Breed guide
Bernedoodle lifespan and temperament
A healthy Munchkin Bernedoodle can be part of your family for well over a decade, and it will spend that time wanting to be wherever you are. Here is how long they tend to live and what they are like to share a home with.
- Typical lifespan12 to 15 years
- Daily activity30 to 60 minutes
- Time aloneShort stretches, not long days
How long they live
There is little research on Munchkin Bernedoodles as a group, so the best guides are the parent breeds and the dog's size. Small doodles like the Munchkin often reach twelve to fifteen years. A UK study of more than 580,000 dogs put the median lifespan across all dogs at 12.5 years, and found that small breeds with longer noses lived longest, at a median of about 13.3 years.
How a dog is looked after matters as much as its breed. A North American study of more than 50,000 middle-aged dogs across 12 breeds found that overweight dogs had a shorter median lifespan than dogs at a healthy weight in every breed it looked at. Feeding well, keeping your dog lean and keeping up with vet checkups are the parts most in your control.
The parent breeds
How long each side of the cross lives
The American Kennel Club's life expectancy for the three breeds behind a Munchkin Bernedoodle.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
12 to 15 years.
Poodle
10 to 18 years, the same range for all three Poodle sizes.
Bernese Mountain Dog
7 to 10 years. The largest of the three breeds, and the shortest lived.
Where the personality comes from
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel half is where the gentleness comes from: a calm, cuddly dog that is happiest in a lap. The Bernedoodle half adds a playful streak and a quick mind that takes well to training.
The official breed standards describe the three parent breeds in much the same terms. The Cavalier is friendly and non-aggressive, with no tendency toward nervousness or shyness. The Poodle is very active and intelligent. The Bernese is self-confident, alert and good-natured.
Most Munchkins land somewhere between them, and each puppy is its own mix, which is why we get to know every puppy before we suggest one to a family.
With children and other dogs
Our puppies grow up around our nieces and nephews and other dogs from their first days, so a busy house is ordinary to them by the time they leave. We still ask families with very young children to keep an eye on things, mostly for the puppy's sake, because a small dog is easy for a toddler to hurt by accident. You can read more about how we raise them.
Day to day
What they need day to day
Activity
Half an hour to an hour a day covers most of what they need, and it does not all have to be walking. Training games and puzzle toys wear out a clever dog as well as a run does.
Company
What they handle badly is long hours on their own, because this is a companion dog through and through. They would rather greet a visitor than guard against one, so do not count on a watchdog.
A first dog
Give them company and a steady routine, and their affection and willingness to learn make them a forgiving choice for a first dog.
More from the breed guide
What is a Munchkin Bernedoodle? · Full grown size · Munchkin vs Mini vs Micro · Colors and patterns · Shedding and allergies · Price and cost
Ask us about the personality of the puppy you are considering.