Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Breed Dogs – Big Mixes With Big Personalities

A Bernese Mountain Dog mix can have a wide range of variations. The one for-sure characteristic is that they will have one Berner parent!

Bernese Mountain Dog mixes may take after their large, fluffy, friendly parent.

Or they could be more like the other breed involved, either in appearance or personality.

Popular Bernese Mountain Dog mixes include the Berner Poodle mix, the Berner Husky mix, and the Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog mix, among others.

So, before you decide which of these Bernese Mountain Dog mixes to go for, make sure you love both parent breeds!

Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Contents

Bernese Mountain Dog mixes are fast gaining profile and popularity.

In this guide, we take a closer look at a few of the most popular Bernese Mountain Dog mixes, and the kind of pet each one makes.

• Bernese Golden
• Bernedoodle
• Labernese
• Bordernese
• German Shepherd Bernese
• Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog
• Great Bernese
• Husky Bernese
• Bernese Dane
• Saint Bernese

About The Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very large breed!

Females are typically smaller than males, which is something to bear in mind when choosing any of the many Bernese Mountain Dog mixes available.

They are one of the Mountain dog breeds.

The average height of the breed is 25 inches to the shoulder. And their average weight is between 80 to 115 pounds!

Despite their massive size, this dog is known as a “gentle giant.” The breed’s character is laid-back and friendly, and they make wonderful family pets.

Their coats are always bi-color or tri-color, containing white, black, tan, and rust or a combination of these colors.

The breed has a thick, double coat.

So, unsurprisingly, shedding can be pronounced at times, especially during the spring and summer when the dog is “blowing” his coat. Expect to devote lots of time grooming your Bernese Mountain Dog mix, as it’s highly likely they will have a thick, double coat too.

1. Bernese Golden: Bernese Mountain Dog Golden Retriever Mix

The Bernese Golden is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Golden Retriever.

Both parents are large dogs, so your puppy will probably grow to be around 22 to 28 inches tall, weighing between 65 and 95 pounds.

Looks-wise, the Bernese Golden inherits the defined, straight muzzle and the calm, intelligent gaze of both breeds. Their ears are floppy, and the coat is typically either wavy or straight. Both breeds have double coats, so be prepared for plenty of grooming!

The Bernese Golden has a calm, friendly, and affectionate personality. These are gentle, loyal dogs that make excellent family pets and companions. You’ll find that your dog is outgoing and playful, especially as a puppy.

Unfortunately, both parent breeds are predisposed to developing certain cancers and hip and elbow dysplasia.

2. Bernedoodle: Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix

The Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The size of a Bernedoodle puppy when fully grown will depend on what type of Poodle parent they have.

• A Bernese Mountain dog crossed with a Standard Poodle will produce a large dog that could achieve 27 inches in height and around 70 pounds in weight.
• A Miniature Poodle cross will produce a much smaller dog, although there is still scope for a large pup, depending on which parent they take after.
• A Toy Poodle crossed with a Bernese Mountain Dog may create the Tiny Bernedoodle, a much smaller pup altogether!

Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle are intelligent, friendly, and alert. Their offspring usually inherit this personality. The Bernedoodle makes a great family pet who gets on well with other animals and kids.

Poodles don’t shed, whereas Bernese Mountain Dogs do. So, there’s a good chance that your Bernedoodle will shed to some extent and will need regular brushing and grooming.

Poodles are generally more active than Bernese Mountain Dogs, so your puppy will need plenty of attention, play, and exercise.

Bernedoodle Health

When it comes to health issues, the Bernedoodle can inherit any of the following conditions from his parents:

• Epilepsy
• Addison’s Disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Mast cell tumor

The Poodle has a longer life expectancy than the Bernese Mountain Dog. Therefore, your pup could be blessed with a lifespan of upwards of ten years.

3. Labernese: Labrador Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

The Labernese is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Labradors are a medium sized breed, typically growing to around 24 inches high and weighing between 65 and 80 pounds. Females are usually smaller and lighter than males. So, depending on which parent your pup takes after, he could be around this size or slightly bigger.

Labradors have three distinct coat colors: yellow, chocolate, and black. The Labernese will usually have a tri-colored coat with white markings.

Like the Berner, Labs have a double coat. These dogs do shed seasonally, so be prepared for plenty of grooming sessions!

