Training Your Bernedoodle Puppy: The Ultimate Guide

Whenever you plan on owning an adorable Bernedoodle dog, it is often best to teach them the tips and tricks at a younger age. It will help you enjoy the real companionship of one another from the start. You can initiate the Bernedoodle training right from the moment you bring them home. Keep in mind that every dog is known for their distinctive traits. Every dog is different. The same is true for humans. Even identical twins have the key features that make them different from one another. Therefore, tailor-made training should often be done under the lifestyle of the owner. Bernedoodles are loyal companion dogs that need a moderate level of activity. You should train them to complement your entire life.

The Bernedoodle is a cross-breed between a Poodle and the Bernese Mountain Dog. Both lineages are the ideal breeds as they are smart, easy to train well, and friendly dogs. Like the other pets, irrespective of their smartness, they would need proper guidance and training. Being the pet owner, we have created this entire guide that would notably benefit you. After learning about the distinctive ways of training your pet on numerous different tricks, it becomes easier to take care of them. Also, imagine how great it is to have a well-mannered and obedient dog at your home. Continue through our post to know more!

The Best Way to Train Your Bernedoodle

Bernedoodles are identical to Bernese Mountain Dogs. They are considerably stable, and the docile dogs do not require much training. Compared to the other, more energetic, and excited Doodles, Bernedoodles become a breeze to handle when the appropriate mode of teaching is chosen.

Start Young

Generally, you should start training your dog when they are still a puppy, although this is not always possible when you are adopting a dog that is already grown up. In such instances, you can initiate a couple of fundamental training as soon as you are getting your new dog a better home. Whenever it is possible to train the adult dogs while enjoying better success, the younger puppies are often highly receptive to the training tactics. Additionally, you have to initiate the training sessions when your dog is still a puppy as they would understand whatever is expected out of them as they tend to get older.

Train Daily

Dogs are fond of routines, and it tends to become easier to stay up to their training routines if you and your pup understand whatever is expected and when to expect them. You need to initiate the short training sessions in just a couple of minutes if your dog is still a puppy and eventually increase the pace. However it is important to keep aside some time each day. Training is never something that is done once each day, and then you forget about it completely, you can still utilize such sessions in teaching your pup new commands while you work on the existing commands in terms of perfecting them.

Read More: Training Strategies and Nutritional Guidelines for English Bulldog

Socialize

Socialization is essential for every dog; however, it is specifically essential for breeds like the Bernese Mountain Dogs, who become aloof with strangers. This is distinctive tough for the Bernies since they appear like giant teddy bears while a lot of individuals wish to approach this dog.

You can initiate socializing your dog at home by welcoming in new people. Around seven days after completing the initial round of vaccinations, you should start enrolling them in puppy training classes, which is ideal for getting your dogs used to the other dogs and humans around. After a week of finishing their vaccination schedules, you can start socializing while walking your pup in the dog park.

Make Training Fun

The Bernedoodles are often quite stubborn, which indicates that when they are not enjoying a specific training session or training techniques, they are more than likely to dig in their heels while stopping to work. One of the ideal ways to counteract these is by following short sessions while introducing the activities and games that make your sessions extremely enjoyable. Fetch is the ideal way to teach them to wait, recall, and sit. Here, your dog is finding the playtime more like a reward for their efforts.

Keep It Interesting

However, you need to start training the same command to your dog a couple of times before your dog is adjusted to it if you aim to keep pounding the similar sit command over and over again as it gets boring for both of you. You can blend in the things to help you ensure that you introduce a few of the variability into the reinforcers in order for the already learned behaviors. Never stick to just one area or the same behavior. You can change them to something new. You would return to the initial commands and tactics it becomes an ideal way to find how well your dog recalls the earlier lessons.

Use Positive Reinforcement Techniques

Positive reinforcement indicates rewarding and praising dogs whenever they are doing something that you wish them to repeat. The positive components behind this training indicate adding something more desirable as a result. There is reinforcement that is given in the form of a treat or offering praises as a mode of reinforcing the much-desired actions.

You can effectively minimize the number of treats you offer and replace them with verbal praises; however, using treats at the initial training endeavor proves effective. The occasional treat deliveries work as reinforcers to aid in ensuring that responding to the older and already mastered behaviors stays as the high-end scope for the Bernedoodle.

Read More: Top Training Mistakes to Avoid with Your Frenchton Puppy

Clicker Training

Clicker training is a method dog trainers specifically use. It is based on similar principles to positive reinforcement and involves replacing toys, treats, and praise with a good pup, associating future rewards with verbal or click cues like "good boy or girl."

Clicker training has a few unique set of benefits. Initially, you need not have to carry around a pocket filled with toys and treats wherever you are heading out. Then, you can use them at the right time when your pup is displaying the much-wanted actions. It is in this manner that the positive behavior is marked clearly.

