Comb through your St. Bernard's fur, using your fingers to find any mats. Before you drop any liquid into your dog's ear canal, check with your vet to make sure his eardrums are intact. If your dog has a rough coat, grooming could take a little longer. Originally used to locate freezing and helpless travelers during snowstorms, the Saint Bernard now uses his intelligence and strength in conformation and obedience competitions, cart pulling and weight pulling. This happens in two very rapid steps. Start a grooming session in the area you practiced on using grooming tools. before grooming you need to make him comfortable and relaxed. Squirt a few drops of dog ear-cleansing solution into your dog's ear canal, and massage the ear to distribute the solution. Talk to him and pet him. Once the bath is complete, blot the coat with a towel to remove excessive moisture. This coat needs to be brushed weekly in order to prevent the dog from becoming matted and tangled. Do not attempt to trim your St. Bernard's nails unless you have been trained to do so by a veterinarian or experienced professional. Work the lather all over your dog's body, avoiding the head. Repeat this every day so your Saint is used to the grooming tools and being touched in unusual places such as his mouth or ears. Each day you can pick a new area to touch such as his teeth or tail to get him used to being handled in a grooming manner. You're letting him know that you are allowed to touch those areas and he will be rewarded for letting you do so. However, if your Saint hasn't been handled a lot early on he may be hesitant to allow grooming. Good dental hygiene is essential for a healthy pet as well. As a final check, use a firm slicker brush throughout the coat, and little to no hair should be apparent on the brush. Drain the tub and use a large bath towel to dry your St. Bernard. Sit on the floor with your Saint Berard. Go over the entire coat with your hands, to see if there are inconsistencies in the density of the coat. Proper nail care is also very important. Touch your dog's face and then give him a treat. Do not move the dryer back and forth quickly. If you need to clean or trim your dog's ears, keep him entertained and distracted or otherwise preoccupied with quick treats. Clean your dog's ears at least monthly to remove wax build-up. Don't let the giant size of your Saint Bernard fool you. Touch your Saint Bernard's tummy and then give him a treat. Do this every time you groom your Saint Bernard,and eventually, you will find yourself treating less often because your dog will be tolerant and calm and ready for the grooming session. Be sure to hold the nozzle far enough away to prevent the coat from tangling. Gather some treats and sit on the floor with your Saint Bernard puppy. 2022 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. good belly rub and a tasty piece of cheese. if your Saint Bernard is not used to being handled on a regular basis, he might be a little wild, anxious, and This will set expectations for grooming sessions for his entire life. Blow the coat out with an HV dryer to remove excess moisture. Keeping your Saint Bernards attention isn't hard to do with a Use a damp washcloth to wash your dog's face. If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, visit your veterinarian. Hold the brush parallel to your dog's body, and work it through his coat in long, smooth strokes in the direction of hair growth. Your goal here will be to train him how to be handled without feeling anxious or scared. Selecting the correct products to meet the dogs needs is essential to achieve optimal results. Practice this soft gentle touch for each area that will be groomed during this session. Squirt a line of dog shampoo down your St. Bernard's back and use your hands to work it into a thick lather. Use a grooming rake to remove loose and dead hair from your St. Bernard's undercoat. Fill your bathtub with about 6 or 8 inches of warm water and have your St. Bernard get in. Once you have removed most of the moisture from your dog's coat, use a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting to finish drying his coat. The Saint Bernard does require routine bathing and brushing. You're going to be essentially teaching your Saint Bernard how to tolerate grooming techniques and procedures. Go over your St. Bernard's body with a large slicker brush to work free any small mats that remain. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing concentration from Marietta College. Rubbing the top of his nose, his muzzle, or his belly might be calming for your big guy. Prep work includes ear cleaning, nail trimming, anal glands, and proper dental hygiene. He will need to be groomed The coat should start standing off the skin and not mat up. Prep work is the foundation of all grooming. Place your Saint Bernard in a calm and quiet area for grooming. Although powerful and muscular in build, Saints possess a gentle and dignified temperament. It is a good idea to slightly cool the water temperature down when rinsing the coat. Cut out severe mats using a pair of straight shears. Your Saint Bernard is bred to be calm and patient. These very powerful dogs weigh 130 to 180 pounds according to the AKC standard, and have very dense, smooth coats that can be short or long. will make grooming tolerable and even rewarding for you both. sniff all the grooming tools. Practice with conditioning behaviors will help