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Washington to Virginia | Day 2

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A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing

We decided to keep day two fairly short because we were expecting a call from our realtor that evening. (Our house in Washington just went on the market, and he wanted to give us an update.)

*Note: I’m writing these at the end of each day, so I’m pretty tired when I do. I apologize if I rant or things read strangely

The drive itself was smooth—and we had another great experience with Kaani.

Mid-drive, we stopped at a gas station to fuel up and stretch our legs. I beat Nick, Mauja, and Atka there, so Kiska, Kaani, and I went out for a walk.

A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing
Ready for day two!

What normally happens on a walk?

You run into people.

Kaani’s threshold is about 50–100 feet away—depending on the situation. Any closer and he starts to bark, then growl (at about 10 feet), then lunge (between two and five feet)—unless he can get away. He also typically does better when I have his Gentle Leader on.

A woman walking toward us, and I wanted to start testing a new method for fear reactivity that I learned from Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0. We started walking in her direction, and I watched Kaani’s body language very closely. As soon as he started to get too alert (but before barking started), we gently turned and walked the other way.

He made it within 15 feet of the woman without making a sound.

I could have jumped up and down squealing, but that probably would have freaked him out 😉

He got all the treats and praise as we got everyone back in the car and ready for the rest of the trip.

A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing
Miss Independence is not nearly as enthused with the long car ride as Atka 😉

We finished the drive and everyone was amazing again. We had about an hour and a half before we needed to chat with our realtor, so we found a nearby park to go for a walk.

That had its own set of challenges.

Turns out this park in Wyoming is full of prairie dogs—who I’m pretty sure are used to dogs and like to taunt them. This meant we had a lot of training opportunities for everyone!

The biggest struggle today was acclimating Kaani to a Gentle Leader. I had a Freedom Harness for him (which I love), but this was before I knew he had a shoulder injury. We searched for a new harness, and decided on the Hurtta Padded Y-harness.

This harness has been great, but I’m still not 100% confident in the fit for him. The location of his injury makes wearing a harness difficult. So, we switched to a Gentle Leader. We’re still training with him—because he’s definitely not comfortable with it yet.

Kaani’s confidence

I’ve noticed Kaani becoming more confident in the few weeks we’ve had him. The first few times I took him outside, his tail was tucked and he was over-alert to his surroundings.

A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing
Kaani makes a great co-pilot!

Now, he’s definitely more eager to explore, but he has his limits. It only takes a 15 minute walk before he’s ready to hide out in the car (or hotel or wherever his space is at that time).

And that’s what happened tonight.

He was fairly eager to explore the new area where we took them for a walk, but after about ten minutes, he was over it. Once we were walking in the direction of the car, he started dragging me. At one point, he even laid down with his head under the car begging to get in.

A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing

He just breaks my heart sometimes.

We loaded everyone back up in the cars and headed to the hotel to relax and waited to chat with our realtor. Everyone was pretty exhausted from the walk and settled in quickly.

After a late night potty walk, we got everyone settled in to bed. At about 1 am, Kaani started yipping in his crate. It’s unlike him to do this in the middle of the night, so we got up and went outside. He did his business and everything seemed fine.

Then about two hours later, he had me up again. Like last time, he did his business and everything seemed fine.

After another two hours, he had me up again. This time, he went outside and just laid down in the grass. At that point, I realized he didn’t need out in the middle of the night. He was hot.

The a/c at our hotel was out, but the evening was very cool, so we put a fan in the window to bring in the cool air. We also had a fan in the room to help everyone stay cool.

I was more coherent the third time I took him out, and I could immediately feel the temperature difference. We were able to put a fan on him and get a few more hours of sleep before we had to hit the road for day three.

Learn about the rest of our trip

Day 1
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

A recap of day two of our move from Washington to Virginia with four Great Pyrenees and a cat! | It's Dog or Nothing

To Shave or Not to Shave? The Double Coat Debate

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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.

How Much Does a Great Pyrenees Cost?

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There are so many factors to consider when determining the cost of a Great Pyrenees. Let's break them down.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how much my Great Pyrenees cost, I’d have enough money to buy 100 acres of land and build the Great Pyrenees rescue of my dreams.

The question is asked all the time. And honestly, it makes me pretty uncomfortable.

Because people are generally only interested in the initial cost of a puppy or rescue dog. They don’t care about the lifelong expenses that are just as—if not more—important.

So, let’s start at the beginning—acquiring the dog.

