Best Bernedoodle Rescues For Adoption

Bernedoodles are large, gentle pups full of character. 

Like all dog breeds, Bernedoodles often end up in shelters. When prospective dog owners get a Bernedoodle, they may not be fully aware of how large they are and how much responsibility a dog requires. Other times, owners will have to give up their pup due to circumstances outside their control. 

Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of dogs in rescues, and plenty of Bernedoodles to choose from. According to ASPCA, about 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters each year. If you’re interested in adopting a Bernedoodle rescue and giving him a forever home, keep on reading!  

What Is a Bernedoodle? 

The Bernedoodle is a new designer dog breed that crosses the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle. In fact, no kennel or individual deliberately bred the Bernedoodle until 2003. 

Swissridge Kennels decided to develop the Bernedoodle to capitalize on the charming personalities of both popular breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a sought-after dog due to its gentle giant nature and fluffy, adorable fur. 

On the other hand, Poodles offer a spunkier personalities. Poodle genes also provide a slightly smaller stature than full-blooded Bernese and the possibility that a puppy may inherit fur that sheds minimally. The beneficial combinations of the two breeds made the Bernedoodle increasingly popular after 2003. 

The outcome of the cross-breeding consists of a fun, loving, loyal, and overwhelmingly adorable dog. If you want to add this breed to your family, check out our take on the best Bernedoodle rescues for adoption in the United States.

7 Best Bernedoodle Rescues For Adoption

1. Summit Dog Rescue

Summit Dog Rescue became an organization in 2009 in its efforts to save the lives of dogs and other furry companions. Amazingly, Summit Dog Rescue is completely volunteer-led, adhering to the organization’s commitment to animal safety.

The rescue’s mission statement explains their dedication to the lives of dogs and cats in need. Summit Dog Rescue seeks to educate the public on human training practices while providing resources for low-cost spays and neuters in underrepresented areas. 

2. Dogs Without Borders

Founder Gailt Ruebon founded Dogs Without Borders in 2006 and established the rescue in LA. Dogs Without Borders seeks to save abandoned and stray dogs from all over the world, as the name implies. The organization saves pups all the way from Mexico and Taiwan. 

The rescue functions entirely on volunteer work and uses a fostering system for dogs. The organization claims to have placed over 6000 dogs in homes! 

3. Sugar Pine Doodles Adoption

Sugar Pine Doodles actually breeds multi-generation Australian Labradoodles. However, you’ll find plenty of other doodles at Sugar Pine Doodles since they rescue and put up for adoption all types of doodle pups. 

The adoption center has been in service for over 15 years. Best of all, Sugar Pines Doodles has a separate Instagram page dedicated to doodle puppies found at @sugarpinedoodlespuppies.

4. Lovebug Doodle Rescue

Lovebug Doodle Rescue homes all sorts of doodles. Think Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and of course, Bernedoodles! They own many doodle breeds themselves and offer a plentiful amount of dog knowledge on their website. 

In 2015, the Maillet couple founded The Lovebug Doodle Rescue to pursue their passions for all things doodles. 

5. Doodle Rescue Collective Inc

Since 2008, the Doodle Rescue Collective has rescued over 4000 doodle dogs, and they’re still counting! The organization is completely volunteer-led and provides services to the United States and Canada. 

Along with finding doodle pups forever homes, the Doodle Rescue Collective also provides them with vet care, transport, and rehabilitation when pups are in need. The organization also offers a plethora of information for those thinking of adopting a doodle dog, including bernedoodles! 

6. IDOG Rescue and Rehome

IDOG Rescue and Rehome is another national organization dedicated to rescuing doodle puppies and doodle puppy adoption services. Since 2006, IDOG Rescue has been offering shelter and care to doodles. The organization works with shelters from around the country to find doodle mixed dogs. 

IDOG Rescue relies heavily on volunteers and foster homes who share a passion for dogs and doodles. With so many puppies living at IDOG Rescue, you’ll be sure to find your future Bernedoodle in no time. 

7. Doodle Rock Rescue

Since 2017, Doodle Rock Rescue has saved over 1000 poodle mixed-dogs across the United States. The organization’s mission is to rehabilitate and rehome abused, neglected, and abandoned poodle mixes from all over the country. 

Doodle Rock Rescue features a Board of Directors and Team members. However, the organization sees hundreds of volunteer workers dedicating their time at the shelter. 

Why Should You Adopt from a Rescue? 

There are many wonderful reasons new owners should adopt a Bernedoodle from a rescue. In short, the top two reasons why you should adopt from a rescue comes down to ethics and the service you’ll receive from a shelter. 

Do a Good Deed

The Humane Society argues that adopting from a rescue saves more than one dog’s life while also helping the fight against cruel puppy mills. 

Statistics show that every year, an estimated 1 million dogs get euthanized. The number of dogs euthanized drops significantly when people adopt from rescues and shelters rather than puppy mills.

