Shedding

by Beth and Cameron
(Mercer, MO)

We have two great pyrenees puppies, male and female. The male is around 14 weeks old and weighs 23 lbs. When we first got him his fur was fluffy but not super thick. We had him for one month before we got the female she is about one month older than he is and bigger as well. She weighs 29 lbs.

He started losing his hair and now it is short but it still covers his skin. I wonder if its okay to give him a bath, and is there anything else I can do?

He seems healthy, no fleas or ticks, I also thought maybe he got stressed out when we brought the female home because she was very whiny and barked a lot, was a little more aggressive with food, etc in the beginning but not now.

He is already potty trained and only chews on his toys and is very smart, calm and well mannered. He can sit, lay down and shake both paws when he is asked to do this.

But she is more high strung and we have had to get after her for chewing on tv cords, shoes, trash, etc Don't get me wrong, we love them both very much but she was only an outside dog when we got her.

Just wanting to make sure it is okay that he is shedding like this, etc thanks for your input!:)

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Aug 26, 2015
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by: Donna

Is there a reason to give him a bath? Pyrs stay pretty clean as dirt will fall off of them. I would simply keep him groomed weekly and keep his nails trimmed? You can bathe but when you do, make sure it is a natural dog shampoo. Make sure to look at the ingredients. Avoid parabens and sulfates.

Make sure they have toys to play with. Have a positive-reinforcement trainer come in to help you out, too. Make sure you pups meet lots of people and other animals.

When she is chewing things, do not chastize her. Simply give her something else to chew on like toys or bones. Distract her.

When you are not home, make sure to crate them for their safety. They actually will come to like being in their crates as a safe place to be.Here is how to crate-train.
http://info.drsophiayin.com/crate-training-handout/

Make sure to never leave them in the crate for too long. They need to go our for regular pee and poos.

Also, make sure you take your pups to the vet for checkups.

And, do neuter and spay your dogs at about 6 months old. There are enough unwanted dogs in shelters being euthanized everyday because people did not spay or neuter.
Aug 26, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Natural variation
by: Tressie

There are individual differences in colouration, length of fur etc. As long as your vet says he is healthy for his age, I wouldn't worry about him shedding his baby fuzz. His fur will likely get bushier as days get shorter in preparation for colder weather.

You will probably find different opinions on bathing dogs, here as anywhere else. If there are no parasites i.e., fleas, etc. and the dog has not rolled in mud, or the remains of some critter, or their scat, I don't see the necessity of bathing a dog. It strips the natural protective oils from their fur. And unless you are showing your dog, where he has to be pristine and perfectly coiffed, daily (yup not a typo - I meant daily) brushing should suffice to keep mats out and brush out loose dirt and hair. A grooming rake and furminator go a long way to keeping their coats in good shape.

Now I know many people do bathe their dogs regularly whether they need it or not. But I think that's a personal preference and is done more for the human guardian's sense of aesthetics and cleanliness, and convenience than for the dog's sake - unless of course fleas are an issue.

And by the way any shampoo will kill fleas, you don't need a special flea shampoo. The detergent in shampoo (or any soap for that matter) dissolves insects' exoskeleton, i.e., their outer shell.

However, if you do opt to bathe him do use a shampoo made for dogs. Their skin and fur have different sensitivities and needs to ours. Human baby shampoo for example, is too harsh for dogs's skin.
Aug 27, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		normal
by: Anonymous

Relax. The important thing is that your pup is healthy. Our young Pyrenees is 1/4 Bernese. He looks, acts and passes for a pure Pyr but we know he's not quite. When we got him he was this adorable mostly grey fluffy snuggly. He lost the fluffies, his color turned white as snow except for the ears and the tail and curly. Gorgeous!! Now his coat is changing again, longer on the outside, but still shedding wool from the inside part next to the skin. And the grey is slowly returning along his back and along the shoulders. Your dog may or may not do the same. Hair loss from stress would be accompanied by a host of other signs, so don't worry. Give your dogs really big knuckle bones to chew. Good for the teeth, gums, and the need to do something. Make sure they get the appropriate exercise for their age, and good food. Enjoy their wonderful company!

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