Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Bernedoodle |  Cockapoo |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | A twenty-first century designer cross first developed in North America, pairing the Swiss working Bernese Mountain Dog with the Poodle, aiming for the Bernese's gentle temperament and striking tricolour looks alongside the Poodle's trainability and lower-shedding coat. Most Bernedoodles sold today are first generation (F1) or first generation backcross (F1b) crosses. | United States, popularised in the United Kingdom |
| Group | Crossbreed | Crossbreed |
| Size | Medium to Large | Small to Medium |
| Coat | Wavy to curly, often lower shedding coat, typically tricolour black, white and rust, or black and white, sometimes phantom or sable | Variable, from loose waves to tight curls to a flatter spaniel type coat |
| Weight | 11 to 41 kg | 4.5 to 11 kg |
| Height | 35 to 70 cm | 25 to 38 cm |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 yrs | 12 to 15 yrs |
| Exercise need | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Affection | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Grooming needs | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Barking | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Good with children | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Trainability | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Prey drive | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Copes alone | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Drool | 3/10 | 1/10 |
| Shedding | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Flat fit | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Running cost | €194 / month | €163 / month |
Bernedoodle verdict
The Bernese Mountain Dog-Poodle cross built for family life, with a striking coat and a short lifespan shadow to plan for.
Get one if
- · Families with children and space for a medium to large dog
- · Owners willing to commit to regular grooming and coat care
- · Households wanting a trainable, biddable companion
Think again if
- · Anyone wanting a guaranteed hypoallergenic or low-shedding dog
- · Flats or small homes with no outdoor access for a standard-sized adult
- · Households expecting an exact adult size or coat type from a first cross
Cockapoo verdict
An affectionate Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross where coat, size and energy vary litter to litter, so no two Cockapoos are quite alike.
Get one if
- · Owners wanting an affectionate, people focused companion that bonds closely with the family
- · Households able to commit to regular professional grooming regardless of coat type
- · Families realistic that allergy friendliness is a possibility rather than a certainty
Think again if
- · Anyone choosing a Cockapoo purely to avoid grooming costs
- · Allergy sufferers relying on reputation alone rather than testing their own reaction first
- · Households that cannot offer much daily company or structured alone training