Re: [PyrNet-L] Question About Grooming

[Dancingpyr@aol.com]

In a message dated 99-08-28 14:21:54 EDT, you write:

<< This is not
 going to be a show dog by any means so I am wondering if you who live in the
 tropical areas of the world shave your dogs? I am not concerned about looks 
as
 I am about comfort for the dog. What types of brushes do I need etc.  What
 types of products are good for a bath also. >>

I personally don't like shaving pyrs - have to be careful afterwards that 
they don't get sunburned, as their skin isn't use to that much sun.  We have 
been doing a LOT of brushing lately - mostly with the pin brushes - to get 
dead hair out and stimulate the new hair growth.  Some people like slickers - 
we have them, and use them occasionally.  Also, am finding, particularily 
with Zoe, that her baby undercoat is starting to come out, and this seems to 
be causing her to scratch and chew.  By working at getting this dead 
undercoat out, she seems to be chewing and scratching less, and appears 
happier.

Shampoos - well, that's a wide open subject - probably as many opinions as 
there are people on Pyrnet :-)  One thing - while I generally agree that too 
much washing can dry the dog's skin and hair, not washing it enough can be 
equally damaging.  It had been some time since we had bathed our one male 
(he's our livestock guardian), and as a result, his skin and coat really 
needed work.  In the future, we'll be paying much more careful attention to 
how often we bathe him.

Robyn