How to Comb Saint Bernards

Saint Bernards are a large breed of dog that tend to shed a lot, which makes frequent grooming a necessity. Not only is regular grooming necessary, but certain tools are needed to comb the thick coat of a Saint Bernard. In order to comb your dog's fur, you will need several types of brushes and combs including a slicker brush and a hard bristle brush to remove dead hair and to minimize shedding.

Things You'll Need

Small, sharp scissors
Grooming rake
Pin brush
Rubber comb
Slicker brush
Hard bristle brush

Instructions

- 1
  Check your Saint Bernard's coat for mats by running your fingers gently through its fur. Try to break up any mats with your fingers. If this does not work, use a small pair of sharp scissors to remove the mat. Removing mats is essential before you comb your dog or you may only make the mats worse or cause your dog pain during brushing.
- 2
  Use a grooming rake to remove dead fur from your Saint Bernard's undercoat. Grooming rakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so select one designed for large dogs. Begin at your dog's head and work the rake down toward the tail, working in the direction of fur growth and using short, quick strokes. Try using several rakes of varying lengths to remove as much dead hair as possible.
- 3
  Groom with a pin brush to remove loose hair near the surface and to smooth out your dog's coat. Remove the accumulated hair from the brush often to maximize its efficiency. Brush your dog's fur in the opposite direction of growth with the pin brush to fluff its coat.
- 4
  Go over your Saint Bernard's coat with a rubber comb to give its fur a nice, glossy sheen. Comb in the direction of fur growth in small sections. If your comb is a combination comb with widely-spaced teeth at one end and fine teeth at the other, begin with the widely-spaced teeth then move to the fine teeth after all tangles have been removed.
- 5
  Comb and brush your dog once a week, or more often, to remove dead hair and to minimize shedding.