Bernedoodle Coat Care: A Complete Guide
Last updated: June 2, 2026
TL;DR
A Bernedoodle is a Bernese Mountain Dog crossed with a Poodle, so it has a wavy-to-curly, often tri-color coat that mats easily and needs regular brushing. Curlier Bernedoodles need the most grooming. Dood Woof recommends brushing down to the skin a few times a week, detangling problem spots, and bathing every four to eight weeks to keep the coat healthy.
What coat types do Bernedoodles have?
Bernedoodles usually have a wavy or curly coat, often in the black, white, and rust tri-color pattern inherited from the Bernese Mountain Dog parent. Crossbreeding does not produce a single consistent coat, and the genes passed to puppies vary, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Coat texture is set by a small group of genes for furnishings, curl, and hair length, according to Cadieu et al. in the journal Science, which is why one Bernedoodle can be wavy and a littermate tightly curled.
How do generations like F1 and F1B affect a Bernedoodle's coat?
Generation describes how much Poodle is in the mix, and more Poodle usually means a curlier, lower-shedding coat. An F1 Bernedoodle is a 50/50 first cross and tends to be wavier and shed a little more, while an F1B is bred back to a Poodle and tends to be curlier. The Poodle is prized for its curly, low-shedding coat, a hallmark the American Kennel Club notes for the breed. A coat that leans toward the Bernese parent will shed more, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Which Bernedoodle coat type needs the most grooming?
The curlier the coat, the more grooming it needs, because tight curls trap loose hair and debris and mat fastest. Curly and long coats need frequent brushing to prevent tangling, especially around the ears, armpits, and backs of the legs, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. A wavy Bernedoodle is more forgiving, but a thick, curly one can mat within days without regular brushing.
How do you keep a Bernedoodle's coat from matting?
Brush down to the skin on a steady schedule rather than waiting for tangles to set. A detangling spray adds slip so the brush glides through a dense coat without pulling. Dood Woof makes a Doodle Detangler Spray for exactly this kind of thick, curly coat.
For more on why these coats tangle and how to work mats out safely, see the guide to why doodle hair mats so easily.
What does a simple Bernedoodle coat-care routine look like?
A steady routine has four parts: brushing, bathing, detangling, and a standing professional groom. Brush down to the skin several times a week, more for curly coats, as covered in the guide to how often to brush a doodle. Bathe every four to eight weeks with a gentle shampoo, per the guide to how often to bathe a doodle. The Dood Woof shampoo and detangler come together as the Doodle Detangling Kit for the full routine.
Do Bernedoodles shed or trigger allergies?
Bernedoodles are usually low to moderate shedders, but no doodle is fully hypoallergenic, and shedding varies by coat type and generation. A curlier, more Poodle-leaning coat tends to shed less. For how coat type drives shedding across every doodle, see the Dood Woof guide to the different types of doodles.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of coat does a Bernedoodle have?
Most Bernedoodles have a wavy or curly coat, often in the Bernese tri-color pattern. The exact texture varies because coat genes are passed unpredictably in a crossbreed, according to research published in the journal Science. Curlier coats need the most grooming.
How often should you groom a Bernedoodle?
Brush down to the skin several times a week, and more often for curly coats that mat quickly. Bathe every four to eight weeks, and book a professional groom on a regular interval. A detangler spray makes brushing a dense Bernedoodle coat much easier.
Do Bernedoodles shed a lot?
Most Bernedoodles are low to moderate shedders, especially curlier, more Poodle-leaning coats. No doodle is fully hypoallergenic, though, and a coat that takes after the Bernese parent will shed more. Shedding can vary even within one litter.
Why does my Bernedoodle's coat mat so easily?
Dense, curly Bernedoodle coats trap loose hair and debris instead of shedding them out, so tangles form fast around the ears, legs, and armpits. Regular brushing down to the skin and a detangling spray are the best prevention. The Doodle Detangler Spray is made for thick doodle coats.
Elina Panteleyeva is the founder of Dood Woof, a clean-ingredient grooming and supplement line made for doodle-breed dogs. A doodle owner herself, she started the company in 2023 after struggling to find products with ingredients she trusted, and developed all three of its formulations, now used by more than 70,000 doodle households. Follow Dood Woof on Instagram.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Dood Woof earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.