him to relax. He is a gentle, kind, loving giant beast who is eager to please Squeeze a bead of dog shampoo around your dog's neck. However, Avoid getting any water in his nose, eyes and ears. Rinse your dog thoroughly, using the pet sprayer or handheld shower head to remove all soap residue from the undercoat. Before drying your dog, get him to shake the water from his coat. You might have to pull the dryer farther away from the skin to prevent it from tangling the coat. Anal glands should also be checked and expressed if they are full. It also affords the opportunity to treat and condition the paws from cracks and abrasions. All dogs need to have their ears checked and cleaned on a regular basis. For instance, touch your Saint Bernard's paw, then give him a treat. Repeat this process anytime you need to groom your Saint Bernard. Start with his favorite places such as his belly and move to areas that make him anxious, such as his ears or mouth. They shed, and need frequent grooming. Your Saint Bernard is indeed a saint. Soap residue that remains in the coat can irritate your St. Bernard's skin. Saint Bernard Club of America: Bathing a Saint Bernard. For the best results, select a dog shampoo designed to whiten the white areas of your dog's coat. Accidentally cutting the quick of the nail can cause pain and severe bleeding. Therefore, keeping the coat clean and healthy is of utmost importance in order to maintain the abundant thick coat. Mastering these skills sets the professional pet stylist apart from the rest. In many cases, mats must be cut out. White markings are required. often. Once the dog is completely dry, line brush, working in sections until the dog is tangle free. Work as close to the bottom of the mat as you can to save as much of the coat as possible. The difference is the conditioning of the dog and conformation training. Your large Saint will work incredibly hard for the tiniest bit of food. before you clip him, and reward him during your grooming session, not only at Consistent grooming will help keep the shedding under control. To help control shedding, brush your St. Bernard several times a week with a large grooming rake. the very end. Use a cotton ball to wipe away dirt, ear wax and excess cleansing solution. Trim the fur around the feet to a uniform length. If your Saint Bernard is going to be professionally groomed, let your groomer know of his anxieties so your groomer does not do anything to aggravate them. This will help to control shedding and keep your dog's coat smooth and healthy. Wet your dog's coat by pouring water over him using a large cup or bucket. Long nails also compromise the shape of the foot. Once your Saint Bernard is used to being handled and being rewarded for tolerating handling, incorporate brushing into your grooming session. apprehensive before grooming sessions. If you need to calm your Saint Bernard Line brush until the dog is completely tangled free. Once you have blown out any loose hair and have and lightly brushed through the dog, you are ready for the bath! New owners should be prepared for drool there is no such thing as a dry mouth Saint. Most prefer to neaten the feet for a clean appearance and remove any stray hairs from the ears with thinning shears. Use a pair of small, sharp scissors to cut the fur between the toes so it is even with the pads. Because St. Bernards are very large, grooming can be a major expense that many St. Bernard owners prefer to avoid by grooming their dogs themselves. Wet the coat and apply the shampoo by squeezing it through the coat making certain you have worked it all the way through the coat down to the skin. This will discourage any fleas that may be on your dog's body from moving up onto his head during the bath. It is important to brush your dog before you bathe him in order to remove any loose or dead hair from his coat. Use a light conditioner to nourish and hydrate each individual strand of hair without changing the texture of the coat. Talk to him using a quiet tone assuring him of his safety and then give him a treat. Lack of maintenance can contribute to the formation of the cobweb matting that forms close to the skin. Trimming the pads of the foot helps give the dog good traction on different surfaces and can minimize the amount of dirt the dog tracks into the house. listen to what they sound like and feel the vibration of them on his skin This good-natured dog can be bathed as frequently as weekly up to no longer than every 8 weeks depending on his activity level. He is going to shed a lot and he will be If so, continue to brush and comb those areas. A healthy coat is light, airy, and has a natural shine. Keep your voice calm and your tone soft and continue to give your Saint treats as you groom him. If you plan to groom your own St. Bernard, realize that it may take a significant amount of time each month. Never hesitate to use treats to encourage your Saint Bernard to calm down. To get your big guy used to grooming, poke and prod during times outside of grooming sessions. You can add calming music to the room and even use essential oils such as lavender in your grooming session. You may need to pause frequently to remove dead hair from the brush. Brush your dog at least twice a week with a large pin brush. The coat should be light, shiny, and stand off the dog. Hold the rake at a 45-degree angle to your dog's body and move the rake in short, firm strokes along your