Breeder or rescue

There are so many factors to consider when determining the cost of a Great Pyrenees. Let's break them down.

I’ve seen Great Pyrenees puppies being sold for about $1,000 to $2,500 from reputable breeders. But I’ve seen puppies for about $200 from irresponsible breeders. Rescues may have pyrs for about $500 depending on the dog’s age.

But remember—a higher price doesn’t mean you’re getting a better-quality puppy.

If you decide to purchase from a breeder, there are a few things to consider.

Related: Breeding Great Pyrenees: Does Job Matter?

The Great Pyrenees is a healthy breed. In an effort to maintain this health level, the Great Pyrenees Club of America recommends that each breeding Great Pyrenees (sire and dam) qualify for a CHIC number and make all health testing results public through the OFA CHIC database.

–Great Pyrenees Club of America

The current requirements for a Great Pyrenees CHIC number are:

Completing two mandatory tests:

– Hip Dysplasia Evaluation (OFA, PennHip, FCI, AVA)
– Patella Luxation Exam (OFA)

Completing one additional test from the following list:

– Elbow Dysplasia (OFA)
– Thyroid Panel (OFA)
– Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT) DNA Testing
– Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (CMR) DNA Testing
– Cardiac Evaluation (OFA)
– ACVO Eye Examination (OFA or CERF)
– Shoulder OCD Evaluation (OFA)
– BAER Testing (OFA)

Our pups are raised on the farm for at least 10 weeks, with their mother and other trusted pyr mentors prior to going to their new homes/farms/owners. Our pups are raised using Puppy Culture and are well socialized with people of all ages, animals, and livestock of all kinds.

– Kimberly Brittain | Brittain Family Farm

Things that may affect price:

  • Full vs. limited registration
  • Health testing
  • Microchipping

Things that shouldn’t affect price:

  • Gender
  • Markings (pure white vs. badger)
  • Size

Things you should expect from a reputable breeder:

  • Tons of questions before selling you a puppy
  • Lifelong support
  • First round of shots and deworming from a vet

I make a take home pack for when they leave with puppy food samples, brochures, coupons, all their records, a pedigree, a toy, and some treats.

Bekah Harris | Dancing Cloud Great Pyrenees

And remember, a lot of breeders don’t actually make a profit because they’re not in it for the money. They want to better a breed they love.

Related: Great Pyrenees Rescues by State

Breaking down Great Pyrenees cost

This cost is just the beginning.

You’ll have about 10–12 years with your new pup—more if you’re lucky. 10–12 years of food, grooming, medical expenses, toys, and more.

Let’s start with the most obvious—the food.

Cost to feed a Great Pyrenees

Feed fresh and keep your dog happy with The Farmer's Dog. It's a favorite for the Great Pyrenees at It's Dog or Nothing!

This can vary widely depending on the type of food you feed your dog—dry, canned, homemade, raw, or a combination of these.

We spend about $250 a month on food (not including treats and chews). This is split between dry food from Only Natural Pet, homemade food from The Farmer’s Dog and NomNomNow, and freeze-dried raw food from Dr. Marty.

Related: The Farmer’s Dog vs. NomNomNow: A Comprehensive Comparison

The cost varies based on the time of year. Pyrs will naturally eat more in the winter and less in the summer.

But as far as giant breeds go, Great Pyrenees are cheaper to feed. They have slow metabolisms and don’t need as much food as other giant breeds.

Grooming

How much does a Great Pyrenees cost? There are a lot of factors, and don't forget about grooming!

If you’re going to take the DIY route, you’ll have your initial costs—grooming table, rake, brush, shampoo, nail clippers, and more.

Don’t forget the ears, teeth, and paws when you self-groom either!

Approximate start up grooming costs:

Total Cost: $299

Don't forget the grooming cost when determining the cost of a Great Pyrenees!

Other things you’ll probably want to add for easy, effective grooming:

Total Cost: $102

That totals $401.

Many of these are recurring costs, so that should also be considered when determining your own DIY grooming cost.

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

If you’re going to go to a professional groomer, anticipate about $100 per dog (and don’t forget the tip). Of course, it depends where you go—a chain store versus a local groomer—but I anticipate about $300 when I take all three to the groomer.

They go, like, maybe twice a year 😉

I also like to have a professional groomer trim their grinch feet since I always end up giving them terrible bowl cuts on their feet.

