Read on to learn how to groom a Great Pyrenees dog (or lab mix) at home with a low-cost grooming rake. It doesn’t take much effort when done often and requires no sedation for your dog.
Why We Love Great Pyrenees
We have found that Great Pyrenees are loyal and protective dogs, making them natural livestock guardians. Our livestock guardians serve a critical purpose in protecting our goat herd from the many predators in our area.
When livestock guardians bond with those they protect, they prefer to be with them constantly. For this reason, our Great Pyrenees live full-time outdoors. This environment can expose them to complications, so it’s important to learn how to prevent bloat in dogs as well as preventing fleas and ticks.
Their double coats are great for protecting them from cold temperatures, but also make them prone to collecting debris from the pasture, creating smelly matting.
These dogs work hard for us, and even though we’re not preparing them for the show ring, it’s important to treat them with the care they deserve. A routine of brushing, bathing, and trimming keeps our Great Pyrenees in good health.
Brushing Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees dogs are a double-coated breed. The soft undercoat keeps the dogs cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
The outer white coat is longer than the undercoat and has a wiry texture that provides a layer of protection from the elements. It also helps the dogs repel water and shed dirt.
To keep the mats and tangles under control, the dog need brushing. Spending 30 minutes a few times a week will keep the dog comfortable with the process and allow you to brush out the excess loose hair and dirt.
The correct grooming tool makes all the difference. A slicker brush isn’t sturdy enough to work through the wiry hair of this breed. We have tried a lot of de-shedding brushes, but so many of them would get stuck in tangles and mats and pull on the dog’s skin.
A wide-toothed grooming rake is the best tool we have found. This low-cost de-shedding brush for dogs works great!
Should Great Pyrenees Be Shaved
We don’t shave our Great Pyrenees coat. It’s tempting to think shaving will make the dog feel better on warm summer days, but we have found that shaving doesn’t help.
The double coat serves the purpose of regulating body temperature. Think of the double coat as insulation in a house. It’s dual-purpose, helping to keep the outside from coming inside. If you shave the dog, the undercoat will grow quickly to bring that balance back to properly regulating temperature.
Another risk of shaving is sunburn. A Great Pyrenees’ skin is pale and not meant for sun exposure. We give our dog a trim around his face a few times a year and a sanitary cut.
A sanitary cut is just a basic trimming or shaving around the private areas so the hair is shorter and will catch less filth.
Bathing
Keeping our working dogs completely clean is impossible. We like to bathe them twice a year.
We’ve found that early spring and late summer are the best times to clean them up. The weather is warmer, and who doesn’t like a good spring and fall cleaning?
A dog’s skin is sensitive and can quickly react to shampoos not intended for them. This organic dog shampoo and conditioner is plant-based and sulfate-free, and we highly recommend it.
Pro-Tip: Some people find it best to blow dry the coat slowly before bathing and brushing to fluff it up and make the hair more workable.
Dental Care
I know you have probably received a sloppy dog kiss and have been overwhelmed by the stench of your dog’s breath! These tasty Milk-Bone dog treats have a crunchy texture that will help freshen your dog’s breath and reduce tartar build-up on their teeth.
Always keep fresh water available for dogs to drink. These dog vitamins help give additional nutritional support that the dogs may not be getting in their daily diet.
Having livestock guardian dogs may seem like more work, but truly, once you’re in the routine of weekly brushing (and subsequent snuggle time), it’s really not that much. They’re such sweet boys and they deserve a little attention from us with some good brushes.
