Breed · Double-coated shedders
Bernese Mountain Dog grooming: heavy shedding, tools, no shaving
AKC's Bernese coat facts: a 5-of-5 shedder with a twice-yearly shed, weekly to daily brushing, slicker and comb for tangles, nails and no shaving.
Also listed as Berner
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Short answer
The Bernese has a double coat, a longer outer coat over a wooly undercoat, and AKC rates it 5 of 5 for shedding, the top of its scale. Brush weekly and daily in the two shedding seasons each year, and work tangles out with a slicker brush or metal comb (AKC). Core tools: long-pin slicker, metal comb, undercoat rake, grooming vacuum. Don't shave: AKC advises against shaving double coats.
Key facts
- Coat type (AKC)
- Double[1]A longer outer coat with a wooly undercoat (AKC).
- Coat length (AKC)
- Medium[1]
- Shedding (AKC, 1-5)
- 5 of 5[1]The top of AKC's scale, which it labels hair everywhere.
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Weekly; daily in shedding season; slicker or metal comb for tangles[1]
- Seasonal shedding
- Twice a year; a fair amount the rest of the time[1]
- Clipping and shaving
- Don't shave; AKC advises against shaving double coats[2][3][1]Breed standard: shown in natural coat, and undue trimming is discouraged.
- Nail trims
- Trim regularly; overly long nails can cause pain and structural problems (AKC)[1]
Watch out for
- Don't shave for summer: AKC says shaving doesn't cool a dog and removes the insulating undercoat, which can then regrow unevenly.
- Long nails hurt: AKC says overly long nails can cause the dog pain and structural problems.
- Brush in sections down to the skin; AAHA says most loose fur collects in the undercoat, which surface brushing misses.
- Severe matting is a groomer's job: AKC says groomers can remove mats gently and, when needed, cut the coat down so the skin can dry.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Long-pin slicker
Extra-long-pin slicker brush for curly and doodle coatsChoose the single brush; any color.
Longer pins for working through a thick coat in sections; the seller lists it for long coats.
Sold by Stone's Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
Scissor-style, with a light; VCA suggests staying about 2-3 mm from the visible quick on light nails.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
Grooming vacuum
INSE P30 grooming vacuum (4.5 L dust box)Choose the US-plug variant.
For a 5-of-5 shedder, where canister size matters most. 4.5 L dust box and US plug variant, per the seller; noise is not measured, so introduce it gradually.
Sold by INSE Global Store
Weekly: a long-pin slicker through the coat in sections, then a metal comb to the skin. In the two shedding seasons: daily sessions, with an undercoat rake for the wooly undercoat; a grooming vacuum keeps the shed off the floors.
AKC's drying advice is to use a dryer made for dogs and avoid heat. No catalog pick yet for a dog dryer, a metal comb or an undercoat rake; see can you use a human hair dryer on a dog? and dog dryer vs grooming vacuum.
Questions
How much do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed?
A lot. AKC rates the breed 5 of 5 for shedding and says Berners shed a fair amount all year and even more during their shedding season, which comes twice a year.[1]
How often should I brush a Bernese Mountain Dog?
AKC says weekly, and daily during shedding season, to remove loose hair; any tangles can be worked out with a slicker brush or metal comb.[1]