Being a dog lover, when your eyes sight the Bernedoodles, it would be a rarity if the breed doesn’t steal your heart. The hybrid of the Bernese mountain dog and the Poodle has been making waves ever since people saw it. To add to their good looks, Bernedoodles are also renowned for their playful nature and affectionate personality. So, if you just spotted a Bernedoodle in your neighborhood and the question “how to adopt a Bernedoodle near me” keeps revolving in your mind, read on.
The best thing about Bernedoodles is that when you bring one home, it isn’t just about going with the fad. It is more about finding the right fit for your family. For this, you must ensure the dog’s background and, accordingly, give them a home that they will love forever. So, let us introduce you to the places from where you should commence your search, evaluate the breeders, and prepare a comfortable abode for these cute dogs.
Reasons to adopt a Bernedoodle
As mentioned earlier, other than the looks, here are some more reasons that make adopting a Bernedoodle indispensable for dog enthusiasts.
- Temperament: These dogs are social, affectionate, and gentle with everyone.
- Intelligent: Thanks to the traits inherited from its Poodle parent, they are very smart and tend to learn commands quickly.
- Versatility: Adapting to families, singles, and even small apartments isn’t an issue for the Bernedoodle. They can manage anywhere you keep them.
- Hypoallergenic: Most of these Bernedoodles inherit a low-shedding coat, making them easier for people suffering from allergies to adopt a dog.
However, as a potential admirer of the Bernedoodle desperately wanting to bring one of them home, you should take care of an essential aspect. Since the breed is high in demand, it can create situations where unethical breeders take advantage. Thus, it becomes all the more important to understand the ways to adopt the Bernedoodle.
Decide on Breeder vs. Rescue shelters
Before adopting a Bernedoodle near you, it comes down to choosing between the responsible breeders and rescue adoption places. Rescue adoption centers offer a new habitat for the needy dogs; their adoption fee is much lower than that of the breeders, and dogs are regularly vaccinated, spayed, and neutered. However, the availability in these places is limited, and it is highly unlikely that a dog in such high demand as the Bernedoodle will be available in these places. Still, there isn’t any harm in trying your luck. So, you can check the local shelters and humane societies.
When it comes to the responsible breeders, the biggest advantage you get is availing pups with known lineage. Furthermore, health and temperament testing of parents is also conducted regularly. As a potential buyer, you also stand a chance to meet and evaluate the dog’s background. The price of pups here is very high, and waitlists are a common aspect, since responsible breeders will never haste in breeding continuously.
Searching dogs near me the smart way
When trying to search for Bernedoodles nearby, the first thing you would do is search on Google. However, for the best results, you must combine local and online methods too. The places you should never overlook are as follows:
- Local vet offices: Do not shy away from asking vets if they are aware of breeders and rescuers in your area.
- Community groups: Take help from the social media platforms. You should easily find various communities where people talk about the ways of getting their favorite pet.
- Bernedoodle-specific class and forums: Again, dedicated dog forums can be of great help in identifying the places to get Bernedoodles near your locality.
- Using Google maps: Searching in Google maps with the keywords “Dog breeders near me” can also lead you to favorable places from where you can fulfill your desire of adopting a Bernedoodle.
Identifying a responsible breeder
Eight out of ten people would want to go the breeder route for finding the best Bernedoodle. For this, you must separate the genuine ones from the puppy mills, which are infamous for mass production without taking any care. A responsible breeder will:
- Be transparent: They will have no problems in revealing the health certification of the Bernedoodle’s parents.
- Invite you for visits: A responsible breeder will welcome you to visit their facility and get an idea of how the pups are being raised.
- Ask you questions: Of course, as a buyer, you will have many questions, but the breeder will also have a fair share of questions lined up for you, as they want to ensure the pups raised by them reach the best homes.
- Offer contracts and guarantees: A responsible breeder will offer health warranties of at least 2 years. Additionally, they will also offer spay/neuter clauses and return-to-breeder options if needed.
Preparing for adoption
After locating the Bernedoodle near you, it is time to make preparations to settle the Bernedoodle pups home. for its adoption. To commence, you should be ready with the supplies that includes quality food as recommended by the breeder, crate for safe training and downtime, grooming tools, and dog bed, toys etc. it is equally necessary to make your rooms puppy-proof, setting up a designated potty area, and creating a quiet space where your favorite pup can retreat when it need to cool its heels.
Planning for the big day
Finally, when you arrive at the day when the Bernedoodle will reach your home, you must keep these points in mind:
- Do not hurry with the introduction process, especially if you have other pets at home. The Bernedoodle can take some time before adjusting to its new environment, and it can get overwhelmed by the sudden change of habitat.
- Refrain from inviting too many visitors on the first day.
- Stick to the diet as recommended by the breeder, and do not try to force it with new meals.
- Without wasting time, start its training as soon as possible, as you must remember, it will eventually help in building trust.
After the Bernedoodle becomes familiar with your home
- It is now the time to work on the bonding and relationship with the cute pup. For this, you should:
- Start training: Begin obedience training early, as it will help the Bernedoodle in the long run.
- Exercise: Keep aside half an hour to an hour for the Bernedoodle for physical exercises.
- Health care: Make the necessary vet appointments for vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and all the other necessary checkups.
- Grooming: The wavy and curly coats of the Bernedoodles require regular brushing and also professional grooming every 6-8 weeks.
The costs you can expect to incur going forward
Here is a breakdown of the costs from buying and the additional expenses that include:
- Adoption fees: The fee can be significantly lower if you manage to find one from the rescues, i.e., $300-$600. However, the responsible breeders will charge you more, $2,000–$5,000.
- Vet care: It would cost $500-$1000 annually.
- Food: $50–$100 monthly, depending on size.
- Grooming: $70–$120 every 6–8 weeks.
- Training: $100–$500, depending on classes.
Avoid these common mistakes when trying to adopt a Bernedoodle
Often, desperation and eagerness take over logical thinking. Therefore, many individuals tend to fall for the first listing without researching appropriately.
Ignoring compatibility can also become a serious issue. Bernedoodles need time and energy before they can socialize and get attached to everyone.
In the haste to adopt, if you skip questions related to health history, temperament, and care, it can later become a problem.