The short answer
You can adopt a Bernedoodle in Perth, but they are uncommon in rescue, so be patient. This friendly Bernese and Poodle cross mostly reaches rescue through the doodle boom, when a low-shedding image met the reality of real grooming cost and energy. Set alerts across Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, the foster-based SAFE Perth and SAFE, and PetRescue, be application-ready, and stay open to another doodle or an older dog. Adoption runs about $600 for an adult, all-inclusive, against several thousand dollars from a breeder, and the breed is not restricted in WA. Plan for regular professional grooming, daily exercise and a dog that wants company. Meet those needs and you have a wonderful, affectionate family dog.
Why Bernedoodles end up in Perth rescue
A Bernedoodle in rescue is rarely a difficult dog. It is usually a lovely family dog whose grooming cost or energy outran what its last home expected.
The doodle boom is the backdrop. Bernedoodles were marketed hard as the perfect low-shedding family dog and sold at high prices, and demand outran the number of homes that understood what they were taking on. When the novelty wore off, or a pandemic-era owner went back to the office, a steady stream of doodles reached rescue.
Grooming is the cost people underestimate. A curly or wavy coat needs regular professional grooming or clipping every few weeks, or it mats painfully against the skin. That is an ongoing cost for the life of the dog, and a lot of buyers did not budget for it, which is one of the most common reasons a doodle is surrendered.
Energy and company. The Bernese and Poodle parents are both working breeds, so a Bernedoodle needs daily exercise and some mental work, and it bonds closely and dislikes being left alone all day. Owners who pictured a calm, low-effort dog can find themselves with more than they planned for. Housing pressure in Perth, where many homes are rented or under a strata scheme, adds to the number that reach rescue.
Where to adopt a Bernedoodle in Perth
Because Bernedoodles are uncommon in general rescue, a wide alert net is the right approach. Set listing alerts on every rescue you would consider, and stay open to other doodle crosses. For a fuller directory, see our Perth adoption resources hub.
1. Dogs' Refuge Home WA
A dogs-only, not-for-profit shelter at Shenton Park in inner Perth, running since 1935 under a pro-life policy. A broad mix of dogs and crosses comes through, and adoption includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping and a vet check. Browse the current dogs at dogshome.org.au.
2. RSPCA Western Australia
The state welfare body, with its Animal Care Centre at 108 Malaga Drive in Malaga, northern Perth. Adoptions run by appointment, and every animal is health- and behaviour-checked before it is listed, so you get an honest read on a dog before you commit. Apply at rspcawa.org.au.
3. SAFE Perth and SAFE
Both run a foster-care model rather than a central metro shelter, so a doodle lives in a home while it waits. Because the dog lives in foster care, the notes on its coat type, grooming needs, energy and behaviour with people and other animals tend to be detailed and honest, which matters for a cross whose coat varies. SAFE Perth lists at safeperth.com.au and SAFE at safe.org.au. Both operate under the SAFE banner in WA, so confirm which organisation holds a given dog.
4. PetRescue
A national aggregator that lists Bernedoodles and other doodle crosses from many smaller WA rescue groups in one searchable place, at petrescue.com.au. It is the fastest way to scan many WA rescues at once.
Be wary of any group calling itself a Bernedoodle or doodle rescue that asks for money before you have confirmed a real address, a current adoptable-dog list and registered status. Browse the current Bernedoodles and doodle crosses on the Perth Bernedoodle listings.
What a Bernedoodle costs: adopt versus buy
Adoption is far cheaper at the outset. A rescue fee for a Bernedoodle through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, and the rare puppy usually more, and that fee already covers desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Bernedoodle from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet.
The ongoing cost that defines this cross is grooming: a professional groom every few weeks or a serious home routine, plus the usual food, weight-dosed preventatives and vet care, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young. Council registration under the Dog Act 1976 is a separate yearly cost set by your local council, reduced for a desexed and microchipped dog, with a further discount commonly available to pensioner and concession card holders. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub and your own council for the current amount. The biggest long-term saving is adopting an assessed adult: you see the coat type, size and temperament rather than gamble on a puppy.