Training

I highly recommend everyone attend a training class (or better yet, several) with their Great Pyrenees. Especially if you have a puppy—puppy kindergarten is extremely important.

And it’s is 100% worth it—as long as you’re attending class with a reputable trainer.

Group dog training classes vary in cost, but you should expect anywhere from $100 to $200 for a six-week course.

Related: 10 Tips for Training a Great Pyrenees

If you attend Puppy Kindergarten, Obedience 1, Obedience 2, and any other classes like rally, agility, or nose work, that cost will add up quickly. Especially if you plan on taking more than one dog.

Health expenses

If you’re bringing home a puppy, you’ll need to prepare for the initial shots like bordetella and rabies. Looking back on Mauja, Atka, and Kiska’s puppy shots, it was about $75 per visit—and there were four of them.

Then you’ll need to consider the cost to spay or neuter. The cost varies, but you can expect a spay to be more expensive than a neuter (it’s a more complex procedure).

Some vets sell a “puppy package” which includes all the shots and spay/neuter in one price. If your vet does this, I highly recommend it.

I was quoted about $450 for Mauja’s spay alone. We did the puppy package and spent $400 on all of her shots and spay.

The best part is that most don’t make you spay/neuter by a specific age. We bought the puppy package for Atka and waited until he was older to neuter. It was a relief not to have that expense later on.

Related: Why are giant breeds more expensive? It’s not just the food

You’ll also want to prepare for flea, tick, and heartworm prevention costs, depending on where you live.

I’d also include supplements—like salmon oil and joint support—under health expenses. These are two that I think every Great Pyrenees should be taking consistently.

Unexpected expenses

Last year, Mauja completely blew her CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) and needed TPLO (tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy) surgery. The surgery was going to cost about $6,000—money we definitely didn’t have to spend.

We would have figured out how to make it work, but I’m very thankful that we had pet insurance. We paid our deductible, and the rest was covered. One less thing to worry about in the midst of the crazy!

Great Pyrenees after CCL tear and TPLO surgery.

CCL tears are common in giant breed dogs. But you’ll also want to prepare for the possibility of bloat, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and osteosarcoma—some of the more common health issues in Great Pyrenees.

Toys and chews

Great Pyrenees with toys

Pyrs can easily destroy any “indestructible” toy.

I think the last one we had was shredded by Mauja in about 10 minutes. But that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped buying them toys!

Pyr life hack: Replace stuffing in toys with holes and sew them closed to make them last longer.

Some of my (and floof) favorites are:

Home and lawn repairs

Our cleaning routine with three Great Pyrenees

Oh, Great Pyrenees. They’re amazing, but there’s a reason Mauja’s nickname was “Little Monster” as puppy.

When Mauja was “in a mood,” she used to stare at us while chewing the corner of the wall. This was usually because we told her she couldn’t go outside.

So there was that damage to fix.

Plus, there’s the muddy walls and paws, endless vacuuming, and faster wear and tear to your home.

Oh, and expect to need a new vacuum every 6–12 months.

Our yard is also a disaster. In Montana, the dogs had a digging box, which definitely helped. I just never built them one here in Washington. They will have one at our next house though!

A few things I recommend to help your home:

Related: 10 Ways Your Great Pyrenees Helps You Get Fit

Boarding

In the vast majority of cases, you should plan to have a pet sitter come to your house rather than place your pyr in boarding. I do know a few pyrs that absolutely love it, but typically they’ve been going since they were babies.

Most pyrs don’t do well in boarding. Why?

Because they’re guard dogs. They’re always listening, looking, and smelling for things that could be a threat. The constant barking and unfamiliar environment can be too much for your pyr.

I’ve known several pyrs to go “kennel crazy” after their family took a quick vacation. But I know that it can be insanely hard to find a good pet sitter.

We found one a few years ago who was amazing. She worked part time, so she was able to spend a lot of time with the pups. Plus, she was more of a homebody, so she wasn’t going to come back to them at 3 am.

I wish I could fly her out to watch the dogs!

Related: Pet Sitter or Boarding?

Since then, it’s been a bunch of misses. The last one kept Kiska in her house (since she’s so used to being with me) and did drop-ins for Mauja and Atka (and Indie).

At first, I got rave reviews about Kiska. Then after a few days, she was telling me things about Kiska that I never could have imagined.

And got mad at me when Kiska chewed a wall when I told her Kiska couldn’t be left alone.

Kiska ended up breaking two teeth when she was kenneled (when she wasn’t supposed to be). She also lost 20 pounds. At only 80 pounds to start, losing 20 in two weeks was insane.

