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double coat

To Shave or Not to Shave? The Double Coat Debate

May 13, 2019 3 Comments

It's that time of year—should you shave your double-coated dog or not? There's a lot to consider before making that decision.

We’re feeling summer and it’s the time where I start seeing the same question appear in every Great Pyrenees forum.

Is it okay to shave my Great Pyrenees?

I get it. We all want to keep our furry friends as comfortable as possible as the weather warms up, and we often see their coats as the main source of potential discomfort.

But if taken care of properly, your dog’s double coat is all he needs to keep cool and comfortable in the warmer months.

What is a double coat?

Dogs that were bred to be able to deal with chilling temperatures—like the Great Pyrenees, Husky, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, etc.—have a double coat.

The double coat consists of two layers: a short, dense undercoat and a long, coarse, top coat (or guard hairs).

The undercoat helps protect your dog from cold and hot temperatures, while the top coat protects from the elements—like moisture and dirt.

An important thing to remember is that the under and outer coats grow on different cycles. The undercoat is on a shorter growth cycle, while the outer coat does not shed as often and can take years to regrow.

Whereas we have one hair per follicle, dogs have on average between 5 and 22 hairs per follicle. They have primary hairs and secondary hairs that lack a cortex. Their hair/fur is in a constant state of rotation between the three growth stages: anagen, catagen, telogen. That is new hairs growing in, old hairs falling out, and mature hairs resting in between.

– Love Fur Dogs

This is why the coat often doesn’t grow in the same way after being shaved. Since the two coat layers are on different growth cycles, shaving can permanently change the ratio of under to outer coat. Your dog may end up with a thick coat that is difficult to maintain or a sparse, patchy coat.

Plus, instead of two, neat layers each performing their own unique functions, the fur is now growing in a tangled, disorderly way.

The winter coat

In the winter, your Great Pyrenees will grow a dense undercoat to keep him warm. The undercoat lies close to the skin to also keep your dog dry in the rain and snow.

Sometimes, the undercoat is so thick in the winter that you struggle to find your dog’s skin. I know I definitely have that issue with Mauja!

As you know, this thick undercoat is extremely important to keep your dog warm in the winter months. But it also has a very important job to do once summer comes around.

The summer coat

When spring rolls around, your dog will start shedding his undercoat, leaving the guard hairs to protect from the elements—especially the sun.

Grooming becomes even more important as your dog starts blowing his coat. You can help your Great Pyrenees stay cool by raking out the undercoat, allowing it to function appropriately.

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

If you think shaving your double-coated dog will help keep him cool, think again.

An important thing to remember is that dogs don’t cool themselves like we do as humans. Dogs don’t cool themselves through their skin. At most, it’s their paw pads that sweat.

But their main mode of cooling comes from panting. Shaving them exposes their skin more directly to the sun, causing them to overheat. 

Shaving myths

A few things are commonly said when it comes to shaving double-coated dog breeds. If you’re thinking about shaving your dog and hear any of these myths, proceed with caution.

“Don’t worry—it’ll grow back.”

Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. A younger dog will likely have more luck growing back a healthy, functioning coat, but that doesn’t mean they will.

If your dog has been shaved, you’ll probably notice the fur starting to come back in pretty quickly. But you’re going to see the undercoat come in first. The outer, guard hairs will then start to grow as well.

You might also notice that your dog’s fur doesn’t feel quite like it did before. Remember that the coat layers grow at different rates. A coat that has been shaved tends to grow in feeling sticky and almost like Velcro.

Burrs, grass, twigs, and leaves will be even more attracted to your dog’s coat than before—and more difficult to remove.

How To Shave A Dog2

You can also expect your dog to be even hotter in the summer as the fur grows back in. The growing undercoat will keep air from reaching the skin, preventing your dog’s natural cooling process. The undercoat’s texture also absorbs the sun’s rays, further contributing to overheating.

The sticky undercoat is also more likely to mat, causing skin irritation and hot spots.

“My dog is so happy after being shaved. He acts like a puppy!”

Most people don’t realize what’s actually going on here.

