Berners are the best of canine companions. It’s not their fault their beautiful long locks of fur look better than our own.
Coat care for Bernese mountain dogs is not even that difficult as pet parents of this breed will agree. The biggest hurdle to jump is picking out the proper tools.
So, what is the best brush for a Bernese Mountain Dog? In our opinion, it’s the Petkin Soft Grip Two-Sided Bamboo Brush.
Since not all Berners are equal, you’ll find more brush reviews below. Plus, a brushing guide to keeping your pup looking sharp.
Best brushes for Bernese Mountain dogs: Top Picks
1. Best Overall Dog Brush For Bernese Mountain Dogs
Petkin Soft Grip Bamboo Two-Sided Dog Brush
4.5 out of 5 Stars
- Dual-sided pin and slicker brush
- Durable bamboo makes a quality brush
- Stainless steel pins
- Ergonomic handle
If you have a Berner in the family, a dual-sided brush will make your life a lot easier. Petkin Soft Grip Bamboo Two-Sided Dog Brush is a pin brush on one side. It’s made of stainless steel with domed tips. The covered pin tops keep you from scratching your pup’s skin. The bristle brush on the other side makes their coat shiny and beautiful.
Made of hardy bamboo, the comfortable handle won’t tire out your hand. It’s a great every day brush, but you will likely need something with more oomph for the shedding season.
2. Best Slicker Brush
Four Paws Magic Coal Professional Series Self Cleaning Slicker Dog Brush
4.5 out of 5 Stars
- Contour head for Berner comfort
- Ergonomic handle for your comfort
- Self-cleaning
- Removed loose shed
Slicker brushes are another good tool in your Bernese Mountain Dog’s box of grooming supplies. This type of brush is especially important during the shedding season. Four Paws Magic Coal Professional Series Self Cleaning Slicker Brush removes loose fur from both coat layers. Plus, the curved head keeps it from making your pet uncomfortable.
To make you happy, this little doozy not only has a comfy handle, but it’s also self-cleaning! Be that as it may, using this type of brush on the regular is not recommended for Berners. It can be too harsh for your dog’s hair.
3. Best Steel Pin Brush
ConairPRO Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush
4.0 out of 5 Stars
- Handle-free ergonomic brush
- Stainless steel pins
- Capped pins for comfort
- Reinforced to reach undercoat tangles
Active Bernese Mountain Dogs often end up with a tangle or two after a day of romping about. The ConairPRO Pet-It Dog Metal Pin Brush is a pin brush designed to mimic petting. It keeps your pet’s coat shiny and knot-free. The durable pins have plastic caps so they won’t scratch. The pins are also reinforced, so they’ll reach any tangles deep in the undercoat.
This brush also helps with shed, but not nearly as much as the slicker brush. Not to mention, holding it is not as comfortable. If you have arthritis or any dexterous issues, you might find prolonged use of this option difficult.
4. Best Bristle Brush
Kenchii Boar and Nylon Bristle Dog Brush
4.0 out of 5 Stars
- One-piece construction
- No-slip rubber handle
- Anti-static bristles
- Reinforced pins
If your Bernese Mountain Dog likes to strut their stuff, you are going to need a good bristle brush. The Kenchii Boar and Nylon Bristle Dog Brush will have your pup’s fur shining like the sun. It’s made of a single piece of maple wood so the brush is not going to break mid-use. The reinforced boar and nylon bristles let you reach the undercoat without creating any static, too.
You can get rid of excess shed with this option, as well, but it’s not the best for tangles, knots, and mattes. What’s more, the rubber handle isn’t comfortable to hold. Although, it won’t slip out of your hand.
5. Best Grooming Brush For A Bernese Mountain Dog’s Coat
Babyliss Pro Pet Bristle Paddle Pet Brush
4.0 out of 5 Stars
- Bristle and pin combo
- Stimulates skin to shine fur
- Soft Bristles
- Ergonomic handle
The Babyliss Pro Pet Bristle Paddle Pet Brush is perfect for creating a smooth, shiny, and bark-worthy fur coat. This brush features both bristles and pins so it smoothes while also untangling knots. The pins also allow you to reach the undercoat.
Again, this is a better option for appearance purposes. It will remove knots and help with shed, but it’s not designed for that purpose specifically. For example, this brush helps stimulate the skin for oil production. This makes your dog’s coat shinier. As far as comfort, you’ll love the anti-slip, soft grip.
6. Best Shedding Rake For Loose Hair:
Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool
4.0 out of 5 Stars
- Stainless steel dual blade
- Removes dead hair
- Can be used as an open shedding blade
- Smoothes and brightens
Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool is a priority for the Spring and Fall when your Berner is blowing their coat. The stainless steel, dual-sided blade has coarse teeth on one side. It quickly and painlessly gets rid of excess shed. The finer teeth of the mat rake are smooth and shiny. When the fur is flying, you can unhook the handles, and use it as an open shedding blade.