And I do crazy vetting of any potential sitter. I think this individual thought she was prepared, even with all of my disclaimers.

It’s not easy to leave them, and I absolutely hate leaving them, but sometimes, it’s necessary. I recommend doing an overnight or a weekend trip as a test with your sitter to make sure everything will run smoothly.

Let’s bring it all together

Dogs aren’t cheap. And giant breed dogs definitely aren’t cheap. But as long as you’re prepared, they’re 110% worth it.

There are so many factors to consider when determining the cost of a Great Pyrenees. Let's break them down.

Dr. Marty & Freedom Service Dogs: Why I’m Obsessed

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I love the food from Dr. Marty, but the company they sponsor, Freedom Service Dogs, makes me adore the company even more. And there's a very special reason why.

Kiska came to me as a foster.

She was covered in fleas and required more baths than I can remember to remove them all. And there were so many around her eyes. Removing them was a seemingly endless process.

We’d put her in the bath and turn on the water to find the fleas. Then wash her down and use a fine tooth comb to remove all the fleas from her. There were so many that we had to have a “dipping bucket.”

Our dipping bucket was a big water cup where we’d put the fleas we removed to keep them from jumping—there were too many to get down the drain each time.

Once we got as many as we could find, we’d take her outside to dry off, continuing to search for and remove fleas. During that time, we’d change clothes and start a load of laundry to make sure they didn’t end up in the house.

Then, back in the tub she’d go.

Rinse and repeat. It was an exhausting process.

The transition to a service dog

The longer I had Kiska and the more we bonded, I realized her potential to help me in ways I had never considered.

I have a lot of physical and mental health issues, but Kiska first showed her potential at helping me with fainting due to POTS. If my blood pressure or heart rate started to drop, she’d be all over me and getting me to sit down.

The first time it happened, I thought it was a coincidence.

Then it happened again. And again. And again.

At only a few months old, she was already changing my life, and I knew she had found her forever home with us (even though I had been adamant about not having more than one female).

Related: What’s Next for Kiska?

Kiska had gotten most of my POTS symptoms under control, but I was still struggling with gluten cross contamination (I have Celiac disease).

I started hearing about gluten detection dogs and wondered if she could learn. I figured we’d give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen?

Check out these gluten detection dogs in action (Kiska is featured in the video as well)!

I couldn’t believe how quickly she was learning and how willing she was to work for me—especially for a Great Pyrenees! Anytime I asked, “Do you want to work?” she’d come running over to me.

Related: 10 Tips for Training Great Pyrenees

Kiska helps me stay safe and eat well, and I always want to do the same for her.

When I was contacted by Dr. Marty about collaborating, I first had to make sure their food was up to my standards. Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend is:

  • freeze-dried raw dog food
  • all-natural
  • developed by America’s foremost integrative veterinarian, Dr. Marty
  • free from chemicals and fillers
  • made in the USA and Canada
  • backed by a 90-day money back guarantee

Nature’s Blend ingredients: Turkey, Beef, Salmon, Duck, Flax, Beef Liver, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Liver, Sweet Potato, Eggs, Pea Flour, Carrots, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Spinach, Ginger, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols

Related: Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food from Dr. Marty

As I was perusing the site, I noticed something that made me love the company even more—they are a sponsor for Freedom Service Dogs of America.

Freedom Service Dogs of America

Freedom Service Dogs unlocks the potential of shelter dogs. They deliberately work to do something I stumbled upon with Kiska. She had more potential than I knew—and so do other rescue dogs.

At Freedom Service Dogs, we unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need. The clients we serve live with disabilities like autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and more. We also serve veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

– Freedom Service Dogs

Since being founded, Freedom Service Dogs of America has rescued over 1,000 shelter dogs.

Not every shelter dog is going to make a good service dog, but don’t worry—Freedom Service Dogs will adopt out the pups that are more the “just hang out on the couch” type to loving families.

These hero dog deserve to be fed the best, so I love that Dr. Marty is helping provide that for them.

Kiska had potential beyond what I ever thought possible. Freedom Service Dogs and Dr. Marty are helping find that potential in the dogs that are too often overlooked.

Give your hero dog the chance to try Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend today.

I love the food from Dr. Marty, but the company they sponsor, Freedom Service Dogs, makes me adore the company even more. And there's a very special reason why.

