Bernese Mountain Dog Care Guide: Grooming, Food, Exercise & Training

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

Good Bernese Mountain Dog care comes down to a few steady habits: brush the thick double coat every week, feed a quality diet that keeps your dog lean, give daily exercise without overdoing it in puppyhood, and train with rewards. Berners also need protection from heat and humidity, and they want to live indoors with their people. The breed’s national club, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), says in its 2024 FAQ that a Berner wants to be a member of your family and demands your time.

This guide covers each part of that care at a high level, with links to deeper guides where we have them. For anything medical, such as a diet for a health problem or when a dog is ready for harder work, ask your vet.

What Bernese Mountain Dog care looks like day to day

Start with size, because it shapes everything else. The BMDCA says males stand 25 to 27½ inches at the shoulder and females 23 to 26 inches. Males usually weigh 80 to 115 pounds and females 70 to 95 pounds.

A dog that size needs a big crate, a lot of food and a strong pair of hands on the leash. The same club FAQ warns that the real cost of a Berner lies in ongoing upkeep: vet care, food, training, a crate, toys, grooming tools and more. Our guide to the cost of owning a Bernese puts numbers on that budget.

Time is the other big need. The club says Berners don’t do well when cut off from people or activity, and that more independent breeds exist if you can’t give this kind of attention. Taking care of a Bernese Mountain Dog well means making it part of daily family life.

Grooming and shedding

Berners shed, and they shed a lot. The BMDCA FAQ calls the breed double-coated with considerable shedding. It warns that a tidy household may need to sweep or vacuum daily for much of the year, and that the breed may not suit people prone to allergies.

The good news is that the coat itself is fairly easy to keep. The same FAQ says a bath now and then and frequent brushing keep a Berner looking neat.

Brushing and coat care

The club’s grooming sheet recommends brushing every week. Weekly sessions keep more hair in the brush and less on your floor. When your dog is shedding, brush all the way down to the skin to pull out the dead undercoat.

Common tools the sheet lists include:

• A stainless steel pin brush
• A metal comb with medium-spaced teeth
• A shedding blade or mat rake for loose undercoat
• Scissors for tidying the hair on the feet

The breed standard calls for a natural coat and discourages heavy trimming. The grooming sheet says that, outside of neatening the feet and ears, no trimming is needed. Trimming the hair between the foot pads can improve grip on slick floors and stop ice balls from forming between the toes in winter.

One firm rule: don’t shave your Berner. The BMDCA grooming sheet says so in plain terms.

Baths, nails, ears and teeth

Bathe when your dog is dirty or smells “doggy,” not on a fixed schedule. The grooming sheet notes that too many baths can cause as many problems as too few, and that a Berner coat sheds dirt easily with a little brushing. Use a dog shampoo and rinse well, because leftover soap can irritate the skin and lead to hot spots.

For drying, some owners use a forced-air dog dryer. The sheet warns that human hair dryers run much hotter and could burn the skin. Introduce any dryer slowly, on low, with plenty of treats.

The rest of a basic routine, per the same sheet:

• Nails: Keep them short. Clippers or a grinder both work, and handling the feet should start when your dog is a puppy. Avoid cutting the quick, the pink tissue inside the nail, because it hurts and bleeds.
• Ears: Clean them now and then to help prevent infection, and keep water out of the ear canal.
• Teeth: Brush them regularly. If you fall behind, your vet may need to clean them, which could mean anesthesia.

The sheet also suggests regular hands-on sessions where you feel your dog’s whole body for sores, mats, lumps or swelling. That habit helps you catch problems early. If you find a new lump or a sore that doesn’t heal, ask your vet, and read our guide to cancer warning signs in Berners.

Food, feeding and a healthy weight

Feeding a Berner well means two things: a good diet and a lean body. The BMDCA FAQ says the breed needs a high-quality diet. It adds that appetite varies a lot, with some dogs eating surprisingly little for their size.

How much and how often

As a rough average, the club’s FAQ says an adult Berner needs about four cups of a premium dog food a day. It stresses that every dog is different. Use your dog’s body shape, not the number on the bag, to judge whether the amount is right.

