Re: [PyrNet-L] Shaving Pyrs

[JGentzel <JGentzel@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-03-13 22:32:45 EST, you write:

<<  Her coat used to be relatively easy to care for, but after she was
 spayed, it became very cottony, almost downy soft.   Because it's so soft,
 it mats easily causing her to overheat in summer and it's difficult to keep
 it in decent condition.  >>

I generally come down on the side of not cutting the coat for all the reasons
that others have said so well and does not require me to repeat.  Part of my
reason is to "not fool with mother nature", but mother nature may have already
been "fooled with" in your girl.  I refer to spaying, which does change
hormones, etc. Additionally I do not consider the soft wooly outer coat
historically correct.  Personally I hate these coats as they are soo hard to
take care of and do cause the dog problems.  In France they seldom if ever
brush their dogs.  Many people do not even own a brush.  Hard to figure, but
true. This even more so in the long past.  There is no way these coats would
have existed there as these dogs would have broken down and possibly died as
result of some problem secondary to these coats.  I cannot imagine that they
would not have been used intentionally for breeding as well.  

I agree with close  cutting these type coats, but would be ever mindful that
they loose some natural ability to reflect and insulate from the heat and sun
via doing so.

Joe