Any time you see someone with a shaved pyr saying their dog is so much cooler and happier, take a close look at the before pictures. How does the coat look?

The vast majority of the time, the dog’s coat was a matted mess or full of dead undercoat. Of course the dog is going to be cooler shaved.

If double coated dogs aren’t brushed weekly (or even daily during heavy shedding periods), the dead undercoat will become impacted and the coat won’t function properly.

A shaved dog will initially feel cooler than a dog with a matted, dense coat. But that doesn’t mean it’s better than a properly cared for coat.

More reasons not to shave

We’ve hit on the biggest reasons not to shave, but here’s a few more.

Sunburn. Great Pyrenees have very pale, pink, freckled skin. Their skin will respond the same way to the sun as a pale person’s skin. And yes, dogs can get skin cancer.

Thin skin. Dogs have much thinner skin and more dense hair than us. Without the protection of their coat, their thin skin is at risk—regardless of the weather.

Shedding. Shaving a double coated dog does not eliminate shedding. It just makes the hair that is shed shorter. And the short hair that’s being shed is typically a lot more difficult to deal with. They become splinters that embed themselves in your furniture and skin (ouch).

Related: Grooming a Double Coated Dog

When should a dog be shaved?

There are two main times when a coat can and should be shaved: surgery and when the coat is too matted to be saved.

Older dogs with arthritis or other painful conditions might also be good candidates for having certain areas shaved. Oftentimes, these dogs can no longer tolerate grooming because it’s painful for them.

If your dog does need to be shaved for a medical reason, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep them safe. Keeping your dog out of the sun (and using sunscreen) can help protect your dogs skin.

It's that time of year—should you shave your double-coated dog or not? There's a lot to consider before making that decision.

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: double coat, great pyrenees, shave

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer

January 5, 2017 44 Comments

If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free.

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer®

This post is sponsored by Swiffer® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Swiffer products for pet parents, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Swiffer is not responsible for the content of this article.

Can someone please tell me how it can possibly be 2017 already? I don’t know about you, but I was ready for the start of a new year. It always encourages me to look back on the past year, determine my successes, and decide what I want to work on in the next year. Ah yes, those popular New Year’s Resolutions. I mentioned earlier this week that resolutions aren’t necessarily my thing. However, I always set goals for myself. Amidst the many, many goals I have, I have several that involve the fluffy butts:

  • Complete the therapy dog certification with Atka
  • Find a carting class to participate in with Mauja
  • Dabble in Rally with Atka (yes, pyrents – I’m serious! ?)
  • Get the fluffies back on a consistent grooming schedule

I used to be so good with our grooming routine. Mauja and Atka were being brushed most nights of the week. I’d turn on the TV and give them a nice brush to end the day. While grooming isn’t something they really enjoy, I have always found it relaxing. However, I’ve been seriously slacking recently and only been brushing them about once per week. My house has paid the price for that.

If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free. Even with daily brushing, shed happens. There’s a common saying for pet parents of dogs with double coats: “My dog only sheds twice per year. For six months in the spring and six months in the fall.” It goes without saying that with only weekly brushing sessions, pet hair envelops my home. Talk about embarrassing if someone wants to swing by the house last minute! Thankfully, I’ve developed a super quick, super easy pet clean-up routine for when I slack in my daily pet grooming.

  1. Quickly vacuum the carpeted areas a guest might see.
  2. Run the Swiffer® Sweeper® on the laminate flooring.
  3. Spot clean the muddy paw prints with the Swiffer® WetJet™, which are ALWAYS there – darn Pacific Northwest living! 😉
  4. If I have an extra minute, I’ll run my Swiffer® Duster™ over the coffee table and entertainment center to remove the fur (how does so much fur end up on the elevated surfaces?!).

Swiffer

  There are so many reasons I love using Swiffer products, but here are a few top benefits:

  • All are quick, easy, and lightweight
  • The dry cloth for the Swiffer Sweeper has grooves which trap dirt, dust, and hair.
  • The wet cloth easily dissolves dirt and grime without the hassle of a mop and bucket.
  • The Swiffer Duster showcases Dust Lock Adhesive which easily cleans all the nooks and crannies in your house for a 3x better clean than a feather duster.

