Bernese Mixes: 10 Popular Berner Crosses & How to Find One

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

This Bernese Mountain Dog mix guide starts with one fact: a Berner mix isn’t a breed, so no one can promise its size, coat or personality. Each puppy inherits traits, and health risks, from two different breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) opposes deliberate crossbreeding, and it says responsible Berner breeders don’t sell Berners to people who produce mixes.

This guide is independent. We don’t sell puppies or recommend breeders of any kind. Below you’ll find the 10 most popular Berner crosses, what each parent breed brings, and how to find a mix responsibly, starting with rescue.

What a Bernese mix is, and isn’t

A Bernese Mountain Dog mix is a cross between a Berner and a dog of another breed. Sellers give these crosses catchy names, but the names aren’t breeds. The AKC says it does not encourage cross-breeding for designer mixes, and it runs a separate program, Canine Partners, for dogs that can’t join its pedigree registry.

Predictability is the big difference. The BMDCA says a purebred Berner gives you a predictable size, shape, color and temperament. The AKC makes the same point from the other side: mixed breeds lack that predictability.

So treat every description of a cross as a range, not a promise. A puppy can take after one parent, the other, or land somewhere in between. Be wary of any seller who promises “the best of both breeds,” a claim the BMDCA’s rescue guide specifically warns about.

What the BMDCA says about breeders and mixes

The breed club is clear on this. Its Tips on Buying sheet lists, among the marks of a responsible breeder, that they do not sell Berners to people who produce mixed breeds, and it names “Bernerdoodles” as an example. Its rescue guide says the same thing about breeding stock.

The club’s Position on Crossbreeding goes further. It says the club opposes the deliberate crossing of Berners with any other breed. It also says preservation breeders won’t allow their dogs to be crossbred, so the dogs used in crosses may be of unknown quality or background.

That matters when you shop. If careful Berner breeders won’t supply mix producers, ask every seller where their Berner parent came from, and ask to see that dog’s pedigree and health results.

What the Berner side brings

Every Bernese mix gets half its genes from a Berner, so start there. Here’s what the breed club and the AKC say about the Berner parent.

• Size: The AKC standard puts males at 25 to 27½ inches at the shoulder and females at 23 to 26 inches. The BMDCA says males generally weigh 80 to 115 pounds and females 70 to 95.
• Temperament: The standard calls the breed self-confident, alert and good-natured, though it may be aloof with strangers. The BMDCA says adults are usually gentle and easygoing, young dogs can be very active, and a tendency toward shyness runs in the breed.
• Coat and climate: Berners shed a lot and don’t do well in hot, humid weather. See keeping a Berner cool in hot weather.
• Lifespan: The BMDCA gives a typical lifespan of 7 to 8 years, and says cancer is the most common cause of death before age 7.
• Health: The same FAQ lists cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, other orthopedic problems, bloat, eye diseases, autoimmune diseases, hypothyroidism and degenerative myelopathy (DM) among the breed’s issues.

A cross doesn’t erase those risks. Read our overview of Bernese health problems, plus the guides to Berner lifespan, cancer in Berners and hip and elbow dysplasia.

10 popular Bernese Mountain Dog mixes

These are the Bernese Mountain Dog mix breeds you’ll see most often. Mixes have no breed standard of their own, so the table gives each other parent’s size from its AKC breed standard. Compare that with the Berner figures above, and expect a puppy to fall anywhere in the range between the two.

Sources for the table: AKC standards for the Saint Bernard, Great Pyrenees, Poodle, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cavalier.

Mini Bernese

There’s no such thing as a miniature Bernese Mountain Dog breed. The AKC standard describes a single size of Berner, and it has no small variety. So a dog sold as a “mini Bernese” isn’t a recognized breed or size, whatever its ad says.

Ask the seller to name every breed in the puppy’s pedigree, and to show the parents’ registration and health records. If another breed is involved, look up that breed’s size and recommended health tests, the same way you would for any other cross on this list.

Saint Bernese (Saint Bernard x Bernese)

This cross pairs two big working breeds. The Saint Bernard standard sets minimum heights rather than a range: 27½ inches for males and 25½ for females. Plan for a very large dog that could match or pass a Berner in size.

