COMMITMENT

Having a furry family member is a full time job. Especially those first few weeks/months after bringing your puppy home. They require attention, routine, discipline, training, exercise, and most of all: love. Please understand that you are responsible for this living creature, and that responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Be ready for this dog to be a part of your family for 10-15 years (or more if you’re lucky!) Your pup is a part of your life, but to your pup YOU are their whole world! Dogs require a lot of patience and understanding, but they more than make up for the work involved in raising them by devoting all of their unconditional love and affection to you.

Bernedoodles, in particular, are “people dogs” - they are bred to be human companions, and are happiest when they are with their people. Be mindful of this when choosing a breed. What is your schedule like? Do you live alone and work long hours? Are you able to let the dog out during the day, bring it to a doggy daycare, or have someone spend a few hours with them while you are away? The most ideal home situation for a Bernedoodle would be with someone who works from home, or with a family where one or more family members are at home with the dog for the majority of the day.

The first two years of raising a Bernedoodle puppy are the most challenging. Large breed dogs are considered in “adolescence” up to 2 years of age. They are not high strung, like some smaller breeds, but they can definitely be high energy. They need frequent exercise and mental stimulation. Because of their high intelligence, stubbornness can sometimes accompany that. They do mellow out after this initial puppy phase. All puppies are a lot of work, so if you can learn to roll with it and give them lots of love and patience, the payoff will be more than worth it and you will have an amazing companion!