Last Updated on April 22, 2024 by Teri Rehkopf
Large breed dogs pose special grooming dilemmas. You need Great Pyrenees grooming tips. The Great Pyrenees and other Bernard family members have cornered the market on that special combination of girth and hair. Without a regimented grooming routine the Pyrenees’ flowing white locks can easily morph, soon resembling an electrocuted Komondor on steroids.
One obstacle to keeping large breeds in the peek of beauty is the difficulty in locating nail clippers, brushes and dental supplies suited to their substantial size. Substitution will have to be made. Still, with a little ingenuity grooming is a snap.
Body Brushing is a Challenge
I have heard that combing out the Great Pyrenees is a challenge. The high-stung nature of the breed makes them tend to wiggle around during grooming. In fact, these stealth dogs are apt to sprint off if not restrained, sometimes moving up to three centimeters in a single afternoon.
My Emma loves to be brushed, except she does sit or sometimes lie down when brushing. So, I put my arm under her back-end and keep her up until I at least get the long hair on her back legs done. You can imagine that this is really great for your back.
Teri
Your best bet for body brushing or raking is to work on your pet while he is asleep. Avoid active times such as 6:00 to 6:03 a.m. and the 30 minutes after sunset Pyrenees’ devote solely to barking. This breed is known to sleep with its eyes open.
I know my dog Emma sleeps with her eyes open until she is zonked out. It can be disconcerting to walk around her and see her eyes open, but she is sleeping.
Teri
When stalking them with grooming tools be cautious. Once you are with in 65 feet of your dog, listen for a train. This verifies your dog is snoring.
Work efficiently once you begin grooming a Great Pyrenees. You may only have 13 hours before she wakes up. When grooming 140 lbs. of fur bonded together by drool and the occasional tree branch, you must not dally. A weed eater is an efficient option for quickly working your way through the shrubs to the actual hair prior to brushing.
I have a bunch of different brush types! Like 6 or more. I even use my horse brushes. The shedding tool is great on dogs, too.
Teri
Nail Clipping is Really Fun!
Clipping your Pyrenees’s claws should be a regular part of your grooming routine. Before beginning this procedure head for the hardware store. Pick up a large metal rasp and bolt cutters. Once claws have been neatly trimmed call in HAZMAT to remove the clippings from your home. Don’t forget the dewclaws.
Great Pyrenees’ have a multitude of extra toes just kinda “hangin’ out” on their lower legs. Hiding amongst them are a total of six massive curly toenails. Each is so large it makes a velociraptor claw look like a minute droplet of Chihuahua snot. Don’t let the dewclaws go unattended more than a few weeks. Negligence will yield a clipping big enough to be used as a spiral staircase.
Dental Care is Very Important on Their Huge Teeth
Dog owners often overlook the importance of good oral hygiene. Fortunately, in the Bernard breeds, their mouths offer plenty of room to work in. Take advantage of this trait. You can create ample access to the mouth by simply pulling their massive floppy lips up from both sides of the face. Then, use three clothespins to secure them to one another across the bridge of the nose. You may also secure a single lip to the opposing ear in a similar fashion.
Once the teeth are exposed insert a shop vac tube under your dogs tongue. This technique is identical to that of the ‘spit sucker’ used in a dental offices. A fifteen-gallon vac should suffice. Once the shop vac is fired up the Great Pyrenees will start to awaken. You will have about two hours to completely remove large pieces of sod stored along the gum line before your dog hits full cognitive thought. At this point he’ll eat the vacuum prior to falling back asleep.
You Must Do Their Feet. Who Knows What is Hiding in Them.
As a final touch, clean your canine’s feet. Shinny up between the pads with a flashlight, some pliers and a bottle of WD 40. Remove stones, dried bats, milk carton children and anything else not belonging up there. Once this task is done your grooming regiment is complete. Wake your dog by simple uttering the word “cookie.’ By the time you get to “coo” every Great Pyrenees in a six mile radius will be in your kitchen.
With a little work and a few trips to Home Depot, your Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernard or Newfoundland will glow with beauty. When you combine all this glamour with their high intelligence and magnetic personalities, your dog will be the envy of the neighborhood.
Hey. I noticed ear cleaning wasn’t mentioned. My Emma hates the vet even touching her ears. Luckily, I put a muzzle on her when we go to the vet. She’s a sweetie until you touch her ears. She can be lightning fast to bite! After having her since 2022, she’s gotten better about me doing her ears. I treated it like scratching and move slowly 🙂
Do you have an animal like my Emma who can be kinda difficult to clean? Do you have any cute things you can tell us about your experiences? Please leave a comment below to assist us in learning 🙂
Teri