These breeds are both friendly and non-aggressive, making them ideal family pets. Both are active breeds that were bred to work, so you will need to have sufficient time to exercise and play with your Labernese.

Labernese Health

Unfortunately, both the Labrador and the Bernese Mountain Dog are prone to some health conditions that can be passed onto their offspring.

Health problems that can be common to both breeds include hip and elbow dysplasia.

Check with your puppy’s breeder that both Lab and Bernese Mountain Dog parents have good hip and elbow scores, are PRA clear and have a clear eye test.

You should also check that the Bernese Mountain Dog parent does not have a family history of cancer or hypothyroidism and has been checked by a vet for heart problems.

A reasonable life expectancy for your Labernese is between 8 to 12 years.

4. Bordernese: Border Collie Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

The Bordernese is a cross between a Border Collie and a Bernese Mountain Dog.

These dogs are very popular and have a fantastic personality. They are intelligent, energetic, and alert, as well as being very protective of their family. They’re also smart, friendly, loving, sociable, and loyal. What’s not to like?

Although the Border Collie is much smaller than the Bernese Mountain Dog, a cross between the two will typically produce a large dog, weighing between 40 and 80 pounds.

The Bordernese is a lively, active breed that needs plenty of regular exercise and play each day.

Both parent breeds have a double coat, and your puppy will too. That means lots of grooming is required to keep your dog’s coat clean and healthy. The Bordernese sheds seasonally in the spring and fall, and at these times you’ll need to groom them more frequently.

Bordernese Health

Bordernese are usually healthy dogs that enjoy an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

That said, the Bordernese does suffer from some common ailments, including:

• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Allergies
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Cancer
• Panosteitis
• Heart problems
• Eye problems

For this reason, you should always ask the breeder if the appropriate veterinary checks and screening have been carried out on both your puppy’s parents.

5. German Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

If you cross a German Shepherd with a Berner, you get what is sometimes called a Euro Mountain Sheparnese. This mix will have lots of fur, and need weekly grooming at the very least!

German Shepherds are medium to large dogs, so your Sheparnese will definitely be a good sized dog. GSDs are also generally healthy, with a lifespan averaging 11 years, though there are some health issues that may be passed down to your mix.

Make sure that your mix pup has parents with good hip and elbow scores.

A German Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog mix will be a large, powerful, intelligent animal who will likely do well when given a job or a task to perform. He will need training and socialization to combat any guarding tendencies.

6. Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

Australian Shepherds are a popular breed to mix with others, so it might not be uncommon to find an Aussie Berner mix.

Aussies are medium dogs that range between 40-65 pounds, so a mix will likely be in the “large dog” range. Australian Shepherds are working dogs, and have a lot of energy. Though the laid-back temperament of the Berner may balance that out somewhat, this mix will still likely need plenty of exercise and something to do.

They will also need training and socialization, due to the strong herding instincts inherent in the Australian Shepherd parent.

Aussies have a double layer coat. Combined with the thick double coat of the Berner, this means that regular brushing and grooming will likely be necessary.

Aussies are prone to hip dysplasia, among a few other health issues. But they are generally quite healthy, and live an average of 12-15 years, which may give your Aussie Berner mix a boost when it comes to expected lifespan.

7. Great Pyrenees Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

Combining the Great Pyrenees and the Bernese Mountain Dog gives you not only a Great Bernese, it gives you a very large dog indeed!

Like the Berner, the Pyr is a gentle giant which got his start guarding herds and protecting them from predators.

So the Great Bernese combines two similar dogs with similar histories and similar temperaments — and similar deep, plush coats.

A Great Bernese may be anywhere from 70 to well over 100 pounds fully grown. This mix will need at least half an hour each day of good, high-energy exercise.

Potential health concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, eye problems, and cancer. Expected life span for the Great Bernese is between 8-12 years.

8. Husky Bernese: Husky Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

The combination of the Husky with the Bernese Mountain Dog is yet another joining of two thick coats.

Huskies are well-known for their intelligence, energy, and playfulness. So a Husky parent will likely result in a dog that has an increased need for training and exercise. Huskies are also somewhat smaller than the Bernese, averaging close to 50 pounds. So a Husky Berner mix is likely to be a smaller dog than a purebred Bernese.

A Husky Bernese mix will probably be a team player, getting along with her whole “pack,” including any humans and other dogs in the household. But she may have a higher prey drive than a Berner would, so be cautious when introducing cats and other smaller animals.

