Bernedoodle Rescue: 14 Best Places To Look

Updated 04/19/2024 – The Bernese Mountain Dog became widely popular back in the early 2000’s. Thanks to their sweet nature, calm disposition and playfulness they were billed as the perfect family dog.

So when the first Bernedoodle was born in 2003 it was not a surprise that this Bernese Mountain Dog and poodle cross breed would become a popular option for doodle dog lovers too.

Unfortunately not everyone who gets a Bernedoodle is ready for the commitment to care for a large size dog.

This results in some of these dogs looking for a new home. So, if you are looking to adopt a Bernedoodle we will show you the 14 best places to find a Bernedoodle rescue.

In this post you will find:

• The Bernedoodle: 5 Reasons They Are Rehomed
• How To Increase Your Chance Of Being Selected For A Rescue Dog
• Best Places to look for a Bernedoodle Rescue
• More Places to Find a Bernedoodle Rescue
• Bernedoodle Rescue Resources

The Bernedoodle: 5 Reasons They Are Rehomed

Finding a Bernedoodle rescue can be difficult since they don’t often find themselves in need of being rescued. But it does still happen on occasion. Here are the top 6 reasons a Bernedoodle is rehomed.

1. Size -The Bernedoodle is a large dog. They may start off as cute little Bernedoodle puppies, but these dogs can grow to be 27 inches high at the shoulder and weight over 100 pounds. This can be a big surprise for people who did not research the dog prior to getting one.

2. Expense- Larger dogs mean higher expenses. They need a larger quantity of high quality of food. Plus beds, toys, bowls, leashes and well, almost everything will cost more due to the increase in size.

3. Shedding – Since Bernedoodles are typically F1 doodles, meaning they are half poodle and half Berne, they have a greater chance of heavy shedding. This is because they will inherit one shedding gene from the Berne side and one non shedding gene from the poodle side. Often this will mean that they shed less than a Berne, but they can still shed a lot.

4. Behavioral issues – When new dog owners chose to get a dog because they are cute, but don’t fully understand the breed, the dog can grow up to have behavioral issues. Poor early socialization can also lead to behavioral issues. With proper training many of these issues can be fixed.

5. Personal Reasons- Many times a Bernedoodle will find themselves in need of a new home because the owner can no longer take care of them. This might be due to death, sickness, changes in living conditions and changes in finances.

How To Increase Your Chance Of Being Selected For A Rescue Dog

Best Places to look for a Bernedoodle Rescue

Bernedoodles are not as popular as the Goldendoodle or the Labradoodle. This makes finding a Bernedoodle rescue harder. But we are here to help with that.

One of the places you might not think to look for a Bernedoodle rescue is at a Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue. But some breed specific rescues will also assist dogs that are part of the specific breed. So we are starting our list with the 4 best Bernese Mountain Dog rescues that may also have a Bernedoodle or two.

1. BFW RESCUE INC

Located in South Carolina, BFW Rescue Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. BFW Rescue Inc. is focused on helping Bernese Mountain Dogs in need but also have helped a few Berne mix breeds (see picture above). 

They are staffed by volunteers that are located throughout the U.S who are ready to help when the call arises.

Each dog in their care receives medical care, professional training if needed and general care. Dogs are kept in foster homes until they are adopted.

Make sure you get on their mailing list to receive “Pupdates” from them. You can do these via a popup once you start looking around the site. While you are there check out their blog for a look at some of their happy endings

You can also find BFW Rescue on Facebook

2. Arizona Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue

Arizona Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue (ABMDR) is a breed-specific rescue specializing in the Bernese Mountain Dog. As with most non-profit rescues they rely on volunteers to foster dogs until they find a forever home. 

Many of these dogs they have come from rehoming situations. ABMDR does not have limits to the age or gender of a Bernese needing care.

All dogs that come to Arizona Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue are evaluated to see there are any physical or behavioral issues that need to be addressed before they are available for adoption.  In addition all dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption.

It’s not unusual for Arizona Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue not to have dogs available for adoption.  In addition to checking their site regularly you can also join their Facebook group to get up-to-date information on available dogs.

Just remember to stay patient.  Even if a dog comes into foster care it can take several weeks or more to evaluate them and get them ready for adoption.

Like many breed-specific-rescues, the Arizona Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue is selective with their adoption process. This is to ensure that the next home is really the dog’s forever home.

3. NORCAL Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue

The NorCal Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue is a 501c3 organization located near Bakersfield, California.  They offer rescue and rehoming services for Bernese Mountain Dogs located from Bakersfield north to the California/Oregon border. 

Like the other Bernese Mountain Dog Rescues they use volunteers to foster berne’s in need. All potential adopter are required to complete an adoption application form that can be found on their adoption page.   

They require that all rescue dogs be neutered upon adoption.  If health records are not available, rescue dogs must be given appropriate vaccinations and would need a complete medical exam.  Unlike many other rescues the adopting families are responsible for the veterinary costs.

4. Summit Dog Rescue

The Summit Dog Rescue is not a Bernese Mountain Dog specific rescue. Instead they deal with all types of dogs that need a home. 

But due to their location in Boulder Co where Bernie’s are popular they tend to have a few BMD or Bernie mixes throughout the year.

This all-volunteer animal rescue organization has been saving the lives of thousands of dogs and kitties since 2009.

Summit Dog Rescue has a very stringent adoption policy. The do not adopt to people under the age of 26 or to families with children under the age of 6. 

Also they give preference to applicants who live in Boulder, Denver (the city), Fort Collins, Winter Park, Buena Vista, Eagle/Vail, Steamboat and Glenwood/Carbondale. 

