With their long, thick, water-resistant coat and its friendly personality, the Bernese Mountain Dog is an attractive pet for many people. Like any dog breed, though, it does require some maintenance – especially when it comes to grooming.
This article will provide helpful tips on Bernese Mountain Dogs’ grooming and how to take care of their overall health.
About The Bernese Mountain Dogs’ Coat
The Bernese Mountain Dog has a coat that has two layers of fur. The top layer is called the “topcoat” which is coarse to the touch and sheds more than the undercoat. The undercoat does not shed as much as the top coat but it can be heavy in humid conditions. There are many colors that are accepted for this breed including black, brown, white, and cream.
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Tools Required to Groom Bernese Mountain Dogs
According to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, you will need the following tools to groom your dog:
- Pined brush
- A metal-tined dog comb with medium spaced lines
- Scissors
- Rake for removing hair in the undercoat
- Nail clippers/grinders
- Towel
- Cotton cloth or cotton balls
- Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
5 Bernese Mountain Dog Grooming Tips for Coat Care
Bernese Mountain Dogs need regular grooming; they have a thick coat that needs to be brushed and washed every few weeks. Here are some important Bernese Mountain dogs grooming tips that you need to follow when caring for their coat:
- Brush your dog’s hair at least two times a week to remove any mats or knots.
- Use a slicker brush to get rid of dead hairs and loosen the coat.
- Use a comb for detangling and conditioning the hair.
- Use a final coat conditioner after brushing your Bernese’s coat.
- Do not shave your dog as shaving can expose your dog to sunburn and parasites.
How Often Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Need Grooming?
If you are thinking of getting a Bernese Mountain dog, make sure you know the amount of grooming they need so that you can plan accordingly. Bernese mountain dogs need to be groomed every two weeks with more frequent grooming during the shedding seasons which are around spring and fall.
According to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, weekly brushing and regular bathing will do fine for keeping the breed happy and healthy.
How To Bathe Bernese Mountain Dogs?
To look their best and stay healthy, your Bernese Mountain Dog needs regular baths. When your dog’s fur is dull or feels slightly slick, know that it is bath time!
Here are some tips on how to bathe Bernese Mountain Dogs:
- Brush your dog’s fur with a firm bristle brush or comb before you bathe them.
- Bathe them with a shampoo made specifically for dogs instead of human shampoo.
- if your Bernie has allergies or skin irritations, use medicated or hypoallergenic shampoo like Tea-tree and Aloe shampoo and Oatmeal Shampoo.
- Make sure you end the bath with a conditioner.
- Do not use the shampoo inside your dog’s ears. The ears need to be checked and cleaned with a wet cloth or cotton balls separately after the bath.
- Also, do not forget to dry your dog off after bathing them.
How To Trim Bernese Mountain Dog Nails?
Nail trimming of your Bernese can be done a few times a year, depending upon the nails’ length. It’s important to have the right tools for any task, and trimming your fur baby’s nails is no exception. Here are some of the things you should consider if you want to get started.
- A dog nail clipper would be good to have since it will save you time and money when clipping nails at home.
- When clipping your dog’s nails, try to avoid cutting too close- meaning you should only clip the tips. The sensitive pink tissue that runs inside of every nail can bleed if you clip deeply. If you see your dog’s nails bleeding, use styptic powder or cornstarch.
- To carefully clip the nails, hold the dog’s paw with one hand. Angle your finger and thumb over their front paw, keeping your fingers on opposite sides of the lower front limb. Carefully pick one toe and start clipping/trimming.
- When using a nail trimmer, just keep the trimmer close to your Berner’s paws and gently start cutting away. The blades will also need time to cool down before grooming is done.
- You can also use a grinder which will give you more control over the length of your cut, as opposed to using a nail trimmer.
Conclusion
The Bernese Mountain dog (typically BMD) is a fairly easy dog to groom. They don’t need any complicated or special shampoo, so it’s easy to shop for your grooming tools and supplies. Now that you have all the information you need, you can get started with being a responsible dog owner!
Thank you for reading the article.
To explore more, check out other articles about the Bernese Mountain Dog.
How do you groom your Berner? What tools do you use to perfectly groom your dog to make them look clean and healthy? We would love to hear from you. Please share with our community by leaving a comment below!