Mini Bernedoodle Training Tips: How to Train Your Smart Dog

When you have decided to bring home a Mini Bernedoodle puppy, it is better to start training them early. It will help you to enjoy their companionship from the very beginning. It is worth noting that each dog has its qualities, and not all have the same traits. Since Bernedoodles have become highly prominent across households in the US, training them has become a tricky affair, especially for first-time pet owners. Irrespective of their smartness and adorable nature to please, the Bernedoodles are a bit stubborn and cautious about the situation and people around them.

In our post today we have compiled a careful list of things you can imply to train your Bernedoodle. After knowing about the ways to train your pup, things become easier for you to handle. Nothing can be better than having a well-mannered and obedient pup at your side. 

When Is the Right Time to Start Training Your Bernedoodle?

Puppy training is a main priority, especially when you bring home a Mini Bernedoodle. It is important to teach your furry companion and set the right boundaries around the house, as it is important for the overall well-being of your pup. There are prominent breeders out there who initiate the training process early; however, it is essential to instill good behavior in your pup and set clear expectations.

Avoid overstressing your dog into learning new ways. Give them space to learn new things at their speed, and here, the pet owners should have consistency and patience. Create routines and set boundaries to avoid any confusion. For instance, when you allow your puppy to sleep on your bed for a day and then the next day you close your door, it creates confusion and inconsistency in their behavior. It is easy to teach your pup the right behaviors from the start instead of rectifying their bad habits later.

The Best Way to Train Your Bernedoodle

Berndoodles are identical to their Bernese Mountain Dog parents. They are usually quiet and stable dogs that do not generally require a huge amount of training. In comparison to highly excited, motivated Doodles, Berndoodles are easy to control if one chooses the right teaching method.

Positive Reinforcement

The first concepts of dog training largely involved owner control of the pet by positive punishment (e.g., shouting, hitting, and inflicting pain). We have moved far away from these today. Such therapy has a very low success rate, and as a result, it will give rise to a nervous, aggressive dog who is likely to bite upon getting instigated.

Now, most trainers make use of positive reinforcement methods. These are people who do not respond to bad behavior but instead promote good behavior (i.e., by bribing them). They do so through attention, validation, play, and food. A limitation of this method is that aberrant behavior can be highly reinforcing for the sake of being aberrant behavior just that your dog is fond of pinching food off the table or running wild in the garden. If so, it is proposed to apply a negative punishment (removing an object they know and like, such as a familiar toy, a treat, or your attention in general) in order to convey to the person that the behavior is wrong.

Clicker Training

Based on the same principles as positive reinforcement, clicker training is the method most often utilized by dog trainers. In this method, praise, treats, or toys are replaced with a sound the pup comes to associate with a future reward, such as a click or a verbal cue.

Clicker training has a couple of distinct advantages. To begin with, you do not have to bring with you a bag of treats and toys at all times. Secondly, it can be applied at the same time when your dog performs the desired behavior. This way, the desirable behavior is clearly demarcated.

Using this approach, you would first need to train your pal to connect the clicker to an upcoming reward. Do this by encouraging them to obey a command they are already familiar with, using the clicker, and promptly feeding them a treat. With time, a link will form between the two. Eventually, the clicker may even become the reward itself, the signal of a job well done for your dog.

Read More: How to Choose the Right Miniature Bernedoodle Puppy for Your Lifestyle

Mirror Training

The mirror technique has been used in the development not only of the idea of positive reinforcement but also in clicker training. But it generalizes this by making the dog attempt to replicate the owner's behavior (e.g., if they sit you so, they do, sit), (i.e., there is an upper limit on the number of separate behaviors the dog can copy). That is, that is to have a way to manipulate the leader is a typical response in the wild to the pack animal living in a social group.

With this technique, pups base instincts are enforced. They enjoy the freedom to perform dog-like actions (within a reason). Exercise is typically performed without restraint, and training is for behavior associated with hunting/guarding and retrieval.

Socialization plays a crucial role in mirror training. Here, it is recommended to keep the dog in all life activities (activities, home, work, etc. as best as one can, even when the goal is to establish a close bond between dog and owner. External, active socialization with other dogs is also relevant. Pack-animal mentality (i.e., adaptive behaviors learned through pack-animal mentality) also.

Relationship-Based Training

As the term indicates, relationship-based training also focuses too much on the dyadic relationship between pet and owner. The concept is that any training that is based on a secure and trusting connection is likely significantly more effective.

