Berniefie (Bernese Mountain Newfoundland Mix): Pictures, Info, & Care Guide
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If you’ve ever encountered a Berniefie puppy, you may have fallen in love with the dog. As a mix between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland Dog breed, these dogs are gorgeous, loyal, and eager to please.
You can expect your Berniefie to grow 25 to 29 inches tall and top out at 90 to 150 pounds. The dogs live for 7 to 10 years if properly cared for.
If you’re considering adopting or purchasing a Berniefie puppy, there are some factors you’ll want to consider first. Join us as we discuss everything you need to know about the Berniefie and more in the guide below.
| Height: | 25 to 29 inches |
| Weight: | 90 to 150 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 7 to 10 years |
| Colors: | Solid black, solid brown, brown and white, brown and black, black and white, tricolor |
| Suitable for: | Active families, great work dogs, singles, couples, anyone looking for a loyal companion |
| Temperament: | Loyal, gentle, intelligent, affectionate, cheerful, courageous, protective |
The Berniefie isn’t a purebred dog but a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Newfoundland Dog. The Berniefie is best for active families or anyone searching for a loyal dog that is gentle and cheerful yet courageous and protective at the same time.
In our next section, we’ll tell you everything you can expect from the Berniefie Dog breed before you decide to adopt or purchase one for your very own. From temperament and intelligence to whether the dog gets along with other pets, we have you covered.
Berniefie Characteristics
Berniefie Puppies
You can expect your Berniefie Puppy to run you about $1,000 to purchase, depending on the breeder you use and your location. It’s important to do your research on any breeder you’re considering to ensure they are reputable.
It’s also important to realize that the price you spend to adopt a Berniefie Puppy isn’t the only cost you’ll incur. In fact, you can expect to spend quite a bit when taking care of this breed, from the best high-quality kibble to vet visits and pet insurance.
The adoption price can also differ according to the age and pedigree of the puppy you choose, the breeder type, the breeder location, and more. Berniefies are easy to train and make excellent pets for those that enjoy an active lifestyle.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Berniefie
The Berniefie inherits several desirable traits from its parents. The Newfoundland and the Bernese Mountain Dog have pretty much the same temperament and the same intelligence levels.
The Berniefie is an intelligent canine, which makes them easy to train. You can expect your Berniefie to be gentle, loyal, affectionate, cheerful, and courageous. They will protect their family if they feel there is a threat, but instead of attacking, the dog will usually put itself between the threat and the threatened family member.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
The Berniefie is excellent with families of all kinds, but they need to be trained as puppies to develop into well-behaved adults. The dog can be wary of strangers, so you need to socialize your pup with other animals and people early. They are great with kids, have plenty of love to go around for everyone in their family, and will bond with each family member.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
The Berniefie also gets along well with other dogs and pets. However, because they’re large dogs, they’re better off living with pets of a similar size. A Berniefie may enjoy playing with a kitten or a Chihuahua, but it could hurt one accidentally because of its size and mass.
Things to Know When Owning a Berniefie:
Now that you know what to expect when adopting a Berniefie puppy, we’ll tell you a few other things you need to know when owning this dog in the sections below. We’ll start with food requirements, exercise needs, training, and grooming, and we’ll also give you a few little-known facts about the Berniefie.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
It’s essential to monitor your Berniefie’s diet because they can easily become obese if fed too much or too often. It’s also best to feed your Berniefie small meals throughout the day to avoid Bloat, which is a deadly condition.
If you’re unsure of how much to feed your dog, it’s best to talk to your vet, who will probably recommend a high-quality food with plenty of protein and tell you how much to feed the dog to keep it healthy, happy, and fit.
Exercise 🐕
The Berniefie needs plenty of mental and physical exercise in its day-to-day life. The dog can become bored and destructive if it doesn’t get enough exercise. Since this breed does run to obesity, it’s best to walk the dog at least an hour a day; usually, two or three walks combined with play sessions will suffice.
Other forms of exercise, such as jogging, running, or playing fetch together, will help your dog get the exercise it needs to stay healthy.
Training 🎾
Berniefie Dogs are eager to please and intelligent, which means that training the dog shouldn’t be much of an issue. As with any dog, you’ll want to start training when the dog is a puppy for the best results. It’s a good idea to divide training sessions into short sessions throughout the day to keep the dog from becoming bored and failing to pay attention.
Make sure to offer treats and praise, as positive reinforcement is always the best way to train a pet, and Berniefie is no different.
Grooming ✂️
The Berniefie is a moderate shedder but sheds more when the spring arrives. This means you’ll need to brush your dog several times weekly to keep its hair from matting and tangling. You’ll want to bathe your dog only when it’s necessary to keep from removing the oils in its coat that keep it healthy.
The Berniefie will need its teeth brushed a few times a week and requires nail trimming every 6 to 8 weeks. If you can’t keep up with grooming your pet, it’s best to make an appointment with a professional groomer to do the job for you regularly.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Your furry friend can easily inherit health conditions from their parents, but that’s true for any breed. Here are a few of the serious and minor problems to watch out for:
- Cataracts
- Color dilution alopecia
- Urolithiasis
- Obesity
- Elbow dysplasia
- Hip dysplasia
- Histiocytosis
Male vs Female
We could not find any differences between the male and female Berniefies. However, dogs that haven’t been fixed are more likely to act out and escape your home if they detect another canine ready to mate. Intact dogs can become aggressive and mark their territory in your home, but you can get your pet fixed when they’re 6 to 9 months old.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Berniefie
There are quite a few interesting facts about the Berniefie, as well as facts about the breed’s parents.
1. The Berniefie Almost Didn’t Exist
It’s true! The Bernese Mountain Dog almost became extinct at one time, meaning that if it had, your little Berniefie pal would never have existed. Luckily, some well-meaning people saved the breed, and they became quite popular, and now we have the Berniefie to love.
2. Newfoundlands Are Truly Massive Dogs
The Newfoundland Dog is a truly massive dog, and the Berniefie owes its impressive size to the breed. The Newfie can top out at over 150 pounds, making it one of the largest dogs on the planet.
3. These Dogs Are Great with Kids
Both parents are great with children, and it’s likely your Berniefie will be amazing with kids as well. However, it’s still best to supervise play between the two to be safe. You wouldn’t want the kids or the dog to end up being injured because of playing too rough.
Final Thoughts
The Berniefie receives the best traits from the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Newfoundland. These dogs are great with kids and will run you around $1,000 or more from a reputable breeder. If you’re looking for a pet that gets along with kids, family members, and other pets, the Berniefie might be just what you’re looking for.
See Also:
- Newfoundland Dog Husky Mix Breed Info: Pictures, Temperament & Traits
- Lab Newfie Mix: Pictures, Info, Care Guide & More
Featured Image Credit: Beatrice Foord-St-Laurent, Shutterstock
