grooming

5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

July 30, 2018 2 Comments

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:

Oster Grooming Rake

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.

Grooming Great Pyrenees can be a challenge, but it doesn't need to be! Here are my top five must-have tools for grooming Great Pyrenees.

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer

January 5, 2017 44 Comments

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.

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.

Quickly vacuum the carpeted areas a guest might see.
Run the Swiffer® Sweeper® on the laminate flooring.
Spot clean the muddy paw prints with the Swiffer® WetJet™, which are ALWAYS there – darn Pacific Northwest living! 😉
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!

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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.

Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

November 28, 2016 Leave a Comment

Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

I’m not sure how we’re about to enter December already, but whether we’re ready or not, it’s here! With as much joy this time of year brings, it also prompts a bit of stress. The stress of finding the perfect gifts, having a recipe (not to mention an outfit) for every holiday party, and most significantly, preparing to host guests in your home.

While Great Pyrenees don’t have typical “doggie odor”, we now live in the Pacific Northwest. Pyrs may be “immune” to the typical smell, but no dog can avoid the horrid wet dog smell. Candles can help mask, or even eliminate, the smell, but unless you beat the smell at its source, it will always exist.

What’s the obvious solution to beat the smell? Give them a bath, of course. But once again, you must truly eliminate the odor. Too many dog shampoos only mask the odor, leaving you with a scented wet dog. That’s almost worse than pure wet dog smell! If the shampoo does truly eliminate the odor, it’s often full of chemicals that really shouldn’t be put on dogs or leaves your dog’s coat with a “waxy” feeling.

Thankfully, RELIQ offers shampoos that eliminate the smell without covering your dog in harmful chemicals. Their secret – volcanic minerals and nano-science.

Unlike most pet shampoos that utilize herbal extracts and vitamins to nourish your dog’s skin and coat and eliminate the odor, RELIQ recognizes that these ingredients aren’t enough to truly eliminate the smell. Instead, they use proprietary volcanic minerals to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria and effectively clean your pet’s hair and skin. Because RELIQ completely eliminates (rather than masks) the odors, your pet will stay fresher and cleaner for even longer. No more trying to mask the smell to avoid the dreaded “b word” for as long as possible 😉

Why RELIQ?

Aside from complete odor elimination, RELIQ products have several other benefits:

Gentle, easy-rinse formula
Natural, fortifying vitamins and minerals
Safe for dogs who lick their fur post bath (I’m looking at you, Mauja)
Natural relief of itchy skin
Moisturizes skin and coat
Environmentally-safe
Groomer-friendly formula to avoid dry, blistered hands

RELIQ also offers 5 different scents, each with a unique purpose. While all 5 scents contain the key minerals eliminate odors and promote healthy skin/coat, you can then pick a formula specifically for your dog’s needs. For example, I choose different formulas for Mauja and Atka. Mauja is currently using the Lavender formula for a calm mind and Atka uses the Green Tea formula for a deeper clean.

Helping Mauja’s Itchies

If you’ve been following us recently, you know that Mauja has been dealing with some horrendously itchy skin, which is causing rashes all over her belly. We are still working with the vet to try and figure out the source of her recent itchiness, but it was recommended to try bathing her in an oatmeal shampoo to alleviate her discomfort. Not only could I not find one that smelled nice, but it didn’t seem to work very well.

After a few failed attempts, we tried the RELIQ shampoo because it is said to be extremely nourishing. While it hasn’t solved her itchiness since we don’t know the root of the problem, it has definitely been more effective in offering relief than any oatmeal shampoo we’ve tried.

Beyond Shampoo

RELIQ offers several other products for keeping your dog healthy. My current favorite is the Light-Activated Odor Eliminator for Dogs. If you have a Great Pyrenees, you know they shouldn’t be bathed very frequently. However, there is no avoiding the wet weather this time of year! If Mauja and Atka are getting a bit of wet dog smell, I’ll spritz them with the Lavender Odor Eliminator. Unlike other products on the market that only mask the odor due to large particles, he nano-enhanced minerals are able to break through the odor molecules and instantly dissolve them.

For dog’s with really itchy, red skin, RELIQ has a Skin Solution product to fight the microbes that lead to skin allergies and hot spots. This is actually our next step with Mauja. Since we’ve loved the other products so much, I’m hoping the Skin Solution can help her itchiness even more.

We’ve also been using the Ear Solution as a natural alternative to traditional ear cleaners. Since it is a non-alcohol formula, it doesn’t have the typical chemical smell associated with ear solutions. As much as Mauja and Atka hate their ears being cleaned, they tolerate the RELIQ Ear Solution more than others we have tried. I think they don’t mind it as much because the lack of chemicals makes it a non-stinging solution.

