Bernese Mountain Dogs are big, gentle and covered in a thick tricolor coat. That coat was made for Swiss winters, so in warmer places it needs regular brushing to keep shedding down and your Berner comfortable.
- Coat type: Double coat
- Routine: Bathe every 6 to 8 weeks.
- Key tools: Undercoat rake, slicker brush, wide-tooth metal comb
What kind of coat does a Bernese Mountain Dog have?
Berners have a long, thick double coat that can be straight or slightly wavy. They shed moderately year-round and heavily seasonally. Feathering and the hair behind the ears tangle easily.
Coat type, more than breed name, is what decides how often a dog needs a bath, a brush or a haircut. Mixes and individual dogs vary, so treat the schedule below as a starting point and adjust it to your dog's lifestyle, skin and how quickly the coat gets dirty or tangled.
How often should you groom a Bernese Mountain Dog?
Bathe every 6 to 8 weeks. Brush 2 to 3 times a week, daily during heavy shedding. Trim nails every 3 to 4 weeks. Professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks makes drying such a big coat much easier.
How to bathe a Bernese Mountain Dog at home
- Brush and rake thoroughly before the bath. Water tightens loose undercoat into clumps that are hard to remove later.
- Use lukewarm water and soak all the way to the skin. Double coats repel water, so this takes longer than you expect.
- Lather with a dog shampoo, working it in with your fingers against the direction of growth so it reaches the skin.
- Rinse until the water runs completely clear, then rinse once more. Leftover shampoo trapped in the undercoat is a common cause of itchy skin.
- Apply a light conditioner if you use one and rinse again.
- Dry completely, down to the skin. A damp undercoat can lead to hot spots and odor. Finish with a final rake once dry.
Always use a shampoo made for dogs; human shampoo is formulated for a different skin pH. Keep water out of the ears, and give a treat at the end so bath time stays positive.
Brushing routine
Rake the undercoat, slicker the feathering and comb behind the ears, the pants and the tail.
Short, frequent sessions beat one long struggle. Two to ten minutes, a few times a week, keeps most coats in good shape and gives you a chance to spot skin problems, lumps, ticks or sore spots early.
How much does a Bernese Mountain Dog shed?
- Shedding level: Heavy. Berners shed year-round and blow their thick undercoat during seasonal changes, and because they're big dogs, there's a lot of it.
- Compared with other breeds: Berners shed about as much as Golden Retrievers, and often leave more hair simply because of their size and longer, thicker coat.
- In South Florida: Warm weather and air-conditioned homes mean many dogs never get two clean shedding seasons. They shed steadily all year, with smaller peaks around March to May and September to November.
- During a coat blow: During a coat blow the undercoat comes out in clumps from the pants, chest and behind the ears for a few weeks. Rake and comb daily then so it doesn't mat.
How to keep Berner shedding under control: An undercoat rake and slicker 2 to 3 times a week, a metal comb behind the ears and on the pants, and a bath with a full blow-dry at the start of each coat change keep shedding and mats in check. In Florida heat, brushing out the undercoat helps far more than a short cut; shaving can damage how the coat grows back. Bald patches, red or flaky skin, constant scratching or a sudden jump in shedding are not normal seasonal shedding, so check with your vet.
Step-by-step help: How to Deshed a Dog at Home, Dog Shedding Season in Florida and Can You Shave a Double-Coated Dog?. Want a brushing and bath schedule matched to your dog's coat? Take the 1-minute Pawfile quiz. Or skip the guesswork: Mango's Grooming Calendar & Checklists ($7.99, printable PDF) maps out brushing and baths week by week through every coat blow, and Mango's Starter Kit ($19.99) adds the step-by-step brushing guide. In Boca Raton? Book a bath at our Boca salon before the next coat blow and get $10 off your first groom with code PAWFILE10 (teeth brushing and nails are always included).
Bernese Mountain Dog grooming styles: what a good trim looks like
Bernese Mountain Dogs don't need a haircut. The Berner "style" is the long, natural double coat kept brushed out to the skin, with the feet, ears and feathering tidied. In most Bernese grooming before-and-after photos the change comes from removing loose undercoat and neatening the outline, not from cutting the coat short.
- Natural, brushed-out coat: the standard look for males and females: full deshed, bath and a complete blow-dry (a big coat takes a while to dry fully), keeping the coat's length.
- Tidy feet: trim the hair between the pads and round off the foot, so it doesn't drag in sand, mud and burrs.
