How to groom a Bernese Mountain Dog

What does a Berner's grooming routine include?

The basic routine takes care of the coat, the ears, the nails and the teeth. The coat needs a middling amount of care, but Berners shed a lot, and weekly brushing keeps more of the hair in the brush than around the house. How often to brush through the year is set out in our guide to Berner lifespan and shedding. Berners drop their coats with the seasons, except for females that haven't been spayed, which shed in step with their heat cycles.

Keep grooming sessions pleasant, with patience, gentle hands and plenty of praise, and treats as a reward. Run your hands over your Berner's whole body now and then, feeling for sores, mats, lumps or swelling, so that a problem is found while it is still small.

Which brushes and tools do you need?

The tools to have are a stainless steel pin brush, a metal comb with medium-spaced teeth, and a shedding blade or rake to pull out the dead undercoat. During a heavy shed, work right down to the skin so the loose undercoat comes out in the brush. Some owners brush the coat dry and others mist it lightly with water first, and both are fine.

For the rest of the routine, add ear cleaner and cotton balls, a toothbrush and dog toothpaste, a nail clipper or grinder, straight scissors and thinning shears, and a shampoo made for dogs, with a grooming table and a high-powered dog dryer as extras if you want them. The kit is a one-time cost, and it soon works out cheaper than regular trips to a professional groomer.

How often should you bathe a Berner?

Bathe a Berner when it is dirty or has that doggy smell, and don't overdo it, since too many baths cause as many problems as too few. Choose a shampoo made for dogs and read the label before using it on a puppy, because not every product suits one. A cotton ball in each ear helps keep soap and water out.

Rinse until every trace of shampoo is gone, because leftover shampoo can irritate the skin and cause hot spots, the oozing sores that need a vet if they keep coming back. Dry the coat thoroughly afterward. A high-powered dog dryer blows the water out of a thick coat, while a human hair dryer runs much hotter and can burn a dog's skin. Many dogs are scared of a dog dryer at first, so start it on low, hold it farther away, and go slowly with lots of praise. Some owners towel off and let the coat air-dry, though in warm, humid weather a coat left damp for a long time can bring on hot spots.

Should you shave a Bernese Mountain Dog?

No. Apart from tidying the feet and perhaps the ears, a Berner needs no trimming at all, and the breed is meant to be kept in its natural coat.

Shaving doesn't stop the shedding either. It damages the topcoat and can make skin trouble or sunburn more likely. It also harms the undercoat, which keeps a dog warm in winter and, in hot weather, lets air reach the skin and keeps it cool and dry. The only time to shave one is when the coat is so matted and packed down that the skin beneath it can't dry.

Heat is still a real concern for this breed, because a Berner's size and heavy black coat make heat stroke a risk. Shade and plenty of water are a must, air conditioning is best in extreme heat, and summer activity is best kept to the coolest times of day.

How do you trim a Berner's feet and ears?

A neat foot is optional, though many owners like one. Clip or scissor away the hair that grows between the pads until none of it sticks out past them. A trimmed foot grips a slippery floor better, gathers fewer ice balls between the toes in winter, and tracks less dirt into the house.

The long, stringy hair on a Berner's ears is a personal choice, and some owners love those ear fuzzies. To tidy them, thinning shears or plucking by hand will bring out the shape of the ear. If scissors make you nervous, ask an experienced groomer for a one-on-one lesson, and remember that cutting too little is better than cutting too much, since the hair grows back.

How do you care for a Berner's nails, ears and teeth?

Every Berner's nails should be kept short, whether the dog is shown, works or simply keeps you company. Human nail clippers work on a young puppy, and a grown dog needs dog nail clippers or a grinder. Inside each nail is the quick, tender pink tissue that shows through a white nail but stays hidden in a black one, and cutting into it hurts and bleeds. Trim a little at a time, because the quick shrinks back as the nails are kept short. If you do nick it, styptic powder or a pass of the nail across a bar of softened soap will usually stop the bleeding. A grinder seals the quick if you go too far, though it is noisy, so introduce it gently.

Clean the ears from time to time to help prevent infection, and keep water out of the ear canal, since moisture there can quickly lead to trouble. Brush the teeth regularly too, because a dog whose teeth are let go may need a cleaning at the vet, which can mean putting the dog under.

When should a Berner puppy start grooming?

Start in the first days at home, because teaching a puppy to accept every part of grooming is an essential part of early training, and it's easiest to get a puppy used to having its feet handled slowly while it is still small. Groom a puppy from the day it comes home with gentle brushing, a soft toothbrush touched to the gums, and a look at the feet, nails, ears and eyes. A first groomer's visit for a bath, brush and nail trim can wait until the puppy has had all its shots, at about 12 weeks.

Your puppy's breeder is a good source of grooming tips, so bring your questions to us before go-home day at 8 weeks. Bernese litters come along here only now and then, so check our Bernese page for the puppies available today.