Holiday-Ready Thanks to RELIQ

As we’re preparing to have guests in our home over the next month, I plan to keep plenty of RELIQ products, specifically the Odor Eliminator Spray on hand to keep the fluffies smelling fresh. If I’m going to put a lot of effort into keeping the house clean and smelling nice, I don’t want it to be tainted with scented wet dog smell!

Ready to try RELIQ products yourself? Use code “ITSDOGORNOTHING” for 30% off your RELIQ purchase!

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Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above and compensation in exchange for my honest review. Don’t worry – an advertiser will never influence the content of this blog and It’s Dog or Nothing only shares products we love and believe in.

Great Pyrenees Info – A Beginner’s Guide

May 9, 2016 34 Comments

History

The Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenean Mountain Dog, is an ancient guardian breed that originates from the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, although many believe they can be traced even further back to Siberia. These dogs were bred to handle the dangerous task of guarding flocks of sheep and other livestock on the steep mountains from predators, all without human intervention.

Paintings and literature depict Great Pyrenees at least 2,000 years ago, however often under a different name. In 1675, the Great Pyrenees became a royal court dog due to their beauty, elegance, and majestic appearance by King Louis XIV.

Appearance

The Great Pyrenees is a regal dog who is predominately white, although some have coloring on their bodies. Per the breed standard, Great Pyrenees may have badger marks in various shades gray, brown, and tan on their face and covering up to 1/3 of their body. The double dew claws on the hind legs are also a classic breed characteristic.

Height at the withers is 27-32 inches for males and 25-29 inches for females. Weight should be proportionate to the size and structure of the dog. Typically, Great Pyrenees will range from 90-150 pounds at a healthy weight.

The Great Pyrenees is considered a medium boned breed (for reference, a Newfoundland is well boned and a Mastiff is heavy boned). This means that a 120-pound pyr could appear to be the same size as a 150-pound Newfoundland. A Great Pyrenees should not be overly lumbering or light—the dog’s proportions are most important.

Have you thought about adding a Great Pyrenees to your family? Here's a basic guide to determine if a pyr might be a good fit!

Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

April 30, 2016 10 Comments

Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

Today is the last day of the A to Z Challenge. Can you believe it? I’m sure you all are sick of hearing from me 6 days a week. I’d certainly be sick of me 😉

We have one last super quick post to wrap up the challenge. Mostly, we wanted to offer a giveaway for another favorite grooming product: The Stuff.

Dogs with long coats, especially long double coats, are highly susceptible to mats. Regardless of how much brushing you do, they’re bound to happen. Mauja and Atka tend to get them behind their ears every now and then. Cutting out a mat isn’t recommended – I’ve seen far too many injuries from people trying to remove mats. Thankfully, there’s a better way.

The Stuff

Yes, this stuff is really called “The Stuff”. The Stuff is a leave-in conditioner and detangler to remove and prevent tangles. Not only does it condition the coat, but it is also formulated with silicone to repel dirt and dust. The Stuff is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic formula to prevent any possible reactions.

I absolutely love The Stuff.

I use it on wet and dry fur to keep their coats soft and shiny. If they do develop a mat, I simply spray it with The Stuff and then use the Safari De-Matting Comb to finish the job.

Easy peasy!

Okay, I’m not going to ramble on about this product and how much we love it. It’s the end of a long, taxing challenge so I’m just going to jump straight to the good stuff – the giveaway!

Would you like to try The Stuff on your dog? Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win!

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Rake the Undercoat [GIVEAWAY!]

April 21, 2016 22 Comments

Rake the Undercoat

Guys, I really don’t know why it’s taken me so long to really mention this here on It’s Dog or Nothing.

I link to this product all the time, yet I’ve never spent much time on it.

Today, we will be talking about my absolute favorite tool for raking the fluffies’ undercoat: the Oster Grooming Rake.

When Mauja started to get her adult coat, I decided to use the Furminator for brushing. I had purchased it for our lab/husky mix and it was absolutely ah-mazing. Unfortunately, I was not so thrilled when I used it on Mauja. The Furminator just ripped and tore her fur giving her the appearance of split ends!

Needless to say, I was not pleased and began the search for a better way to remove the pesky undercoat. After being completely disappointed with a few grooming rakes from our local pet store, I stumbled across a discussion on grooming tools in one of the Great Pyrenees Facebook groups I’m a part of. There were a ton of recommendations, but the one that stood out to me most was the Oster Grooming Rake.

I ordered it that day and have never looked back!

What I Love About the Rake

It doesn’t scratch the skin. There was a brush I used to use (not a rake) with metal bristles. Atka absolutely hated when I used that brush. It took me far too long to realize that he didn’t like the metal bristles scraping his skin. Can you blame him?
Fur cutting is minimal. My biggest complaint with the Furminator was that it cut their fur and made them look uneven. The Oster grooming rake gets out the dead undercoat with minimal cutting. I definitely notice a difference using this rake!
It works. If you have a dog with a long, thick, double-coat, you know how difficult it can be to find appropriate grooming tools. I tried so many rakes that just untangled the outer coat and left the undercoat to mat.