Disclaimer: We were compensated to share Dr. Marty on It’s Dog or Nothing. Don’t worry–we only share products we use and believe in.

6 Reasons NOT to Get a Great Pyrenees

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Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.

When we get Great Pyrenees in rescue, there are a few recurring reasons for surrender—all of which are breed traits.

As livestock guardian dogs, they don’t behave like most breeds. They bark, they dig, they roam, and they’re very independent.

I love Great Pyrenees—that’s no secret. But, I don’t promote them as a dog for most people. To be honest, as much as I want all dogs to find a home, most people just won’t be happy with a pyr.

If you want a Great Pyrenees, consider these six things first.

You don’t like barking—especially at night

When people are interested in a Great Pyrenees and ask me about my experiences, I always start by saying that they bark a lot.

Like all. the. time.

Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.

This comment is usually followed by, “Oh, my *insert breed here* barks a lot too. At everything. So barking isn’t a big deal—we’re used to it.”

I can tell you that it’s unlikely that your dog barks as much as a pyr or other livestock guardian dog (LGD). Regardless of how much barking I try and prepare people for, they never believe me—until they add a pyr to their family.

Then I get the email: “Oh my gosh, I had no idea that dogs could bark that much!”

If you think you know barking, you can take Kiska for a day and let me know if you still think your current dog barks a lot.

Related: Will My Great Pyrenees Bark All the Time?

You don’t have a fence

There’s a reason most rescues require a 6 ft fence for Great Pyrenees.

Pyrs can easily scale fences, require solid fencing, and are escape artists. Their climbing ability is honestly impressive.

Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.
I still don’t understand how he got up there!

You won’t have much luck with invisible fences either. Pyrs have an incredibly high pain tolerance and won’t think twice about the shock.

If you don’t have a fence and want a Great Pyrenees, you’ll need to be able to commit to leash walking and other safe ways to exercise your dog.

Regardless if you have a sturdy fence or not, I am a big fan of GPS collars to easily track down your floof!

You want an off-leash dog

If you dream of walking along the beach with your pyr trotting along beside you or going to a hike while your dog frolics through the woods, you probably shouldn’t get a Great Pyrenees.

The vast majority of Great Pyrenees cannot be off-leash.

The saying goes: an off-leash pyr is a disapyr.

Atka can be off-leash in certain situations, but it has to be a pretty low key environment. Mauja and Kiska can never be off-leash. There have been several times that I’ve seen their floofy booties happily trotting off.

Such stinkers.

Everything goes back to this: Great Pyrenees are livestock guardian dogs.

They think their territory is as far as they can roam, and they’ll constantly test the limits. If you keep that in the front of your mind, you’ll never question your pyr’s behavior.

It’s like Mufasa said: “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”

Related: How to Prevent Great Pyrenees Roaming

You want a trick dog

Pyrs are incredibly smart, but they aren’t usually interested in tricks and obedience. This doesn’t mean they can’t be trained—they just typically have better ideas.

“You want me to sit? Okay, I’ll sit, but I’m going to do it 15 feet away.”

“You want me to shake? Ehh… not really in the mood right now. Try again later.”

Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.

Shake, come, and down are trivial to them. They have more important things to focus on: protecting you and the rest of their flock.

This doesn’t mean that pyrs can’t be trained. They’re incredibly smart and need to be challenged. Just don’t expect it to be like training a Golden Retriever!

Related: 10 Tips for Training Great Pyrenees

You like a well-manicured lawn

Or at least one without giant craters.

I wish I had pictures of our lawn before we moved in. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a nice-looking yard.

Fast forward two years, and our yard is missing most of its grass from the floofs’ constant digging. Especially the center of the yard, which is where they prefer to hang out.

We tried to fence it off to grow grass, but they would just climb over and lay on the seeds. We eventually gave up.

Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve twisted my ankle or knee walking through the yard!

There are ways to minimize digging (like by building a digging box), but there’s always going to be a new place they want to dig. Mauja likes to try and remove the grass so she can lay on the cool dirt.

Related: Great Pyrenees Tips (from people who know the breed)

You don’t like brushing—or vacuuming 10 times a day

Grooming Great Pyrenees is a workout. They need to be brushed at least weekly, and it takes a bit of time to get through their fur.

If I want to do a full grooming session—bath, brush, ears, nails, teeth, and paw trimming—I need to set aside a day to get all three dogs done. Even then, I sometimes have to spread it out over a few days so I don’t completely wear out.

