain Dog: has a thick, medium-length, double coat (two layers of fur) that is typically straight but can be slightly wavy. The shorter undercoat is wool-like in texture and serves as a sort of insulation that helps keep the dog warm during the winter and cool during the summer. The longer top coat helps repel dirt and moisture. Bernese Mountain Dogs shed somewhat heavily, even more so during the fall and spring shedding seasons.
Not all Bernedoodles have the same coat type. Even within the same litter, the pups can exhibit a range of coat types and textures. Bernedoodle coats are generally segmented into three different types – wavy, curly, and straight. Each type comes with different attributes, which will determine how much your Bernedoodle will shed and how much grooming it will require.
Wavy: Wavy is the most common coat type for a Bernedoodle and is most likely to be seen in an F1 Bernedoodle, which is 50% Poodle and 50% Bernese Mountain Dog. The fur is typically straighter around the face, with waves appearing in the coat of the Bernedoodle’s body. Wavy-coated dogs tend not to shed much, but they do require brushing and grooming on a regular basis.
Curly: The curly coat is most similar to that of a Poodle. It is less common than wavy fur and is most likely to be seen in an F1B Bernedoodle (which has been backcrossed with a Poodle), which is 75% Poodle and 25% Bernese Mountain Dog. This tends to be the best coat type for families with allergies.
Straight: Straight coats are the least common coat type for Bernedoodles and result in the most amount of shedding. You would most likely see a strait coat on an F1B Bernedoodle that was the result of an F1 Bernedoodle being backcrossed with a Bernese Mountain Dog, (which is relatively rare).
Color Variations of F1b Bernedoodles
Some popular color variations include chocolate and sable, apricot and white, black and white, cream and white, and brindle.
These color variations can be paired with a wide array of coat types, making them unique and beautiful dogs.
No matter which generation of Bernedoodle you choose, it’s important to remember that each individual has a distinct personality and temperament. They are all loving and loyal companions, and with the right amount of care, training, and socialization, they will have a long and happy life.
Be sure to research each generation of Bernedoodle before deciding so you can choose the one that’s best for you!
Advantages of Having an F1b Bernedoodle
Why should dog owners prefer F1b Bernedoodles to other breeds and varieties of dogs? The F1b Bernedoodle is a great family dog for many reasons.
Combining a poodle and Bernese Mountain Gog genetics gives these dogs excellent vigor, meaning they are healthier overall than purebred dogs. They are loyal and loving companions that make great family pets.
Advantages include:
- Hypoallergenic coat due to the mix of both F1 and Bernedoodle parentage.
- Brilliant breed due to the poodle’s smarts mixed with that of the Bernese mountain dog.
- Low shed, meaning less dog hair for owners to clean up.
- Loyal companionship and affectionate nature make them excellent family pets.
- Adaptable to different living situations, such as apartments or large homes.
- Great with children and other animals due to the Bernese mountain dog’s calm temperament.
- Easy to train and energetic, perfect for those that love outdoor activities like hiking or swimming.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
When looking for a new Bernedoodle puppy, make sure you’re buying from reputable dog breeders. Reputable breeders will provide information about the exact generation of the Bernedoodle, their parent breeds, and any health clearances they have.
They should be willing to answer any questions you have about the dog’s life and history.
Final Thoughts
The F1b Bernedoodle is a hybrid dog that combines the best of its parent breeds and is known for being one of the best family dogs. They extremely intelligent, affectionate, and loyal. And, because F1b Bernedoodles contain a greater mix of Poodle than Bernese Mountain Dog, they tend to live longer than their F1 counterparts, and their coats tend to be more hypoallergenic and lower-shedding (though the F1bs may have slightly less hybrid vigor than the F1s).
If you’re looking for a new family companion, the F1b Bernedoodle is an excellent choice. Make sure to research and find a reputable breeder before bringing home your new pup!