In this way, training does not take place in a session but at every single pet-owner interaction. You are keen to learn as much as possible about your dog and what it requires individually. The task is to get on the pulse of their feelings, read their body language accurately, and perceive their motivation.

Positive reinforcement methods are then used to shape behavior. Simultaneously, the environment is carefully controlled to condition the dog to succeed. For example, don't set out to allow the temptation to be current whenever you can prevent it. This type of training is longer than others but may help achieve more success in the long term.

Utilize Food Treats

Bernedoodles are highly food-motivated animals, which makes them easy to train. That is to say, food treats can be used as a reward, and your Bernedoodles will happily do almost anything just for one of those yummy little bites. Whenever you begin training a new behavior or if you are having difficulty training Bernedoodles, use food rewards.

When training is done outside of the home (e.g., in a dog park), high-value rewards for the dog will come in handy. At home, when doing repetitive simple chores, you can reward them intermittently and switch between verbal praise, petting, or playing their favorite game.

Tiny, bite-sized rewards are perfect for training because they allow your Bernedoodle to be rewarded while remaining focused on you.

Common Bernedoodle Training Issues and Solutions

Owners sometimes find themselves dealing with the following:

Counter Surfing/ Stealing Food

Bernedoodles are highly motivated by food, and therefore, it is easy to build positive reinforcement training with these dogs. But it also increases the chance that they will steal food from plates and surfaces unless carefully supervised.

To use the relationship-based approach would be never to offer temptation to your dog in the first place. However, it is only partially realistic to want and expect family members, for example, to keep food well out of the reach of your pup in all situations.

Set up training sessions where food is left out on purpose and utilize commands to help your dog understand what they must do. If they follow, give them pets and compliments, and they will learn it well enough eventually. Do not cross wires by never feeding your dog from the dinner table.

Jumping

Bernedoodles are generally wary of strangers but not those who are dear to them. They may demonstrate their enthusiasm by jumping, which could be better if your Berne is on the larger side.

It is hard for owners who are keen to give all the love to stop such behavior, but not all of us enjoy being launched into the air. Ideally, it is best to stop your friend doing this as soon as possible.

Although the instinctive reaction would be to push your dog down, the dog will undoubtedly see this as a playpart. The most effective thing to get out of this kind of fixation is to withdraw your attention. Do not make a sound turn away from your dog, and fold your arms across your chest. If they keep jumping, turn around and get out of the room.

Barking

Bernedoodles are not stereotypically barky dogs, except when they are trained as working dogs, and this should be fine for most. If you are struggling with a noisy hound, it is worth trying to find out what might be beneath the behavior rather than just suppressing it.

Barking can signal an array of issues, everything from boredom to anxiety. So, pay attention to when it occurs. Bernedoodles, as extremely friendly dogs, can suffer from separation anxiety, so if your dog is upsetting neighbors when you are not around the house, that is probably the reason. Determine the following things you can do for separation anxiety here.

These lovely dogs are also incredibly sensitive and, consequently, can become anxious in new environments or the presence of strangers. Early and deep socialization is the most effective prevention against this.

Read More: Mini Bernedoodle vs. Mini Goldendoodle: Which Doodle is Right for Your Family? 

Digging

Likewise, barking and digging are signs of a deeper underlying condition, such as boredom. The beauty of Doodles is that their intelligence can keep them from being content with just hanging around in the yard all day. They have to be constantly physically and mentally stimulated. 

Digging is a firm doggy favorite. It is fun, and so it becomes its reward, independent of liability to the owner's displeasure. It is a matter of how to distract them from one thing by diverting their gaze to another. If they are getting enough walks and plenty of pats, try adding some toys to the mix. Puzzle toys have been devised to entertain intelligent dogs effectively over any period.

Or, avoid temptation by concealing or fencing off your dog's favorite digging areas. Finally, designate a specific area in the garden where your dog can dig happily, ensuring it is a safe distance from the fence and your prized plants and flowers.

Final Words

Suppose a dog has or is continuing to exhibit behavioral problems such as aggression, food aggression, excessive howling, destructive chewing, mounting, or separation anxiety. In that case, it will almost certainly need some form of special care to be addressed. The best approach to addressing a Mini Bernedoodle's behavior issues is to hire a trainer or have a behaviorist visit your home for a personalized consultation.

Mini Bernedoodle puppies are a pleasure to be around. They are wonderfully friendly, active, and playful family-friendly dogs. Early and proper training will head off many difficulties. You will have a wonderful lifelong companion whose love is special and unconditional.