Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Smell Worse Than Most Dogs? Vet-Verified Facts & Hygiene Tips

Does your Bernese Mountain Dog always smell, or did someone tell you they’re just a stinky breed? The truth is that a healthy Bernese Mountain Dog should not smell worse than any other dog breed.

So, why is it that your pup has a constant odor and what can you do about it? Bad odors can be a sign of health concerns, so it’s not something you’ll want to ignore if your pup has been particularly stinky lately.

The 5 Reasons Why Your Bernese Mountain Dogs Might Smell

Before you can figure out how to keep your pup from smelling bad, you need to figure out what’s causing the smell in the first place. We’ve highlighted five of the most common reasons your Bernese Mountain Dog might have a bad odor for you here:

1. Their Environment

A Bernese Mountain Dog has a beautiful thick coat. And while it looks great, it also acts like an odor magnet. If the smells around them are good, that’s not a problem, but if there are unpleasant smells in the air, they can soak into the fur.

Whether it’s a constantly dirty or smokey environment in their home or they just got into something they shouldn’t have while they were outside, those scents could stick with a Bernese Mountain Dog longer than they would with other breeds.

2. They Need a Bath

Sometimes Fido just needs a little time in the tub! Their face, feet, genitals, perianal area, and coat need some regular hygiene to avoid odor accumulating and eventually, all those scents can start to fester and create an unpleasant aroma. You should think about bathing a healthy Bernese Mountain Dog approximately every 4 to 8 weeks, and even more often if you regularly notice an unpleasant odor.

3. Bacterial Problems

If your Bernese Mountain Dog lives in an overly humid environment or spends a lot of time in and out of the water, they can start to develop an overgrowth of microorganisms living in their skin, ears, or skin folds. These bacteria or yeast microbes often give off an unpleasant smell, and that might be what you’re picking up on.

4. Ear Infections

Ear infections are notorious for their rancid smell, and if your Bernese Mountain Dog gets an ear infection, you’ll likely smell it. It’s important to check your dog’s ears daily, and this involves lifting the ear flap and checking the ear for evidence of abnormal discharge or smells.

5. Other Health Concerns

Tons of health concerns could lead to a Bernese Mountain Dog with an unpleasant odor. Issues like leaking anal glands, oral problems, or an abscess can all lead to an unpleasant smell. If you suspect a medical issue is behind your pup’s smell, speak with your vet immediately.

How to Keep Your Bernese Mountain Dog Smelling Great

It’s better to keep your dog smelling great than to have to try and remedy the situation after the fact. Below are a few things you can do to keep your Bernese Mountain Dog smelling its best day after day.

1. Clean Environment

A dirty home leads to a bad-smelling pup. Keeping your home smoke-free, taking the trash out, and keeping a clean kitchen will make a big difference in keeping your dog smelling great. You also should consider keeping your Bernese Mountain Dog away from mud and other terrains that can lead to foul-smelling odors.

2. Frequent Baths

While a Bernese Mountain Dog shouldn’t need any more baths than any other type of dog, it’s still important to stick with a consistent bathing routine. Giving baths once every 4 to 8 weeks will go a long way in keeping bad odors away, and it’s infrequent enough that it shouldn’t create any problems for their skin or coat. Just ensure you’re using a top-notch dog shampoo and thoroughly drying them off afterward.

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3. Regular Grooming Routine

With a long, thick coat, a Bernese Mountain Dog needs daily brushing to keep their fur from matting up and collecting all sorts of dirt and grime. Brushing them once per day will help clear out any excess gunk in their coat before it has a chance to start collecting bacteria and creating a foul odor. Additionally, it’s important to wipe your dog’s paws after each walk, clean their mouth after meals, and maintain proper hygiene in the genital and perianal area.

4. Regular Vet Visits

Since underlying health problems are the causes of so many bad-smelling dogs, keeping up with regular checkups, at least once or twice a year, and taking your pup to the vet anytime something is wrong will go a long way in helping. These things will help ensure you can catch issues while they’re still small and easily treatable.

Conclusion

While a Bernese Mountain Dog requires a lot of work and love to care for properly, if you keep up with all their care requirements, they shouldn’t smell any worse than any other type of dog. They’re still going to smell like a dog, of course, but it shouldn’t be unbearable.

If your Bernese Mountain Dog has an odor you can’t shake, we recommend taking them to a vet for further suggestions and to rule out any potential health problems they might have.

Featured Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock