The first Bernedoodle hit the scene in 2003. And since then, they have taken America by storm. But did you know breeders have reinvented the Bernedoodle1137? Today we are going to introduce the Swiss Doodle. By comparing the Swiss Doodle vs Bernedoodle, you will see why they need to be on your radar.
What Are They?
Swiss Doodles are a second-generation hybrid breed. They are half tri-colored Mini Bernedoodle and half merle Aussiedoodle. We traced the earliest known Swiss Doodles back to 2014, but they have a somewhat muddy origin. Several breeders claim to be the Swiss Doodle creators, but they all have one goal in mind.
The Swiss Doodle is the perfect blend of Australian Shepherd, St Bernese Mountain Dog, and Poodle. These dogs combine the Poodle’s intelligence, the Bernese loyalty, and easy training of the shepherd. So where do we get the name “Swiss”? Since the Bernese Mountain Dog comes from the Swiss Alps, these dogs were named Swiss Doodles.
But why did breeders want to improve the Bernedoodle? Don’t get us wrong. Bernedoodles are fantastic pets for the right owner. They make incredible companion dogs and sense emotions well. Bernedoodles love to cuddle and spend time with their owners. And since their heritage comes from hunting and farm dogs, they desire meaningful tasks.
But a few downsides are that the Bernedoodle can be a little hard-headed. And when you have a large and stubborn dog, they don’t make the best choice for beginners. And that is where the Swiss Doodle makes improvements. But let’s look a little closer.
Temperaments
A Swiss Doodle temperament and the Bernedoodle temperament is very similar. They love their owners and have a silly sense of humor. These Doodles have such an easy-going character that is infectious to everyone around them. No matter which Doodle you choose, they have such big hearts. You might even forget that they are dogs.
Your Doodle will love everyone in your family and take great care of your kids. These Doodles thrive off interaction and socialization. And they aren’t too picky about where they get it. Your Doodle will bond with anyone willing to give them a little affection.
Training
The Swiss Doodle is specifically bred for its easy training. They are eager to please, which you can use to your advantage. The best route to training your Swiss Doodle is a positive reinforcement style. By giving your dog rewards and redirecting bad behavior, you can get your Swiss Doodle to do anything.
The Bernedoodle is also very intelligent. But they have a stubborn streak that makes it hard to keep their focus. Your Bernedoodle might know precisely what you expect of them. But they prefer not to. To combat this, you need lots of patience and an irresistible treat. The positive reinforcement style is still the best option for a Bernedoodle, but with persistence and standing your ground. If you let them get away with it, they won’t learn.
Energy Levels
The unique combination of the Swiss Doodle gives them a desirable low-moderate energy level. These dogs are perfect for smaller homes and a low activity lifestyle. A 30-minute walk a day is all these dogs need to stay fit. But they also have an active mind. You will need to keep a toy rotation to keep your Swiss Doodle from getting bored. A bored Doodle will start marking, chewing, digging, and even running away.
Bernedoodles have a high energy level and need an hour-long walk daily with lots of playtime. If you work a lot and your Bernedoodle is home alone, they typically don’t fair well. But you can work around this with toy rotations and hiring a dog walker.
Coat Types
When looking at the Swiss Doodle vs Bernedoodle, their coat types vary slightly. A Swiss Doodle typically has a straight or wavy coat. But the Bernedoodle can have either a straight, wavy, or curly coat.
But both of these dogs are still considered hypoallergenic. The general rule of thumb is the curlier the hair is, the more hypoallergenic it is. But Swiss Doodles can sometimes be a wild card. It is possible to get a few pups with wavy hair that shed, but that possibility is relatively low.
As far as color goes, most Bernedoodles and Swiss Doodles are tri-colored. But both of these breeds can come in a variety of colors. You can even get unique colorings such as merle and sable. All of which are beautiful and make choosing the perfect puppy so much more difficult.
Grooming Doodles
Both of these Doodles have a high maintenance coat. Their thick fur needs constant attention. And the longer the hair, the more it needs. In general, you can expect to brush your Doodle every day. Detangling your Doodle will take about 15 minutes if well kept.
If you haven’t brushed your Doodle in a while, you will most likely need to dematt your dog. Doing this will take some time, patience, and the proper tools. Using a dematting rake, you will need to slowly break up the matt from the end to the root. But by keeping the hair short, you shouldn’t have to worry about this much.
The second part of grooming your Doodle is taking them to the salon. Since Doodles have a hypoallergenic coat, it also means that it grows continually. Your dog will need a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep their hair manageable and tangle-free. These grooming appointments also address any other grooming needs like nails, baths, and hairstyling.
Size And Lifespan
A full grown Swiss Doodle only comes in one size that ranges from 30-55 pounds. The reason these dogs only come in one size is that they already use the smallest parents possible. Some breeders might have F2B Swiss Doodles bred back to a Toy Poodle to get smaller puppies with curlier coats.
The Bernedoodle size varies between tiny, mini, and standard sizes. A Tiny Bernedoodle is a mere 10-24 pounds and is usually the result of an F1B cross. Mini Bernedoodles are created by crossing the Mini Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog and only get 25-49 pounds. And the Standard Bernedoodle weighs 70-90 pounds.
Now you might be wondering about the life expectancy of these dogs. The average Bernedoodle lifespan is anywhere 12-18 years, with the smaller breeds living longer. But the Swiss Doodle lifespan is a little harder to predict. These dogs are a new breed and have not had time to live out a full life expectancy. But using the averages of the parents, you can expect them to live 12-15 years.
Medical Concerns
Any dog can get sick with any disease or genetic mutation. But some breeds are more prone to getting sick than others. While both the Swiss Doodle and Bernedoodle are healthier breeds, they are not immune to everything.
Bernedoodles are prone to getting:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Eye disease
- Willebrand disease
- Epilepsy
- Skin conditions and allergies
Since Swiss Doodles only hit the scene 6 years ago, their medical backgrounds are harder to predict. But by deductive reasoning, we can assume that they are prone to the same diseases as the parents. Things like:
- Eye disease
- Deafness
- Epilepsy
- And allergies
You might be wondering how to make sure your puppy stays healthy. While nothing is entirely avoidable, there are a few steps you can take. For Swiss Doodles, it is best to pick a breeder that bred their Aussiedoodle and Bernedoodle lines. The reason this is so important is that multigenerational Doodles are harder to trace the bloodlines. If your breeder knows the lineages of all breeds involved, it leaves little room for genetic defects.
With both breeds, your breeder should also perform a DNA test to clear the parents. But even with this, you should give your dog a healthy lifestyle. Diet, exercise, and regular vet checks keep your dog healthy for longer.
Price
And our last point to compare is the price of a puppy. You can expect the Swiss Doodle cost to be anywhere from $900-$3,700, depending on your location. Some breeders even charge different amounts for various coat colors. For instance, black Swiss Doodles tend to be the cheapest.
The average Bernedoodle price is anywhere from $500-$5,000. Smaller sizes with unique colors generally cost the most. But if you are looking at a standard color and size, you can expect to pay about $1,500.
Another option for Bernedoodles is to find a rescue. Many shelters and Doodle rescues get Bernedoodles regularly. These dogs might not have a known past, but they need a forever home as well. Swiss Doodles are not as easy to find in shelters, though, due to them being a new breed.
What Do You Think?
Is the new and improved Swiss Doodle on your radar now as well? When comparing the Swiss Doodle vs Bernedoodle, you can see that they aren’t too different. Besides a minor size difference and easier training, these Doodles are excellent pets. You can have everything you love about the Bernedoodle in a more manageable temperament.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!
