I'm picking up my beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog Monday. Met her yesterday, and we clicked very well. I think it will be great after an adjustment period. She is an adult being rehomed because she just wasn't happy or working out as one of a group of dogs. She wants her own private person and attention. Loves other critters and comes already cat socialized, but she did not want canine competition.

Couple of Berner newbie questions:

1. Grooming? What's the best tool? How often? Hints for muddy feet? She will be indoor outdoor, and it's been raining forever.

2. Cats. Hannah loves cats, and I saw her yesterday have cats all over, under, and around her and eating out of her bowl. But my cats have never seen a dog. Suggestions on introducing the cat savvy dog to the cat who has never seen one?

3. Other suggestions on rehoming an adult and adjustment? She will be leaving the only home she has known since puppyhood. She was loved there and loved her people, just did not want to share them. It was a very reluctant decision that she would be happier with her own farm and person all to herself. What should I expect, how long to start bonding, things I can do to help her adjust?

Thanks! She is absolutely beautiful, and I can't wait to get her here.

You'll need a few grooming tools.
1) Slicker Brush - I use daily to keep the hair inside to a minimum. Practice back brushing to keep the old undercoat under control and get it out before it falls onto the floor. I tired the furminator, but didn't like the fact that it "cuts" the hair.
2) Big pin brush - good for quick brushing and getting crud out of their hair fast...dried dirt, plants, etc!
3) Hair scissors for triming the hair under the pads, and you can use to trim the long hairs that extend beyond the ears. I use both straight sissors and the thinning sissors to keep it looking more natural.
4) Giant nail clippers and a dremmel. Nails grow really fast and you have to stay on top of them.

As for muddy feet...always fun. I use a small bucket of water and they hate it, but foot by foot, it goes in the water and gets wiped off.

Cats -- Sorry have had no experience there. I think the Berners are more afraid of the cats.

As for rehoming - most Berners love all people. I'm sure she'll be a bit sad, but with lots of attention and love, I'm sure she will adust to her new home quickly. Just keep it all positive and try and keep her around you a lot during the first couple weeks so you can bond with her and you'll become her new Alpha lead.

Congrats and enjoy!

Gail, Finn and Dugan

I read somewhere that Berners over aged 2 sometimes have difficulty being rehomed, but I don't believe it. My experience is that they are such people dogs and so willing to please that if you are patient and kind and take the initiative to be a good pack leader, with daily walks etc, that you will have great success.
On grooming, I think Gail949 has the right answers. I also use a steel comb that has two lengths of teeth (one short, one longer) and I have found nothing beats this for getting out the dead undercoat. I agree with Gail949 to brush/comb against the natural lay of the hair - you get so much more hair out! I also use a very fine toothed comb for under their ears because it's such a problem area. Since puppyhood, I have made them wash their paws in a tub (it's actually a cow feed tub so virtually indistructible) and trained them to do this by offering a cookie or a bit of ham and not giving them the treat unless all 4 paws were in the water. We live in a very rainy and wet area plus we live on acreage with muddy fields and I am a bit of a freak about a clean floor (thank goodness, no rugs in our house!) so paws must always be done before they come in.
Another thing, especially in rain and snow seasons, is to shave thehair of their pads with an electric razor but so far, I've always taken them to a pro who puts them up on a table. None of our dogs have ever liked the sound of the scissors when I'm clipping and I find I get rather nervous which they pick up on, so more than not, leave it to the experts. I do try to do it myself every so often but I don't think I do as good a job as the dog groomer who only charges me $10/dog. For nail clipping, I use a "guillotine" clipper (very scary!! but I'm soooo careful) They're not overly crazy about when I clip their nails so I give them a bit of cookie for each snip and VOILA! I've been debating on the dremmel tool and after reading Gail949's answer, I'm going to be brave and try it!