What I Don’t Love About the Rake

While it doesn’t hurt Mauja and Atka, it definitely hurts me. After almost every brushing session, my hand is bright red and I usually end up with a blister or two. When things get really bad, I’ll put on a glove to keep it from destroying my hand!

Hey, Oster – we’d really appreciate it if you added a comfort grip to the handle! 😉

Other than the discomfort when brushing for long periods of time, I don’t have anything negative to say about it. For that reason, I want to offer a giveaway so one of you can try it for yourself!

Enter using the widget below to win an Oster Grooming Rake!

Have you ever tried the Oster Grooming Rake? Do you have another rake that works wonders for the undercoat?

I am not being compensated to talk about Oster and the giveaway is being hosted by us here at It’s Dog or Nothing!

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Quick Avoidance

April 20, 2016 6 Comments

Quick Avoidance

Have you ever accidentally nicked your dog’s quick?

I have and I felt like the absolute worst dog mom in the entire world.

I was trimming Mauja’s nails, which she never had a problem with. Just as I went to cut, she heard something and jerked her leg. Even though the nail clippers had a “safety stopper”, it was just enough for me to cut the quick.

She yipped, I squealed, and my carpet turned red.

I freaked out.

I had never done that before. Even with Kaeto’s combination of white and black nails (which are the WORST to cut), I had managed to avoid it. Poor Mauja.

Since it was the first time I had ever done that, I really wasn’t sure what to do. I grabbed some paper towels to add pressure to the exposed nail and grabbed my phone for a quick Google search. What did we ever do without the internet?

After some quick research (see what I did there?), I found 5 ways to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, I had a few of the required materials at home.

Baking soda, flour, or cornstarch. The first time I cut Mauja’s quick, this is the method we resorted to. I didn’t have anything fancy to stop the bleeding, but I did have cornstarch in my pantry! Grab a small amount and press it onto your dog’s nail, holding it there as the wound clots. The nail will most likely be sensitive, so ensure you’re gentle as you wait for it to clot.
Styptic powder. After Mauja’s incident, this was the first thing I purchased. Since it contains ferric subsulfate (which contracts blood vessels and stops bleeding), I figured it would be more beneficial than cornstarch. It also contains Benzocaine to alleviate pain from minor cuts. One of the most popular brands of styptic powder and the one that we purchased is called Kwik Stop. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet!
Styptic pencil. This is a popular method for stopping the bleeding, but many contain silver nitrate which can really sting. Since Mauja is now hesitant about her paws being touched, I don’t plan on trying this one and causing any extra fear. However, it seems like it would be a great option for a travel/first aid kit due to the convenience.
Soap. Well, a bar of soap. I came across this method before finding cornstarch, but much to my surprise, we don’t have any bars of soap! I’d imagine that most people do so this could be a good option if you don’t have any of the above materials. Simply drag the damp bar of soap across the nail and wait for the blood to clot.
Gauze, bandage, and a sock. If you don’t have anything on this list, these tools can definitely work in a pinch. Mauja would not stop trying to lick her nail – every time I got it to clot, she’d lick and it’d start bleeding again. We finally resorted to putting some gauze and a bandage over her bleeding nail (which was one of her rear dewclaws), putting a sock over that foot, and then lightly taping the sock in place. She hated me, but it worked 😉

If none of the aforementioned methods work for your dog and bleeding persists for over 30-60 minutes, call your vet. They will be able to help alleviate the bleeding and make your dog more comfortable.

Most importantly, if you nick the quick make sure you suck up to your dog with some extra snuggles and a special treat. Both necessary for forgiveness 😉

Have you ever cut your dog’s nail too short? How did you stop the bleeding?

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Grooming Great Pyrenees Pantaloons [GIVEAWAY!]

April 8, 2016 5 Comments

Grooming Great Pyrenees Pantaloons

Is it just me, or does anyone else absolutely love the Great Pyrenees pantaloons?

Talk about a fluffy butt!

While I love their pantaloons, they can be particularly difficult to keep well-groomed. Because they are long, thick, and well, on their rear end, they tend to mat very easily. If you don’t pay close attention, you can end up with one giant pantaloon mat.

This happened once with Mauja. I hadn’t been feeling well and so I didn’t brush her for over a week. She never looked too bad so I didn’t use the little energy I had during the day to brush her. From the outside, she looked perfectly fine. A little scraggly, but fine.

