A Different Great Pyr Q. - to shave or no?

[thebritt]

He's 4 yrs old and has never been shaved, but he's pretty matted and It'll take the groomer all day the way it is. Do they get sunburned ? Extra problems with flies/mosquitoes? Do they seem much more comfortable in the summer with short fur? Thanks in advance for replies.

 

[amyc]

I don't know about the Great Pyr. - but I do have a husky and I know its bad to shave them. Their double coat helps keep them cool in the summers, and if you shave it you run the chance of it not growing back in right.

 

[gritsar]

As you know I don't have a great pyr yet, but I'm looking for one. My Charlie Girl has a coat very similiar to a great pyrs. We don't shave her. As Amy has said, the coat also insulates in the summertime. Charlie just blows her coat out in the spring - huge clumps of hair everywhere and starts growing the thicker coat back in the fall.

 

[amyc]

We bought a furminator brush this year - its god's gift to double coated breeds! The amount of hair I can get out of my husky is unbelievable (the picture of the golden retreiver surrounded in hair is pretty accurate).

sorry - not meaning to hijack the thread....

Maybe if there's a lot of matting it might just be easier on the dog to shave him down and start over.

 

[scbatz33]

The coat is designed for cooling in the summer and warming in the winter. Yes, they can get sunburned if you shave them. I think you would do your dog the best service to find a patient groomer.

 

[Sequin]

NOOO - Do NOT shave your Great Pyr!!!! You might think it is a favor, but it is not. Don't do it. If your groomer has to work an entire day on your matted dog, that is their Business to get the mats out. If you don't want to pay someone to groom your dog professionally and remove the mats - then brush your dog daily with a conditioning spray and slicker brush. But do NOT shave them.

 

[cassie]

I used to have komondors, a very heavy coated breed. I live in an area of California where it gets very hot. I read all the stuff about why not to clip the dog, how the heavy coat keeps them cool and all that. My dogs suffered in the heat. The heavy coat did not seem to be keeping them cool at all. Quite the contrary. So I clipped them in spite of everything I read. You wouldn't believe the change in behavior!! They were much happier and a lot more active. I would go ahead and clip the dog. You don't have to clip him to the skin. The groomer can use a blade that will leave some hair and prevent sunburn.

 

[KattyKillFish]

i agree, don't shave close to the skin, leave about and inch's length of fur. if i had one, that's what i would do.

 

[danischi24]

I would clip him too. Everyone says it's such a bad idea but you must see how much happier the dogs are once they are clipped & their winter coats grow in just fine.

 

[Rosalind]

My vote is for a puppy cut--short enough to stay un-matted, long enough to give them a little sun protection. We did this last year, worked great.