[pyrnet] Shedding & Coats

[Shannon Russell <smrussel@neoucom.edu>]

20030304094709.1678.qmail@web80302.mail.yahoo.com">

I had a quick question about Pyr coats.  I have 2 Pyr's right now, Levi (5
yrs old) & Allie (7yrs old).  A couple of years ago Allie decided she
liked this tree in my friends back yard.  Well unfortunately it was a maple
tree, AND it was of course leaking sap everywhere.  Well after 3 or 4 baths
and a call to the vet and the groomers we finally gave in and have to shave
the poor thing.  While she smelled very good she was sticking to everything
and was completely miserable.  
  
Then about a year and a half ago the furnace (a boiler that was probably
from the 30's or 40's!) at my house died a horrible and painful death.  When
my brother was removing the old cast iron boiler he had to break it into
pieces to be able to carry it out of the basement.  Well inside the boiler
was about 60 or 70 years of soot.  The problem with this situation is that
my dogs both think my brother is the best thing since sliced bread.  They
decided they were going to help!  And of course my brother (only a male would
think this) thought it was a great idea and just too funny!  These big white
fur balls covered in soot!  Ha Ha!  Well what he didn't think about was how
was I going to get soot out of these 2 dogs?  Well, needless to say soot
does NOT come out of dog fur very well!  
  
After more calls to the vet and groomer it was once again necessary to shave
both dogs!  Anyway my question is this....
  
Levi still sheds like there is no tomorrow and requires alot of brushing
and maintenance of his coat.  But Allie has not shed (she actually sheds
less than I do now...) or blown her coat since I had her shaved over a year
and a half ago!  It also took quite a while for her coat to grow back in.
 Probably 2-3x as long as Levi.  Does anyone know what happened with her
coat?  Is it because she was shaved 2x since I've had her, she was 5 when
I got her and I'm not sure what happened before that....  
  
If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it.  
  
Thanks!
Shannon, Allie, Levi