When I was finally feeling better, I sat down to give her a good brush. Once I made it to her pantaloons, I was horrified. While they looked fine, they did not feel fine. They were one massive mat.

I sat down with my de-matting brush and The Stuff to get the mats small enough that they would just brush out. Needless to say, it took a long time and Mauja was not happy with me after. I vowed to brush the pantaloons daily so that wouldn’t happen again.

Groom Genie

When we were at BlogPaws, we got the opportunity to try a new brush, the Groom Genie. I loved the concept of the brush – to calm pets while you brush them. Any fluffy dog parent knows that a simple brush won’t cut it. You need a rake to really get into that undercoat and brush it out.

The Groom Genie sat in my grooming toolbox for quite a few months. Occasionally, I’d use it to brush out their ear feathers, but that was about it.

One day, I was digging through my grooming supplies to find something to brush out Atka’s pantaloons. The rake made a good start, but I wanted something to smooth it out. Something with long enough bristles to get the entire way through the fluff, rather than just the outer layer. I saw my Groom Genie and decided to give it a try.

Not only are the bristles long enough, but they are soft as well. Atka absolutely hates his rear being brushed, but he is much more tolerant than he would be with traditional metal bristles. I also love the grip for the Groom Genie. It fits perfectly in my hand and doesn’t strain my grip.

In my opinion, it’s pyrfect for maintaining the Great Pyrenees pantaloons (or any other breed with fluffy butts!). Each day, I grab my Groom Genie and take a few seconds to brush through each pup’s pantaloons to avoid any bothersome mats.

Want to try the Groom Genie yourself? Enter below for the chance to win!

I am not being compensated to talk about Groom Genie and the giveaway is being hosted by us here at It’s Dog or Nothing!

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Why You Should Go Soap-Free with Your Pyrenees #BayerExpertCare

January 12, 2016 4 Comments

I hear the same question over and over when people meet Mauja and Atka.

“How in the world do you keep them so white?”

I wish I could say that I have some magic formula that keeps white dogs perfectly white, but the Great Pyrenees has a self-cleaning coat. What does that mean (other than the fact that it makes my job a lot easier)?If your Great Pyrenees enjoys a play session in the river, chances are she will look something like this:

Or maybe your Great Pyrenees will find that one muddy spot in your backyard. He’d probably look like this:

These situations make me so thankful for their self-cleaning coat. Once they dry, the mud/dirt will just flake off! If it doesn’t, you simply brush it out and voila – you have your white dog back!

Mauja and Atka get bathed a bit more frequently than necessary; the average Great Pyrenees only needs 3-4 baths per year. The fluffies get about 6 per year, but that is because they are house dogs. However, I know a few people who bathe their Great Pyrenees monthly. The most important thing is to watch their skin and coat health.

Frequent baths can strip the coat of its essential oils. These oils are responsible for keeping the coat self-cleaning, tangle free, relatively odor-free, and silky smooth. The problem really isn’t with the bath – it’s what is being used during the bath.

Your typical dog shampoo is soap based and that’s perfectly fine if you’re only bathing your Great Pyrenees every few months. It gets your pyr nice and clean and helps keep their coat and skin healthy. However, more frequent baths require a different approach.If Mauja and Atka are getting a bath closer together than normal, I switch to a soap-free shampoo. Our current favorite is the Bayer® Expert Care™ Itch Relief Shampoo. I like this shampoo for a few reasons:

Bayer Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo is based with colloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is simply oats that have been ground into a very fine powder that then moisturizes and protects the skin. This helps to ensure I’m not drying out their skin and coat.
Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo contains Pramoxine HCl. Great Pyrenees are known to have skin issues such as allergies and dry skin. Pramoxine HCl helps relieve rashes and dry, itchy skin. I always look for this ingredient coupled with colloidal oatmeal when trying to relieve irritated skin.
Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo is formulated with Omega-6s. I talked in a previous post about the importance of Omega-6s for maintaining and healthy, shiny coat. Pyrs benefit greatly from this addition to their grooming routine.
Maximum effect is reached in just 3-5 minutes after initial application. We all hate seeing our furbabies uncomfortable. If Atka’s skin is acting up I can get him a quick bath or spray him with the Itch Relief Spray for quick relief.

The best part about the Bayer Expert Care Itch Relief shampoo is that it can be purchased at PetSmart. We are there quite frequently so it’s very simple to just grab a bottle during our normal shopping trip. The Expert Care line has several products to provide ultimate skin care for your dog (or cat) and we’ve been very pleased with the few we have tried so far.

Have you ever tried soap-free shampoo as a part of your dog’s grooming routine?

grooming

5 Must-Have Tools for Grooming Great Pyrenees

Oster Grooming Rake

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer

Keeping Our Home Presentable with Swiffer®

Swiffer

Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ

Getting Holiday-Ready with RELIQ