Do St. Bernards Shed A Lot? 4 Tips to Help Reduce Shedding
By Adam Mann
Updated on
No matter how you want to look at it, a St. Bernard sheds a lot. But just because they’re a high-shedding breed doesn’t mean there aren’t some things you can do to help control the amount they shed or to help you manage any pet allergies you might have!
We’ll highlight exactly why a St. Bernard sheds so much for you here, and then we’ll highlight some tips to help you get it all under control.
How Much Do St. Bernards Shed?
There’s no way around it—St. Bernards shed a lot. Throughout most of the year, you can classify a St. Bernard as a moderate shedder, but twice a year, they “blow coat,” and when this happens, you’re going to enter a world of pet hair.
During this time, a St. Bernard sheds almost all their existing coat in a very short period of time as they go from their winter coat to their summer coat or vice versa. During these times, you’ll likely find that no matter how much you brush them, there’s only so much you can do to keep up.
The 4 Tips to Help Reduce St. Bernard Shedding
If you have a St. Bernard but don’t want to deal with hair all over your home, there are a few things you can do to try and help. Your St. Bernard will still shed, but if you follow these tips, you might not have as much hair in every nook and cranny of your home.
1. A High-Quality Diet
Dogs often shed more than they should simply because they’re not getting the nutrients they need to maintain a healthy coat. We know that a St. Bernard can eat a lot, but part of getting a larger dog is dealing with a higher food bill.
Get your dog a high-quality kibble that meets all their nutritional needs, then ensure they’re getting enough food each day.
2. Regular Brushing
Outside of a healthy diet, this is the best thing you can do to reduce the amount your St. Bernard sheds around the home. Regular brushing will allow you to catch and remove the extra hairs with the brush before they have a chance to shed everywhere else in the home.
Use a high-quality brush that won’t hurt your pup but will capture as many loose hairs as possible for the best results.
3. Regular Baths
While you can definitely overdo it with baths since they strip away beneficial nutrients and oils from your St. Bernard’s skin, the occasional bath will help remove extra hair before it has the chance to shed. We don’t recommend a bath more than once a month, but even a once every 2 months bath can help quite a bit with shedding.
This is especially true when your St. Bernard is blowing coat. If you bathe them during this time, it can go a long way in removing the extra hair all at once.
4. A Fatty Acid Supplement
While we don’t recommend giving your pup a supplement without reaching out to your vet first, there’s strong evidence that a fatty acid supplement can go a long way in keeping your pet’s coat healthy. A healthy coat won’t shed as much, so a fatty acid supplement might be just what you need to reduce the amount your St. Bernard sheds.
The 3 Tips for Dealing With Pet Allergies
Often, the biggest problem all the shedding from a St. Bernard creates stems from pet allergies. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help you manage your pet allergies if this is the case. We’ve highlighted three of the most effective tips for you here:
1. Have a Pet-Free Zone
If you suffer from pet allergies and have a pet in your home, we highly recommend having a pet-free zone where your body can reset and relax a bit throughout the day. Our recommendation is the bedroom. That way, your body gets plenty of time to reset each night while you’re sleeping.
2. Vacuum and Clean Often
It’s a lot of work, but it also helps you manage your pet allergies quite a bit. If you can sweep and vacuum up the pet hairs before they have a chance to enter your respiratory tract, it’ll go a long way in preventing and controlling any allergy flare-ups.
3. Use an Allergen-Capturing Filter
The key to controlling pet allergies is capturing the pet hair and subsequent dander before it has a chance to enter your respiratory tract. Putting an allergen-capturing filter in each room your pet frequents can help quite a bit with this.
Final Thoughts
While your St. Bernard will certainly shed quite a bit, if you take the time to follow the tips we’ve highlighted here, you can keep it under control and have a great time with your dog. They’re going to shed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make great companions for you and your family for years to come!
Featured Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock
