The Mini Bernese mountain doodles or the Mini Bernedoodles are often described as inheriting the best of both worlds, i.e., from their parents. They possess the warmth and loyalty of the Bernese mountain dog, and the unmatched intelligence of the Poodle. As a result, they are a hybrid that is affectionate, family-oriented, and extremely calm.
Yet, before bringing home the Mini Bernese mountain doodles, most people are unaware of whether the breed has any behavioral issues. Interestingly, not many guides speak about this much. The fact is, even the sweetest dogs can develop habits that can prove frustrating for the owners, particularly when their emotional requirements aren’t fulfilled.
However, the good thing is that most Mini Bernedoodle’s behavior issues are temporary. To be precise, we can refer to them as signals, and when handled appropriately and patiently, one can fix them. Overall, Bernedodles are good dogs, and would never give you a chance to complain. Now, let us break down the issue and talk about the solutions that actually work.
Getting the hang of their mindset at first
Before getting deep into the problem, it is essential to understand why the Mini Bernedoodle developed the behavioral issue in the first place. Understanding their mindset can help incredibly in this regard. Typically, the breed is known to be sensitive, highly intelligent, quick to form strong attachments with family members, and loves following a fixed routine.
When all the above-mentioned boxes are ticked, they would remain wonderful companions, and here lies the downside. For some reason, if the owner or anyone in the family uses harsh words, they will never respond well. Therefore, for handling a Mini Bernedoodle, gentle guidance and patience can work wonders.
Separation anxiety
Whenever the person to whom the Mini Bernedoodle is emotionally connected leaves the house, some noticeable signs would be whining, barking, and howling after the person leaves. It can also proceed further to destructive chewing, pacing, or drooling, and accidents, despite being well-trained. It is all connected to the deep bond that the breed develops. When they feel the bond is suddenly cut off, they panic, which many people may confuse with mischievous behavior, but in reality, they switch on their panic mode. The steps to handle separation anxiety are as follows:
- Owners should mandatorily make them habituated to short absences, which can be for durations like 2-5 minutes, and gradually increase the duration.
- When, for some reason, the dog owner has to leave the house, they would do better to do so calmly.
- One can also create a safe space for the Mini Bernedoodle, which includes familiar smells and toys.
- Alternatively, one can also utilize food puzzles to keep them occupied with something positive.
- Remember, never punish the dog for their behavior, which was induced by separation anxiety. Is there any way to teach them to remain polite when the person they are fond of is not near them?
Excessive barking
Owing to its size, Mini Bernedoodles are never loud when they bark, but their consistent barking can be irritating. The reasons that trigger them to bark non-stop include:
- When someone rings the doorbell.
- When they see new visitors at your home.
- When they are very bored.
- When they are very excited.
As mentioned earlier, Mini Bernedoodles are intelligent, and they do their best to communicate with the family members. Barking is their way of saying “something is happening”. In such circumstances, you can handle their triggers by the following:
- Firstly, identify the reason that makes them bark, whether it is attention seeking, fear, or boredom.
- When they remain silent, do not forget to reward them with a treat.
- Make them learn that remaining quiet will fetch them something good.
- Try to increase their mental stimulation, as a tired brain would make them bark less.
Jumping on people
Quite often, out of excitement, the Mini Bernedoodle would jump on people. It is their way of greeting people, as they love being around them. In such situations, yelling at them would not make them stop doing it; in fact, they will do it more often. So when it jumps, do the following:
- Ignore their behavior, you can turn away, and not establish eye contact with them.
- Whenever they greet people calmly, they make use of rewards.
- During training, teach them to sit and greet and not jump on people.
Chewing everything in sight
Items like shoes, furniture, remote controls, toys, and much more often become the favorite chewable things for the Mini Bernedoodle. They do this for a number of reasons. Pups tend to do it as they are teething. The mature ones would do so to relieve their stress, out of boredom, and curiosity. The common fixes to the problem are:
- Rotating chewable toys to keep them interested.
- Redirecting them to something else, without yelling or scolding them.
- Puppy-proofing your home: Keep items that they can chew out of their reach.
- Make them exercise or be physically engaged.
Dealing with stubbornness
A common myth associated with the Mini Bernedoodles is that they are stubborn, which they are not. In reality, they can think. Therefore, if a certain command doesn’t make sense to them or they feel it is repetitive, they disengage from it. The procedure to deal with is rather simple:
- Keep the training sessions short, not more than 5 to 10 minutes.
- Always ensure positive reinforcement.
- Vary routines, but preferably at the same time to keep them mentally engaged.
- Overexcitement and zoomies
Sudden bursts of excitement in dogs, also referred to as zoomies, are a common phenomenon, and Mini Bernedoodles are no different. They will do so after bathing sessions or do it randomly while inside the house. Although there isn’t much owners can do for it, increasing structured playtime, adding mental games like sniffing puzzles, and maintaining predictable daily routines may control the zoomies. Often, zoomies tend to fade as dogs mature into adults.
Signs of regression during training
Signs of regression are common when they experience changes in daily routine, feel stressed, are dealing with a health issue, and or are in a new environment. This behavior can be fixed by fixing the usual routine, frequent praising, and cleaning the mess created by them. The idea is not to keep any trace of scent that might remind them of the reason for which they did it.
Gentle and patient training work best for the Mini Bernedoodle
Persisting in gentle training can help them build trust, confidence, and stronger bonds with family members. Harsh corrections, on the other hand, can make them fearful, leading to displaying fear-based actions, shutdown or withdrawal, and increased anxiety. Remember, Mini Bernedoodles are always eager to please you; thus, you should also handle them gently in return.
When to seek professional assistance
You must consider the help of a certified trainer or behaviorist if the aggression displayed by the Mini Bernedoodle escalates, worsens anxiety, or occurs when they are feeling overwhelmed. Professionals can help and induce positive reinforcement for their betterment in behavior.
So, as it is evident, the behavioral issues surrounding Mini Bernedoodles are mostly situational and circumstantial. Fixing them should not be a challenge, and once exercised accurately, the breed is well and truly manageable. It is all about handling them with patience and kindness, and you will appreciate the Mini Bernedoodle as a pet that grows into a gentle and sober dog.