Bernese Mountain Dog

These are dogs with an exceptionally gentle disposition who treat their family like the most precious treasure. Their intelligence goes hand-in-hand with great empathy – the Bernese unerringly senses the owner's mood and often tries to comfort them with its presence. In daily life, they are extremely devoted and loyal, often lying on the owner's feet to mark their closeness. Despite their size, they remain sensitive 'teddy bears' at heart who crave physical contact and spending time together. Bernese Mountain Dogs are characterized by a balanced and stable temperament, making them one of the most composed large breeds. In our salon, we observe that they can endure long grooming sessions with dignity, provided they are socialized from puppyhood. They do not show excessive excitability, and their reactions to sudden stimuli are usually thoughtful and calm. They are typical 'thinkers' who rarely act on impulse, which facilitates behavioral work. In social relations, they are sociable, though they may maintain an initial, polite distance towards strangers. However, they quickly break the ice, especially when they see their owner trusts the new person, often resulting in an attempt to climb onto someone's lap despite weighing 50 kg. On walks in the forests near Warsaw, they usually ignore other dogs, presenting a stoic calm and lack of desire for confrontation. They are excellent ambassadors for their breed, rarely barking without a clear reason or need to protect the territory. Despite their impressive stature, Bernese Mountain Dogs are emotionally sensitive and take a raised voice very personally. Their self-confidence is strictly linked to the relationship with the handler – with a supportive owner, they become brave and stable. Harsh training methods can cause the dog to shut down and become fearful, which is why at Brego we always focus on positive reinforcement. When properly guided, they handle new situations very well, maintaining the self-confidence natural to the breed.

We recommend professional salon visits every 6-8 weeks to keep the skin and coat in excellent condition. During intense shedding periods, namely spring and autumn, a groomer's help is essential to avoid 'fur snow' all over the house. Regularity also allows us to continuously monitor ear health and nail length, which must be perfectly trimmed for dogs of this weight. At Brego Dog Grooming Salon, we maintain a booking calendar that helps owners stay consistent. Every visit starts with an initial brushing, followed by a double bath in deep-cleansing and moisturizing shampoos. The most important and longest stage is drying with a powerful air stream, which allows 'blowing out' the dead undercoat from the deepest layers. Next, we perform paw hygiene by trimming the hair between the pads and shaping aesthetic, rounded 'feet'. We finish by evening out the lines of the belly fringe and breeches, along with ear and nail care. At Brego, we focus on a natural 'show quality' style, which means we never use clippers to shave a Bernese's body. We focus on manual scissor trimming of excess hair on the paws, breeches, and tail so the dog looks neat but retains its breed character. We subtly trim the 'feathers' behind the ears, where the hair is thinnest and most prone to matting. Our goal is to bring out the majestic silhouette of the dog while maintaining the full functionality of its coat. The biggest challenges are painful mats forming behind the ears and coat felting around the breeches and armpits. If a dog swims often or walks in the rain, failure to dry the undercoat can lead to painful hot spots, which are acute skin inflammations. In Marki, we also frequently see dogs with embedded burrs and grass seeds, which turn into dense clumps of fur without quick intervention. Professional drying and brushing in our salon is the only way to avoid the need for radical cutting of coat sections. A Bernese owner should spend at least 30 minutes, three times a week, on thoroughly brushing the dog with a metal comb and a slicker brush. It is crucial to brush layer by layer, starting from the bottom, to ensure you reach the skin. We recommend regular checks of the paw pads, especially in winter when road salt can cause cracking. At Brego, we are always happy to select the right tools and teach the correct brushing technique so that home grooming is a pleasure for both parties. A Bernese puppy should come for an adaptation visit to Brego around 12-16 weeks of age. At first, we teach the little one to accept paw handling, dental checks, and we desensitize them to the loud sound of professional dryers. The first bath and a gentle trim of the 'slippers' on the paws is great training that prevents fear of grooming in adult life. Building positive associations in such a large breed is crucial, as cooperation with an adult, 110-pound dog must be based on trust, not force.

This dog requires constant human presence; isolation leads to deep depression and destructive behaviors. Maintaining a cool indoor temperature is required, especially in summer, to prevent overheating under the dense undercoat. Owners must budget for high-quality food and regular grooming visits every 6-8 weeks. Living with a Bernese means accepting significant amounts of drool on your clothes and sand on the floor after every walk. A Bernese needs moderate activity spread throughout the day to avoid overloading their musculoskeletal system. Instead of one grueling training session, opt for three 30-minute walks on varied but soft terrain (forests, parks). It is vital to avoid jumping over obstacles or sharp turns while chasing balls, which often result in ligament injuries in this breed. On hot days, walks should only take place early in the morning or late in the evening. Instead of running, offer your Bernese nose-work, which calms them down and provides immense satisfaction (e.g., finding hidden treats). Scent work games and basic obedience tasks that strengthen the mutual bond work very well. In our Marki salon, we notice that mentally stimulated dogs handle long grooming sessions better because they can relax. Even short, 10-minute training sessions a day are enough to keep the dog happy and calm.

Before the pup arrives, invest in rubber mats for slippery floors to provide stable traction during growth. Buy a professional slicker brush and a metal comb to teach the dog to accept the touch of tools from day one. Prepare a large, orthopedic bed to relieve growing bones and create a safe space without stairs. It is also worth finding a contact for a good behaviorist immediately to help navigate the socialization period without making mistakes. The first month is about building trust and housebreaking, which requires a lot of patience given the volume of urine. The puppy will sleep a lot but also intensely chew everything in reach, so you must have safe natural chews ready. This is a crucial time for an adaptation visit at Brego so the pup gets used to salon smells and dryer sounds through play. Expect the pup to try and demand attention by barking, so teach them to rest calmly in a crate or on their bed from the start.

The biggest mistake is overfeeding the puppy, leading to obesity that drastically destroys the growing giant's joints. Many owners also neglect brushing behind the ears and in the armpits, where painful mats form most quickly and often require shaving. Another error is allowing the puppy to walk on slippery floors, which leads to flat feet and posture defects. Often, owners come for the first grooming visit too late, resulting in a fear of water and dryers.