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Messages - mountaindogmom

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Pyrs and warm weather
« on: April 14, 2008, 08:27:58 am »
Yeah, Jack really hates the heat as well.  He only lays on the hardwood or cool tile floors, preferably on a central AC vent.  He hurries up to potty outside and then heads straight for the door to come back in.  We walk at 6am and 9pm (if it isn't still too hot at 9).  Always feel the pavement/blacktop before starting your walks - if it's too hot for you hand it's too hot for their paws.

Our dogs do NOT look forward to summer, I can say that much!  Unlike me, they much prefer the snow.

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Multiple dogs???
« on: March 23, 2008, 04:28:05 pm »
We currently have two - one Swissy, one Pyr and I could never imagine only having one again.  We are in the process of deciding if we want to add a male Swissy to our pack next fall.  We've been offered a pup from an excellent breeder and from an outstanding sire & dam, but we think that the transistion to 3 dogs might be more than we want to tackle.  For example, we got a bigger SUV to accomodate two dogs and any possible future children (LIMIT 2) because we like to take our dogs with us as much as possible.  A third dog would make all that very difficult, not to mention the added costs and complications.  Right now I can easily walk both dogs myself... not sure what a third dog would do to that scenario - afterall, I only have TWO ARMS!  Even simpler things like - where do we put another elevated feeder that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, or how much longer will it take at lunch time to take out a third dog (we don't have a fence and have to take them each out onleash - if we take them both together they want to play and not "GO POTTY!") require careful thought and consideration.  We are going to contemplate it for a while and then make a decision.

3
There is a very similar thread going on currently with answers to your questions.

See:

Looking for supplements for my OGSD (it's in the top 10 right now)

4
Once she does reach an age for supplementatio n this is a great product.  We started Jack on it when he was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia (as you say, not always heredity - his parents were both ranked well for elbows!) and it really seems to help him.  It's primarily glucosomine/chondroitin but it also has other great nutrients.  I believe they ship internationall y.

www.flexicose. com

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Pyr mane and collars
« on: March 18, 2008, 12:08:53 pm »
All of my dogs wear a collar 24/7,they each hold their rabie tag and ID.I brush Bear daily so therefore have no troube with matts,indentions etc...he has a pretty thick Lions mane ;D

We never had a problem when Jack was Bear's age either... it's just started to develop over the last couple of monts -his mane has REALLY filled out a lot lately.  And his tail is ENORMOUS!

6
We just switched Jack (our Pyr) and Greta (our Swissy) over to Innova EVO (actually we're still in the process of transitioning).  Already there is much less poop and it's a better consistency.  They are also eating less food and seem to still be full.  Yay EVO!!!

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Pyr mane and collars
« on: March 07, 2008, 12:44:35 pm »
That's what I figured.  We do take it off weekly to brush that area  out, but there's usually some tangling already started each week.  Nothing bad, just a little bit.

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: How much food at 2years
« on: March 07, 2008, 11:41:13 am »
We walk 3 to 4 miles per day and Jack is an indoor dog who is 14 months old and weighs 110.  He is in the process of switching from California Natural to Innova EVO right now so he's tranistioning but he was getting 4 cups a day plus 1/2 a can of EVO and will probabl end up closer to 3 cups per day plus the canned once we make the switch to all EVO, which is more nutrient packed with no fillers, so they require less food.

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Pyr dew claws
« on: March 07, 2008, 11:35:36 am »
Both our Pyr and our Swissy grew "crookedly" - one end first then the other would catch up.  Don't worry about that, it all evens out in the end!  We don't have to cut their main nails because we do a lot of pavement walking, but I do cut his dews every couple of weeks.  I think you can take a little more off than you think, because the two times I've taken him to the groomers, they cut them much shorter than I do.  One of his is black so it makes me nervous to cut because I can't see the quick.  I've never caused any bleeding so I think I'm okay.

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Pyr mane and collars
« on: March 07, 2008, 11:32:30 am »
That is so funny.  I actually came to the site today to post this EXACT question!  We have had a 2" wide fabric (satiny) collar on Jack.  We love the collar, it's beautiful (not that you really see it with all his fur) but lately he's getting a lot of mats around where the collar is and behind his ears.  At least it sounds like the leather one isn't causing matts, just an indentation, right?  That may be unavoidable.  :-\

11
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: How much does your big paw weigh?
« on: January 08, 2008, 12:05:16 pm »
Greta, Swissy, is 18 months and weighs 105.  Jack, Pyr, is 12 months and weighs 102 even though he is already much taller and broader than Greta.  He's just got a lot of skin and fur to grown into still! :D

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Greyhound Discussions & Pictures / Re: Getting a Foster tomorrow
« on: January 07, 2008, 07:17:00 pm »
I just signed up for my first foster as well.  She's a 6 month old Geman Shepherd/Greyound mix (supposedly).  She was scheduled to be euthanized today at the pound but I stepped in an a local rescue (near the pound) helped me to pull her.  She's about 3 hours away so that rescue is going to keep her until she's spayed in a few days so I only have to make the one trip.  I'm excited, and a little terrified!  The main concern is just the balance of our pack (2 dogs, 3 cats) and how she will effect it, but we'll work through it somehow.  I thought my hubby would kill me when I suggested it but he came around quickly and now said he's "excited about the challenge", so I think we are both ready.  I think she'll arrive sometime this weekend or the beginning of next week, depending on the spay availability.  Then the "fun" begins!  :-\  Time go go read up on Greyhounds, German Shepherds, and fostering!  ;)

13
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Jogging with my Pyr??!!
« on: December 17, 2007, 07:41:10 pm »
Actually Jack has had a bit of extra "get up and go!" since we got some snow last week.  He loves to run in the snow.  It's really the first time we'd seen him run full out for more than a "dash".  I think it's a sign that his elbows are feeling better since his surgery.  He still sits with his front feet turned outward but he doesn't limp at all anymore and only seems stiff some of the time instead of all the time.  Who knows - I wish they could talk! ;D

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Jumping
« on: December 17, 2007, 03:12:53 pm »
Sometimes "down" works better than "sit" because it's a harder position to spring up from.  A sit can lead to a bounce/jump which can cause some painful dog head to human nose/lip contact - OUCH!  We used the down or sit in conjunction with stepping on the leash to break this problem.  Also, we have a policy for visitors: "No Touch, No Talk, No Eye Contact, until the dogs are calm please!"
You just have to tell everyone who is visiting how best to deal with your dogs so they can assist you with the process. If you have a couple of good friends who will volunteer to help train that is most beneficial.  Just have them come and ring the doorbell or knock repeatedly and practice your techniques until people coming to the door isn't exciting for the dogs anymore. 

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Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Jogging with my Pyr??!!
« on: December 17, 2007, 02:20:23 pm »
Jogging - what's that?!?!?  Never heard of it.   :o
We have to continually coax and praise (and correct!) Jack for lagging on our walks.  Our Swissy will happily walk as fast as we want, and run if we let her, but Jack has other plans.  He is a LOPER, not a RUNNER!

We got "walky dog" bike attachments for both of them and Greta (the Swissy) does great and loves to run along side the bike.  We can't even ride slow enough to keep pace with Jack without falling over so we won't be getting much use out of tha second one!

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