[pyrnet] hardwood floors/dewclaws

[comer4 <comer4@citcom.net>]

Dear Pyr Folks,

Ok, enough already on carpet and vacs--just kidding.

I have questions, though, about how to protect wood floors with Pyrs. We
had a rescue foster Pyr for a month in Aug.-Sept. (our first experience
with a Pyr) and, while we adored her in many ways, she did put some
serious scratches into the oak floor that my husband painstakingly laid
himself, alone, this summer. This dog has gone to another home (she was
aggressive with our Alpha-Shih-Tzu), but we truly hope we can get
another rescue Pyr soon. I was the Pyr lover in the beginning, and now
my husband is grief-stricken that we had to give up our first girl. So,
is there any way we can overcome the wood-floor issue?

Also, a side note: with all the talk about dewclaws, someone mentioned
that having them removed is surgically difficult, with a painful
recovery. As it happens, the rescue Pyr we had (about 5-6 yrs. old, by
appearance) sadly had had her dews removed. When I thought I was feeling
her little curled-up claws on her "ankles," I realized one day that they
were staples. Yikes and arrrggghhh. Don't know anything about how long
they'd been there, as this dog was a stray. We took her to our vet for a
basic check-up, and he of course pulled out the staples. She then began
to walk more comfortably, it seemed, and acted like a younger dog. My
question is: Is it possible that her aggression toward small dogs, like
my older Shih-Tzu, was connected to the discomfort of this surgery,
staples left in, and some trauma causing her to run away (her neck was
raw from pulling/breaking a leash, it appeared).

By the way, this dear dog is now with Pyr Rescue here in N.C. and will
be placed professionally, I'm sure. We just miss her and hate so much
she couldn't be our dear Daisy.

Thanks so much for all the stories and information. I have read the list
most every day for about a year, even though we didn't have a Pyr until
late this summer.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Bell
Brevard, N.C.