GROOMING A BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG

The Bernese Mountain Dog has a long, thick, silky coat. In order to maintain its beauty and shine, this coat requires regular grooming, especially during moulting periods, to avoid knots and parasites. You can do this at home, but you also have the option of bringing in a professional. But how much do they cost, exactly? Discover all our tips for safely taking care of your dog.

Bernese Mountain Dog Grooming Price

As is to be expected, the price of grooming a Bernese Mountain Dog will be higher than for small and medium-sized breeds. The price also depends on the grooming salon: in large cities, where the demand is greater, the prices will also be higher. Some salons charge by the hour, and others for each specific treatment. Finally, the price will vary depending on the service requested (haircut, nail trimming, ear cleaning, etc.), as well as the size of your dog and their coat type.

Nonetheless, it is possible to identify a price range. The cost of grooming your Bernese Mountain Dog will generally be between £20 and £80. Most dog owners will pay an average of £40 to have their dog groomed by a professional. Be careful not to choose a salon where the prices seem too good to be true. Always prioritise quality over price. Remember that you are entrusting your dog to someone they don’t necessarily know.

Grooming a Bernese Mountain Dog at Home

It’s also quite possible to groom your dog yourself, at home. However, there are a few basic principles you should follow, which are important to remember. First and foremost, never completely shave down your dog. A dog's fur offers them protection from the cold, but also the heat. Without their hair, your dog would be exposed to sunburn. If your Bernese Mountain Dog has a really knotty coat, take them to a professional groomer or vet to fix the problem.

Brushing

Grooming your Bernese Mountain Dog invariably involves brushing. While your dog's beautiful coat is very effective in protecting them from the elements, it can also play tricks on them. Its thickness, in particular, sometimes makes it difficult to spot parasites or skin problems. It's important to brush your Bernese Mountain Dog once or twice a week in normal periods, and every day during moulting periods in spring and autumn. This allows you to rid your pooch of any dead hair or debris. 

Choose a brush that is well suited to your dog's coat. The FURminator dog brush is the ultimate dog brush. More expensive than others, it offers incomparable quality. Pleasant to handle, this brush removes and retains a greater amount of dead hair than other models on the market. It is a very attractive long-term investment.

Bathing

Baths are also an important feature in the maintenance of your Bernese Mountain Dog. However, be careful not to bathe your dog too often, at the risk of damaging their skin. One to two baths per year is normally enough to keep your Bernese Mountain Dog clean and healthy. Of course, if your pooch gets their coat particularly dirty or smells bad, don't wait to bathe them. If the smell persists, this may also be because they're suffering from skin problems. Always check with your vet if you suspect a health issue.

To wash your Bernese Mountain Dog, choose a suitable dog shampoo. A good dog shampoo respects your dog's hair, but also their skin type (oily, dry, etc.). Never use human shampoo on your dog. Use lukewarm water, neither too hot nor too cold, and be careful not to get shampoo in your dog's eyes.

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Complementary Health Care

In addition to bathing and brushing, it's also essential to take care of your dog’s eyes, ears, teeth, and nails. Teach them to accept a toothbrush from an early age, for their oral hygiene. The Bernese Mountain Dog's temperament is docile and kind, so you normally won't have a problem teaching them to brush their teeth.

Regularly clean your dog’s eyes and inspect and clean their floppy ears to prevent ear infections. Use cotton pads and saline solution. Avoid using cotton wool or Q-tips which may leave cotton fibres behind. Proceed gently so as not to injure your dog. Take a pad soaked in the saline solution and run it over your dog's eyes to sweep away any impurities. Start from the inside of the eye and move outwards, so as not to allow other dirt to get in. Do the same with the ears, from inside to outside.

Also, remember to trim your Bernese Mountain Dog's nails to prevent them from getting in the way when your dog moves. For a Bernese Mountain Dog, use an electric file instead of a regular nail clipper, which is more difficult to use on large dogs. Make sure to carefully locate the quick of the nail before cutting to avoid injuring your pooch. The quick is the live part of the nail which contains blood vessels and nerve endings - it is recognisable by its pink colour. You only want to cut the white part of the nail. If your dog has black claws, it's best not to cut them too short, as a precaution.

Preventive Care for a Bernese Mountain Dog 

Finally, don't forget about preventive medical care. Make sure to take your Bernese Mountain Dog for regular anti-parasitic and deworming treatments, especially if you live in the countryside, and keep all their vaccines up to date. It's a good idea to schedule at last one veterinary check-up a year, especially when your dog gets older. All these things play a big role in your Bernese Mountain Dog's health and thus help to extend their life expectancy.

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