You’ll also need to be prepared to vacuum multiple times per day, if you want to keep a semi-clean house. And it’s not just because of the fur.

Everything sticks to their coats and is brought inside. Some days, we have more leaves and small twigs around the house than fur. I’m not sure which I’d prefer!

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

What are other reasons a Great Pyrenees might not be for someone?

Great Pyrenees are beautiful, majestic dogs, but they're not for everyone. If you want a pyr, consider these six things first.

11 Great Pyrenees You Need to Snuggle Like Right Now

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Any time I see the floofs laying on the ground, I automatically want to go over and snuggle with them. I’m not sure if it’s their floof or their ridiculously sweet faces, but I can’t resist the temptation.

I also can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a Great Pyrenees on social media that I just needed to snuggle.

There aren’t enough fingers or toes for that one—I’m sure you can understand.

We rounded up the top 11 Great Pyrenees you need to snuggle like right now (because if we included them all, the list would never end!).

So much squish. SO. MUCH. SQUISH.

Those eyes, that face. I’m melting.

Related: 10 Great Pyrenees Photos to Start Your Week Right

I can’t be the only one can’t get enough of their floofy booties 😉

Stop focusing on the walk and let me snorgle you!

I’m pretty sure those eyes could get anything they ever wanted.

I. Can’t. Don’t. Wow. I don’t even have words for the level of adorableness.

Related: 19 Pyrs Who Absolutely Do Not Want to Come Inside

You know the nap time need is real when the tongue is out 😉

I can’t decide which I love more. The perked ear, the goofy grin, or those happy eyes.

“Look deep into my eyes and tell me you don’t want to snuggle me.”

I’m always up for a snuggle with a floof with Einstein head 😉

Anyone else see this as nap time pyrfection?

Do you have a Great Pyrenees that you think everyone needs to snuggle? Of course you do! Head over to our Facebook page and share your floof with us 🙂

Are you in need of some pyr snuggles? Who isn't! Here are 11 Great Pyrenees you need to snuggle like right now.

WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements for Dogs

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WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are nature's best weapon against inflammation. They can help with immunity, focus, mobility, training, and allergies. We tested Focus for Mauja's anxiety and Allergy for Kiska's skin issues.

I’m going to be honest. When I first heard about blood protein supplements for dogs, I was a bit turned off.

Blood protein.

Just the name gave me a weird feeling. But I started doing some research, and realized just how widely back blood protein supplements are.

So when I was contacted by WINPRO to try their blood protein supplements, I was intrigued.

WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are:

  • created specifically for dogs
  • produced in the USA
  • fast-acting
  • proven to reduce inflammation

There are five different WINPRO formulas to help with a variety of needs:

We had the chance to try WINPRO Focus for Mauja’s anxiety issues, and WINPRO Allergy for Kiska’s skin issues.

WINPRO Focus for Calming

Watch how Mauja responded to WINPRO Focus

If you’ve been around awhile, you know that Mauja has some anxiety issues. We’ve been working on them since she was about 8 months old.

We don’t know exactly the cause, but we think we moved from California to Montana during a fear period. She would go out with us a lot in Cali, but the first place we went to in Montana resulted in this:

Great Pyrenees | It's Dog or Nothing

We’ve worked diligently with her since, but haven’t made much progress. She’s currently taking Prozac and several CBD supplements to help calm her mind while we work on triggering situations.

Unfortunately, we have to switch up products a lot because they stop working for her after a few weeks. So, I was really excited to learn about WINPRO Focus.

WINPRO Focus contains a blend of animal blood proteins and other key ingredients to help reduce anxiety, improve mental calmness, and maintain mental alertness.

WINPRO Focus helps:

  • reduce anxiety
  • promote mental calmness
  • promote attentiveness—without the Benadryl effect
  • improve behavior and responsiveness

Mauja has responded extremely well to WINPRO Focus. I even took her to work the other day! That’s something we couldn’t have done before—thanks to WINPRO.

WINPRO Allergy for Healthy Skin & Coat

Watch how Kiska responds to WINPRO Allergy

Itching, and scratching, and licking—oh my!

Allergies are definitely an issue in this house, especially for Miss Kiska. Girl is allergic to so many things.

So far, we know she’s allergic to grains, chicken, turkey, and pork. And I’m sure there’s still triggers we haven’t figured out yet.

Trying to feed her is always a challenge, and our cabinets are always stocked with Benadryl.