On temperament, the AKC’s Saint Bernard page calls the breed patient and watchful, and says it takes care around kids. The Berner side adds its own gentle but sometimes reserved nature.

Great Bernese (Great Pyrenees x Bernese)

The Great Pyrenees is a livestock guardian. Its AKC standard gives heights of 27 to 32 inches for males and 25 to 29 for females, so this is another giant-sized cross.

The same standard describes the Pyr as confident, gentle and affectionate, but also strong-willed, independent and somewhat reserved. It can be territorial and protective of its family. A Great Bernese may inherit that guarding streak along with the Berner’s people focus.

Bernedoodle (Poodle x Bernese)

The Bernedoodle is the best-known Berner cross, and it’s the one the BMDCA names directly as “Bernerdoodles.” Its size varies more than most because the Poodle standard covers three sizes: Standard, Miniature and Toy.

The Poodle standard describes a very active, intelligent and proud dog. Ask which size of Poodle was used, since a cross with a Miniature or Toy Poodle can turn out much smaller than one with a Standard.

Labernese (Labrador x Bernese)

The Labrador is a medium-to-large sporting dog. Its AKC standard puts males at 22½ to 24½ inches and 65 to 80 pounds, and females a little smaller.

The standard describes the ideal Lab as kind, outgoing and eager to please, and not aggressive toward people or animals. Lab weights overlap the low end of the Berner range, so a Labernese could end up anywhere from Lab-sized to Berner-sized.

Golden Mountain Dog (Golden Retriever x Bernese)

The Golden Retriever standard gives males 23 to 24 inches and 65 to 75 pounds, with females 21½ to 22½ inches and 55 to 65 pounds.

It describes the Golden as friendly, reliable and trustworthy, and as an eager, alert and self-confident hunting dog. Both standards describe a thick coat, and the Golden’s has a dense undercoat, so plan on regular brushing.

Bordernese (Border Collie x Bernese)

The Border Collie is a medium-sized herding dog, 19 to 22 inches for males and 18 to 21 for females, per its AKC standard.

The standard calls the breed energetic, intelligent, keen and an intense worker, and notes it may be reserved with strangers. That’s a big contrast with the calmer adult Berner, so a Bordernese may need more exercise and mental work than a typical adult Berner.

Bernaussie (Australian Shepherd x Bernese)

The Australian Shepherd standard gives a preferred height of 20 to 23 inches for males and 18 to 21 for females. It describes a working dog with strong herding and guarding instincts and the stamina to work all day.

On temperament, the standard says the Aussie is intelligent, active and good-natured, and may be somewhat reserved when first meeting people. A Bernaussie may inherit that energy and herding drive.

Bernorgi (Corgi x Bernese)

There are two Corgi breeds, the Pembroke and the Cardigan, and both have their own health testing lists at the AKC. The Pembroke standard puts the breed at 10 to 12 inches tall, with males up to 30 pounds.

That standard describes the Pembroke as bold but kindly, and never shy or vicious. Because the parents are so different in height and build, a Bernorgi’s adult size is especially hard to predict.

Bernalier (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Bernese)

The Cavalier is a toy spaniel. Its AKC standard gives a height of 12 to 13 inches and a weight of 13 to 18 pounds.

The standard describes the Cavalier as gentle, affectionate, friendly and non-aggressive. A Bernalier will be much smaller than a Berner, but how much smaller depends on the individual puppy.

Inherited health risks: both parents count

A common sales pitch is that mixes are healthier than purebreds. The BMDCA disagrees. Its Position on Crossbreeding says crossbred dogs are prone to all the genetic diseases of both breeds, and its rescue guide says combining two breeds’ health issues raises the potential for more genetic problems.

Research doesn’t support a simple “mixes are healthier” rule either. An AKC article describes a UC Davis study of 27,254 cases and 24 inherited disorders. For 13 of those disorders, purebred and mixed-breed dogs showed no significant difference; 10 were more common in purebreds and 1 in mixes.