The club’s first-year puppy sheet covers timing:

• Puppies are usually fed three times a day until at least 3 to 6 months of age.
• Adults are usually fed twice a day. Feeding one large meal could raise the risk of bloat.
• Fresh water should be available all day.
• Wait at least an hour after a meal before exercise; some advice says two hours.
• After exercise, wait at least half an hour, and preferably an hour, before feeding.

Bloat is one of the health problems the BMDCA lists for the breed. Our Bernese health guide explains it and the other common problems.

Feeding a growing puppy

Berners count as a large breed for puppy food purposes. Tufts University’s veterinary nutrition team explains that growth foods must now say whether they meet the needs of large-size dogs, meaning dogs expected to top 70 pounds as adults. Look for a label that says the food is complete for growth “including growth of large-size dogs.”

Why it matters: the same article says large and giant puppies have a narrower safe range for calcium, because their bones are more sensitive to too much or too little. Cornell’s veterinary college adds that overfeeding and fast growth can make hip dysplasia worse in dogs prone to it. Cornell advises a diet made for large-breed puppies and no extra calcium or vitamin D.

Your puppy’s breeder should recommend a food and amount, according to the BMDCA’s puppy sheet. Before you change foods or add any supplement, ask your vet. For more on joints, see hip and elbow dysplasia in Berners.

Keep your Berner lean

Vets use a 9-point body condition score to judge weight. On the WSAVA chart, scores of 4 and 5 are ideal. At those scores you can feel the ribs without a thick layer of fat, see a waist behind the ribs from above, and see the belly tuck up from the side.

Weight affects lifespan. Cornell’s summary of a 2019 study of more than 57,000 dogs from about 900 US animal hospitals says normal-weight dogs were predicted to live longer than overweight dogs in every breed studied. In a breed with a short life already, that’s worth taking seriously; see why the Bernese lifespan is short.

Treats are where extra weight sneaks in. Cornell’s veterinary college notes that about 60 percent of pets are overweight or obese, and that table scraps can make up about 20 percent of what a dog eats. Count treats as part of the day’s food, and ask your vet what your dog’s ideal weight should be.

Exercise: what adults need and what puppies shouldn’t do

Berners were built to work. The breed standard describes a dog strong and agile enough for draft and droving work, with a slow trot as its natural working gait. But how much exercise they need depends a lot on age.

Adult Berners

The BMDCA FAQ sets a baseline: at least 30 minutes a day of moderately vigorous exercise, plus several trips outside. That’s enough for some Berners. Others need a good deal more to stay fit and pleasant to live with.

Walks, hikes and dog sports all count. The same FAQ lists obedience, rally, agility, tracking, herding, carting and scent work among the activities Berners enjoy, and many work as therapy dogs. It also notes that not every Berner will do well at every activity.

Puppies and young dogs

Growing Berners need exercise, but on their terms. The club’s first-year sheet recommends regular, supervised exercise in a safe area. Walking, running, swimming and gentle play should match the puppy’s condition.

The same sheet sets some clear limits:

• Never force exercise, such as jogging or long bouts of rough play.
• Don’t leave a puppy to play unsupervised with older or larger dogs. That can injure a puppy and may cause lasting damage to muscles, tendons and bones.

The club’s training sheet adds that young puppies shouldn’t be expected or allowed to do activities that harm a growing body. Its draft sheet says heavy pulling should wait until a dog is fully mature, at least two years old.

When is your young Berner ready for jogging, long hikes or hard work? That depends on the dog’s growth and joints, so ask your vet. Our Bernese puppy guide covers the rest of the first year.

Training and manners: start early, keep it positive

A trained Berner is a pleasure to live with, and an untrained one this size is a handful. The BMDCA says adult Berners are generally gentle, easygoing and tolerant, but only with the training a large working breed needs. The breed can be slow to mature, and young dogs can be very active.

The club describes Berners as generally eager to please people they respect, and smart enough to manipulate their owners. Many are sensitive, and some are “soft.” Bad or scary experiences are hard for them to get past, which is why the club says only positive training methods should be used.