(That may be because I am also allergic to everything)

There have been many days where Kiska and I have passed out for hours mid-day because we needed a Benadryl dose to avoid scratching our skin off.

WINPRO Allergy has been a game changer for Kiska.

WINPRO Allergy helps:

  • reduce itching and scratching
  • provide relief for issues relating to allergies
  • promote healthy skin and coat
  • ease negative effects of environmental toxins
  • support seasonal and ongoing allergies

Kiska has been on WINPRO Allergy for over a month, and her allergy issues have improved so much.

When we go to pet stores, employees often want to give her treats. I either have to politely decline (which leads to disappointment), or I have to ask a million questions to make sure she won’t be miserable for the next several days.

Now, I don’t worry if someone offers her a treat. She can tolerate small amounts of her trigger foods without an issue.

It has taken so much of the stress away, and I’m sure she feels much better!

Use code “FLOOF15” for 15% off your first order!

Do you think your dog would benefit from a WINPRO product?

WINPRO Blood Protein Supplements are nature's best weapon against inflammation. They can help with immunity, focus, mobility, training, and allergies. We tested Focus for Mauja's anxiety and Allergy for Kiska's skin issues.

Disclaimer: It’s Dog or Nothing was compensated for sharing WINPRO products. Don’t worry—we’ll always share our honest opinion to give you the best information possible.

19 Pyrs Who Absolutely Do Not Want to Come Inside

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If it's too cold for you, it's just pyrfect for them! Check out these 19 pyrs enjoying snow life ❤️

If you’re cold, they’re cold!

Bring your pets inside!

If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them.

Right? Wrong.

If I only let the floofs out in weather I was comfortable in, they would hate me. They’d think I was torturing them—trying to prevent them from enjoying life.

They’d revolt. Trash cans would be emptied. Walls would be chewed. Pyr-sized holes would be made in our doors to escape and enjoy their favorite weather.

Bonus points if there’s snow on the ground.

Unfortunately, we don’t get much snow here in Seattle, but when we do, Mauja, Atka, and Kiska are some seriously happy floofs—and here are 19 other Great Pyrenees enjoying the weather.

I’m pretty sure Cujo is attempting to melt into the snow and hide outside. Someone is NOT coming inside anytime soon 😜

I spot another Seattle pyr enjoying the recent snowfall!

Gorgeous dog, gorgeous view! Tucker seems to be surveying his territory—everything the light touches ☀️

Bliss is in bliss ❤️

Maeby demonstrating exactly just how much pyrs love the snow 🤣

It’s important to become one with the snow.

I think someone shoved his face in a snow pile, and I’m pretty sure he couldn’t be happier.

Nothing better than this fluffy butt view 😍

Related: 10 Great Pyrenees Photos to Start Your Week Right

No, I’m absolutely not interested in coming inside. Thanks for asking.

It looks like someone just told Luna that the snow will eventually melt, and she is not pleased.

“Did I stutter? I told you, I do NOT want to come inside.”

Love that happy prance!

Look at that smile! Someone is quite content ❤️

Zoomies are more fun in the snow.

She found the pyrfect nap spot 💤

“I’ll come inside when you catch me. May the odds be ever in your favor.”

“Yeah, no. I’m absolutely not moving from this spot.”

A pyr will find snow. Even if it’s just a small snow pile.

Frisky floof in his element!

Do you struggle to get your pyr inside in this weather? Head over to our Facebook page to share your floof loving the snow!

If it's too cold for you, it's just pyrfect for them! Check out these 19 pyrs enjoying snow life ❤️

8 Ways Your Great Pyrenees Helps You Get Fit

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Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

The top resolutions every new year are to eat better and get in shape. I’m sure it’s been your resolution at least once (I know it’s been mine!). But gym memberships can be expensive—especially the sign up fee.

I’ve been looking for ways to get fit that don’t require going to a gym, and I realized the answer was in front of me this whole time. When I thought about it, having Great Pyrenees can give me a cardio and strength training workout.

You don’t need a gym membership—just a Great Pyrenees.

(psst… you can see the entire routine at the end of the article)

Cardio

First, let’s start with some cardiovascular exercise to keep your heart and lungs fit. You don’t need to step on a treadmill or spend hours on the elliptical to do get your workout in. That’s why you have a Great Pyrenees!

 

Running stairs to quiet barking: daily – 20x/day

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Let’s set the scene. You decide to put your home office upstairs, in the front of the house. Pyrs like to spend time in the backyard, which you can only access from the downstairs.

