Magic Fur

Ever since Satcho joined our family, Nick has boasted about our "self-cleaning" dog. I actually remember seeing on the Great Pyrenees of America website that Pyrs have "been endowed with a coat which is self-cleaning, tangle- and mat- resistant." I also remember being dubious.

They were referring to the breed's two layers of fur: The long pretty one you see; and a thick, insulating, dense woolly coat underneath. So when your dog returns from muddy hikes looking absolutely destroyed, really it's only on the outer fur and it'll fall off when dry. Nothing gets past the wool, which is so thick you don't want to hose him down because it'll never dry. Instead, your mud-drenched pup just saunters into and all over the house as is. The dirt eventually dries and leaves itself in piles in front of his dog dish, upstairs on your bedroom floor, the downstairs bathroom, by most doors and under Nick's desk. 

But here's the fascinating part: By the time I've vacuumed the entire house, scrubbed the mud swipes off the walls, gotten on my hands and knees to mop the floors, cleaned the windows he's walked by, and brushed the tangled and matted bits until he looks all gorgeous again, his fur has completely self-cleaned. It's just incredible.

Every now and again someone will notice how spic and span things are and marvel at how amazing Satcho's fur is.

I wonder if my family thinks we have a self-cleaning house, too?

Before...

...After.

It's a miracle!