Phalene vs Bernedoodle - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Bernedoodle is a hybrid cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Standard Poodle. They have been around for many, many years but the first official” cross between the two breeds came from Sherry Rupke out of SwissRidge Kennels. The first Bernedoodle were achieved in 2003. She now has an entire breeding program for this hybrid.

A bernedoodle or a first generation is a cross between a purebred a purebred Poodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. This is a 50/50 mix. This mix is a very low shedding dog and though no dog is hypoallergenic, the Bernedoodle is as close as it gets. If the cross is true between two purebred dogs, the new breed will have the calm, sweet demeanor of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the intelligent, goofy, playfulness of the Poodle. At the same time the Bernedoodle is a hybrid so there will not be two exactly alike.

With purebred dogs you get a lot of consistency from one dog to another. Not so with the Bernedoodle. Each one will be a little different. Sometimes a hybrid dog can be healthier than their parents. Other times there can be health issues with hybrid. It is all about the breeder and if they breed for the right health traits.

If the breeder is conscientious enough the pup will have the best characteristics of both original breeds. Therefore, the Bernedoodle is happy, smart, playful, friendly and social. Sometimes the breeding doesn’t go as planned and you can end up with a Bernedoodle with the stubbornness of the Bernese or the hyper activity of the poodle. As a new cross breed, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club because it is a hybrid. They are recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry, The American Canine Hybrid Club, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club.

The Phalène is a toy breed, and in fact the Papillon and Phalène differ only by their ears, but are exactly the same in all other ways.

Thought to have developed in Western Europe, its exact origin isn’t clear but it is an ancient breed, as paintings seem to indicate that it has been around since the 16th century.

It is essentially a companion dog today. The dog is classified as a variety of the Papillon by the AKC, with the FCI classifying it as a separate breed.

Since the Bernedoodle is a hybrid and not an AKC recognized breed, there is no set-in stone breed standard. There are three sizes of Bernedoodles and at least three generations. All of these should be strong boned dogs with powerful and compact bodies. They have log ears, button eyes and a triangle shaped muzzle. The tail is long and bushy, and the coat is medium to long.

There is no standard color, but the most common color is black and white or tri like the Bernese Mountain Dog. They can also be black and brown, sable or merle. The coat is wavy or curly like the poodle.

This toy breed stands at between 20 – 28cm in height and weighs around 4 – 5kg. He has floppy, silky ears and is a Papillon dog, and a Papillon with dropped ears is known as a Phalène.

The dome of the head is rounded and the Phalene has a slim muzzle with bright, alert brown eyes and a black nose. The tail is well plumed and is carried over the back. The coat isn’t a double coat like many other dogs, but it is lustrous, being straight, long and smooth. The coat is available in a number of coat colors, essentially being a blend of white, tan, black and orange or fawn.

Temperament:

The Phalène is an intelligent dog, and they will be able to learn quickly and easily when you teach them how to sit, lie down or stay. Training and socialization is always excellent for dogs, even small ones like this as it teaches them to be obedient and well mannered.

The Phalene is a sociable, friendly dog but is inclined to be reserved around strangers. Phalènes are essentially lap dogs and they make great companions for all kinds of people as well as being great playmates for disciplined, kind children. Because he is small and calm, he makes a great pet for country- or city dwellers.

This is a very social dog that needs to be with people. If you don’t have a lot of time for a dog, then this is not the one for you. He is gentle, calm and affectionate. He is intelligent and sometimes stubborn. They need to be socialized early in life and they will be great with kids and other small animals. They tend to be very playful. Toys and minis have more energy, more stubbornness and more of the poodle divaness.

The Phalene is such a sweet little dog, and you can definitely count him as as ‘man’s best friend’. He just loves to be wherever his human family is, lapping up their attention indoors but also loving being with them outdoors. When well trained and socialized, these dogs make splendid playmates for children too.

Small though he is, he makes a good watch dog too and he will bark to warn his human family of danger. Give him the love and care he so rightly deserves, and he promises to make you a splendid pet and companion.

Because the breed is so new and bred pure so far, there is not a lot of information about their health or their life span. Even as they seem to have less issues than their parents – the Bernese cancer issue for example does not seem to plague the Bernedoodle. However, that does not mean they don’t have issues. They are still prone to some serious issues.

Skin issues, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye issues are prevalent in this new breed. They have a tendency toward hot spots and sometimes allergies. Asks a reputable breeder if they have tested the parents and the puppies for dysplasia and eye issues.

Your jaunty little Phalene can live to be up to 12 or 15 years of age if well cared for. Even so, there are always some of the more common dog illnesses worth knowing about, and we look at a few -

Epilepsy:

Any dog can get epilepsy – when your pet suddenly has a seizure or fit for no apparent reason. It can be disturbing to see, but with medication your pet can live a normal life.

Eye Diseases:

Always keep a check on your pet’s eyes because there are a few eye diseases that can affect your pet and these are cataracts, progressive retina atrophy and entropion. Thankfully a veterinary ophthalmologist can help with the best treatment.

Feeding

Since the Bernedoodle comes in three different sizes, there will be three different feeding regimens. No matter the size of your dog, feed them quality food twice a day. The standard is a big dog and should be fed as such but the toy and mini will eat a lot less. You can pretty much feed a standard Bernedoodle the same thing you feed a Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernedoodle is a picky eater and you may have to change up their food at times to keep them interested.

Health issues

Again, these are healthy dogs because the cross breed is so young. There are not a lot of genetic issues. As mentioned previously hip dysplasia, eye issues, elbow dysplasia and skin issues are possible.

Exercise and games

This is a calm, not over active dog. They do not share the high energy level of the poodle but rather carry the calm, gentle energy of the Bernese. The toy and mini varieties tend to have a faster motor than the standard. They need daily walks no matter what their size is. They will need your attention regularly.

Exercise:

These are energetic little dogs and will require getting a regular dose of exercise. He loves a walk and being allowed off his leash for a good run. He also loves ball games. Exercise is important for small dogs like this to ward off obesity.

Grooming:

These little dogs will need to have their ears checked and cleaned if you want to avoid ear infections. If you’re not sure how to clean the inside of the ears, rather leave it to an expert who can show you how its done. Small dogs always need to have their teeth checked regularly. He will also need to have his nails trimmed.

To maintain the long, silky coat, brush your dog at least twice a week. Some Phalene dog owners take their pet to the vet to have the coat professionally groomed and trimmed.