Bernese Mountain Dog Mix: 10 Popular Crosses and Their Parent Breeds

A Bernese Mountain Dog mix is a dog with a Bernese Mountain Dog parent and a parent of another breed, such as a Poodle, a Newfoundland, a Rottweiler, or a Golden Retriever. This page covers ten common crosses with the American Kennel Club (AKC) numbers for each parent breed, then health, lifespan, and daily care for a large mixed dog.

What is a Bernese Mountain Dog mix?

A Bernese Mountain Dog mix is any cross between a purebred Berner and another breed. The goal is usually to keep the Berner's calm, affectionate nature while adding traits from the other parent, whether that's a longer lifespan, a different coat type, or a smaller frame. Some crosses even produce a Bernese Mountain Dog mini that works well for people with less space.

The AKC's Canine Partners program “welcomes all mixed-breed dogs to the AKC family!” Each cross on this page is described as a cross of two breeds, so every size, weight, and lifespan number below belongs to a parent breed and not to the mix. Before you pick a cross, read the AKC page for both parents so you know what to expect in size, energy, grooming, and health.

The Bernese Mountain Dog parent

The AKC lists male Bernese Mountain Dogs at 25 to 27.5 inches tall and 80 to 115 pounds, and females at 23 to 26 inches and 70 to 95 pounds. It gives a life expectancy of 7 to 10 years and calls the breed “blessed with a sweet, affectionate nature.” Read more about temperament.

The AKC says Berners “shed a fair amount, even more so during shedding season, which occurs twice a year.” Read more about Bernese Mountain Dog shedding and animals with the softest fur.

The FCI breed standard says the Berner was “Originally used as a guard-, draught-and cattle dog on farms in the Canton Bern.” Read more about Bernese Mountain Dog history and how Berners were originally bred as working farm dogs.

Popular Bernese Mountain Dog mixes

Each cross below pairs a Berner with one other breed. Read more in our List of Most Popular Dog names and in Here are the Most Popular dog breeds in the U.S.

Bernedoodle

A Bernedoodle is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The AKC lists three Poodle sizes. Standard Poodles are over 15 inches tall, at 60 to 70 pounds for males and 40 to 50 pounds for females. Miniature Poodles are 10 to 15 inches and 10 to 15 pounds, and Toy Poodles are no more than 10 inches and 4 to 6 pounds. All three have a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years.

The AKC says the Poodle's “relatively non-shedding coat makes the breed a good choice for people with allergies.” Read more about the Bernedoodle.

Bernefie

A Bernefie is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Newfoundland. The AKC lists male Newfoundlands at an average of 28 inches and 130 to 150 pounds, and females at 26 inches and 100 to 120 pounds, with a life expectancy of 9 to 10 years. It says Newfs are “born swimmers.”

For health, the AKC says responsible breeders screen their stock for “elbow and hip dysplasia, cardiac disease, and cystinuria.” Read more about the Bernefie.

Bernweiler

A Bernweiler is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Rottweiler. The AKC lists male Rottweilers at 24 to 27 inches and 95 to 135 pounds, and females at 22 to 25 inches and 80 to 100 pounds, with a life expectancy of 9 to 10 years.

The AKC says “Rottweilers are subject to some genetic problems that can be passed on to any puppies they produce,” including “hip and elbow dysplasia (a malformation of the joint that can be crippling), several eye problems, bleeding disorders, heart defects and cancer.” Read more about the Bernweiler.

Bordernese

A Bordernese is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Border Collie. The AKC lists Border Collies at 19 to 22 inches for males and 18 to 21 inches for females, at 30 to 55 pounds, with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

The AKC says a responsible Border Collie breeder screens breeding stock for conditions such as “hip dysplasia, progressive renal atrophy, deafness, epilepsy.” Read more about the Bordernese.

Euro Mountain Sheparnese

A Euro Mountain Sheparnese is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a German Shepherd. The AKC lists male German Shepherds at 24 to 26 inches and 65 to 90 pounds, and females at 22 to 24 inches and 50 to 70 pounds, with a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

The AKC says “German Shepherd Dogs can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening swelling of the abdomen.” Read more about the Euro Mountain Sheparnese.

Labernese

A Labernese is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Labrador Retriever. The AKC lists male Labs at 22.5 to 24.5 inches and 65 to 80 pounds, and females at 21.5 to 23.5 inches and 55 to 70 pounds, with a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years.

The AKC says “A condition called exercise induced collapse (EIC) can occur in some young adult Labs.” Read more about the Labernese.

Mountain Bulldog

A Mountain Bulldog is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Bulldog. The AKC lists Bulldogs at 14 to 15 inches, with males at 50 pounds and females at 40 pounds, and a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years.

The AKC says “Bulldogs frequently have breathing difficulties relating to their elongated soft-palate blocking their airways.” Read more about Mountain Bulldogs.

Mountain Mastiff

A Mountain Mastiff is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Mastiff. The AKC lists male Mastiffs at 30 inches and up and 160 to 230 pounds, and females at 27.5 inches and up and 120 to 170 pounds, with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years.

The AKC lists “hip or elbow dysplasia and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)” among the health issues in the breed. Read more about the Mountain Mastiff.