The article also notes that problems often tied to certain breeds, such as hip dysplasia and some cancers, show up in mixed-breed dogs too. So the best protection is the same for any puppy: health testing of both parents.

Which tests to ask for

Each breed’s national club recommends health tests for breeding dogs, and the AKC publishes those lists. For a mix, ask for the tests recommended for both parent breeds.

Sources: AKC health testing lists for the Working, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Herding and Toy groups. A Toy Poodle’s list is on the Toy page.

Notice where the lists overlap. Hips appear on every list in the table, and the Berner, Saint Bernard, Golden and Cavalier lists all include a cardiac exam. The Berner, Saint Bernard and Cardigan lists include a DM DNA test, so in those crosses both parents should have it.

Ask to see the actual results, not just a statement that testing was done. The OFA’s CHIC program gives a number to dogs whose required tests are complete and public, but it says that number doesn’t mean the results were normal. Our guide to Bernese health clearances explains each Berner test, and your vet can help you understand what a result means for a puppy.

How to find a Bernese Mountain Dog mix responsibly

If you’ve decided a Bernese mix is right for you and you’re looking at Bernese Mountain Dog mix puppies for sale, the order matters. Look at rescue first, and only then at buying from a breeder.

Start with shelters and rescues

The FTC suggests checking local rescues and shelters, where pets of all breeds and ages need homes and adoption usually costs only a small fee. That’s a good fit for mixes in particular.

Breed club rescue is a narrower route. The BMDCA’s rescue guide defines a rescue dog as a purebred Berner, though the same guide suggests widening your search to local shelters and pet adoption websites such as Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet. If you’d also consider a purebred adult, read where to look for a rescue Berner.

Don’t count on a young puppy from rescue. The BMDCA says dogs under two rarely enter its rescue program.

Vet a mix breeder like a purebred breeder

If you buy, use the same checklist you’d use for a Berner breeder. A seller who breeds mixes isn’t excused from any of it.

• Health results for both parents. Ask for each parent’s results on its own breed club’s tests, using the table above. Be wary of claims like “no health problems” that the seller can’t back up, a warning sign the BMDCA flags.
• Where the Berner parent came from. Because responsible Berner breeders won’t sell to mix producers, ask for the Berner parent’s pedigree and its breeder’s name, then check the dog’s records yourself.
• A visit. The BMDCA says the best approach is a breeder you can visit in person. Beware of anyone who won’t show you their dogs and wants to deliver your puppy somewhere else.
• A written contract first. The same sheet says never to commit or pay a deposit without a written contract, a multi-generation pedigree and a detailed family health history. Read deposits, contracts and waitlists explained.
• No rush, and no young puppies. The BMDCA warns against sellers who rush your decision or place puppies younger than 8 weeks.
• A promise to take the dog back. Responsible breeders, the sheet says, will take a dog back or help rehome it.

For the full process, see our guide to finding a reputable breeder and our 25 questions to ask a breeder. Both are written for Berners, but almost every question applies to a mix.

Watch for scam signs

The FTC warns that scammers post fake pet ads, especially for puppies. It lists these warning signs:

• Pressure to act fast before the puppy goes to someone else
• A request to pay up front for a puppy you haven’t seen
• A demand for gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer, which are hard to reverse
• A price that seems far too low for the kind of dog advertised

Before you pay, search the seller’s name with words like “scam” or “complaint,” as the FTC suggests. If you’re targeted, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Our list of red flags before you send a deposit covers more warning signs.

Is a Berner mix right for you?

Be honest about why you want a mix. If you want a smaller dog, a cross may or may not stay small. If you want fewer health worries, the BMDCA says a cross can carry the problems of both breeds.

If what you love is the Berner itself, consider a purebred from a careful breeder or an adult from rescue. The BMDCA’s 2024 FAQ puts a typical puppy price at $3,000 to $5,000, and says the true cost lies in years of care.

We don’t quote mix prices, but a high price for a mix proves nothing about health. See what a Bernese puppy really costs.

Whatever you choose, take your time. Our main guide to finding a Bernese Mountain Dog for sale safely walks through the whole search, and our Bernese puppy guide covers the first year. Ask your vet about any health risk you’re unsure of before you commit.