Size makes manners matter early. The FAQ notes that many Berner puppies go through a mouthy stage, and that their bodies often grow faster than their judgment. That’s part of why the club says a Berner isn’t an automatic choice for a family with small children.

Socialization in the first months

The club’s training sheet says puppies are primed to learn social skills from birth to about five months. It suggests 15 minutes of focused socialization twice a day if you’re training on your own. The five areas it lists are:

1. Meeting all kinds of people
2. Meeting dogs and other animals
3. Hearing everyday sounds
4. Exploring everyday objects
5. Walking on many different surfaces

Keep every experience calm and pleasant, with treats on hand. Avoid public dog parks until your vet confirms your puppy’s vaccines protect it, as the same sheet advises. Our puppy vaccine and vet schedule explains the timing.

The BMDCA FAQ says shyness can run in the breed. It stresses exposure to many people, places and animals, especially in the first year.

Use reward-based methods

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends using only reward-based training for all dogs, including dogs with behavior problems. A reward-based trainer uses a cue, a marker such as a clicker or a word, and a reward such as a treat or toy.

The statement lists methods to avoid: tools that cause pain, like choke chains, prong collars and shock collars; intimidation, like shouting or squirt bottles; and physical corrections, like jerking the leash. It links harsh methods with more anxiety, fear-related aggression and avoidance. Rewards don’t mean “no rules,” though: AVSAB says dogs learn best with structure and routine, taught without fear or pain.

Classes and goals

The BMDCA suggests a puppy socialization class, then a basic obedience course, both using positive reinforcement. Its training sheet says puppy kindergarten classes usually take pups from three to five months old, and points to the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program.

A good next goal is the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, a 10-skill test of everyday manners. It’s open to all dogs with no age limit. For leash walking, coming when called and house manners, see our guide on how to train a Bernese Mountain Dog.

If worrying behavior shows up, the training sheet suggests talking to your breeder and a professional trainer or animal behaviorist. AVSAB says serious behavior problems should also be checked by a veterinarian, since a medical issue can play a part. In short: ask your vet.

Heat and humidity

Heat is a real risk for Berners. The BMDCA says plainly that the breed does not do well in hot, humid climates. Shade and water are essential, and the club prefers access to air conditioning in extreme heat.

Cornell’s veterinary college explains that dogs sweat only through their paws and cool off mainly by panting. Heatstroke happens when the body overheats and can’t cool down, and it can be fatal. Dogs with thick or dark coats, overweight dogs and older dogs are at higher risk.

Humidity makes it worse. A veterinary review in the journal Temperature says panting gets less effective once humidity passes about 35 percent in hot weather, and stops working above about 80 percent. It also lists dogs over 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds), obesity, poor fitness and a lack of time to adjust to heat as risk factors.

Everyday heat habits

Cornell’s summer safety tips suggest:

• Walk in the early morning or evening. Heat peaks around 3 to 5 p.m.
• Go easy on hard exercise early in summer, before your dog is used to the heat.
• Test the pavement. If you can’t hold your bare hand or foot on it for about 10 seconds, it’s too hot for paws.
• Keep your dog indoors with air conditioning or fans during extreme heat or humidity.
• Never leave your dog alone in a car, even with the windows cracked.

Know the warning signs

Cornell lists early signs of overheating as heavy panting, seeking shade, whining, not wanting to play and drooling. Trouble breathing, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, confusion, seizures or collapse are emergencies. If you see them, get to a veterinary hospital right away.

Speed matters. The veterinary review puts heatstroke deaths at around half of affected dogs, and lists a delay of more than 90 minutes between overheating and reaching a vet as a risk factor for death. Our guide to Bernese heat tolerance and keeping a Berner cool goes deeper.

Carting and drafting

Pulling a cart is part of the breed’s history. The BMDCA’s draft sheet says Berners in Switzerland hauled milk and cream from farms to the dairy. The club’s FAQ adds that they pulled carts to market and drove cattle.

Today carting is a sport and a fun job. The BMDCA approved its Draft Test Regulations in January 1991, and the first test was held in New England that fall, according to the draft sheet. A test has three parts: basic control, maneuvering a cart through a course, and a group stay followed by a half-mile freight haul.

