23 Mar How Much Exercise Should My Bernedoodle Get? A Guide
At Happily Ever After Doodles, one of the greatest joys we’ve personally noticed in owning this breed is that a lot of their excitement and playfulness is deeply connected to their relationship with their people. Bernedoodle puppies are playful, curious, and affectionate, and will need light to moderate exercise each day.
An adult Bernedoodle, depending on its size and your lifestyle, will require a moderate to significant amount of exercise. Generally, you should aim for a total of 60 to 90 minutes of dedicated activity per day for an adult dog. This can be a combination of physical exercise and mental stimulation.
In this article, the breeders at Happily Ever After Doodles provide a detailed breakdown below of everything you need to know about daily exercise for your Bernedoodle companion.
Bernedoodle Exercise: Table of Contents
What is the Energy Level of the Bernedoodle Breed?
The Bernedoodle is no couch potato – they need regular outlets to expend their energy and engage their busy minds. Their exercise needs are a direct reflection of their parent breeds – the Poodle and the Bernese Mountain dog.
Poodles, particularly Standard Poodles, are high-energy, intelligent working dogs originally bred for retrieving water fowl. Bernese Mountain Dogs, while calmer in nature, are also sturdy working dogs that were bred for pulling carts and herding.
The resulting Bernedoodle inherits its parents’ athleticism, playfulness, intelligence, and loving companionship. As such, this hybrid breed is generally considered to have moderate to high energy levels, though this can vary from dog to dog.
This makes the Bernedoodle an exceptional choice for the family – he or she will be happy to accompany you on any adventure!
What Should a Bernedoodle’s Daily Exercise Include?
There are two types of exercise recommended for your Bernedoodle companion. These are:
1. Physical Exercise: This builds muscle, maintains cardiovascular health, and physically tires out your dog. Examples include walks, running, and play.
2. Mental Stimulation: This is just as important as physical exercise. Bernedoodles are smart! Leaving them physically exhausted but mentally bored can still lead to destructive behaviors. Puzzle toys, training, and sniffing games are essential for a truly content dog.
What Kinds of Exercise Should My Bernedoodle Get?
Providing a variety of exercise types keeps things interesting for your Bernedoodle and ensures a well-rounded approach to their fitness.
Consider incorporating these activities into your canine companion’s every day lifestyle:
- Walks: The classic. Vary your routes and pace to keep it stimulating for your pet.
- Fetch: A fantastic way to burn off steam. Use a fenced-in area for safety.
- Fenced-in Area Running: Pure, unrestricted zoomies in a safe space like a dog park or large backyard are invaluable.
- Dog Parks: Excellent for socialization and intense play if your Bernedoodle enjoys them and is well-behaved.
- Swimming: A low-impact, highly effective workout, perfect for hot weather and senior dogs.
- Obedience Training: Engaging their mind is exercise! Regular, short training sessions keep them sharp.
- Puzzle Toys: Make them work for their food or treats. This provides significant mental enrichment.
- Scent Games: Hide treats or a favorite toy and encourage your dog to "find it." Their nose is powerful, and this burns serious mental energy.
What are a Bernedoodle’s Exercise Needs by Age?
A Bernedoodle’s exercise requirements evolve as they grow. What’s appropriate for a puppy would be too little for an adult, and what an adult can handle might be too strenuous for a senior. We talk more about Bernedoodle lifespan in our article linked here.
Here’s a breakdown of approximate daily exercise needs by age:
| Age Stage | Typical Exercise Needs | Examples of Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (up to 12-18 months) | Low to Moderate (but frequent!) | Short, controlled walks (e.g., 5-10 minutes per month of age, twice daily). Gentle play sessions in a safe area. Plenty of rest. |
| Adult (1.5 – 7 years) | Moderate to High (60-90+ minutes daily) | Multiple brisk walks or a long hike. Running in a securely fenced area. Fetch. Dog parks. Swimming. Dedicated obedience training or agility. Puzzles and brain games. |
| Senior (7+ years) | Low to Moderate (As tolerated) | Multiple shorter, slower walks. Gentle playtime. Food puzzle toys. Swimming (low-impact and great for joint support). |
A Note on Puppy Exercise
One thing we personally love about Bernedoodles is that we rarely feel like we have to “wear them out” in order for them to settle down. In our experience, when a Bernedoodle seems overly excited, what they’re usually looking for most isn’t extreme stimulation — it’s connection and attention.
When puppies get the evening zoomies, a lot of the time it’s really just excitement and connection they’re looking for. Often they’ve missed you, they’re excited you’re home, or they simply have energy they don’t quite know what to do with yet.
Squeaky Toy Recommendations for a Fenced-In Yard
“We’ve noticed that Bernedoodles tend to love squeaky toys! If we had to pick favorites, toys like KONG squeaky balls or soft squeaky toys like Lamb Chop are consistently popular with our puppies.” – Andrew
How Many Minutes of Puppy Playtime Do You Encourage Every Day?
Here at Happily Ever After Doodles, we really encourage owners to think about puppy playtime as part of the natural rhythm of daily life rather than feeling like they have to perfectly schedule large blocks of exercise every day.
Your Bernedoodle buddy will naturally have moments where they want stimulation, play, and interaction, and a lot of those opportunities happen organically throughout the day.
Do Adult Bernedoodles Prefer Long hikes or Shorter Play Sessions?