Living with a Bernedoodle, and the health picture
The Bernedoodle is typically friendly, affectionate, playful and people-oriented, a clever dog that trains well with reward-based methods and makes a lovely family companion. The commitments are the grooming, daily exercise and mental work, and company, because it bonds closely and does not suit a home that is out all day. The curly or wavy coat also needs care in a Perth summer: keep the dog cool, exercise in the cool of the day, and keep the coat clipped to a sensible length for the climate rather than letting it mat.
On health, a Bernedoodle is a cross, so it can inherit conditions from either parent breed, including hip and elbow problems and some eye conditions, and the Bernese side carries some cancer risk. Hybrid vigour is real but not a guarantee of health. A rescue Bernedoodle arrives vet-checked, so ask the rescue what the in-care assessment found, keep the dog at a healthy weight, stay on top of grooming and skin care, and insure it while it is young.
Bernedoodles and WA dog law
The Bernedoodle is not a restricted breed in Western Australia. Under the Dog Act 1976 the five restricted breeds are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. The Bernedoodle is legal to own and to rehome normally, and simply needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a reduced fee for a desexed and microchipped dog. Check the WA Government dog ownership hub and your council for registration details.
Browse adoptable Bernedoodles in Perth
Bernedoodles are uncommon in rescue, so other doodle crosses and older dogs appear more often. Browse live WA listings and set an alert so you hear the moment one comes in.
See Available Bernedoodles →If you have been searching “Bernedoodle for sale Perth”
Plenty of people arrive here after searching for a Bernedoodle to buy, and the for-sale listings vastly outnumber the rescue ones, so buying feels like the only route. The catch is that doodles are expensive and in demand, which makes this cross one of the bigger targets for backyard breeding and the occasional scam in Australia. A cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person is a warning sign rather than a bargain, and Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for puppies that do not exist. A seller who will not show you both healthy parents is a red flag. WA does not run a Pet Exchange Register or breeder source-number scheme, so the practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything. Adoption sidesteps much of that: it costs a fraction of a breeder price, and an assessed adult shows you the coat type and temperament rather than a gamble. The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase has good guidance on choosing a dog and avoiding poorly bred puppies.
Adult or puppy, and is a Bernedoodle right for you?
For most adopters an assessed adult is the better choice, because the coat type, size and temperament are already clear rather than a gamble, and an adult often has some training in place and a lower adoption fee. Doodle puppies are in high demand, rare in rescue, and a great deal of work through the chewing and training stage, so a settled adult with the rescue's notes on its coat and energy is the sensible way into the cross.
Be honest about whether this dog fits your life. A Bernedoodle is a wonderful, affectionate family companion for a home that can commit to regular grooming, daily exercise and company, and that will keep the coat sensibly clipped for the Perth climate. It is not suited to an owner who wants a low-maintenance coat or a dog that can be left alone all day. If you can offer the grooming and the company, a rescue Bernedoodle is a devoted friend. If not, a lower-maintenance breed will suit you both better than adopting and surrendering later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I adopt a Bernedoodle near me in Perth?
Start with the main Perth shelters and rescues: Dogs' Refuge Home WA at Shenton Park, RSPCA WA at Malaga, and the foster-based rescues SAFE Perth and SAFE. Be realistic about supply. Bernedoodles are a newer designer cross, so they are uncommon in rescue and other doodle crosses often appear alongside them. Set listing alerts across every rescue you would consider, have your application ready, and stay open to another doodle or an older dog. PetRescue lists dogs from many smaller WA rescues in one place, and never send money before you have confirmed a real, registered rescue.
Why do Bernedoodles end up in rescue?