You’re getting some work done in your office and your Great Pyrenees starts to bark. To prevent your neighbors from calling the cops, you run downstairs, thank your pyrs for barking to quiet them down, then return to work.

Approximately three minutes pass (if you’re lucky), and they start to bark again. Back down the stairs, back up the stairs. Over and over and over.

There’s your cardio workout for the day!

 

Chasing during a walkabout: 30 min – 1x/week

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

These smart escape artists can get out of almost anything. Whether it’s a friend not closing the front door entirely, or maybe your pyr can open the back gate—they’re always looking for an adventure.

Related: I Thank My Great Pyrenees for Barking

When they get a taste of adventure, they capitalize—and they are quick. Most people wouldn’t expect a pyr to be exceptionally agile, but they have to be to do their job. How can a pyr succesfully protect their flock from wolves and bears if they have no agility?

There have been times we’ve basically clotheslined the dog to end the walkabout. Did I tell you about the time Kiska jumped out of the SUV window and went on an adventure? 🙄 That’s a story for another day…

 

Trying to get your pyr inside: 10 mins – 5x/day

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

It doesn’t matter how small your yard is—if your pyr doesn’t want to come inside, you’re going to have a challenge. Our yard is a good size, and trying to corral three dogs into the house isn’t an easy task.

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

If they’re in guard dog mode (and when aren’t they in guard dog mode?), it will be a new level of challenging. Put on your running shoes—you might need cleats if you’re in the muddy PNW like us—and let the games begin.

Sometimes, I think I need a Border Collie to herd them all inside 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

Strength Training

We can’t just focus on cardio—strength training is equally important! Luckily, you don’t need weights or fancy machines to work your muscles. Your Great Pyrenees is all you need for strength training.

 

Brushing your pyr: 30 mins – 3x/week

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Think dumbbells and weight-lifting machines are the only way you can get an arm workout? Think again. Brushing your Great Pyrenees will give the arm training you never knew you needed.

You’ll also feel sore in places you didn’t know could feel sore. I realized I had muscles in the strangest places.

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Since the pyr shed is never-ending, you’ll always have a good strength training option when you need it! Grab your favorite brush, and start grooming.

 

Trimming the nails: 10 mins – 1x/week

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Another essential part of the Great Pyrenees grooming routine, and a great way to build your arm and grip strength.

If by some miracle you’ve found toenail clippers that can easily trim pyr nails (that also aren’t hedge clippers), you won’t get as much of a workout here. However, that’s a rare find (and please tell me your secret tool).

Related: 5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

Keeping your dog still and trying to get through their thick nails will be a full body workout.

We’re working on transitioning all the dogs to a dremel for nail trimming, but we’re working on our grip strength in the meantime.

 

Lifting into the car: as needed

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

If you have a queen like Mauja, you’ll have to help lift your dog into the car. And not to reveal a lady’s weight, but Mauja isn’t light as a feather. She’s like, a lot of feathers—and floof.

Or maybe you share your life with a Great Pyrenees who is afraid of cars or who has never been in one. There have been many transports that I’ve needed to lift an insecure pyr into the car.

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

We do have a great car ramp for dogs, but sometimes it just isn’t convenient.

Oh, and remember. Lift with your legs not your back.

 

Keeping the home fur-free: 15 mins – 3x/day

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

How many times a day do you vacuum or sweep? If I want to keep the house looking *somewhat* tidy, I vacuum once a day. If I want a clean house, it’s at least three times per day.

At least.

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Little did you realize, your Great Pyrenees is actually helping you get fit! I’ve decided that’s why they shed so much. They’re just looking out for our health. What wonderful dogs 😉

 

Walking an untrained pyr: 30 mins – 2x/day

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.

Pyrs aren’t just born with great leash manners—it takes a lot of work and practice. And these lovable goofballs are strong.

Related: How to Train Loose Leash Walking

I’ve received many strange looks while attempting to walk an untrained Great Pyrenees. The leash becomes a toy, you get tangled in leash and paws, and SQUIRREL. It’s another full body strength training exercise!

So, see—you really don’t need a gym membership to achieve your resolutions this year. All you need is a Great Pyrenees (and a little humor 🙃).

[fancy_box id=16 linked_cu=7820 background=”rgb(0, 0, 0)”]Download your Great Pyrenees workout routine here![/fancy_box]

Are you looking to get a gym membership to reach your goals in the new year? If you have a Great Pyrenees, you can skip the membership—here's how.