Anyone got advice for a new dog(great pyranese and lab mix) owner?

Okay so this is my first dog and im 27 years old I want to take great care of him. He is 2 and a half. Id like advice on flea care, his coat, diet and exercise.Anyone got advice for a new dog(great pyranese and lab mix) owner?
This big, happy dog was developed in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain to guard the flocks and protect the homes of the shepherd and his family. Here the big dog fearlessly faced wolves and bears and alerted his family to bandits.





Once he left the mountains, the Pyr became a favorite in the French courts. The dog's prowess as a guard was often a topic of conversation.





The Great Pyrenees is a large, elegant dog with a regal expression. Males are 27-32 inches tall at the withers and weigh about 100 pounds; females are somewhat smaller and lighter.





The Pyr is not a white Newfoundland .





The Pyr body has a strong neck, level back, moderately broad chest, broad back and loin, and long plumed tail. The tail can be carried low when the dog is at rest and over the back when the dog is alert. The double dewclaws is a characteristic of the breed,.





The Pyr coat is thick and makes the dog look heavier than it is.





THE PYRANESE SHEDS! A LOT!! Those who cannot abide the thought of tufts of white hair floating through the house twice a year should consider another breed. On the other hand, those who fancy exotic knit accessories may find the Pyr right up their alley. The dog's fine undercoat can be collected when shed and spun into yarn used to make sweaters, scarves, afghans, and other items.


THE PYRENEES COAT MUST BE KEPT FREE OF MATS, TATS, AND TANGLES, whether the hair will remain on the dog or be collected for spinning. The undercoat tangles into felted mats that can hold dirt and cause painful hot spots on the skin


A THOROUGH WEEKLY BRUSHING IS NECESSARY to keep the coat in top condition.





Owners should be particularly on the alert for fleas. If these pesky critters get established in the heavy Pyr coat, they can be difficult to eliminate. As thick and plush as the coat is, the GREAT PYRENEES SHOULD NOTbe shaved in the summer; instead he should be given a shady spot and plenty of fresh water.


The Vet can put the dog oh a good flea PREVENTATIVE, such as Frontline Plus, or Advantix, but a PREVENTATIVE must be used year round as flea soaps and sprays only kill what they come in contact with Preventatives kill the eggs and nesting larvae on the dog. Keeping the dog's outside area dusted with ';Sevin'; insecticide dust will eliminate a lot of the problems of the dog getting fleas from outside


Be sure to keep the dog up to date on all it's shots, and keep it on an active ';heartworm'; program.





The Pyr needs a fenced yard with a visible barrier to remind him to stay home. Without that barrier, he will consider the world to be his territory and think he has to guard it all. He should not be tied out regularly, for tying can cause frustration that leads to aggression.





Pyr puppies grow rapidly and reach almost adult size before they are a year old. They should be well-socialized to other dogs, trained to walk on a leash, and taught basic good manners before they get too big to handle.





He should be kept on a stable diet of a good brand (not Purina) of Kibble. Iams and Eukanuba are great foods that are not pricey. There are some other foods that are excellent, too, but they get pretty pricey with a dog the size of a Pyr.





As with other guardian breeds, motivational training works best with the Great Pyrenees. The dog does not do well with harsh corrections or repetitive training. The breed's absence from the obedience ring is a testimony to its independence, not a comment on its intelligence. As bored as the dog gets with repetitive obedience, it takes readily to pulling a cart, patrolling the homestead perimeter, and guarding the children.





Like other large breeds, the Pyr is susceptible to hip dysplasia. The breed is also subject to Factor XI deficiency, a bleeding disorder; bloat; heat stroke; lameness; and bone cancer. His low metabolism makes him sensitive to anesthesia, a condition that must be taken into effect whenever surgery is planned.





Buyers should consider the temperament as well as the health of the parent dogs when looking for a Pyr puppy. The well-bred adult Pyr is confident, gentle, and affectionate to his family, territorial about his home and flocks, and patient and tolerant. Extreme shyness, nervousness, or aggression to humans are serious faults in the breed and serious detriments in a family pet.





The Pyr is also strong-willed and independent, characteristics that do not make him the best pet for families unaccustomed to dealing with big dogs. Great Pyrenees rescue groups are often inundated with dogs that were purchased without understanding of the size, independence, and hairiness of the breed. Families should look for dogs bred as pets; the working stock Great Pyrenees may be too independent for inexperienced owners to handle and train. However, once the Pyr grabs your heart, you may want another. If this is the case, look for a puppy or rescue dog of the opposite sex; males and females may not get along well with members of their own sex. NEUTERING THE DOG will take care of a lot of territorial problems and make the dog much easier to handle.Anyone got advice for a new dog(great pyranese and lab mix) owner?
Other than taking him to the vet yearly----


For flea care- I like monthly Frontline Plus for prevention. It can be a little expensive, but well worth it.





For his coat- Daily brushing is ideal if he has longer hair, it can get matted up pretty easily. You would want to use a good slicker brush and/or de-shedding tool. ( I like the FUR-minator you can get it at PetSmart). You might consider also taking him to a groomer once a month to get him all pretty and de-shedded, And boy, do they shed!





Diet/exercise- Labs are notorious for overeating and being under-exercised. They have huge appetites, but how much you feed depends on the type of food and level of exercise you are willing to give. Iams and Purina are my favorite brands. (read the labels for a good amount to feed, but note they might tell you to feed a little more because they want you to buy more of their food)Also, be easy on the treats. Your lab will act like he is hungry all the time, and will eat all day if you let him. I give my dogs canned green beans, one at a time for treats. They have no idea that they are good for them :) and carrots work well too. I recommend at the very least 2-3 brisk 30+ minute walks a day. They also love to swim and run, so if your family does a lot of that he will be happy. Taking him to a dog park to run and sprint and play for a good hour will release a lot of energy for him. If he is under-exercised he will most likely destroy your house and be a little too much to handle, or bark excessively like a lot of unemployed dogs tend to do.





You have adopted a great dog! As long as he can expel all that energy you will have so much fun with him! Good luck and I hope this helps.
You have already received some great advice. To have a happy healthy pet your dog needs to have regular exercise,good nutrition, regular grooming, good discipline and most important lots of love.You also need to find a good vet who will give you good advice and your dog good health care.Ask other dog owners in your area to find one they recommend.





I have had three dogs over the years and you learn from each one.If I was starting as a new owner I would do a lot more reading and research into the best feeding and training for my dog.





As far as training is concerned a well trained dog is a much happier dog and you will be a relaxed owner with a dog you can really trust.Look for some good dog training books in your local library.





As far as diet is concerned I urge you to research this as well. I fed all my dogs commercial food until my last dog developed cancer. After much research I changed to a fresh raw meat and vegetable diet. My dog regained her health and in her latter years had a much healthier shiny coat than ever before.





Have you seen this http://tinyurl.com/q4wkzj. May give you a few ideas to think about.
ok well lets break this up





---diet and exercise:: well you should take your dog out about 3 times a day for about 30 minutes so it can burn off some energy. otherwise ur dog will be destructive. For food you should feed it both kibble and wet (canned) food. try mixing both of them. For the food make sure that there is barely or no corn in there. (Look in the ingredients section, they are listed from most to least so the closer the ingredient is to the beginning she more of it that it has)





---flea care::i recommend you to use Frontline Plus because it does a very good job





---Coat:: bath at least 1-2 times a month and i recommend you to take it to a professional groomer at least once every 2-3 months





hope this helps