Like every product, it isn’t perfect for all situations. Pyr fur is long and thick and when I only do weekly a brushing, there is a lot to sweep up. It doesn’t always “lock” the copious amounts of fur. However, it still does a great job of collecting the fur into an easy to manage pile while simultaneously trapping the dirt that brooms miss.

Pro tip: After running the Swiffer, simply prop it in the corner. The Swiffer Sweeper will collect all the dust and hair and disguise it until you have a moment to clean up the excess. Or if you’re like me, until you decide you’ve piled up enough fur in the corner 😉

Daily grooming helps pets and pet owners bond in many ways, and can prevent shedding, but shed happens! With Swiffer, pet parents can get a thorough clean in minutes, so pet hair mess is never an obstacle to bonding. – Dr. Evan Antin, Swiffer Spokesperson

If you have a double-coated dog, how do you handle the fur? If we don't do daily brushing sessions, my home pays the price! Thankfully, Swiffer makes it quick and easy to keep our home fur-free.
My Swiffer, a glass of Merlot, and a Great Pyrenees #PyrMomLife 😉

I couldn’t agree more and want you to experience the Swiffer products for yourself. Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Big Green Box full of Swiffer products!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can’t wait? Visit Swiffer to learn more about how pet parents can keep their home clean and smelling fresh with the Swiffer® Sweeper®, the Swiffer® Duster™ and the Swiffer® Wet Jet™.

In the meantime, visit Swiffer on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and check out tips from Dr. Antin on Facebook and Instagram.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Swiffer. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: clean home, double coat, great pyrenees, grooming, reviews, swiffer

Bring Them Inside

January 12, 2015 30 Comments

This time of year, we’re constantly bombarded with images and reminders to bring our dogs in from the cold. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “If you’re cold, they’re cold. Bring them inside”.

Most of the time, this is absolutely true. [Read more…] about Bring Them Inside

Filed Under: Pyr Paw Around, What's New Tagged With: cold, dogs, double coat, great pyrenees, snow, weather, winter

Grooming a Double Coated Dog

April 21, 2014 30 Comments

Grooming a double coated dog can be quite the task--not to mention time-consuming! Here's our basic guide for grooming a double coated dog.

Grooming a double coated dog, such as a Great Pyrenees, can be quite the task. But, fear not! It’s not as difficult as it may seem.

I can’t even keep track of how many times I have heard someone ask me, “why don’t you just shave them?”. Shaving a dog with a double coat is rarely ever a good idea. The only time shaving should be done is when it’s absolutely necessary. I can think of two such times:

  1. A dog has been neglected and his coat is severely matted. Brushing/trimming out the mats isn’t even an option.
  2. Surgery.

Few people realize that a dog’s double coat actually helps them in the winter and summer. Have you ever heard someone say, “my dog is blowing his coat”? For most double coated breeds, this happens twice a year. Once to go from summer to winter and again to go from winter to summer. Currently, Mauja is blowing her winter coat and getting in her summer coat. This means extra shedding! Atka still has mostly puppy coat, so he is slowly shedding that for his beautiful adult fur.

Grooming a double coated dog can be quite the task--not to mention time-consuming! Here's our basic guide for grooming a double coated dog.
[Read more…] about Grooming a Double Coated Dog

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog Tagged With: brush, comb, dog, double coat, fur, great pyrenees, groom, trim

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Someone never lets me go to the bathroom alone. Ca Someone never lets me go to the bathroom alone. Can anyone guess whose paw this belongs to? 🐾
Tikaani has a massively floofy booty and if he doe Tikaani has a massively floofy booty and if he doesn’t get frequent sanitary trims, he gets a 💩 build up in his fur. We used to have to get him sedated for sanitary trims, but a few months ago we were able to switch to Clonidine and do them ourselves. We’ve been gradually reducing the dosage, and today, he had his first trim with ZERO drugs and ZERO growling 🙌🙌
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