Bernedoodles are one of the most famous doodle dogs among families. They are known for their affectionate temperament, intelligence, and hypoallergenic qualities. One of the biggest reasons for their attractiveness is their coat. Their coat markings and colors are pleasing to the eye.
Variations in their colors are mainly natural. Tricolor, Bicolor, Merle, and Phantom are some of the common patterns in these pups. Additionally, uncertainty in coat markings, even after genetic testing of parents, is another reason for families to love.
They are a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. Bernedoodle’s coat marking depends on which color genes it receives from each parent, just like basic genetic law by Mendel (Mendelian Principles of Inheritance). But many F1 and other generation pups vary. This is because of the interplay of multiple genes.
The beauty lies in how much variety is present within a litter. Note that a doodle’s coat often shows its true colors after 12 to 24 months. This is mostly their full-grown age. At this time, changes can be normal. Now, we will discuss some common and rare coat markings.
Bernedoodle Coat Markings and Colors
They have excellent coats because of their parents. Each coat marking can have different shades. Below are some common and rare coat patterns with their colors.
Solid (Self Colored)
A uniform color is present throughout the body of a doodle. Either little or no stripes, patches, or markings of any other color are present.
Colors in a solid coat marking are black, chocolate (Also called Liver), cream (Also called Ivory), red, gold, silver, and blue (A diluted black color).
Silver and Blue are rare because Bernese Mountain Dog doesn’t have dilution genes. Only poodles can pass this dilution or progressive greying gene, which is not common.
Bicolor (Two Colored Marking)
In this marking, there are two clearly separate colors throughout the coat. One as a solid base, while the other is present with distinct patches.
Common colors in this coat are black, chocolate, cream, apricot, red, blue, or silver with a white base.
Tri Color (Three Colored Coat Marking)
As the name suggests, this coat has three colors. One dark as a base, second as markings on face, chest, or paws. Third, as tan, rust, or brown points on cheeks, legs, or around the eyebrows.
Points and markings are normally of white and tan. In contrast, a dark color is mostly black, chocolate, or blue.
Parti (Piebald or Pied)
It contains at least 50% white color mixed with other patches of one or more solid colors.
Black, Chocolate, Apricot, Red, Cream, Blue, or Silver patches on a White background are usually present.
Tuxedo (Tux)
This coat has a solid and dark colored background with a high contrast white on the chest. Sometimes it continues till the belly area. It resembles a tuxedo suit with a bow tie.
The solid base has either black, chocolate, blue, apricot, or a red color with a white tux.
Phantom Coat Pattern
This coat has a solid dark background. Sharp and distinct lighter color markings are present above eyebrows, around the muzzle, on the chest, on the legs, or under the tail.
Markings are usually of tan color, while solid color may be black, chocolate, or diluted blue.
Mask (Muzzle or Black Mask)
This coat has a patch of fur with a different base color, usually on the muzzle of a doodle. Sometimes it also extends to the ears or eyes.
Typically, a black mask on a red, cream, or apricot base is common. Sometimes a liver mask on a chocolate base also appears.
Irish Spotting (Blaze or Limited White)
In this coat, there is a symmetrical white pattern mostly on the bernedoodle’s legs, chest, neck, collar, muzzle, and tail tip.
A base color such as black, chocolate, apricot, red, or cream with limited white is common in this coat.
Mantle (Cape)
This coat has one solid color with a second marking on some areas of the body. It creates a blanket or a cape effect on a doodle’s coat.
Black, Chocolate, Red, Apricot, Blue, or a Silver colored mantle is formed over a white coat. This marking is rare because it requires specific pattern producing genes. Bernese Mountain Dogs don’t naturally have them. While, poodles occasionally have those genes. So, it is very rarely produced.
Saddle (Saddle Mark or Saddle Tan)
A dark patch of hair is formed on the back of a doodle pup. It gives a fastened saddle like appearance.
Black, Chocolate, Red, Apricot, and Blue Saddle may be present in this pattern. Like Mantle, this marking also requires pattern producing genes. Thus, they are also rare.
Brindle (Striped)
In this coat, some dark colored tiger-like stripes are present on a lighter base coat. Stripes can appear in shades of black, chocolate, or red.
These coat markings are uncommon because they require brindle genes in both of the parents.
Merle (Dapple)
It has irregular dark patches over a lighter colored base. This gives bernedoodles a dapple or marble effect. Puppies with merle coat markings usually have blue or bluish eyes.
Blue merle (black on gray), red merle, and chocolate merle are found in bernedoodles. This coat marking is intentionally avoided by some breeders, because of the potential health risks.
Studies by Clark et al., PNAS (2006) and Langevin et al., PLOS(2018), show the merle pattern is caused by a specific change in the PMEL/SILV gene, which produces the dappled look.
Sable (Shaded Sable)
In this coat, bernedoodles have lighter colored hair roots with darker ends. This gives them a beautiful ombre effect, which resembles a wolf. It is also commonly known as a blonde color. This pattern is rare because poodle’s genetics usually masks the sable expression.
A color in this pattern is a red sable in which black tip hairs are over a red or an apricot base. Apricot sable coats are very rare but exist.
If you are interested in bringing a bernedoodle pup home, you should go through this comprehensive guide about their prices.
Harlequin Coat Marking
It is a distinct genetic pattern that is present only in the Great Dane breed. Some breeders call specific markings as Harlequin. However, they are mostly just referring to the Parti markings with a white background and patches of a solid color.
Also read this about other doodle’s coat markings.
Conclusion
Bernedoodles show a wide variety of coats and colors. These coat traits come from both the Bernese and the Poodle. Because of the interaction of several genes, littermates often look different. That’s why reputable breeders like The Doodle Tribe cannot guarantee a specific coat color.
DNA studies in the US by H. Anderson, et al 2020, show that rare coat color genes exist in pet dogs. For example, one MC1R variant was found in about 1.5% of roughly 11,750 tested dogs. These uncommon genes can make mixed doodles like Bernedoodles end up with unexpected coat colors.
Common patterns are solid, bicolor, tri color, parti, phantom, merle, and brindle. Size doesn’t affect the marking or color trait. They are found in all sizes, including standard, medium, mini, or a toy berne doodle. Some markings are rare as well. Therefore, the coat looks beautiful but can be unpredictable.
After reading all about these beautiful colors, if you are planning to have a Bernedoodle pup, then you should check our available pups.
Common Questions
What colors do bernedoodles come in?
Bernedoodles usually come in solid black, bi colors such as black and white, or tri colors with black, brown, and white. Other patterns like phantom, brindle, and sable are also available.
Do Bernedoodles' coats change color?
Yes, as the puppy grows, it changes noticeably. Color fades or lightens as puppies grow into adults.
What type of coat does a Bernedoodle typically have?
Bernedoodle can have a straight, wavy, or curly coat, depending on their parents.
