Grooming and coat
How do I groom a Bernese Mountain Dog's heavy coat?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A Bernese Mountain Dog's long, thick double coat, on a frame weighing 38 to 50 kg (84 to 110 lb), needs brushing three to four times a week with an undercoat rake and slicker brush, rising to daily during the spring and autumn coat blow, when the sheer volume of loose hair is considerably more than most owners expect.
The scale of the coat matches the size of the dog
This breed's dense undercoat beneath a long, slightly wavy outer coat sheds in proportion to its large frame, which means a single thorough brushing session on an adult Bernese Mountain Dog during peak shedding can take twenty to thirty minutes and still leave visible loose hair the next day.
A realistic weekly plan
Three to four sessions a week of ten to fifteen minutes each, working in sections from the neck back to the tail with an undercoat rake followed by a slicker brush for the feathering on the legs and chest, covers most of the year, with daily short sessions needed during the two main seasonal blows.
Where mats form first on this breed
Behind the ears, in the armpits, and along the feathering on the back legs are the most common trouble spots on a Bernese Mountain Dog, and a quick comb check in these three areas between full brushing sessions catches early tangles before they need real work to remove.
Key takeaways
- A Bernese Mountain Dog's large frame carries a dense double coat that sheds in equally large volume.
- Three to four brushing sessions a week, rising to daily during seasonal blows, suits most of these dogs.
- Behind the ears, in the armpits, and along the leg feathering are where mats form first on this breed.