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.
What fitsAll 6 items that fit
- Long-pin slickerExtra-long-pin slicker brush for curly and doodle coatsView on AliExpress
- Nail clipperScissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightView on AliExpress
- Grooming vacuumINSE P30 grooming vacuum (4.5 L dust box)View on AliExpress
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
View on AliExpressNail 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
View on AliExpressGrooming 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
View on AliExpressMetal comb
Andis 68550 stainless steel pet dematting comb, 7.5 inChoose the Andis 68550 7.5 in stainless steel dematting comb. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Andis before you buy.
AKC suggests a slicker brush or metal comb to work out tangles. Andis doesn't state its tooth spacing.
Check price on AmazonUndercoat rake
FURminator Grooming Rake for dogs and cats with thick coats (P‑92930)Choose the FURminator Grooming Rake (P-92930), the plain rake with rotating metal teeth, not the FURminator deShedding tool. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or FURminator before you buy.
For the two heavy sheds a year, after the slicker. A plain rake with rotating metal teeth, not a bladed deshedder; FURminator makes it for thick fur and dense double coats. Pull it in the direction of hair growth, as AKC describes, and stop if the skin reddens. We have no maker figure for its tooth length.
Check price on AmazonDog dryer
XPOWER B‑8 Elite Pro force dryer (4 HP, 115 V)Choose the B-8 Elite Pro, rated 115 V / 60 Hz. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or XPOWER before you buy.
XPOWER states an ETL/cETL mark that we have not looked up in Intertek's directory, and doesn't state the plug type. AKC says airflow, not heat, dries the coat: keep the heat low or off, the air moving and away from the face and ears, and never leave the dog alone with it.
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; 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]