Bernedoodles are designer breeds, a crossbreed of Poodles and the Bernese Mountain Dog. With this mixture, breeders hoped to combine the sweet, lovable Bernese Mountain Dog personality with the intelligence and non-shedding skin of the Poodle. The Bernedoodles have proven to be one of the most popular breeds thanks to their low shedding coats, resulting from their hypoallergenic Poodle parent. You have to know how to manage or reduce your dog’s shedding levels before owning one. This is just to avoid having your dog’s fur everywhere in the house and affecting those with allergic reactions.
Do Bernedoodles shed? All canines shed, and the Bernedoodles are considered low or no shedders. But saying it’s a non-shedding breed is not a blanket rule. There are scenarios in which these dogs will shed more. For instance, if your Bernedoodle inherits its fur from its Bernese Mountain Dog parent. Most will also lose their puppy coat and during this time, you will see a lot more fur scattered around your home.
The Bernedoodle is a single-coated pooch breed, which makes it a low shedder. The shedding only becomes excess during the seasonal shedding period. If you plan on owning the adorable Bernedoodle, then you must be prepared to brush it more often to remove the dead hairs. This article will guide you concerning the shedding of a Bernedoodle. It will also answer reasons for their shedding, how you can manage and reduce the shedding, grooming, diet, and if they cause allergic reactions. Therefore, read through so you don’t miss out on any information.
How Much Do Bernedoodles Shed?
Bernedoodles are well known to be low or no shedders. How much your Bernedoodle shed will depend on its type of coat. Wavy and straight coats will shed more, whereas curly coats will shed less hair. Most people who buy this breed do so because they think Bernedoodles are completely non-shedding dogs. This is not true because the shedding levels of the Bernedoodles highly depend on the type of generation your Bernedoodle is. Therefore, if you have an F1 or an F2 Bernedoodle, they will shed more hair than F1B or F2B Bernedoodle. This is probably because the F1 and F2 Bernedoodle have less poodle genetics.
Therefore, if you are thinking of welcoming a Bernedoodle into your home, there is no guarantee that this pooch breed will never shed any hair. However, their minimal shedding makes them an allergy-friendly breed.
Why Do Bernedoodles Shed?
All dogs shed, and they mainly do so to develop new hair. Bernedoodles will shed because they are blowing out their puppy coats. This happens at the age of 7 to 9 months, and the volume of hair may appear alarming, but you shouldn’t worry. They are just getting ready to grow into their thicker and more robust mature fur, which will later blow periodically. Another reason your Bernedoodle is shedding much is that it obtained the Bernese Mountain Dog heredities rather than the non-shedding Poodle heredities.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
You probably wondering when do Bernedoodles shed; worry less because this information will answer your question. Despite their reputation as a non-shedding breed, your Bernedoodle will shed differently based on their coat types and the type of generation they are in. If they inherit a lot of their fur traits from the Poodle, they will likely shed less throughout the year. But if they inherit more of the Bernese Mountain Dogs, they will likely shed frequently in great volume. The latter will also experience seasonal shedding where they shed more in autumn and spring to prepare for seasonal changes.
Unhealthy Shedding
A Bernedoodle is considered a low or no shedder breed, so if you notice a lot of hair in your home, there must probably be an issue. So, do Bernedoodles shed unhealthily? Yes, your Bernedoodle can shed abnormally, and if you notice this, it is advisable to visit your vet. Numerous underlying health problems can trigger excessive Bernedoodle shedding. This includes issues such as pet allergies, infections (fungal or bacterial), cancer, current medications, parasites (lice, mites, or fleas), and Cushing’s condition. Other factors that can lead to unhealthy shedding include anxiety and type of diet. Therefore, when brushing your Bernedoodle, make sure you look out for any parasites or bald areas that signify unhealthy shedding and consult your vet.
What Type of Coat Does a Bernedoodle Have?
Bernedoodle coats vary in thickness, color, and consistency. Also, keep in mind that Bernedoodles originated from the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle. They have thick hairs to help them survive cold winter and protect them from the summer heat. The Bernedoodle is available in three types of coats: straight, curly, and wavy.
Straight hair usually sheds the most and is also the least hypoallergenic. Though this fur is called linear, it might have a slight wave. The length of the parents’ fur determines the dog’s straight fur size. The straight-coated Bernedoodles are rare to find.
The wavy fleece is the most common type of Bernedoodles. Wavy Bernedoodles are low to non-shedders, making them ideal for allergic people. The fur is very free-flowing and often has a kinked and wavy appearance.