The club offers eight draft titles. In the Novice Draft Dog class, the dog pulls 20 pounds on the freight haul. In the Draft Dog class, it pulls its own weight, rounded down to the nearest 10 pounds.

Getting started safely

The draft sheet says to build basic obedience first. Your dog should walk on a loose leash, stay, and come when called off leash. Safety comes first, because a panicked dog hitched to a cart can hurt itself and others.

Its step-by-step approach looks like this:

1. Let your dog wear the harness around the house and on walks.
2. Add the traces (the side straps) and let them drag.
3. Attach a light drag, such as a small piece of wood.
4. Walk your dog beside, behind and in front of the cart while you pull it.
5. Have your dog walk between the shafts while you pull.
6. Hitch up, with a helper on each side, and take a few steps at a time with praise.

Keep your dog on leash in the early stages. The sheet describes two harness styles, buckle and siwash, and says either should fit snugly without rubbing. A two-wheeled cart turns more easily, but its load must be balanced so the weight doesn’t press on the dog’s shoulders.

Age and load limits

A puppy can get used to a harness and dragging traces. But the draft sheet says a Berner can’t enter a draft test until age two, and heavy loads should wait until the dog is fully mature, at least two years old. Add weight gradually over weeks and condition your dog like an athlete.

Ask your vet to check your dog before you start heavier pulling. The BMDCA’s draft page lists upcoming draft events, judges and the test regulations, and the draft sheet notes that many regional clubs run clinics. Our guide to carting and drafting with a Bernese walks through getting started.

Crate, house and yard: making room for a big dog

Where your Berner lives matters as much as what it eats. The BMDCA says Berners prefer to be with their people, so access to the house is important. Some breeders require a fenced yard for free exercise, while others see it as a bonus.

If you don’t have a yard, plan to meet your dog’s exercise and potty needs with walks every day. The club’s puppy sheet says a clean, dry, well-ventilated space that is heated or cooled as needed is essential to a dog’s health. It also says housebreaking should usually be done by 8 months of age at the latest, with consistent training.

Choosing and using a crate

A crate gives your dog a safe den and helps with housetraining. The AKC says a dog needs room to sit, stand and lie down comfortably, but a crate that is too big lets a dog soil one corner and rest in another. To size one, measure your standing dog from the top of the head to the floor and from nose to tail, then add 3 to 4 inches to each.

For a puppy, the same article suggests an expandable crate sized for the breed’s adult size, with a divider you move as the puppy grows.

The AKC’s crate training guide gives three firm rules:

• Never use the crate as punishment.
• Never leave your dog crated longer than it is comfortable or can hold its bladder.
• Build up time slowly, starting with treats tossed in while the door stays open.

The guide also says older dogs with sore joints may do better in a larger area than a crate. If you have to be gone longer than your dog can manage, it suggests a dog walker, a sitter or daycare.

Routine vet care and health screening

Good daily care works best with a good vet. The BMDCA says that beyond routine vet care, every Berner should be screened for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and eye disease at a minimum. It urges owners to share results in the Berner-Garde database to help the breed.

The club’s puppy sheet says yearly checkups should be part of a good health plan after the first year. Spay and neuter timing is a medical choice to make with your vet; our guide on when to spay or neuter a Bernese covers what the evidence says.

The BMDCA lists cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat and eye disease among the breed’s health issues. Good care can’t remove those risks, so ask your vet about anything that seems off.

A simple weekly care checklist

Here’s how the pieces of Bernese Mountain Dog maintenance fit into a normal week:

• Every day: Two measured meals, fresh water, at least 30 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise plus potty trips, short reward-based training, and time with the family.
• Every week: A full brushing down to the skin, a quick hands-on check for lumps or sores, and a look at nails, ears and teeth.
• As needed: A bath when your dog is dirty, nail trims, and tidying the hair on the feet.
• In hot weather: Walks only in the cool hours, shade and water outside, and air conditioning indoors.
• Every year: A checkup with your vet, and a body condition check against the ideal score of 4 to 5.

None of this is hard on its own. The work is in doing it every week, for life.