Usually because the doodle boom produced more dogs than homes that understood them, not because of any fault in the dog. Bernedoodles were marketed hard as a low-shedding family dog, and a lot of buyers did not budget for the reality: a curly or wavy coat needs regular professional grooming or clipping every few weeks, or it mats painfully, and that is an ongoing cost for the life of the dog. Add the energy of the Bernese and Poodle parents, the price people paid during the boom, and the number of pandemic-era puppies whose owners went back to the office, and a steady stream of doodles reached rescue. Housing pressure in Perth, where many homes are rented or under a strata scheme, plays a part too. The temperament is usually lovely: most just needed an owner ready for the grooming and the energy.
How much does it cost to adopt a Bernedoodle versus buy one?
Adoption is far cheaper up front. A rescue fee for a Bernedoodle through a Perth rescue commonly runs about $600, and the rare puppy usually more, and that fee already includes desexing, vaccination, microchipping, worm and flea treatment and a vet check. A Bernedoodle from a breeder in WA, by contrast, often runs to several thousand dollars, with none of that vet work done yet. So adopting is many times cheaper at the outset and the dog arrives already vetted. The ongoing cost that defines the breed is grooming: budget for a professional groom every few weeks or a serious home routine, plus the usual food, parasite prevention and vet care, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young.
Are Bernedoodles restricted in Western Australia?
No. The Bernedoodle is not a restricted breed in WA. The five restricted breeds under the Dog Act 1976 are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. The Bernedoodle is legal to own and to rehome normally. Like any WA dog it needs to be microchipped by 3 months of age and before it changes hands, and registered with your local council from 3 months, with a substantially reduced registration fee for a desexed and microchipped dog.
Do Bernedoodles really not shed?
It depends on the individual dog, and that is an honest thing to know before you adopt. A Bernedoodle is a cross, so the coat varies: some take more after the Poodle and shed very little, others take more after the Bernese and shed more than buyers expect. What is consistent is that the coat, curly or wavy, needs regular grooming regardless of how much it sheds. No dog is truly non-allergenic, and a low-shedding dog is not the same as a no-maintenance one. If a reliably low-shedding coat matters for an allergy, meet the specific dog first and talk to the rescue about its coat type rather than assuming.
Are Bernedoodles good family dogs?
They can be excellent family dogs, which is a big part of why they became so popular. A well-raised Bernedoodle is typically friendly, affectionate, playful and people-oriented, and many are gentle and patient with children. The things to plan for are the grooming commitment, moderate to high energy that needs daily exercise and some mental work, and a tendency to bond closely and dislike being left alone all day. Early socialisation and reward-based training bring out the best in them. The foster carer's notes on a specific dog with children and other pets predict the fit far better than the breed average, so ask.
Should I adopt an adult Bernedoodle or a puppy?
For most adopters an assessed adult is the better choice, because the coat type, size and temperament are already clear rather than a gamble, and an adult often has some training in place and a lower adoption fee. Doodle puppies are in high demand and rare in rescue, and they are a great deal of work through the chewing and training stage. A settled adult, with the rescue's notes on its coat and energy, is the sensible way into the breed.
I keep seeing Bernedoodle puppies for sale. Is adopting really an option?
It is, and an adult rescue Bernedoodle has a real advantage because you can see the coat type, size and temperament you are taking on rather than gamble on a puppy. The for-sale listings are everywhere and doodles are expensive, which is exactly why this cross attracts backyard breeding and the occasional scam, so a cheap puppy or a deposit request for a dog you have not met in person is a warning sign rather than a bargain. WA has no breeder source-number register, so the practical safeguard is the microchip: a dog sold or given away legally in WA must be microchipped and registered, so ask to see the microchip paperwork before you pay anything. Adoption costs a fraction of a breeder price and gives a vet-checked dog a home.
Keep reading
Adoptable Bernedoodles in Perth
Live listings of Bernedoodles and doodle crosses across Perth and WA rescues.
Best Dog Rescues in Perth
The verified WA shelters and foster rescues to set alerts with.
Registering a Dog in Perth
Council registration, microchipping and the WA rules for a new dog.
All Dogs for Adoption in Perth
Every adoptable dog we track across Perth and WA shelters and rescues.