Applicants outside these areas can still apply but are at a disadvantage of adopting a dog

You can find Summit Dog Rescue on Facebook.

More Places to Find a Bernedoodle Rescue

Another option for looking for a Bernedoodle rescue is one of these 9 doodle and poodle rescue groups

5. IDOG Rescue

Started in 2006 IDOG Rescue is a national, foster-based, non-profit dog rescue based in Houston, Texas.

They specialize in assisting Labradoodles, Goldendoodles & Standard Poodles/mixes, like the Bernedoodle, that need to be rescued from shelters or are in need of rehoming.

Although they are based in Texas, they use a network of volunteers across the US and Canada to rescue Doodles from shelters and also provide rehoming services.

IDOG works with shelters around the country to ensure that doodles are pulled as quickly as possible. 

Once rescued from the shelters the dogs are placed in a foster care where they are evaluated, brought to a vet to be checked and generally taken care of until they are ready for adoption.

You can find IDOG on Facebook.

6. Doodle Rock Rescue

Doodle Rock Rescue is a nonprofit, volunteer-run rescue located in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area. They specialize in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming all types of poodle mixes (doodles) in need including Bernedoodles.

Since being founded in 2017, Doodle Rock Rescue has rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed 900+ dogs in need.

Their priority is to help dogs in South Texas shelters, where they have some of the highest euthanasia rates in the nation, but will accept dogs from all over the United States.

They will only accept applications from people who live within 350 miles of Dallas, TX, due to home visit requirements

In addition to offering rescue services, Doodle Rock Rescue opened the CHEW Animal Clinic. The goal of the clinic is to provide high quality, yet affordable veterinarian care for local shelters, animal rescues groups and qualified families within the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

CHEW also provides on-site group training to assist families and rescue partners with mild behavioral concerns. 

You can find Doodle Rock Rescue on Facebook.

7. Doodle Dandy Rescue

Doodle Dandy Rescue is a nonprofit organization located in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area. They are a foster-based rescue, with volunteers in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston.

This 100% volunteer rescue relies on the help and donations of people who want to help dogs in need.

The mission of Doodle Dandy Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate & rehome all types of Doodle dog in their service area. They only adopt to people who live within a 5 hour drive of the main location outside of Dallas.

Doodle Dandy Rescue sometimes posts videos of their available dogs. Here is one of their adorable doodles that were up for adoption in May 2021.

You can find Doodle Dandy Rescue on Facebook.

8. PetFinder

Petfinder.com is one of the best places to start looking for a Bernedoodle. Many rescue groups use Petfinder.com to showcase the dogs they have available for adoption.

This is how we found our pup at a local non-breed specific rescue organization.

Petfinder.com makes it very easy to search for a Bernedoodle since they are listed as a breed allowing you to filter out dogs that are not Bernedoodles. You can also filter by age, size, gender and a few more categories.

Remember to setup email notifications to let you know when a new dog is listed that matches your criteria.

9. NorCal Poodle Rescue

NorCal Poodle Rescue was founded by a poodle breeder in 1985. She decided to help Poodle and Poodle mixes find new forever homes when she saw there was a need. Since then the group has rescued and rehomed about 2,000 dogs in the North California area.

NorCal Poodle Rescue is one of the few groups that choose to board their rescues rather than use volunteers to foster the dogs. There are only a few dogs that are in foster care.

You can find NorCal Poodle Rescue on Facebook.

10. Carolina Poodle Rescue

Carolina Poodle Rescue is a nonprofit rescue organization that specializes in Poodles, and Poodle mixes.

They have volunteers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Texas, and Georgia. Dogs in the care of this rescue reside at the Dreamweaver Farm.

You can find Carolina Poodle Rescue on Facebook,.

11. Florida Poodle Rescue, Inc.

Florida Poodle Rescue, Inc. is another non-profit rescue that specializing in the rehoming of Poodles and Poodle mixes. They are headquartered in the Tampa Bay area, but provide rehoming services all throughout the state of Florida.

Since the start of the Florida Poodle Rescue in 1994, they are rehomed over 10,000 Poodles and Poodle Mixes.

You can find Florida Poodle Rescue, Inc. on Facebook.

12. Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue

The Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue specializes in Poodles; Poodle mixes and other non-shedding hypoallergenic companion dogs.

Located in Fairfax, Virginia their primary service area is Northern Virginia. Like many of the other rescues on our list they use foster homes to house and evaluate dogs in their care before putting them up for adoption.

​You can find the Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue on Facebook.

13. SPIN – Standard Poodles in Need

Standard Poodles In Need, Rescue & Rehome is a Canadian non-profit foster-based organization based in the greater Toronto area but have volunteers throughout Canada. 

They specialize in standard poodles but also offer help to other poodle types and poodle mixes.   

You can find Standard Poodles in Need on Facebook.

14. For the Love of Poodles and Pooches Rescue

For the Love of Poodles and Pooches Rescue in Richmond, Virginia was founded in 2013 in memory of the founder’s beloved toy poodles. The rescue was started for Poodles in need but as the rescue grew they expanded to include all types of dogs.

Their belief is that everyone can make a difference in the world, one rescued dog at a time. Rescued dogs are kept in foster until the right family is found.

You can find For the Love of Poodles and Pooches Rescue on Facebook.

Bernedoodle Rescue Resources

• 6 Reasons Why Bernese Mountain Dogs Are the Best Family Dog
• Bernese Mountain Dog AKC.org