Appearance of the Pointer Bay
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The Pointer Bay is a medium to large dog with long, powerfully built legs and a deep chest. They have a medium-sized head with a muzzle long enough to allow the dog to retrieve game without damaging it. Their ears hang down, framing their faces, but some will have the longer, lower ears of the German Shorthaired Pointer while others will have shorter ears that hang much higher on the skull, and their almond-shaped eyes can be either the dark brown of the German Shorthaired Pointer or the amber or honey color characteristic of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Interestingly, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and their offspring are often born with blue eyes that change color as they grow, and may have webbed paws. The Pointer Bay's coat will certainly be water-resistant, but beyond that, it can vary somewhat from dog to dog, as these hybrids can take on traits of either the short, thick, single-layered coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer, or the double-layered coat. of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, consisting of a thick, dense undercoat sheltered beneath an abundant layer of short, wavy, coarse-textured fur. |
Temperament of the Pointer Bay
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This crossbreed is generally good-natured with most people, although there may be slight personality differences between the dogs due to the different personalities of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This crossbreed is generally tolerant of children of all ages, and their boundless energy makes them loyal and entertaining companions for older children, but interactions must be closely supervised as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is often unaware of its own strength, and the German Shorthaired Pointer can be too noisy for young children. The Pointer Bay is a thinking animal with the quick thinking ability of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the exceptionally long memory of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Whether or not this thinking animal is particularly trainable will depend on the individual. Dogs that inherit the quick wit and eager nature of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the long memory and enduring temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever should be extremely easy to train. On the other hand, dogs that inherit the stubborn, independent nature of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the absent-mindedness of the German Shorthaired Pointer can present a significant training challenge. |
Needs and activities of the Pointer Bay
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The Pointer Bay is a very active, athletic dog that needs plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Activities such as walking, running, tracking, agility classes, rally sports, competitive Frisbee and, of course, water sports are all wonderful outlets for this dog's seemingly endless energy, and although they're usually content with an hour and a half of vigorous exercise and activity a day, they're even happier if they can do two hours or more. It's important to remember that this breed's mind is as active as its body, and must receive plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day to prevent malicious or destructive behavior from surfacing. This crossbreed is generally too large and active to make a good apartment dweller and is much happier in a larger home, preferably with a fenced yard. |
Maintenance of the Pointer Bay
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As a pet, this dog's grooming requirements are fairly straightforward. A bath is necessary a few times a year to keep the coat clean and fresh, and weekly brushing, using either a smooth brush or grooming glove for the German Shorthaired Pointer's coat, or a pincushion brush and comb for the thicker coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, is suitable for managing loose hair and properly distributing oils over the coat. Dogs that are employed in the field will generally need bathing more often as they are likely to move around in areas that can be muddy, and should be carefully groomed and examined for wounds, skin irritations and parasites each time they return from home. |