Grooming and care for a Saint Bernard: brush, bath, health
Saint Bernard : Whether short- or long-coated, its dense undercoat needs brushing two to three times a week, daily during shedding. Drool is plentiful: wipe the jowls several times a day and keep towels around the house.
See it in the Planète Pets shop: 2-in-1 grooming glove: silicone nubs and microfibre (€36.90) · the whole shop
Outside our shipping area? The downloadable practical guide: Raising Your Puppy: The First Six Months (€19)
🩺 Reminder: this page informs, it does not diagnose. For any symptom or health question, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
In short: Giant dog of 55 to 90 kg, short or long double coat, low to moderate energy. A placid, protective giant built for the mountains, remarkably patient with its family. The historic rescue dog of the Great St Bernard hospice, it combines an outsized frame with plentiful drool: all of its gear must be planned in XXL, from the bed to the boot ramp.
Coat care, brush by brush
The Saint Bernard needs daily combing with a long-toothed comb then a slicker, or mats and tangles set in; it sheds heavily all year round: a de-shedding tool and a sturdy vacuum are part of the kit. Start young, with short rewarded sessions: a dog that links the brush to a pleasant moment accepts grooming for life.
Baths, claws, ears, teeth
The Saint Bernard’s bath comes round every four to six weeks, always with dog-pH shampoo, never your own products. Check claws monthly, inspect ears at the same time, and brush teeth two or three times a week.
Health watch-points for the Saint Bernard
Breeders and vets monitor this breed for: hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion (bloat) and eyelid disorders (entropion, ectropion). These known risks guide day-to-day care, and any out-of-the-ordinary symptom deserves a consult rather than a miracle product. Life expectancy sits around 8 to 10 years.
Frequently asked questions
Which brush for a Saint Bernard?
For its coat, plan on daily combing with a long-toothed comb then a slicker, or mats and tangles set in.
How often should a Saint Bernard be bathed?
A four-to-six-week rhythm is required with this coat type — and exclusively with canine shampoo, never your own products.
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