A Husky Berner mix may be prone to eye problems, hearing problems, and skin issues.

9. Bernese Dane: Great Dane Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

The Great Dane is one of the world’s largest dog breeds. So a combination of the Great Dane with the Bernese is sure to result in a gigantic dog!

Great Danes typically stand at almost three feet at the shoulder, and are between 130-140 pounds on average. Your Great Dane Berner mix may reach those heights and weights as well!

Given the potential size of this mix, socialization and training are of the utmost importance.

The Great Dane has a very different coat to the Berner, which means that this mix has a wide range of possibilities for coat type, length, and color. It could be a longer, thicker coat like the Berner parent, or shorter and easy to care for like the Dane parent, or anywhere in between.

Great Danes have a very short average life expectancy of only six years. That doesn’t mean that your Bernese Dane will only live that long, of course, but there is a possibility of a shortened lifespan due to the Dane parent.

10. Saint Bernese: Saint Bernard Bernese Mountain Dog Mix

Saint Bernards are similar enough to Bernese Mountain Dogs that some may not even be quite sure which is which! (See our article here for more explanation.)

That being said, a Saint Bernese mix is almost certainly going to have a thick coat and a family-friendly disposition. And this mix will definitely be a sizable dog.

Both animals are large, strong, and sturdily built. They also share a similar disposition, being kind and patient with children of all ages.

The average lifespan is about the same for both parent breeds, so you can expect your Saint Bernese to live to around ten years old.

Is A Bernese Mountain Dog Mix Right For Me?

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a fabulous family dog. Despite his size, he is gentle, safe, and naturally protective, even with young kids and other family pets. So even with a range of other breeds involved, this mix will likely be a very good choice for a family pet.

However, as a potentially very large dog, he will need plenty of training and socialization.

He will also need adequate exercise, between half an hour and an hour each day depending on the type of mix. However, you must avoid exercising your pup in hot weather as this breed can be prone to overheating.

As your pup is likely to be a large dog with a heavy bone structure, bear in mind that exercise shouldn’t be too strenuous or prolonged as a puppy. Overdoing things can cause development problems.

Because of the size of this mix, apartment living may not be the best choice.

Potential Health Concerns

Unfortunately, Bernese Mountain Dogs have a short lifespan of just seven to ten years. This is typical of very large dog breeds. They have a few common health conditions that you should be aware of, including:

• Allergies
• Eyelid problems
• Mast cell cancer
• Panosteitis
• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Some autoimmune conditions

Remember that your puppy could inherit health conditions from both his parents. It’s also very important to check that both your puppy’s parents have been tested for the following conditions:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Cardiac problems
• Degenerative myelopathy

In Summary

If you’re looking for a family-oriented dog who loves to play and will be loyal to the end, a Bernese Mountain Dog mix could be the way to go.

However, you will need a large property with plenty of outside space to comfortably accommodate your Berner mix, as these dogs all tend to be on the big side.

Do You Have A Bernese Mountain Dog Mix?

Do you have one of the mixes listed here? Or do you have a Berner mix that includes other breeds?

If you do, we’d love to know more about him or her! Why not tell us your furry friend’s story in the comments section below?

You’ll Also Love…

If you loved learning about these mixes, you’re sure to enjoy finding out about other awesome mixed breed dogs! Take a look at the list below.

• Shepadoodle
• Irish Doodle
• Labsky
• Labradane
• Saint Berdoodle

References And Further Reading

• Buzhardt, L., DVM, “Designer Dog Breeds,” VCA Animal Hospital, 2016
• Adams, J., et al., “Genetics of Dog Breeding,” Scitable by Nature, 2008
• Klopfenstein M et al. 2015. Life expectancy and causes of death in Bernese Mountain dogs in Switzerland. BMC Veterinary Research.
• Beuchat C. 2017. The genetic status of the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Institute of Canine Biology.
• VCA, “Panosteitis”
• VCA, “Osteochondritis dissecans”
• Willis, M.B., 1998, The Bernese Mountain Dog Today. Howell Books.
• Adams, V.J., Evans, K.M., Sampson, J., Wood, J.L.N. 2010 Methods and mortality results of a health survey of purebred dogs in the UK. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 51, 512-524.
• Beuchat, Carol. “The 10 most important things to know about canine hip dysplasia.” The Institute of Canine Biology. 11 Dec. 2015.