Living Large. Living Fluffy
It has been in the 90s a lot this summer, which isn’t normal for the Pacific Northwest, and the floofs have been hating every second of it. Frozen Kongs, baby pools, and cooling mats are my go-to methods for helping my three keep cool.
Here are 11 fantastic Great Pyrenees trying to keep cool and beat the summer heat.
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Recently, I shared my thoughts on finding a reputable dog breeder and why I believe they’re important.
Today, I’m going to share why reputable rescues are extremely important as well. I’ve come across sketchy rescues over the years. Rescues that pocket the money they get for the dogs rather than using it for their care. Rescues that don’t have the dog’s best interest in mind.
Some people encounter a rescue like this, have a bad experience, and then swear off rescues. Here are six reasons I support dog rescue, and why I think you should too.
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Adopt don’t shop.
I’m sure everyone has heard this phrase encouraging people to rescue rather than purchase dogs from breeders or pet stores. I’m going to say something controversial–I don’t agree with it.
Do I think there is a rescue dog out there for the majority of people? Yes.
Do I think there are far too many people breeding? Yes.
Do I push adoption over the purchasing of dogs? Yes.
If I’m saying yes to all of these questions, then why can’t I get behind “adopt don’t shop”? To me, the answer is simple: Without people responsibly breeding Great Pyrenees, the breed I love and am extremely passionate about would cease to exist.
[Read more…] about Breeding Great Pyrenees: Does Job Matter?
Grooming Great Pyrenees can be a lot of work. Their coats are thick and even though they only blow their coats twice a year, they shed all. year. long.
If you’re using the wrong tools, grooming Great Pyrenees will be that much more difficult. Over the years I’ve given a lot of products a try, and here are my top five grooming tools:
The Oster Grooming Rake is hands down my absolute favorite tool for grooming Great Pyrenees. I’ve tried so many rakes, and this one gets deep into the undercoat without cutting the fur. My only complaint about the Oster Grooming Rake is that the handle isn’t very comfortable. However, I just wrapped some electrical tape around the handle and it made all the difference!
I get asked a lot about using a Furminator on a Great Pyrenees or breed with a similar coat. My advice is always no. Every time I have used it on a pyr, it has cut and damaged their fur.
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Great Pyrenees. I could talk about them all day — ask anyone who knows me 😉 On It’s Dog or Nothing, I’m always trying to educate about the breed to help people decide if it’s the right fit.
Instead of me rambling on again, I asked thousands of pyr lovers for their advice to new or prospective pyrents. So many people submitted wonderful responses that I couldn’t include them all in this post. However, the links to all the Great Pyrenees tips are at the bottom of this post.
“Get over thinking you can stop the barking. It can be managed, not stopped.” – Karen Pike
“Barking is innate. Just deal.” – Nicole Bethea
“Don’t continuously yell for your Pyrenees to come. They may see or hear something you didn’t; they may be in a trance. Go out and thank them and pet them to get their attention, then walk them inside.” – Cammi Lynn Brown
[Read more…] about Great Pyrenees Tips (from people who know the breed)
I’ve gone back and forth for quite some time debating if I was going to make this public, but I’ve come to know many of you so well that I want you to be involved in our lives. Some of you may have guessed what I’m going to say.
As many of you know, Kiska came to us as a foster. I had told myself over and over that I would not have two female pyrs at the same time. However, I was okay with a short term female foster, especially if it was a puppy.
[Read more…] about What’s Next for Kiska?
5 Tips for Healthy Joints in Giant Breed Puppies with NuVetCaring for a Great Pyrenees, or any other giant breed, can be tough if you’re not adequately prepared. These gentle giants have special needs to ensure their bones grow properly and they have healthy joints. Here are my 5 tips for healthy joints in giant breed puppies.
I recommend never free feeding a giant breed puppy until they are finished growing (around two years). Puppies can easily over eat, getting excess calories and promoting rapid growth. Skip the grains and other energy-dense foods in favor of whole protein sources.
Avoid jumping activities until the growth plates have closed. This pertains to sports like agility and to everyday activities such as jumping off the couch, overuse of stairs, etc.
Puppies are clumsy. They flop around, which can be humorous, but also very dangerous. Puppies who suffer a lot of damage early on are more likely to develop bone growth problems. Consider a floor runner on slick floors for the time being.
While calcium is necessary for strong bones, a puppy can’t regulate how much calcium they absorb from the intestinal tract. Excess can easily lead to skeletal malformation. When looking at foods, pay special attention to the calcium to phosphorous ratio. In giant breed puppies, calcium:phosphorous should range from 1:1 to 1:3.
As soon as a dog comes into my house (foster or forever), we start with a joint supplement. It’s important to look for one without added minerals which could potentially throw off your calculations. Currently, Mauja, Atka, and Kiska are taking a joint supplement from NuVet.
NuJoint DS K-9 Wafers from NuVet Labs® are a natural, nutrient-rich hip and joint supplement. Made from human grade ingredients, NuJoint DS is safe for all breeds and ages. The formula contains four powerful ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and vitamin C. Why are these ingredients powerful?
Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a substance produced naturally by the body to provide the building blocks for cartilage growth. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties and can help improve joint pain and stiffness or help slow the aging process.
Chondroitin: Chondroitin is found in cartilage and works with glucosamine to aid in building cartilage. It helps to hold fluid and promotes elasticity within cartilage, keeping it “spongey” for shock absorption. Chondroitin may inhibit the enzymes that damage and destroy cartilage.
MSM: MSM is an organic sulfur-containing compound that aids in joint health. It allows fluid to pass through the cells, therefore, reducing rigidity in joints.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C supports the immune system, helps white blood cells function effectively, and promotes cartilage growth and tissue repair.
NuVet also has a lighter strength formula, NuJoint Plus® K-9 Wafers, that may be ideal for dogs who don’t need as much joint support.
To keep Mauja and Atka’s immune systems in tip-top shape, I also add NuVet Plus to their meals (Kiska does not receive it as to not interfere with the calcium to phosphorous ratio in her diet). There have been a lot of dog illnesses going around lately and since they are both around so many dogs, my goal is to prevent it.
NuVet has several other supplements to keep your pet happy and healthy, so head to their site to see more. You can also follow them on Twitter to learn more about pet health.
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one bottle of NuJoint DS and one bottle of NuVet Plus.
Little one is 5 months! I can’t believe it. Time is flying – they grow far too fast. I did delete a few questions that I’ve been answering every month (like potty training questions) because they are no longer relevant.
I wonder if I’ll be able to pick her up next month… 😉
Weight: 50 pounds
Height at withers: 21 inches
Length (shoulders to base of tail): 27 inches
Favorite treat: Only Natural Pet Green Beef Tripe RawNibs
Favorite chew: Best Bully Sticks Beef Trachea Chews
Favorite thing to chew: Wrapping paper (tis the season)!
Favorite toy: Rope toys
Naughty habit: Stealing my underwear and taking it outside 😉
What we’re working on: Come and under/tuck
In honor of National Train Your Dog month, I wanted to address training a Great Pyrenees. Training a Great Pyrenees isn’t like training most dogs — they aren’t necessarily “eager to please”. While a Golden Retriever may do what you say because you said so, a pyr won’t be so likely.
I absolutely love training Great Pyrenees. They push me to my limits and challenge me in ways I never knew possible. Some days, they’re lucky their fluffy butts are so darn cute 😉 I’ve learned a few things over the years, so here are my top ten tips for training a Great Pyrenees.
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