Welcome To Dog-Behavior-Training.co.uk
English Pointer Grooming.
Informtion on how to groom your English Pointer
DBT highly recommends the How To Professionally Groom Your Dog At Home ebook when learning to groom your dog or pet.
English Pointers have a short, smooth coat and are considered very low maintenance as far as grooming goes.
Regular brushing is one of the best things you can do to keep your pet healthy and happy. Always brush in the direction of hair growth. Brush your English Pointer once a week.
Brushing:
. Removes dirt and debris
. Invigorates skin
. Spreads oils to moisturize skin and keep a shiny coat
. Prevents mats and tangles which are irritating painful and can harbor bacteria, fungus, other infection
. Keeps your house much cleaner especially during shedding seasons
. Bonding, massaging, loving interaction
. Early detection of fleas, tics, eczema, infection and smells
Tools: Firm bristle brush, curry comb, chamois or soft cloth.
A rubber curry comb is usually sufficient for an English Pointer but some dogs may prefer the rougher bristle brush. This dog chills easily so wipe it down with a chamois when it comes in from outside. This will also remove shedding hair.
Eyes: Check your dog's eyes daily.
Debris is flushed to the corners and daily wiping with a wet cloth or paper towel can keep that bacterial breeding ground from building up.
Ears: Check ears once a week.
Your dogs ears should be pink and healthy inside. If not, don't do anything to them until you see a vet. Keeping ears clean minimizes odor, removes dirt, bacteria and mites trapped in wax. Never use a cotton swab on the inner ear.
Tools: Cotton balls or soft cloth and ear solution.
There are solutions made specifically for dogs but substitutes include: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, mineral oil, witch hazel, and tea tree oil.
Place a few drops of ear solution in your English Spaniel's ear. Rub and massage to loosen the wax. Swab out with a cotton balls or a cloth.
Teeth: Regularly.
The majority of 3 year old dogs have periodontal disease. Cavities and gum disease are painful for your dog; they diminish its pleasure and ability to eat. Bacteria that develops can infect the heart, kidney, liver and brain.
Really bad breath is usually a sign of gum disease.
Tools: Toothbrush/finger cap/cloth, doggie toothpaste, tooth scraper
Starting your dog out with this practice can be tricky. Reward them constantly to create a good association with grooming.
Start out by getting them used to their mouth being handled, then progress to touching the teeth with your finger.
Get some meat-seasoned toothpaste and apply with your finger.
Then introduce the brush. Take a few teeth at a time and soon you will have a routine that takes just minutes.
Brush in a circular motion and get under the gum line
If you don't want to brush everyday, use a tooth scraper to get rid of the plaque buildup once or twice a month. Most accumulation is on the outside of the teeth and on the back molars. This won't be so much fun for your dog or you though.
Lots of bones and hard, crunchy foods can minimize plaque but not to a truly effective degree.
Nails: Every two weeks.
Nail care is very important to your English Spaniel. Nails that aren't trimmed can splinter and infect the quick or grow and curl into the flesh. This can be painful for your dog to walk on. It will affect it's gait, posture, and eventually it's skeletal and ligament health. Nails should never touch the ground. When your dog is standing their nails should always rest above the ground. If you hear clicking on the kitchen floor, clipping is past due.
Tools: Doggie Nail Clippers (Scissors, pliers or guillotine), Dremel or file, Styptic or Kwikstop.
Sit beside your dog and put your arm around their shoulders if you can so that you are clipping from underneath and at the correct angle.
Lift the paw and press on it to expose the claw.
If your English Pointer has a clear nail you should be able to see the quick: a dark bundle of nerves and blood vessels.
Clip from underneath close to the quick but do not cut into it. If you do, your dog will let you know. Use Styptic pencil or Kwikstop to staunch the bleeding.
Buff the ragged edge with a file or Dremel. Some dogs can handle their nails being buffed by the Dremel regularly rather than clipping at all.
If it has a dark nail, clip just under the curve of the nail and then you will be able to look inside and see the quick if you are close enough. Clip tiny snips at a time.
Don't forget to check for dewclaws: an extra claw dogs may have farther up on the leg that works like a thumb.
It is better to clip your dog's nails more frequently than not as this causes the quick to recede farther away from the tip.
Paws: Check daily
It is very important to check between the pads of your English Pointer for foreign objects that may have wedged there, and to check the pads themselves for cuts, scrapes and infection.
Hygienic trimming: 2 to 4 weeks.
Tools: Electric clippers
Clipping at the ear opening and around the privates keeps your dog feeling better as well as keeping them and your house cleaner.
Expressing Glands: Every 2 to 4 weeks
This is a task normally done when you take your dog in for professional grooming. Your dog uses scent glands in the anus to mark its territory.
These glands also excrete when your dog defecates. At times, they may get impacted. Signs of this include: increased doggie odor, excessive licking and chewing of the behind, and worst of all, scooting (when your dog drags its butt or bottom along your carpet or floor)
There is no risk of overly expressing these glands so it's a good habit to become accustomed to. It will lesson dog odor.
Tools: Warm cloth
Lift the dog's tail and hold the cloth against it's behind. Place your fingers at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Press inward and squeeze to expel.
Bathing: As needed
English Pointers do not need regular bathing. Their coat contains natural oils that moisturize their skin and keep their coat glossy and resistant to dirt and water. Stripping these oils with frequent bathing dries out the skin and is a detriment to a healthy coat.
A rubdown with a damp towel can remove dirt and debris, and spot cleaning of the face, legs and feathers is always an option.
With regular brushing, ear cleaning and gland expression, dog odor will remain at a minimum.
Bathing a few times a year is usually adequate. Exceptions to this are when your dog manages to get into a messy situation or during its shedding season. A bath can help to remove a large amount of shedding hair also.
Tools: Non-slip mat, sprayer hose, dog shampoo, conditioner, leash, towels.
Choose a place where you can close off escape routes and expect 1-3 water-spraying shakes.
A leash tied to a higher point than your dog's head will keep it standing and deter escape. This is highly recommended as it's really hard to stop a slippery dog.
Never bathe your dog in standing water and never use human shampoo.
Wet your dog using your hand to massage.
Avoid getting water into the eyes, nose and ears.
Massage in lather.
Rinse thoroughly as the leftover shampoo can severely dry out and irritate your pet's skin.
Siphon off excess water by running your hands along its body and pressing down.
Towel them dry. Blow-drying your English Pointer is advisable since it is susceptible to chill. Do not use a hot setting and check frequently to be sure that the skin is not becoming too heated or dry.
