Australian Mountain Doodles

Three breeds, one dog

An Australian Mountain Doodle blends the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Australian Shepherd, and the Poodle. Most are made by crossing an F1 Bernedoodle (half Bernese, half Poodle) with an F1 Aussiedoodle (half Australian Shepherd, half Poodle). That works out to roughly:

• 50% Poodle: Coat, intelligence, low-shedding tendency

• 25% Bernese Mountain Dog: The gentle, steady, people-loving temperament

• 25% Australian Shepherd: Brains, athleticism, and those striking coat patterns

You'll also see them called Aussie Bernedoodles, **Aussie Mountain Doodles, or Swiss Doodles — different names, same cross. It's a newer combination; breeders began working with it around 2015. Because three breeds are in the mix, litters vary a little more than a single-cross litter does. A good breeder tells you the *range* to expect rather than promising you a specific adult dog.

Three breeds, one dog

Think of the Australian Mountain Doodle as the middle path. The Bernese keeps them warm, steady, and family-oriented. The Australian Shepherd brings

drive, sharpness, and a dog that genuinely wants a job. The Poodle brings trainability and a sense of humor. Put together, you typically get a dog that's **more engaged and athletic than a Bernedoodle, but easier to settle than a working-line Australian Shepherd.** They learn fast, they bond hard, and they want to be part of whatever you're doing.

That speed cuts both ways. An under-stimulated Aussie cross will invent a job for itself, and you probably won't like the one it picks — barking at the window, herding the kids, redecorating the couch. Give them a daily walk plus real mental work — training sessions, puzzle feeders, scent games — and they're outstanding companions.

Health and genetic testing — what to actually ask about

A three-breed cross brings together three sets of genetic risks. Responsible breeding means testing for all of them, not just the convenient ones.

Two are specific to the Australian Shepherd side, and both are worth understanding before you buy from any breeder.

MDR1 — the drug sensitivity gene

Many herding breeds, Australian Shepherds included, carry a mutation in the **MDR1 (ABCB1)** gene. It affects the barrier that normally keeps certain drugs out of the brain. Dogs with the mutation can react badly to common medications — including some dewormers (ivermectin), anti-diarrheals (loperamide/Imodium), certain sedatives, and some chemotherapy drugs. Reactions range from tremors and disorientation to seizures. Two copies means the dog is affected. **One copy can still cause sensitivity.** It's a simple DNA test, included on the standard Embark panel. Knowing your puppy's MDR1 status is information you hand your vet on day one — it can prevent a genuine emergency.

Merle — why two merle parents is a hard no

Merle is that beautiful mottled coat pattern, and it comes in through the Australian Shepherd.

Breeding two merle dogs together gives each puppy roughly a **25% chance of being "double merle"** — inheriting two copies. Double merle dogs have a dramatically higher rate of deafness and blindness, because the same gene that dilutes coat pigment also disrupts the pigment cells the inner ear and eye need to develop properly.

It is completely preventable, and no ethical breeder does it.

Here's the part most buyers don't know: you can't always tell by looking. A "cryptic" or "phantom" merle carries the gene without an obviously merle coat. That's exactly why DNA testing both parents — rather than eyeballing them — is the only responsible approach.

How we do it

Every one of our parent dogs is Embark tested, and we publish the results — you can open the full panel yourself from each dog's profile. We select pairings around those

results, and we never breed merle to merle.

Is an Australian Mountain Doodle right for you?

We'd rather you find the right dog than simply buy one of ours.

They tend to thrive with

• Families who want an active companion — hiking, running, training, dog sport

• People who are home a fair amount, or can bring the dog along

• Owners who enjoy training and want a dog that engages back

• Households ready to commit to regular grooming

They're often not the right fit for

• Anyone wanting a low-energy dog content to be alone all day

• First-time owners who'd rather not do structured training

• Homes that can't budget for professional grooming every couple of months

• Anyone needing a guaranteed size, coat, or color

If you'd prefer a calmer, more couch-oriented dog, our Bernedoodles are likely the better match.