Adding a four-legged friend to your family is an exciting commitment! You have done your research, and are ready to take the leap. It is no surprise that many people are adding Bernedoodles to their families. This large breed puppy has a friendly temperament and a fierce loyalty. We personally got a Bernedoodle last year, and she just turned one. I remember the day we brought her home trying to figure out how much to feed a Bernedoodle puppy.
As a new puppy parent, the last thing you want to do is over or under feed your new pet, so hopefully this post serves as helpful for you with your new Bernedoodle puppy.
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All about Bernedoodles
Bernedoodles are adaptable, making them a wonderful choice for novice or veteran owners. They are smart and protective dogs. This makes them great for young ages.
If you are just doing your beginning research, the Bernedoodle breed is a combination of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. They inherit their intelligence from the Poodle parent. It is obvious that the goofy traits are those of the Bernese Mountain Dog parent.
These parent breeds create a perfect family dog. Their size is determined by the Poodle parent. They are broken down into size categories. Bernedoodles can be toy, mini or standard. One thing that is pretty surprising is that the different sizes do not typically affect their food choices during puppyhood.
Bernedoodle puppies are known to love younger children. They are playful and gentle as a lifelong companion. Bernedoodles are smart but are also silly. This trait makes them a good choice for all ages. As a mom of four kids, this was very important to me.
If you want to learn more about owning Bernedoodle – I have a whole blog post here with all the details on what is like to truly own a Bernedoodle puppy.
How much to Feed a Bernedoodle Puppy
As you prepare to become a bernedoodle parent, their growth and development are important to you. You are undoubtedly concerned about health issues or health problems that may arise. Did you know that there is a big difference between puppy food and adult dog food?
These different kinds of food can affect your dog’s digestive system. It may be hard to know where to start, but I will break it down for you! In their full size, they are big dogs. At their full height, they are also very tall.
Their looks can be deceiving. Even though they are larger dogs, they may not need more food than a typical dog. You want to be prepared with this knowledge before you decide if this dog is right for you. How do you ensure a healthy lifestyle for your pup? It is important to learn how much food is necessary in their different life stages.
The Reasoning Behind the Puppy Food
New dog owners have several choices to make when it comes to food. It can be overwhelming, but there are a few simple things to keep in mind for a balanced diet. Your main goal is a healthy, happy dog!
Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. Puppy food is specifically designed for growing pups. As they grow, they are burning more calories. This means that they need more calories per pound of body weight to sustain their developing bodies.
Bernedoodle puppies need more fatty acids and high protein diets. These puppies complete a majority of their growth within two or three years. In these first few years, they will need higher amounts of protein calories. Puppy food and it’s proper nutrition is essentially created for growth and reproduction.
Veterinarians will say that it is, however, not toxic for your puppy to eat adult dog food. It also isn’t harmful for an adult dog to eat puppy food. They may suggest that you do your best to stick to these separate kinds of dog food for optimal health.
After the first few years of a dog’s life, they will switch to adult food for dogs. This type of food is typically referred to as adult maintenance for day-to-day living. It should be clearly labeled on the packages. Once they have reached their adult weight, they can maintain the health benefits from their simpler diet.
The transition from puppy food to adult dog food should be seamless. Bernedoodle dogs are laid back and not picky! Most of the time, they will eat what is put in front of them. Now that we have covered the difference between the types of dog food, we will get right to specific amounts for Bernedoodle puppies.
Our Penny had a very sensitive stomach as a puppy, and we have stuck with this puppy food and been very happy with the choice. She seems to be happy and thriving on it.
Specific amounts of Food for Bernedoodle Puppies
Young puppies that are two to six months of age typically eat three different times a day. The daily amount of puppy food depends on weeks of age and how much they weigh. It will also depend on how much exercise they receive.
I will break that down specifically. But, it is important to keep in mind that their food intake will increase as they grow. At around six months of age, Bernedoodle puppies can eat twice a day. This schedule may continue for adult Bernedoodles.
The first six months of your puppy’s life is most important nutritionally. They are growing very quickly. Setting your puppy up with proper nutrients will benefit growth, brain health and a long lifespan.
-Three to twelve pounds: one half – one cup daily
-Twenty-six to fifty pounds: two to three cups daily
-Seventy-six to one hundred pounds: three to four and a half cups daily
This is a general idea of how much your Bernedoodle puppy will eat as they grow. It is helpful to stick to designated eating times for your puppy. This gives their digestive system consistency and can benefit a family’s lifestyle and busy schedule as well.
Do not forget that It is a good choice to check the directions of the healthy dog food you purchase. On the back of each package, there should be a suggested serving size. As always, contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about how your Bernedoodle is developing. Interestingly enough, adult Bernedoodle dogs tend to only eat one serving a day.
They can finish their larger amount of food in one sitting. When they reach an even older age it may be difficult for them to finish this serving in one feeding. It is helpful to spread these servings out for older dogs while it gets harder to finish a meal. At this point you will be in tune to what your Bernedoodle dog needs.
More Than a Diet – Weight and Bernedoodle Puppies
There is good reason to be concerned about weight gain. Bernedoodles are known for their love of food! It is easy to over-feed your puppy. A general rule is to check their ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs easily but not be able to see them at a glance.
This is a great way to check on your Bernedoodle dogs and their weight gain. It can be tempting to feed your pup food from the table. This seems innocent but can create poor eating habits down the road. It can also disrupt their digestive systems. You have worked hard to create a healthy diet and want to keep it that way.
