The Great Spring Shed 2010, Day 2

Okay, it isn't Day 2 per se, she's been shedding for about a week already, but this was the second day of MAJOR fur loss - this was after only one side of her had been brushed, and I am having to Swiffer the house twice per day to keep it from having little tumble-furs every where (like tumble weed, but her fur). I'm getting about this much fur from my daily Swiffering as well. It is Nuts!

One thing I find interesting is that Arwen gets more sleepy and more hungry than usual during this time - perhaps the stress of shedding out one coat and growing a new one? I don't know, but I try to give her a little extra food without making her fat, and I always try to give her some fresh veggies or eggs or canned tuna juice to help her. Of course, it could also be that she is now spending a few hours per day outside in the warmer weather chasing squirrels and barking at the pheasants that come to our bird feeders (yes, we have 4 pheasants that come to our feeders, it is hilarious).

Until tomorrow, unless I've been covered in a sea of shiny black fur....
and Arwen

Monday's Methods: Making a Furry Dog (Slightly) Less Furry

It is me, Arwen the Wonder Dog blogging today as mommy is busy with her job. Today we will start to examine why the sun, plus warmer weather, plus a VERY fuzzy dog (me) equals fur going everywhere! In mommy's clothes, on the furniture, in her mouth, EVERYWHERE! I love getting brushed (I will relax until I start to drool, and have even started to fall asleep standing up, only to jerk myself awake when I start to fall over) and I love the treats at the end even more! Here we prepare with horse grooming brushes (dog grooming brushes are laughable with my fur), and I've taken off my collar. I am trying to give my coy look...
Here mommy is brushing my side. I decided to lie down for this photo as I was tired from running around chasing, I mean, looking at the squirrels in the back yard.
Here is some of the fur that mommy got out in about 3 minutes. The dots are water as I am very static-y right now. Mommy will have to continue brushing me every day for about 2 weeks (and sweeping the floors twice per day) until all of my winter coat is out. Believe it or not, by the time I am done shedding, I will have lost over 1 POUND of fur! Every year it is the same thing, mommy brushes me and swears that THIS will be the year that she makes a coat out of my winter furs, but she never does. It is good though, my furs are one of a kind and should NOT be replicated ;-)
Here I'm getting my treat as a well-earned reward for being so good while mommy brushed me. We wanted to also show you me getting my teeth brushed, but mommy says she needs both hands to hold onto the tooth brush and keep me from swallowing it (I LOVE beef flavored toothpaste for doggys). Sorry, but for now, this will have to do :)

Hugs and nose taps,

and Arwen