What Kind of Hair Does a Bernese Mountain Dog Have?

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a shepherd dog breed, large and good-natured giants with a balanced character. They are long-haired dogs, with a black and red color and white spots in the chest, head and paws. They have a double (wild) coat, plenty of undercoat and a glossy, shiny coat. Grooming for this breed means timely removal of dead undercoat, as well as thorough moisturizing and nourishing of the coat. Eye and ear hygiene are equally important. So choosing the best brush for Bernese Mountain Dog is a key issue.

Does it mean that you need to go to a pet salon every now and then? Honestly, when it comes to daily coat care, all you need to do is learn how to do it and what brushes to use. In this article, we will reveal our top picks of the best brushes and what’s it for.

Best Brushes for Bernese Mountain Dog

There are several types of brushes that you need to give your dog’s coat the proper care. The two-layer coat of Bernese Mountain Dog is thick and water-resistant that heavily sheds twice a year, especially during the warm weather and grows thick when the cold weather comes. Also, they shed continuously. but that doesn’t mean that you need to go to a professional groomer every time. For regular brushing (and combing), you will need some tools to make it easier for you to teach yourself and discipline your dog at home. It is also recommended to give regular brushing at least twice a week but in some instances, it’s better to make it a daily routine to be able to train your dog on the process.  

And here is our set of brushes each Bernese Mountain Dog parent should have for every day care and excess shedding.

Types of Brushes for Bernese Mountain Dog

• Daily Brushing – Slicker Brush
• Daily Combing – Closed-Tooth Steel Comb
• Deshedding Brush – Undercoat Rake
• Deshedding Brush – DeShedding Tool FURminator for Long Haired Dogs

Daily Brushing – Slicker Brush

A Slicker brush is perfect for medium to long-haired dogs like Bernese Mountain Dog. It is a must-have tool for regular grooming and is used to untangle mats and knots especially in the inner coat. It massages the skin and makes the coat tidy.

Daily Combing –  Closed-Tooth Steel Comb

If you have a Bernese Mountain Dog, this should be the first thing on your list to buy. A steel comb is used for removing minor mats and works good with longer hair of these dogs too! The ends must round so as not irritate or scratches their skin while doing it; we recommend getting an open-tooth one like ours – perfect during those finishing touches after brushing sessions because they’re small enough that way (perfect when traveling too!). You’ll probably find yourself using them everywhere: at home before going out together in style, especially if there’s time left over from playtime.

Best Shampoo for Bernese Mountain Dog

DeShedding Brush – Undercoat Rake

Since Bernese Mountain Dogs are heavy shedders and its coat continuously sheds throughout the year, you will need a little help to remove the extra fur that’s blocking the new hairs that grow. That’s why a rake is needed. Use it at least once a week. It also works good for longer hair detandling.

Deshedding Brush – DeShedding Tool FURminator for Long Haired Dogs

When warm weather begins, the coat is now shedding twice as much as it sheds normally. And using a slicker brush or rake may not be enough. FURminator for long haired dogs will make it easier for you to reduce loose hairs. You will get a twice more powerful result than with a slicker brush. Maybe you don’t even expect such great results from a brush, but Furminator with a special licensed technology can surprise you!

Aside from these brushes, you may also need scissors and thinning shears if your pup has too much on paws or ears: 

Grooming Scissors 

To complete the grooming kit, you will need straight and thinning grooming scissors. Scissors are used to do the detailed/sensitive trimming on the feet and ears to make them neat and tidy.

