Comments on: Shearing Howie http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/ Join the circle! Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:14:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kriss http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-20606 Kriss Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:30:05 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/#comment-20606 Thanks for weighing in on the shearing issue. I didn't shear Howie for his first few years, because he just didn't develop as thick a coat that matted so much. I had read both things in dog books, and read both opinions on the web, too - to shear and not to shear. Our vet actually recommended we do it because Howie had developed a few irritated hot spots on his chest. However, maybe I should make it clear for other readers that when I sheared Howie, he did still have a least an inch of hair left. And his undercoat was still really thick, so I think he was protected well from the sun. I wouldn't shave a Pyr, but use sheep shears or scissors. Lots of other shepherds around here shear their Pyrs that way. For sure the full coat would protect the dogs from coyotes and other predators, though. It is really quite something else! It would be very hard to sink teeth in through it. If I lived in an area with serious predators, I would for sure leave on that gigantic white coat. Good luck with your baby Pyr. She sounds lovely. Thanks for weighing in on the shearing issue. I didn’t shear Howie for his first few years, because he just didn’t develop as thick a coat that matted so much. I had read both things in dog books, and read both opinions on the web, too – to shear and not to shear. Our vet actually recommended we do it because Howie had developed a few irritated hot spots on his chest. However, maybe I should make it clear for other readers that when I sheared Howie, he did still have a least an inch of hair left. And his undercoat was still really thick, so I think he was protected well from the sun. I wouldn’t shave a Pyr, but use sheep shears or scissors. Lots of other shepherds around here shear their Pyrs that way.

For sure the full coat would protect the dogs from coyotes and other predators, though. It is really quite something else! It would be very hard to sink teeth in through it. If I lived in an area with serious predators, I would for sure leave on that gigantic white coat.

Good luck with your baby Pyr. She sounds lovely.

]]> By: Steph http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-20537 Steph Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:45:17 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/#comment-20537 I have a 5 month old Pyr. I'm sure they feel better shaved but their coat also protects them from the heat as well as the cold. They have a very light colored skin and it's very sensitive to the sun. Although it might seem to be a heavy coat it actually protects them in the summer. You can trim it, but i dont suggest sheering the dog. I work in a grooming shop and now and then ill give mine an all over trim but still leaving about an inch of coat to protect her. Also, as a guardian dog the coat protects them from anything that might harm your livestock. A friend of mine has a huge male Pyrenees that took on 3 coyotes with nothing more than a scratch on him. The thick coat really does protect them from the elements. Howie sure is beautiful either way though! I just always get concerned when I see one of these breeds cut too short. It's the same with saint bernards and newfoundlands, any breed with a "double coat" uses that coat to protect them. I have a 5 month old Pyr. I’m sure they feel better shaved but their coat also protects them from the heat as well as the cold. They have a very light colored skin and it’s very sensitive to the sun. Although it might seem to be a heavy coat it actually protects them in the summer.

You can trim it, but i dont suggest sheering the dog. I work in a grooming shop and now and then ill give mine an all over trim but still leaving about an inch of coat to protect her.

Also, as a guardian dog the coat protects them from anything that might harm your livestock. A friend of mine has a huge male Pyrenees that took on 3 coyotes with nothing more than a scratch on him. The thick coat really does protect them from the elements.

Howie sure is beautiful either way though! I just always get concerned when I see one of these breeds cut too short. It’s the same with saint bernards and newfoundlands, any breed with a “double coat” uses that coat to protect them.

]]> By: Kriss http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-5940 Kriss Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:58:53 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/#comment-5940 He'll probably look like a big poodle! That's what I thought Howie looked like. It was a bit hard to get used to, but he's always cute. Good luck, if you do it. It took me at least a week. Have fun snuggling this winter! He’ll probably look like a big poodle! That’s what I thought Howie looked like. It was a bit hard to get used to, but he’s always cute.
Good luck, if you do it. It took me at least a week. Have fun snuggling this winter!

]]> By: MARY KOCH http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-5933 MARY KOCH Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:18:48 +0000 http://www.circlemfarm.com/2008/shearing-the-dog/#comment-5933 ABSOLUTELY DARLING TALES OF YOUR TWO DOGS. WE HAVE RESCUED A GREAT PYRENEESE NAMED ODIN. WE GOT TO YOUR WEBSITE BY TYPING IN SHEARING.WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ODIN WOULD LOOK LIKE SHEARED. HE IS A HOUSE DOG AND IT IS A LOT OF HAIR TO CONTROL.. HE GOES ON LONG WALKS WITH US AND CAN GO OUT INTO L ARGE FENCE YARD WHENEVER HE WANTS.BUT HE WANTS TO LUMBER ONTO OUR BED. WHEN YOU SAID LUMBER IT WAS THE PERFECT WORD. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR PICTURES AND STORIES. WHAT FUN ...THANKS MARY ABSOLUTELY DARLING TALES OF YOUR TWO DOGS. WE HAVE RESCUED A GREAT PYRENEESE NAMED ODIN. WE GOT TO YOUR WEBSITE BY TYPING IN SHEARING.WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ODIN WOULD LOOK LIKE SHEARED. HE IS A HOUSE DOG AND IT IS A LOT OF HAIR TO CONTROL.. HE GOES ON LONG WALKS WITH US AND CAN GO OUT INTO L ARGE FENCE YARD WHENEVER HE WANTS.BUT HE WANTS TO LUMBER ONTO OUR BED. WHEN YOU SAID LUMBER IT WAS THE PERFECT WORD. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR PICTURES AND STORIES. WHAT FUN …THANKS MARY

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