Bernedoodle vs Dachshund: Which Suits Your Home?

A Dachshund tops out around 32 lbs and 9 inches tall; even a mini Bernedoodle can weigh more than that, and a standard runs up to 90 lbs. This isn't really a which-is-bigger comparison so much as two different categories of dog. If square footage or a low counter-surfing risk matters, the Dachshund's small frame is the whole story here.

The Bernedoodle rates high (4/5) for exercise need against the Dachshund's moderate (3/5). Despite the Dachshund's short legs, it's not a couch dog - it was bred to go to ground after badgers - but it tops out at a lower daily activity requirement than the Bernedoodle, which inherited its drive from both the Bernese and the Poodle side. A short yard session plus a walk covers most Dachshunds; the Bernedoodle usually wants more.

This is a clear split. The Bernedoodle needs high-maintenance grooming (4/5) for its curly coat, while the Dachshund needs very little (2/5) regardless of whether you get the short, wire, or long-haired variety. Shedding itself is a tie - both rate low (2/5) - so the difference here is brushing and trim time, not hair on the furniture. Either way, keep nails and ears checked regularly, since both breeds are prone to ear issues if ignored.

The Dachshund is built for small spaces - it rates a full 5/5 on apartment suitability, the highest score in this comparison. The Bernedoodle rates a 2/5. Barking cuts the other way: the Dachshund is a notorious alert-barker (4/5) while the Bernedoodle stays quieter (2/5). Neither dog handles being left alone well, and the Dachshund is worse at it, rated 1/5 against the Bernedoodle's 2/5.

The Bernedoodle rates very high (5/5) for trainability and 4/5 for first-time owners; the Dachshund sits at moderate (3/5) on both counts. Dachshunds are famously stubborn, bred to think independently while chasing prey underground, and that same independence shows up at obedience class. A first-time owner will likely have an easier road with the Bernedoodle. Short, high-value-reward sessions tend to work better with a Dachshund than long drilling.

The Bernedoodle outscores the Dachshund across the board here: very high with kids and other dogs versus the Dachshund's moderate (3/5) on both, and high with strangers versus the Dachshund's low (2/5). None of these Dachshund scores are disqualifying, but they reflect a breed that tends to bond tightly with fewer people and can be snappish with rough handling from kids.

Both breeds live a comparably long time - 12-18 years for the Bernedoodle, 12-16 for the Dachshund - and both share hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy on their health lists. The Dachshund's long spine brings its own well-known risk, intervertebral disc disease, plus chondrodystrophy-related joint issues; the Bernedoodle's list leans toward bloat, epilepsy, and skin and joint conditions instead.

The Dachshund is the cheaper dog to keep on every figure given: $80-150 a month against the Bernedoodle's $120-220, and $1,200-2,500 in year one versus $1,800-3,200. Smaller dogs eat less and the Dachshund's low grooming need keeps that line item down too. Factor in that a Bernedoodle's grooming alone can run close to what a Dachshund costs to feed and maintain in an entire month.