In our experience, a Bernedoodle companion’s exercise preferences as they reach adulthood will really depend on the lifestyle and routine of your family. Bernedoodles are incredibly adaptable dogs, and over time they tend to grow into and genuinely enjoy whatever rhythm is consistently modeled for them.
What are a Bernedoodle’s Exercise Needs by Size?
Bernedoodles are bred in a variety of sizes, and this is determined by the size of the Poodle parent. This significantly impacts their energy levels and physical capabilities.
| Size Variant | Adult Weight | Energy Level | Daily Exercise Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 10 – 24 lbs | Moderate to High | Multiple short, brisk walks. Lots of indoor play. Focus on mental games. |
| Mini | 25 – 49 lbs | Moderate to High | Solid physical exercise (long walks, running in a park). Significant focus on mental enrichment. |
| Moyen/Medium | 50 – 69 lbs | Moderate to High | Long, challenging walks/hikes. Can accompany for runs. Needs substantial space and time for off-leash play. High demand for mental work. |
| Standard | 70 – 90+ lbs | Moderate to High | Long hikes or jogs. Requires ample space for off-leash running. High need for intensive mental engagement. |
Is Your Bernedoodle Getting Enough (or Too Much) Exercise?
It’s vital to monitor your dog’s behavior for signs that their exercise routine needs adjustment.
Signs of Too Little Exercise
- Destructive behaviors (chewing, digging)
- Excessive barking or whining
- Pacing or restlessness inside
- Overly "wild" behavior when they do get out
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
Signs of Too Much Exercise
- Limping or stiffness after activity
- Extreme lethargy or unwillingness to move
- Overheating (excessive panting, red gums, confusion)
- Refusal to play or walk
- Loss of appetite
Indoor vs Outdoor Exercise
While Bernedoodles love the outdoors, you will need a plan for those rainy, snowy, or scorching hot days. Here are some great ways to keep your canine companion active all year round!
Outdoor Exercise Ideas
- Hiking: Explore trails and let them enjoy new sniffs.
- Running Partner: Standard and Medium Bernedoodles can be great jogging companions once their joints are fully developed (usually after 18 months).
- Water Sports & Swimming: Paddleboarding (with proper safety gear), or fetch in a lake.
- Frisbee: A fun alternative to fetch in a spacious area.
- Backyard Obstacle Course: Set up simple jumps and tunnels for mini-agility.
Indoor/Cold Weather Exercise Ideas
- "Find It" Games: Hide treats, toys, or even family members around the house.
- Nose Work: Scent detection games are excellent for indoor mental workouts.
- Obstacles: Use couch cushions as hurdles, hula hoops to jump through, or build a tunnel with chairs/blankets.
- Stair Work: Controlled sprints up and down the stairs (supervised and not for puppies).
- Tug of War: A classic indoor game (with ground rules to prevent too much rough play).
- New Trick Training: Use the indoor time to perfect complex commands.
- Puzzle Toys & Treat Dispensers: Utilize their full arsenal of brain-training toys.
One question we sometimes get asked by aspiring Bernedoodle owners is “what is your #1 tip for exercising Bernedoodles safely during the summer?”
While Bernedoodles may have thicker coats, our advice for summer exercise is very similar to what we’d recommend for any dog. If it’s extremely hot outside — especially during peak summer months, we don’t recommend leaving dogs outdoors for extended periods of time unnecessarily.
One Common Activity We Tell Puppy Owners to Avoid
One of the biggest things we encourage owners to avoid during the first year is excessive impact on growing joints. These include activities like repetitive jumping off furniture, overly intense running on hard pavement, or activities that place unnecessary stress on developing knees and hips.
Because a Bernedoodle’s skeleton is rapidly developing, their growth plates (the soft areas of developing cartilage at the ends of their bones) don’t fully close and harden until they are between 12 and 18 months old. High-impact jumping or strenuous, forced running on hard surfaces like concrete can permanently damage these joints and lead to early arthritis.
Our #1 Tip for Bernedoodle Exercise
“The biggest thing we encourage is building exercise and play naturally into the rhythm of your everyday life instead of feeling pressure to constantly create intense stimulation. Bernedoodles are very adaptable dogs and usually thrive when they feel included, connected, and consistently engaged with their family.” – Andrew
Great Exercise Makes a Happy Bernedoodle!
Bernedoodles are the perfect family dog, and it’s not hard to see why. Their high to moderate energy level makes them great for playing with you and the kids in the backyard. By understanding your Bernedoodle’s energy levels and planning their exercise routine according to their specific age and size, you provide them with the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life!
A wide variety of exercises—from brisk outdoor runs to engaging indoor brain games—not only results in a well-exercised dog but also deepens the wonderful bond you share.
The Happily Ever After Doodle Difference
If you have any further questions about Bernedoodle exercise or overall care, the breeders at Happily Ever After Doodles are happy to help!
We have been working with various dog breeds for many years and over the last several, we have been specifically working with Mini Poodles, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and the Bernedoodle hybrid breed to bring you beautiful health-tested and genetic-tested puppies that will live long, happy lives.
We are based in the Nashville, TN area, but our Flight Nanny can accompany your new companion to your home anywhere nationwide.
Contact our team for more details on our Bernedoodle breeding process and find out if we’re a great match for you and your family!