- Ears: thin the soft hair behind and under the ears, a spot that mats easily, and neaten the ear edges.
- Feathering, "pants" and tail: lightly even out the feathering on the legs, the back of the thighs and the tail. Thin with thinning shears instead of cutting blunt.
- Sanitary trim: a short, neat trim under the tail and around the belly for hygiene.
What to avoid: a shave-down or short summer cut. Shaving a double coat doesn't keep the dog cooler or reduce shedding, takes away protection from sun and heat, and can make the coat grow back patchy or uneven. Most groomers will only shave a double-coated dog when the coat is badly matted or a vet asks for it. More in Can You Shave a Double-Coated Dog?
To keep that brushed-out look between grooms, Mango's Between-Visits Brushing Guide ($14.99, printable PDF) shows the line-brushing method for thick double coats step by step, and Mango's Starter Kit ($19.99) adds a week-by-week grooming calendar.
Fitting the routine into your week
Pick two or three set days for brushing, for example Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, and add a quick daily rake during heavy shedding. Book baths and professional deshedding at the start of each seasonal coat change. In hot, humid weather, keep the undercoat brushed out, offer shade and water, and walk during cooler hours rather than cutting the coat short.
Tools you'll need
- Undercoat rake for loosening the dense underlayer
- Slicker brush for the outer coat and feathering
- Wide-tooth metal comb to check for hidden tangles behind the ears and on the "pants"
- Dog shampoo and a light conditioner made for dogs
- High-velocity or cool blow dryer (or a lot of towels and patience)
- Nail clippers or a grinder
Tools from the Pawradise shop: Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush · Stainless Steel Grooming Comb (2-Pack)
Mango's guides: a happy coat between grooms
Printable PDF guides from our groomers, with Mango as your coach. Instant download after checkout, anywhere in the US. English and Spanish editions included.
- Mango's Starter Kit: Brushing Guide + Calendar · $19.99 (best value)
- Mango's Between-Visits Brushing Guide · $14.99
- Mango's Grooming Calendar & Checklists · $7.99
Common Bernese Mountain Dog grooming mistakes
- Shaving the coat. A double coat insulates against both cold and heat and helps protect the skin from sun. Shaving can damage how the coat grows back. Trim feet, sanitary areas and feathering instead.
- Only brushing the top layer. The surface looks neat while mats form underneath. Use a rake and finish with a comb that reaches the skin.
- Letting the coat air-dry. Trapped moisture in a thick coat is a recipe for hot spots, especially in humid climates like Florida.
- Incomplete drying. A big, thick coat takes a long time to dry. Damp undercoat can cause hot spots.
Bernese Mountain Dog grooming FAQ
What is the best grooming style for a Bernese Mountain Dog?
The natural coat, fully brushed out, with tidy feet, thinned ears, a sanitary trim and lightly trimmed feathering. Bernese Mountain Dogs don't need a haircut, and shaving isn't recommended unless the coat is badly matted or your vet asks for it.
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed?
Yes, moderately all year and heavily seasonally.
Can I shave my Bernese?
Not recommended; trim feet and sanitary areas instead.
How often should I bathe a Berner?
Every 6 to 8 weeks.
How do I keep my Berner cool?
Keep the coat brushed out, provide shade and water and avoid exercise in the heat.
How often should I bathe a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy?
Puppies usually need fewer baths than adults: bathe only when dirty, with a gentle shampoo made for dogs, and keep them warm until fully dry. Use short, positive sessions to get them used to water, brushing, nail trims and the dryer. Ask your vet when your puppy is ready for a professional groom.
Can I groom a Bernese Mountain Dog at home?
Yes, most of the routine can be done at home: brushing, baths, ear checks and nail trims. A professional deshed during coat blows removes far more undercoat than most home sessions.
How much does it cost to groom a Bernese Mountain Dog?
It depends on the salon, your dog's size, coat condition and the time of year. Berners are large dogs with a long double coat that shouldn't be shaved, so the work is a bath, a thorough deshed, a tidy of the feet and sanitary areas, nails and ears. Drying a big double coat takes time, so a professional groom every 6 to 8 weeks with brushing at home keeps the price more predictable. See what affects dog grooming prices. New to our Boca Raton salon? Get $10 off your first groom with code PAWFILE10 (teeth brushing is always included).
This guide offers general grooming information. For skin, ear or coat problems that don't improve, talk to your veterinarian. More Pawfile breed guides.