Of course, this method requires you to condition your puppy to associate the clicker with a future reward. The way to do this is to encourage them to do something they are already trained for with the clicker and immediately feed them a treat. Over time, this association will develop. Even the clicker itself may eventually become the reward—your dog's signal that they've done a good job.

Mirror Training

Nevertheless, the mirror method is based on both positive reinforcement and clicker training procedures. It augments these by forcing a dog to mimic its owner (if you sit, I sit, and so on). Such a tendency to imitate in an attempt to satisfy the pack leader is a normal practice among wild animals.

This technique endows the pup with the raw appetites that make them up. They are allowed to be like dogs (to a certain extent). Training mostly happens off the leash, with the primary goal of encouraging certain behaviors that are closest related to hunting, guarding, and retrieving. 

Mirror training entails major socialization. Managers insist on involving their petty dogs in any of the activities they perform in a bid to foster a close relationship with them. Exercise with other dogs is also important. This is the same way positive behaviors are also learned because of what they call a pack-animal mentality. 

Utilize Food Treats

What makes the Bernedoodle to be very easy to train is that he is highly food-motivated. It means you can use a piece of food to motivate him, and you’ll find that your Bernie will almost bend over backward to get to that food. When you begin teaching a particular behavior to your dog or when you have a string of difficult days in training your Bernie, it is advisable to use food treats.

If you’re training your dog outside of your property, such as in a dog park, it will be helpful to have these high-value rewards with you. When you’re doing plain boring backup work from home, you can give treats periodically and ration them alongside imagination with what will come after as verbal ‘I’m pleased’ and good head rubs, or at other times, like playing your pup's favorite game.

Mini pieces of food are great for training sessions because they will make your Bernedoodle continue focusing on you while they are being rewarded.

Don’t Scold or Reprimand

Despite that, the Bernedoodle can be rather stubborn at times, and if they are not having fun during training, they are going to quit on you. Hence, you have to keep training lighthearted. Never raise your voice at your dog or punish it by scolding or reprimanding it. And, of course, you have not had any physical contact with the dog. If your Bernedoodle isn’t listening or isn’t responding during training sessions, you needn’t punish or scold the failed tries. At least you can take some time out or even try it in the next five to ten minutes.

Use this time to dissect the situation and understand that it’s your responsibility to prepare them for success. Did you ask for too much? Are you being clear? Next time, have a slight variation in your training strategy. The next time you ask for a behavior, make it very simple, turn it into a game, or introduce your dog’s preferred food treats.

Read More: From Pup to Pro: Training and Feeding Your Cavapoo for a Healthy Life

Use a Long Leash for Recall

Recall can be one of the most critical elements of the training process. Usually, it begins in the home. Tell your dog to come from where you are standing, a distance that should be slightly near you. Make sure that there are incentives near you, and then if your dog follows the command, give it a treat. If it does not respond, repeat the command after about 5 seconds. It’s better to practice this several times a day for the intended behavior to set in.

After your dog has learned it from one room, remove yourself from another room and perform the same actions. Lastly, you can scope it out and bring it to your lawn or any lawn you wish. Last of all, take a long leash, go to the place for the dogs, and attempt it while you are outside. There are more distractions and opportunities for the dog to disregard training completely, and it will be rather challenging, but a long line keeps both of you secure.

Consider Crate Training

When followed in the right way, crate training is the most effective tool. It would help if you never left your dog in the crate for a longer time or too frequently each day. However using the crate in the nighttime or while you are out of the home proves beneficial. It often takes time for your pup to get adapted to the crate, and in this time, you are more than likely to stay up with the barking and other noises. You can initiate the process by desensitizing your dog to gain such experience. You can place some toys and treats into their cages and allow them to wander both in and out. Also, try to close the door for a couple of times.

House Training

Most often, owners teach their dogs simple tasks such as house training initially. Feed at specific times since this will help determine when your pup needs to go out, and if you know this, you have set yourself up for success. For a detailed guide on the best techniques in potty training your Bernedoodle, please read this article endorsed by a vet. This makes positive reinforcement a lot easier, and it will help with effective house training.

You will also want to train your large breed, such as the Bernedoodle, to sit and stay off furniture and people. Because they are very food and treats-oriented and many of them will grow large enough to reach, training them not to stay in the kitchen with access to counters is another good basic place to start.

Conclusion

In other words, training is really not something that you should be running away from. It is a unique method of producing a good feel with your pet and building a relationship with your Bernedoodle. Embrace the challenge. So, keep calm and have fun while being engaged in Bernedoodle puppy training. Once your pet has learned this technique, for sure you will only be proud of your pet and yourself for such an achievement. 

Regardless of the size, you should be able to get an intelligent dog from the Poodle lineage but at the same expected to find part of the Bernedoodle’s temperamental resistance. Training should not be lengthy, commences from an early age, and rewards with delicious foods should be used to reinforce commands learned and those to be learned. In addition to noting that you should train your puppy young, you should also note that you start socialization young.