The National Humane Education Society explains that puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that substantially harm puppies and dogs. The conditions are notoriously bad and the mills do not provide proper healthcare. 

This leads to ill puppies and dogs that often have issues with behavior. Puppies in mills come from adult female dogs that live in cages and spend their lives breeding without a home. When a dog gets too old and can no longer breed, puppy mills will kill or abandon the dog. 

Benefits for You

When you adopt from a rescue, you will receive a Bernedoodle that has been well-taken care of and usually already trained. In addition, adopting from a rescue is usually much cheaper than other options. Rescues outline the adoption process very clearly so you’ll know what to expect. They also are wonderful, lifelong sources of dog owner tips and information.

More often than not, dogs that are adopted from rescues have already had their vaccines, have been fixed, and are overall healthier because they receive adequate care. For you, this means less work and trips to the vet. 

On top of the convenience of shelters, you will remember that you saved your new dog’s life and provided a spot for another dog to receive a second chance in your dog’s place. You can also remind others of your good deed when discussing your dog with your friends! 

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Tips for Prospective Dog Owners 

Before you officially decide to adopt a new Bernedoodle, make sure you spend an adequate amount of time preparing. You must know if you will be able to handle the responsibilities associated with taking care of an animal. 

Consider the following areas and tips while researching Bernedoodle rescues. 

Know the Bernedoodle Breed Needs 

Every dog breed manifests different personalities and needs. When it comes to Bernedoodles, they need a lot of food, exercise, and grooming. Keep in mind that their size ranges from 40 to 90 pounds, and their height ranges 12-29 inches. 

Most Bernedoodles will not shed that much because of their breed mix. However, they will still need to be brushed several times a week to maintain a healthy-looking coat. Their nails will need trimming once every 3 to 4 weeks. 

The Bernedoodles’ loyalty, good nature, intelligence, sociability, and playfulness make the breed highly sought after. Bernedoodles do well with children and active young families. They also live decently long for a dog with an average life span of 12-15 years. 

These dogs can be incredibly energetic and need an owner willing to be active with them. When young, Bernedoodles can be boisterous, playful, and sometimes headstrong. Relatively easy to train, the Bernedoodle does well with an owner willing to keep up with them. Usually, Bernedoodles will be quite eager to please during training. 

Prepare Your Home 

If your Bernedoodle is a puppy, puppy-proof your home! Remove all wires, shoes, and anything that your puppy may damage, chew, or that risk injury. 

Regardless of age, make sure that you have a collar, leash, bed, food, water, and everything necessary to make sure your dog is comfortable. Do not forget to give your puppy some new toys as a welcome home gift, and start training your Bernedoodle from day one. 

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Know Dog Food Options 

Owners usually buy one of three dog food types—kibble, canned, and semi-moist. Do your research on each type of food before giving it to your dog. Each dog food type comes with health risks and benefits. 

Kibble, also called dry dog food, is the least expensive and easiest to store. Kibble keeps a dog’s teeth clean as it removes tartar by nature.  

Canned food is wet food and easy to store since it has a long shelf life. However, wet food is expensive and does not provide many health benefits for your dog. If you want to give your Bernedoodle dog food, make sure that you check the nutritional label to see how balanced the food is. Sometimes, canned dog food holds too much water or proteins that may not be healthy for your pup.

Semi-moist foods unfortunately have a lot of preservatives, colorings, and flavors that are not healthy for your puppy. Most dogs enjoy this food type on special occasions. 

Food prepared by owners usually offers the most nutritional value. Preparing food at home allows owners to pack their dog’s food with whatever nutritional value they see fit. As always, talk to your vet about the best diet for your dog. 

Be Aware of Separation Anxiety 

Dogs and puppies are like children and need lots of attention. However, they need to be able to handle themselves on their own. At the same time, all dogs deserve an owner who does not leave them constantly.

When dogs have separation anxiety, behavioral problems form. They may chew, whine, or urinate inside your home. At first, every dog will have some separation anxiety, and Bernedoodles as a breed are particularly prone to developing separation anxiety when left alone for long periods.

To combat and prevent separation anxiety in your Bernedoodle, start by talking to your dog in a soft voice while leaving or returning. Then, establish a routine or action that you do every time you leave that lets your dog know that you will be back home shortly.

Many other techniques for addressing separation anxiety in dogs exist that you can investigate. If your dog’s separation anxiety does not improve with training, you may need to take your dog to the vet. The vet will be able to prescribe medication for your dog that can ease anxiety. 

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Conclusion 

Remember, adopting a Bernedoodle dog from a rescue requires a lot of responsibility, time, and money on your part. However, everyone who owns a dog will tell you that their furry friends are worth it. 

With your new Bernedoodle adoptee, enjoy having a brand new best friend with whom you’ll share a special bond and lots of unconditional love. 

Have you enjoyed our list of Bernadoodle rescues? Tell us what you think in the comments and share this article with your friends and family if you liked it.