out of control matted great pyrenes

At a loss for what to do to groom my Pyrenees. She has not been groomed in over 2 years and lives outside in the fields. Her hair is so matted I tried to shave and cut with very little success. What is the best solution to begin to groom her and restore her coat?

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Jul 11, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Grooming
by: Donna

It's unfortunate you waited so long. Do not shave her especially if she is a working dog. She needs it for insulation and protection against bugs and bites.

Someone else may have suggestions for you but groom her a little every day and keep at it until you are done. After that, grooming her weekly.

Make sure to do her nails and dew claws, as well.
Jul 11, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		matted Pyr
by: Anonymous

When I got my now 6 yr old pyr 2 years ago, he too was matted with burrs and stickers. It took me a couple of days to get him groomed to be an inside dog as he had spent his first 4 years of life outside and ungroomed.

Thank the Lord he was very gentle and passive with the grooming I had to put him thru with the exception of his feet. He still doesn't like me messing with his feet but he tolerates it.

Anyway, I first cut out all burs and stickers. Then first saturating the matted areas with children's detangler, I set out to separate the matts from his real fur. It took 2 days of 2-3 hours per day to finally get enough mats out in order to actually comb thru his real fur.

Once they were out, I then used scissors to cut his fur shorter than it was by about 3 inches. I partly shaved his belly. However, do not shave a Pyr. They will sunburn. But you can thin it out. I then bathed him and after he dried out, I brushed him thoroughly with a matt comb.

I now do this every 3-4 days to keep him free of loose hair which is what actually causes the matted fur. Once a month I also trim the fur from between his toes to keep from dirt and debris from getting caught in them to be tracked into the house along with trimming his toenails, not forgetting the double dewclaws on his back feet.

That's the only thing he wishes I wouldn't do. He tolerates it but lets me know he doesn't like his feet messed with. He now loves to be brushed. Every time he sees me with the brush in hand, he goes to the front door wanting out. Then he stands in the front yard patiently waiting for me to start the brushing process. We leave a lot in the yard but he absolutely loves the attention and never gives me a problem with it anymore.

I hope this helps some. Brushing your Pyr out on a regular basis is necessary to keep him from matting.
Jul 31, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Brush, brush, brush
by: Camille

I just brushed a massive amount from our pyr. We can get a big garbage bag full within his two week shed. Matts suck, but if I keep a small treat in my pocket, he will let me bring out the scissors. I, too have difficulty with my guys matts, only behind his ears, because they are so embedded. I just try to casually rub them with a bit if cornstarch and pick away at them.
Aug 24, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		pyr matts
by: Anonymous

My collie/pyr mix (6 ttl.) dogs go through stages of shedding, at first the unfercoat rake worls fine,a week later i have to use the wire bristle first and then back to the rake.but 3of them have thicker more stubborn matting than the others, probably more pyr than collie, hundreds of little matts that wont brush out and the rake just hangs and pulls, so i end up gently picking then apart one at a painstaking time.im gonna try corn starch, and if that doesnt do it i guess the scissors are next.i hate to though because the little knits are attached to good hair, i pray for their patience and mine.
Jun 21, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Anybody know of anything to run into matts to loosen them?
by: Anonymous

OK, so I have a 3 year old Pyrenees who is an indoor/outdoor dog. She gets taken for a shampoo and grooming about every 4 months. This time (today) when I took her it turns out that, although we brush her here at the house, she has somehow managed to get matting on her back and both sides (not noticeable but down closer to her skin). The groomer has got out as much as he can but without shaving her through that area described he can not get anymore out. Since it is obviously hot at this time of year I told him not to shave her - that at least she is clean again and mostly brushed out and that I will bring her back in September after the heat of summer is over since I do not want to risk her getting sunburned when she is out in her yard. It is a bit of a Catch 22 but seemed like that was the best thing to do. Does anybody know of anything I can rub into the matted area and work on it piecemeal to get the matts out in the meantime?
Jun 28, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Mats in my Great Pyrenees
by: Anonymous

I need some good answers on this subject also, my poor girl is so matted up it seems to have pine sap and straw all mixed in the mats I can hardly get any of them pulled out away from her skin. Since there's nobody recommending shaving what in the world can I do just keep pulling them out one at a time and cutting them next to the skin a little at a time?
Aug 20, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyr grooming secret
by: Sky

Hey everybody.
I had a lot of the same trouble with our matting until I got a job working at a groomer. They used a conditioner product called "the stuff". You can get it as a concentrate or in a spray bottle- but you want to shampoo your pyr and then absolutely douse them in the stuff with a spray bottle and then let it sit for about 10 minutes. It is the best thing in The world for doodle/collie/pyr mats. It loosens them up really well- then they come right apart. Sometimes I just use a comb instead of a rake.

Another big help is if you have a blower (typically very low heat or no heat) with a powerful amount of air in a concentrated area. Use the air the spread the fur as you dry- using a rake and slicker brush the entire time. The blower will blow out all the loosened dead hair and make dematting and finishing a breeze. Hope this helps!
Jul 14, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		The Stuff
by: Anonymous

Can anyone buy The Stuff if so where would we be able to purchase it?
Nov 17, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Tools? The Stuff on Amazon
by: Anonymous

Thanks so much for all the info. I found The Stuff on Amazon. I'll order the concentrate to use on my Pyr. I have not groomed him the way he should be - MY BAD - but I am changing my evil ways and want to keep him clean and groomed. He does love being brushed and I know he feels better. I have groomed via scissors cutting out mats and using a rake, but I am embarrassed to say, he needs some major grooming. I want to do it - retired so have the time now. Tools to use? What's the most effective that is gentle for him? He is very gentle and holds still while I brush. Thank you, and please, no hate thrown at me. I feel very guilty and will keep up on his grooming..
https://www.amazon.com/d/Dog-Conditioners/Stuff-Dog-Concentrate-Conditioner-Bottle/B0012GK4BG/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542488087&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Stuff
Nov 19, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Grooming
by: Donna

You need two tools. A long-tined slicker brush and comb. Start by going over him thoroughly with a slicker brush on every part of his body (except face). Then dig in with the comb starting at the roots and gentle pulling through. Clip or shave the hair from his pads. Clean out his ears. There is no fast way to groom.

You might even consider taking a grooming course to get you going.

Once you get him up to snuff, run a long-tined slicker brush over him before each walk including his tail, pantaloons, feather on his legs, tummy and simply all over.

Then, give him a thorough slicker brush, comb and slicker brush once a week. Trim his nails every couple of weeks. You may find the dremmel easier to use.
Nov 19, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you, Donna
by: Anonymous

I ordered tools from Amazon yesterday, being careful to read the reviews. I have a dremmel and will teach him to accept it. It will take time, but we'll get there. I begin today, brushing him.
Nov 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Grooming
by: Donna

You might consider taking her to a master groomer to get her cleaned up. From there, you can keep her up to snuff.

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