The curly fur sheds the least and is the most allergy-friendly fur type. The curls on this skin are generally tight with a soft texture, more likely what you would see on a Poodle. The curly coats may still shed, but they will do so upon themselves rather than on your floor. Unfortunately, this shedding on themselves means they need to be brushed daily and trimmed frequently to prevent tangles. Therefore, if you don’t want to deal with too much shedding, it’s best to have the curly coat Bernedoodle.
How to Manage and Reduce the Bernedoodle Shedding
When answering the question, do Bernedoodles shed? You will also have to know how to manage and reduce your canine shedding. Shedding is normal for every canine, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. The good news is that there are ways you can manage your dog’s shedding so that you don’t end up with a house full of fur everywhere. Here are various possible remedies you can follow to manage your Bernedoodle shedding: bathing, proper grooming, and a healthy diet.
Bernedoodle Grooming
Grooming is the most critical way to reduce your Bernedoodle’s shedding. You can never go wrong with a slicker brush with steel pins and a comb. The steel pins in your slicker brush will go smoothly through the hair, thus doing a good job removing excess hairs. You will want to use the Furminator de-shedding shampoo whenever you bathe your Bernedoodle, as it will restrict just how much your doggy sheds.
Like most dogs, the more frequent the brushing, the better the outcome. All Bernedooddles can benefit from brief daily brushing. This is especially true for the curly coat as it gets tangled easily. The straight coat will also need frequent brushing, especially during seasonal shedding to manage the increased shedding. Last, but not least, the wavy fleece Bernedoodle will only require brushing 2 to 3 times weekly. Brushing your Bernedoodle will prevent fur from shedding all over your house. It also helps to distribute the skin’s natural oils, thus encouraging a healthy coat.
Bernedoodles do not require regular cleaning. In fact, over-bathing peels off their inherently stirring vital oils. Removing the oils will make their skin unhealthy, thus leading to a dried and scratched coating that will eventually shed off. With that said, only clean your Bernedoodle once every 3-4 months.
As you groom your Bernedoodle, remember to provide regular teeth brushing and nail clipping, just like any other pup.
Bernedoodle Diet
Proper nutrition is key to reducing your Bernedoodle shedding. Always make sure that your Bernedoodle is getting the appropriate nutrition like the Omega 3 fatty acids-containing food. The Omega 3 fatty acids help your Bernedoodle grow thicker fur and maintain healthy skin, thus limiting the quantity of fur shed.
How much you feed your pooch will depend on factors like:
- The quality of food you are giving your puppy
- Your dog’s metabolism
- The amount of exercise your Bernedoodle gets
- The age and breed of your puppy
- The weight of your canine and if you want them to gain, maintain, or lose weight
If you don’t provide a well-balanced diet to your Bernedoodle, it can result in severe health issues, thus leading to more shedding.
Baths and Supplements
Every puppy needs to be bathed once in a while to rinse off dead hairs, keep its skin healthy, improve its appearance, and be odor-free. Your Bernedoodle will only need a bath once every 3-4 months. Over bathing will strip them of their essential oils and affect their skin. Healthy skin means no unhealthy shedding. You may also consider supplements like the Omega 3 fatty acids. These will help your Bernedoodle grow thicker fur and maintain healthy fur, thus reducing their shedding levels. It is advisable to consult your vet before making any changes in your Bernedoodle’s diet.
Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic?
The question ‘do Bernedoodles shed’ is connected to whether or not they cause allergic reactions. Are Bernedoodles hypoallergenic has to be the most critical question you ask before buying one. Those with dog allergies need to know how severe a particular breed can cause allergies. No pooch breed is 100% hypoallergenic, but some dogs are more compatible with allergy sufferers, and Bernedoodles fall in this category. The Bernedoodles are considered an allergy-friendly breed thanks to the influence of the genes they inherited from their Poodle parents.
The American Kennel Club recognizes Poodles as a hypoallergenic pooch breed following their low shedding fur and minimal dander. When it comes to the adorable Bernedoodle, they are considered allergy friendly because of their single coats. All three fur types are allergy-friendly, but the curly-coated Bernedoodle is the most ideal for allergy sufferers.
You can also encounter a Bernedoodle that mainly inherited the Bernese Mountain Dog genetics, which a double-coated breed. This particular type of Bernedoodle can trigger an allergic reaction in people with pet allergies. So, if you happen to have a Bernedoodle with the Bernese Mountain Dog genetics, you will have to learn how to control its fur from scattering all over the house. You have to regularly brush your Bernedoodle to catch the fur and dander before releasing them into the air. You will also need to invest in a HEPA air filter to lessen allergens in the air.