If a Bernedoodle puppy is hungry, they will eat from their designated spot and will not need anything extra. Your puppy’s health is a priority and these tips will ensure a happy pup! Do not forget that although the feeding schedule is important, we cannot forget about giving our dogs plenty of exercise! Long walks will encourage a healthy life for your Bernedoodle and for you.
Overall health includes diet and exercise. Your puppy’s health in the first month of their life will set them up for a healthy life. This is another reason why Bernedoodle puppies are a wonderful family dog. They have plenty of energy to keep up with toddlers. It is also a helpful way to encourage your teens to get outside and away from their technology.
Bernedoodle Puppy Food – Dog Food Options
With a growing amount of dog food brands, it can be hard to pick the best food. As you browse the isles, it is obvious to note that wet food is more expensive than dry food. However, they are both great options! The standard Bernedoodle loves to eat and they are such large breeds that they can eat a lot. Fortunately for dog owners, many dogs love dry food.
Wet or raw dog food has less carbohydrates than dry food and can be more hydrating. Many veterinarians suggest that either kind is a great choice! I would find a brand and type that fits into your grocery budget. A raw diet may seem like the best choice, but we know that Bernedoodles aren’t picky.
Bernedoodles tend to eat what they are given. This is a mom’s dream come true! If only this trait would rub off on the human puppies we have. There is nothing wrong with the dry kibble choice! Each type of dog food has the nutrients it needs to help your dog grow. The biggest difference between dry and wet dog food may be the way it is digested.
Keep in mind – that as with kids and yourself there may be adjusting to find what is best for your puppy. Start with a small bag the first time you purchase puppy food, and if you are changing them from what they were on at a breeder or in a shelter mix the new food with the previous food for a slower change on their gut.
Now that you have been prepared with nutrition knowledge, you are ready to welcome that pup in to the family. Giving them proper puppy and adult dog food will help create a healthy dog. More than food, your Bernedoodle needs love and affection.
This will not be difficult at all. Bernedoodles are easy to create a bond with. I know that you will love your Bernedoodle puppy as much as my family does! Let me know in the comments if you have a puppy and what kind of food is your family’s favorite.
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Hopefully you feel confident in how much to feed a Bernedoodle puppy after reading this post, and be sure to follow me on Instagram (@arinsolange) to see what our Penny is up to! If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments below, and be sure to pin the photo below to find this post later.
Hello, thank you for this post. We have a 6-month bernedoodle whom we’ve had since she was 10 weeks old. We love Masha, but every day is a struggle. She is all teeth, as is her sister who was adopted by my friend. You kept mentioning how great they are with kids, but our experience has been different. She bites. I mean she bites. Faces, ankles, noses, necks, arms, backs. Although there has been a huge improvement in behavior since we got her in February, she is still unruly (putting it nicely). The few bernedoodles we’ve seen outside have been accused of the same unruly and almost violent behavior by their owners. That’s what I wanted to ask you about. My real-life experience has been that they are very hard dogs, but the literature I read says the opposite. If you have time, is there anything you advise? We want to send her boot camp, since she is large and keeps jumping at the grandparents, one of whom fell backwards because of it. 🙁 Thank you.
Hi Armina – I am so sorry you are having that experience. I do notice that the older Penny gets the more protective she is and has a pecking order in our family, but as long as the kids don’t mess with her while eating she is very friendly – and she is overly friendly with others as well.
Jumping is an issue that definitely has to be worked on in training – I think it is a bit of a thing with all dog breeds but because bernedoodles are so large it can be an issue if they jump on people. We sent our dog to training for several weeks during the day and that was super helpful.
I an having the exact same issue with my 18 week old! He seems to target me, and bites extremely hard, drawing blood. My arms are covered in bandaids. This past week he has really ramped up, jumping up and biting, ripping my clothes, growling, and mounting my leg. 😬 He gets even crazier when I tell him no. He is also starting to resource guard- usually things he has managed to steal from the pantry or counter. He is very attached to me, super smart, sweet and cuddly, but really a handful right now. I had 2 large boxers previously, so am
experienced with large and wild dogs. Nothing is working- bully sticks, chew toys, walks.. He did lose 2 molars this week..
We keep our 7 month old puppy busy with chewable things. He really likes the large nylon like bones. As long as he has something to chew on he isn’t trying to play tough with us. When he is bored and doesn’t have a chew, he targets us. So we keep the chews, at least one in the house. One in the car. We take him on lots of rides , and one in a the yard. These bones last a very long time. Bernedoodles are aggressive chewers. We have had no mishaps with shoes. He just works on his own bones
Replying to Armina,
This is our first Bernedoodle but I’ve had German shepherd dogs my entire life which are also know as landsharks as puppies! Lol! Also in researching I had read that ‘Berners’ are excessive nip/biter/chewers so I was expecting the biting and are experienced with it. The goal is to redirect the biting and ‘herding behavior’. So you must have lots and lots of toys on hand that you can redirect your puppy to chew on. We use elk horns, marrow bones, pigs ears, cows ears, Kong toys usually hold up pretty good, hard balls, old dish towels tied in a knot, etc…. Think anything you can have, along with your treat bag, that you can redirect those bites to. When the puppy is herding the children, redirect to a game with a loud squeak and a good treat. Praise, praise, praise when he leaves the herding and comes to you. Lots of videos on YouTube where you can try the tap on the side with a shush sound. It gets them thinking that you don’t like that so much and when you redirect and are happy and give them treats and affection they move away from the behavior. Hope some of the tips work! Have fun!
This is absolutely sound advice and works like a charm. The secret is to be one step ahead of them. Giving them plenty of positive attention when the behavior is redirected to their own treats and the like.