How to Groom a Pointer

The Pointer is a small but stately and elegant dog. They have strong, taut, well-built bodies which have plenty of stamina. Their coats are short-haired, shiny and beautiful. They come in white, liver, lemon, black or orange and may contain spots and patches or be completely solid. Pointers need a full grooming every 10 to 12 weeks and a general grooming once a month.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Natural bristle brush
• Rubber brush
• Chamois cloth
• Scissors

1. Brush the coat with a natural bristle brush to keep it healthy and shiny. Brushing it out frequently helps keep it clean. Pointers shed an average amount of hair.

2. Bathe the dog when necessary, but not too often. The short hair of this animal ensures that not much gets caught or tangled in the coat. Use a rubber brush on the coat when bathing to remove extra shed and/or dead hair.

3. Rub a piece of chamois cloth over the coat after bathing to give it extra gloss.

4. Trim the whiskers with scissors if desired. There is no rule about this, it's purely an aesthetic choice.

5. Check the dog's feet closely if he has been running around or exerting himself--make sure nothing has become stuck in them.

6. Check the insides of the ears frequently for signs of wax buildup or inflammation.

Tips & Warnings

• Pointers have a life expectancy of about 13 to 14 years.
• Dry the dog very well if you take her hunting to prevent chilling.
• The development of the Pointer began more than 200 years ago and involved a mind-boggling mixture of the Italian Pointer, the Foxhound, the Bloodhound, the Greyhound, the Newfoundland, the Setter and the Bulldog. They are named after the position they take once they have found prey during the hunt.
• This breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia, thyroid conditions, dwarfism and skin conditions.