Are Saint Bernards easy to groom?

The grooming reality for Saint Bernards

What the coat needs

Saint Bernards carry a heavy, often double coat that sheds a lot. There is no clipping to book, but there is frequent brushing, several times a week and daily in moulting season to stay ahead of the hair, and moulting seasons ramp that up further.

Time and cost

Most of the work is done at home with a decent brush and the occasional bath. Costs stay low: nail clippers, shampoo, and a brush suited to the coat are about all you need, with a salon trip only if you fancy a tidy-up.

The bits every dog needs

Whatever the coat, the basics are the same. Trim or file nails every few weeks so they do not click on the floor or splay the toes, check and gently clean ears to catch infections early, and brush the teeth several times a week to head off the dental disease that is common and costly in dogs. Start all of this in puppyhood so handling becomes routine rather than a battle.

Personality and cooperation on the grooming table

The Swiss rescue dog turned house pet. Impossibly large, impossibly gentle, and a drool machine of epic proportions.

A gentle temperament tends to sit still for handling without much fuss, tolerating nail clipping, ear checks, and brushing with far less resistance than a more excitable dog. Friendly dogs generally accept an unfamiliar groomer with less anxiety than a wary breed, which tends to make professional appointments considerably more straightforward. Patient dogs are among the easiest to groom, tolerating longer sessions, repeated handling, and the noise of equipment without losing focus or becoming reactive.

Training and temperament during grooming

Building tolerance for handling

Saint Bernards pick up tolerance for grooming with a reasonable amount of consistent practice, particularly when sessions start short and build up gradually.

Vocal protest during grooming

Saint Bernards are quiet by nature, and most tolerate grooming without much vocal protest, even where the handling itself takes some getting used to.

Family involvement and other pets

Saint Bernards are generally good with children, and older kids can often be taught to help with simple brushing under supervision, which is a useful way to build the dog's comfort with being handled by different people. A resident cat is unlikely to be bothered by grooming sessions, and shed hair from brushing is worth clearing up promptly in a multi-pet household either way.

Grooming costs across a dog's lifetime

Saint Bernards typically live 8 to 10 years, and grooming needs tend to change with age: older dogs often have thinner, more sensitive skin and less patience for long sessions, so shorter, gentler grooming suits a senior saint bernard better than the routine that worked at two years old. Insurance for a Saint Bernard in the UK typically runs about £70 to £150 a month, and skin problems from neglected coat care, matting, hot spots, and infected ears among them, are a common reason that cover gets used. Starting handling and brushing early with a Saint Bernard puppy, which typically costs around £900 to £2000 in the UK, makes every grooming session for the rest of the dog's life considerably easier.