dog's back, sides and legs. Mats are tangled clumps of fur that are difficult to comb through. If you need to brush his teeth, do it this way, rewarding with very rapid treating rewards. Calming his anxieties early on in life or in the grooming session Remember to give your Saint Berard treats throughout the grooming process. Their coats can be long or short and range in color from deep brown to brown-yellow. Rather, hold the dryer in one place and slowly move it through the coat. Both long-haired and short-haired Saint Bernards shed and need regular grooming. Try to avoid using a circular motion to avoid any further tangling. Katherine Barrington has written on a variety of topics, from arts and crafts to pets, health and do-it-yourself projects. A great place to start is the Saint Bernard Club of America, https://saintbernardclub.org/. The Saint Bernard can develop certain health problems including hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, cancers such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and gastric torsion (bloat). This breed is easygoing, gentle, and patient with children if not necessarily playful. If you are worried about making a mess inside your house, try bathing your St. Bernard outdoors using a large tub or child's pool. Check his teeth, lift up his ears, stick your fingers gently inside his ears, feel his gums, brush his teeth, rub his belly, pull apart his toes, tug on the hairs between his paw pads, and always give him a treat when you're done. Treat your Saint as you touch him in these areas. The coat should be rinsed thoroughly making certain that all the product has been removed. Spend some time alone with your Saint Bernard finding his pleasure points. This area should be free of distractions. Prep work should be done before every bathing and grooming appointment. Avoid getting your dog's ears wet during bathing and grooming. Trim the fur on your dog's feet to prevent the formation of mats. Pay particular attention to the neck, chest, and hindquarter area as they can get packed with excessive coat. If you have trouble getting the water to penetrate your dog's thick undercoat, try using a pet sprayer or handheld shower head. Pick an area on his body you know you will need to touch or work with during grooming and touch that spot. Start by sitting in front of your dog and giving him a treat. A wide-toothed comb should easily glide through the coat with no resistance all the way down to the skin. The standard calls for a Saint to be in a natural state. Copyright 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. St. Bernards have two coat varieties, smooth and rough. Before the bath, take a few minutes to take a high-velocity dryer over the coat to loosen any dirt and debris from the skin and to loosen any cobweb matting. While in your quiet environment with your Saint Benard, gently touch one area at a time such as his ears. and just wants to be near you. Give him a treat as soon as you touch him. Repeat this, touching other areas on your dog's body very quickly and then giving him a treat. Symptoms of infection include foul odor and dark or yellowish discharge. Some caring pet owners prefer to have the anal glands done by their veterinarian. dirty from food, drool, and anything he can get into. If you're using something like clippers, let him With this heavy, combination coat, proper bathing and drying techniques lay the groundwork for achieving a beautiful coat and healthy skin. Whether you have a show dog or a companion dog, the same basic care is given regarding nutrition, socialization, and hygiene. It is always quite helpful if your breeder can help mentor you to lead you in the right direction upon entering the wonderful world of dog shows. When the coat is dirty, the hair shaft becomes rough and eventually breaks down, which can lead to the coat becoming damaged. St. Bernards are a large breed legendary for their work as rescue dogs. This tool will get down into the undercoat and remove loose and dead hair before it can be shed. Long, unsightly nails are uncomfortable for the dog, as well as anyone they might jump on. How to Groom a Dog with a Thick Undercoat, How to Trim a Dog's Nails That Are Too Long, How to Calm a Saint Bernard Before Grooming. Water that gets into your dog's ears could cause an ear infection. If you have the opportunity to own your Saint Bernard as a young puppy, handle him a lot early on. If your Saint Bernard is anxious before grooming sessions, it's possibly because your Saint is not used to being poked and prodded very often. This breed makes wonderful family companions with obedience training and daily exercise, but due to their larger size, may do better living in the country or suburbs. This type of matting if left unattended can lead to the development of numerous skin issues. Allow him to In order to maintain healthy skin and coat as well as overall health, it is important to provide good nutrition to your dog through a well-balanced diet, vitamins, and healthy treats. Thorough shampooing will contribute to building a healthy, strong, and manageable coat. Continue to practice touching your Saint Bernard in various places that are uncomfortable for him, such as his eyes, his ears, lifting his jowls to look at his teeth, spreading his paws, and anywhere else your pup will be touched for grooming touch during his handling session. 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