Breed comparison
Labradoodle
vs Bernedoodle.
Both are Poodle crosses bred for a low-shedding coat and a friendly temperament, and both have become hugely popular family dogs. The Labradoodle mixes in the Labrador retrieving drive and higher energy; the Bernedoodle mixes in the Bernese Mountain Dog calmer, more laid-back nature. As with any crossbreed, individual dogs vary, but the parent breeds set clear tendencies.
The practical question is usually energy level and size: do you want the bouncier, more athletic Labradoodle, or the calmer, often larger and fluffier Bernedoodle?
Quick answer
Choose the Labradoodle if you want an athletic, high-drive companion and can meet its real exercise needs. Choose the Bernedoodle if you want a calmer, cuddlier, often larger dog and do not mind more frequent grooming. Both are crossbreeds, so temperament and coat can vary between individual puppies, meet the parents and ask about generation (F1, F1B, multigen) when you can.
Labradoodle
- Trainability
- 9/10
- Energy
- Very high
- Training difficulty
- 42/100
- Group
- Mixed
Bernedoodle
- Trainability
- 8/10
- Energy
- Medium
- Training difficulty
- 33/100
- Group
- Mixed
Scores from the TailorPup Dog Training Difficulty Index.
Key differences
Energy
The Labradoodle runs very high energy, it inherits the Labrador retrieving drive and needs serious daily exercise plus mental work. The Bernedoodle is calmer and more moderate, closer to the relaxed Bernese Mountain Dog temperament, though it still needs regular activity, just not at the same intensity.
Trainability
Both score highly, Labradoodle 9/10, Bernedoodle 8/10, both inherit the Poodle intelligence and eagerness to learn. The Labradoodle is typically more food-driven and bouncy in sessions; the Bernedoodle is calmer and steadier but can be a touch more independent, closer to its Bernese side.
Size and coat
Bernedoodles are often bred larger, especially standard crosses, and typically carry a thicker, fluffier coat that needs more regular grooming and is more prone to matting. Labradoodles come in a wider range of sizes and generally have a slightly easier, though still non-shedding-maintenance, coat.
Separation and attachment
Both breeds bond closely with family and can develop separation anxiety without gradual alone-time training. The Labradoodle high energy makes an under-exercised, anxious dog more physically destructive; the Bernedoodle is usually calmer when distressed but no less prone to genuine attachment stress.
Which is easier to train?
Both are highly trainable (Labradoodle 9/10, Bernedoodle 8/10) thanks to the Poodle in their lineage, and both do best with reward-based methods and early socialization since generation and parentage can vary between individual puppies. The Labradoodle high energy means the real work is exercise and mental stimulation, not compliance. The Bernedoodle is calmer day to day but its larger size in standard lines means leash manners and impulse control need to be installed early.
Which one is right for you?
Choose the Labradoodle
Active owners who want an athletic, food-motivated, low-shedding companion and can commit to serious daily exercise and mental enrichment.
Labradoodle training guide →Choose the Bernedoodle
Families who want a calmer, often larger, extra-fluffy low-shedding companion and are prepared for a heavier grooming routine and, in standard lines, a genuinely big dog.
Bernedoodle training guide →The verdict
Choose the Labradoodle if you want an athletic, high-drive companion and can meet its real exercise needs. Choose the Bernedoodle if you want a calmer, cuddlier, often larger dog and do not mind more frequent grooming. Both are crossbreeds, so temperament and coat can vary between individual puppies, meet the parents and ask about generation (F1, F1B, multigen) when you can.
Frequently asked questions
Which is calmer, a Labradoodle or a Bernedoodle?
The Bernedoodle is generally calmer, it inherits the relaxed Bernese Mountain Dog temperament. The Labradoodle runs very high energy from its Labrador side and needs significantly more daily exercise and mental stimulation.
Which sheds less?
Both are bred for a low-shedding, Poodle-influenced coat, but shedding and coat type vary by individual dog and generation (F1, F1B, multigen). Neither is guaranteed fully non-shedding, and both need regular grooming to prevent matting.
Which is better for a first-time dog owner?
Both are highly trainable and food-motivated thanks to their Poodle heritage. The Bernedoodle calmer energy often makes it the more forgiving choice for a first-time owner, while the Labradoodle suits someone ready for a more athletic daily routine.
Whichever you pick, train it right
TailorPup builds a personalized 12-week program around your dog's exact breed, age, and behavior, no generic one-size plan.
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