How to Groom a Spinone Italiano

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Slicker brush
Metal comb
#7 blade
Clippers
Scissors

Step 1:
Brush your Spinone Itanliano at least once per week with a slicker brush and a metal comb. The coat should be harsh, wiry and close-fitting to the body. Some say that these dogs groom and clean themselves in a similar manner to a cat, which means they don't need a great deal of bathing. The desired length of the coat is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches.
Step 2:
Strip away dead hair by pulling it out of the coat rather than cutting it. You can also hand strip, but you should only attempt it if you're a professional. Hand stripping is a very specialized skill. If you only wish to clip, rather than strip, use a #7 blade on the lower head, body and tail. Don't clip hair around the rib cage and make sure that it blends naturally with the rest of the clipped coat.
Step 3:
Tidy up the hair on the legs with scissors or clippers, but don't cut the feathering on the back of the front legs. This breed also has a beard and eyebrows which you should leave natural.

Tips & Warnings

Spinone Italianos are dedicated and serious workers who are committed and serious while hunting, but are extremely affectionate and friendly when at home with their family.
This breed has a life expectancy of at least 12 years and possibly more.
Show dogs should have a relatively natural appearance. Consult show regulations for exact details.
Italian Spinones are susceptible to hip dysplasia and a genetic disease Cerebellar Ataxia, an abnormal gait caused by a problem in the brain.

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