Saint Bernese

A Saint Bernese is a cross of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Saint Bernard. The AKC lists male Saint Bernards at 28 to 30 inches and 140 to 180 pounds, and females at 26 to 28 inches and 120 to 140 pounds, with a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years.

The AKC says “Large and deep-chested breeds can develop bloat, a sudden, life-threatening stomach condition.” Read more about the Saint Bernese.

Golden Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog cross

This cross pairs a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Golden Retriever. The AKC lists male Golden Retrievers at 23 to 24 inches and 65 to 75 pounds, and females at 21.5 to 22.5 inches and 55 to 65 pounds, with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

For health, the AKC says responsible breeders screen Golden Retrievers for “elbow and hip dysplasia” and certain eye and heart conditions, including “progressive retinal atrophy” and “subvalvular aortic stenosis.”

Health problems in Bernese Mountain Dog mixes

The AKC says “Berners are generally healthy dogs, and responsible breeders will screen their breeding stock for health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, some cancers, and progressive retinal atrophy.” Each parent breed above adds its own screening list.

J. M. Dobson of the University of Cambridge reviewed a Kennel Club and British Small Animal Veterinary Association survey in 2013. It counted 394 Bernese deaths, 180 of them cancer-related, with a median age at death of 8 years, and Dobson writes that “the disseminated form of histiocytic sarcoma accounts for up to 25% of deaths in the breed.” The Kennel Club's own summary reports the oldest Bernese in that survey reported at 15 years and 2 months, and says its “overall response rate was only 24%.”

VCA Animal Hospitals says hip dysplasia “is a genetic disease that is affected by factors such as diet, environment, exercise, growth rate, muscle mass, and hormones.” It adds that “Large mixed-breed dogs are also at risk for developing it and should be fed a special large breed growth diet their first year.” The usual signs are that “The dog appears wobbly and is reluctant to rise from a sitting or lying position.” Ask your vet what a high-quality, protein-rich diet means for your puppy's size and age.

VCA also says “Dogs weighing over 100 pounds have approximately a 20% risk of bloat during their lifetime.” The signs of bloat are a dog that appears distressed or restless, salivates profusely, has trouble breathing, retches without producing anything, or collapses. VCA calls it “an immediate and life-threatening emergency” that “requires immediate veterinary intervention.” Read more about changes in your dog's behavior.

Do Bernese mixes live longer than purebred Berners?

Two large studies disagree. A 2013 study by the Royal Veterinary College analyzed records for 102,609 dogs in England and found that “longevity in crossbred dogs exceeded purebred dogs by 1.2 years,” and that “increasing bodyweight was negatively correlated with longevity.” A 2020 study from the Dog Aging Project at the University of Washington looked at 20,970 privately owned dogs from three US primary care veterinary hospitals and reported, “We did not find significant differences in lifespan between purebred and mixed breed dogs.”

The two studies reach different answers, so this page gives no lifespan number for any cross. For scale, the AKC lists a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years for the Toy Poodle and 6 to 10 years for the Mastiff.

Exercise and daily care

The AKC says Bernese Mountain Dogs “need at least a half-hour of moderate exercise every day to stay healthy and happy.” The AKC says the same for Newfoundlands and gives the Saint Bernard “one long walk or half-hour play session per day.” Read more about 45 to 90 minutes of daily exercise for a Berner, and read more about Bernese Mountain Dog exercise and training.

Weekly brushing is the AKC's baseline for the Berner, and daily brushing in shedding season. Read more about life hacks for dog owners.

Bernese Mountain Dog mix FAQ

How big does a Bernese Mountain Dog mix get?

It depends on the other parent. The AKC lists male Berners at 80 to 115 pounds, male Mastiffs at 160 to 230 pounds, male Bulldogs at 50 pounds, and Toy Poodles at 4 to 6 pounds. The AKC gives no weight for any cross.

Does a Bernese Mountain Dog mix shed?

The AKC says Berners “shed a fair amount” and says Poodles have a “relatively non-shedding coat.” The AKC gives no coat rule for a cross. Read more about Bernese Mountain Dog shedding.

What dog is similar to a Bernese Mountain Dog?

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large Swiss working dog. The AKC lists males at 25.5 to 28.5 inches and 115 to 140 pounds, and females at 23.7 to 27 inches and 85 to 110 pounds, with a life expectancy of 8 to 11 years. It says Swissies “earned their feed as herders, drafters, and all-around pasture dogs.”

Sources

• AKC, Bernese Mountain Dog
• AKC, Poodle (Standard), Poodle (Miniature), and Poodle (Toy)
• AKC, Newfoundland
• AKC, Rottweiler
• AKC, Border Collie
• AKC, German Shepherd Dog
• AKC, Labrador Retriever
• AKC, Bulldog
• AKC, Mastiff
• AKC, Saint Bernard
• AKC, Golden Retriever
• AKC, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• AKC, Canine Partners
• FCI, Breed standard no. 45, Bernese Mountain Dog
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Bloat: Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus in Dogs
• Dobson JM, Breed-predispositions to cancer in pedigree dogs, ISRN Veterinary Science, 2013
• O'Neill DG et al., Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England, The Veterinary Journal, 2013
• Urfer SR et al., Lifespan of companion dogs seen in three independent primary care veterinary clinics in the United States, Canine Medicine and Genetics, 2020
• The Kennel Club, Bernese Mountain Dog health survey summary (Wayback Machine copy)