Buyer’s Guide – Best Brush for Bernese Mountain Dog

Things To Keep in Mind When Buying the Best Brushes For Your Bernese Mountain Dog

• The best way to care for your Bernese Mountain Dog is by building a consistent routine of regular grooming, in this way he will be trained patience and discipline at an early age. The more often they are brushing or combing his fur the less stressful it seems because there’s something familiar about these activities – plus dogs love getting rewarded with tasty snacks after doing what we want them too.
• Next, wash your Bernese Mountain Dog before your regular brushing or grooming, get your pup used to be dried by a blow drier after. It is the best time to check for hidden skin irritations and injuries. 
• We recommend using professional tools to make it easier to take care of your dog at home. Buy durable, high-quality brands that are proven safe and long-lasting. 
• The shedding process of the Bernese Mountain Dog is non-stop and may double when summer comes. Brushing them regularly is a best way to get rid of dead fur and make way to a brand new fur. 
• Lastly, before anything else, make sure to seek help and advice from your professional groomer first before you begin to learn all by yourself with the ins-and-outs of the grooming routine. 

The tools mentioned above are what professional groomers use and it’s the best thing to use them at home. Think of it as a necessity for your furbaby’s daily life and buying these tools serves as a special investment for a lifetime plus saves you time and a chunk of money from going back and forth to pet salons. 

Why Should I Know How Properly to Care for a Bernese Mountain Dog?

• Proper dog care will ensure that your dog’s hair is smooth and not tangled, and that you remove all dead hairs. This will have a positive impact on both his health and appearance.
• This helps to stimulate the skin pores to work well, ensuring that all of your Bernese Mountain Dog coat looks great.
• Coat care helps your dog to build a closer relationship with his owner, which encourages obedience and increases his confidence in you.
• Regular coat cleaning helps to massage your dog’s muscles which is especially important for older Bernese Mountain Dogs which are sedentary.
• Brushing the hair allows owners to detect any diseases, bites or parasites in time.
• When learning how to properly care for a Bernese Mountain Dog, it’s important to remember that the care method and frequency will depend on how much your dog’s coat grows. Depending on his coat, you’ll probably need to change your dog’s grooming methods a little bit, adjusting them to suit your pet.
• It’s also important that you only use the right tools to care for your dog. When grooming a Bernese Mountain Dog it is important that you use a brush that will not only affect the coat itself but also the skin itself.
• Continuity is also important in this process as it is not only beneficial but also contributes to your dog’s aging.
• When brushing and cleaning your dog, use his hair brush twice a week and skin massage brush once.
• Always start brushing from the front and gradually walk along your dog’s back, eventually ending with your paws.
• Areas that require extra attention are the neck, throat and small area around his ears. You should walk from the neck to his shoulders, elbows and paws. Finally, the belly and tail of the dog should be left behind.

Grooming of Bernese Mountain Dog in Salon: Description of Procedure

Bernese Mountain Dog grooming requires knowledge of the hair type of this breed, correct choice of tools, cosmetics and professional equipment, which will quickly and qualitatively help to make the Bernese Mountain Dog look perfect. The professional will carefully choose cosmetics, starting from the basic super-cleaner that will remove even heavy pollution, as well as degrease and prepare the coat for the next stages of care. Next, the coat is moisturized and given maximum nourishment and restoration of the hair. Both before and after bathing, an important feature of this breed grooming is to thoroughly comb out and remove the moulting undercoat. Blowing out and drying with a professional powerful compress hair dryer also helps get rid of excess hair. An integral part of Bernese Mountain Dog grooming is eye and ear hygiene as well as nail trimming. The final part of all grooming procedures is dazzling shiny hair, the comb slides easily over the hair indicating a perfectly combed coat.

How Often is Bernese Mountain Dog Groomed in the Salon?

It is advisable to groom the Bernese Mountain Dog at least twice a year. It is not recommended to wash the dog too often, as this can lead to dryness, dehydration and excessive de-greasing of the skin and coat. But also it is not necessary to run an abundant coat of Bernese Mountain Dog, dead undercoat quickly falls off in tangles, which will greatly complicate combing out, and significantly increase the cost of grooming. Haircuts are not required for this breed of dog, a light trimming of the paws is possible.

FAQ

Summary

The Bernese Mountain Dog’s coat is not just a feature of their breed but also serves as a protection from the changing weather, skin problems, and injuries. It is important to maintain a healthy coat by giving them proper and regular care. Use the professional tools to make it easier for both of you, and make sure to seek help before doing it on your own.