When it comes to tangles and mattes, this is not the best everyday solution. In addition to that, it’s not that comfortable to hold. Still it’s of one of several useful grooming tools if you own a Bernese Mountain Dog.
7. Best Dematting Comb
Safari De-Matting Dog Comb
3.5 out of 5 Stars
- Removes loose hair, tangles, and dander
- Rust-resistant stainless steel blades
- Rounded ends help spread natural oils
- Comfort grip
Berners love their activities so much, they can often come home with a few mattes in their fur. Safari De-Matting Dog Comb is a good tool to deal with the ultra-tangled fur if you know what you’re doing. Using this grooming tool effectively and safely requires practice. Even with the rounded edges for protection for your dog’s skin.
This stainless steel comb won’t rust. The comb gently removes mattes, shed, and even dander. That said, it’s not an everyday brush by any means. It has a non-slip handle with a thumb rest. On a comfort level, it leaves much to be desired, however.
Bernese Mountain Dog Grooming Guide
A Bernese Mountain dog is a great canine companion. They are hard workers, and their fur often shows it. To keep them looking tidy, you need to know more than just what brush to use, however.
That’s where we come in to help! We have provided a full Berner coat care guide in the sections below!
What’s the best dog brush For Their Coat?
Bernese Mountain dogs sport double coats. They also have long fur. They have a mass of tri-colored guard fur on the outside. Then it’s plush, slightly shorter, fur underneath: otherwise, known as the undercoat.
To keep your Berner’s locks looking fantastic, we recommend having a few dog brushes in your arsenal. The most important one is the pin brush. It effectively does everything you need in one sitting.
It’s not uncommon for your pooch to develop tangles. If you don’t brush them out right away, however, the knots turn to painful mattes you’ll likely have to cut out.
We prefer a dual-brush like the Petkin Bamboo Dual-Sided Brush as our go-to option. The pin brush on one side helps remove tangles and shed while the bristle shines their fur to an envy-like state.
Do You Have To Brush A Bernese Mountain Dog?
This question may seem redundant at this point, but yes it is very important. Regular Brushing is crucial for your Bernese Mountain Dog’s well-being. Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons brushing is important.
- Tangles & Knots
- Matted fur
- Skin Concerns
- Appearance
- Fur Debris
- Loose Shed
Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Shed?
Yup. There are no two ways about it. Berners shed a moderate amount throughout the year. They go into shed overdrive when they blow their coat two times a year.
Blowing their coat (or coat blowing) is when dogs shed their seasonal layers to get ready for the next season. This happens to Bernese Mountain Dogs during the Spring and Fall.
During this time of year, it is important to brush your pooch more often. You can also use the Safari Shedding Blade. The metal “rake” gets rid of excess fur at larger amounts than you would get with a standard brush.
Bernese Mountain Dog Coat Care
How To Brush Their a Berner’s Coat
Grooming your Berner’s thick coat is not as time-intensive as it is with most dual-coated pups.
Using a pin brush, brush their fur gently going from head to tail and from top to bottom.
You want to make sure you are reaching their undercoat. Be careful of applying too much pressure, though. Move-in sections removing any knots, tangles, and debris, as you go.
Next, run a bristle brush through their locks in the same nose to tail, head to feet motion. This will distribute their natural skin oil throughout their fur. This will make it really shine.
How Often Should You Brush?
How often you brush your Bernese Mountain Dog depends on their activity level. Generally, twice a week is sufficient.
During the shedding season, brushing every day is essential. This will keep the worst of the shedding at bay.
Best Way To Care For A Bernese Mountain Dogs Coat At Home
As mentioned above, Berners are easier to groom than most pets with similar fur. It is something you can easily do at home with a little practice and patience.
Canines respond well to routines. Developing a daily or weekly pet grooming plan goes a long way to make the experience pleasant for both of you.
For starters, pick a quiet place where you will take care of the chore. Be sure to show your pup the dog brushes so they get used to seeing them.
Bernese Mountain Dog fur is usually easier to brush when it is damp. You can use a spray bottle with room temperature water to mist their fur.
Follow the steps for brushing above. Make sure you talk to your pet with a confident, positive, upbeat voice the entire time.
Once their fur is shining, give them plenty of praise and treats.
Best Dog Brushes for Berners: Final Thoughts
Like with other long haired dogs, brushing your Berner is important. Not just for appearance’s sake, but for their well-being. To streamline the chore, though, it’s not a bad idea to have two brushes in one like the Petkin Two-Sided Dog Brush.
If you want a solitary pin brush, we suggest ConairPRO’s Metal Pin Brush. There is also something to be said for a good slicker brush. Just make sure it’s gentle enough for their silky fur. The Four Paws Slicker Brush is great, plus it cleans itself.
Regardless of your choice, make sure your pup doesn’t end up with painful mattes. Give them a good brushing at least once a week or daily during their shedding season.
