Interview with Meg – Founder of Pointy Faces

1. What inspired you to create Pointy Faces, and how did Bella help shape its beginnings?

Bella was the inspiration behind Pointy Faces.

With Bella, it was quite literally love at first sight(hound)! When my partner and I adopted her from our local pound, she was in a rough state but to us, she was the most beautiful dog we had ever seen. Her condition only made it clearer that she needed us.

After tending to her medical needs, including a partial tail amputation, dental care, and some much-needed TLC for her sore skin, we began to discover that Bella had breed-specific needs we hadn’t expected. She would shiver in even the slightest chill, refused to go out in the rain, and wouldn’t sit or lie down without soft padding. Her standard collar from the pound proved unsuitable.

We were learning as we went and researching the right products and care for Bella felt confusing at times. There simply wasn’t much readily available information about pet sighthounds back then, and many of the products we tried turned out to be ineffective or unsuitable.

That’s when the idea for Pointy Faces was born: a one-stop shop for essential, thoughtfully selected sighthound-specific products. With Bella by my side, we carefully curated the Pointy Faces range, always with comfort, practicality, and quality in mind.

Bella was my soul dog, quirky, beautiful, and endlessly special. I regularly shared snippets of her daily life online, but when she passed away in 2019, I was so heartbroken I couldn't bring myself to post about her anymore. It feels right to share her story here today.

From a middle-aged stray to the inspiration behind a business that’s been running for nearly a decade, Bella was truly one of a kind.

2. What have been some of your favourite moments running the business so far?

I absolutely love what I do and genuinely couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The highlights of running Pointy Faces can be summed up in three words: dogs, customers, and suppliers.

Customers: I’m incredibly lucky to have the most amazing customers, some of whom have been with me since the very beginning. Their support, kindness, and thoughtful feedback have helped carry my small business through some tough economic years. It still makes my day when I receive a photo of a pointy face using or wearing one of our products.

Suppliers: Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships with wonderful suppliers. Many of them are fellow small businesses that share the same passion for sighthounds and dogs. Collaborating with them brings me so much joy.

Dogs: One of the best parts of running my own business is having my dogs by my side, even during the workday. And being able to walk them on my lunch break? That’s a dream come true.

Pointy Faces will be celebrating its 10th birthday in the new year, and that’s a milestone I’m incredibly proud of.

3. What’s one product you always recommend to new sighthound owners, and why?

There are a few essentials I always recommend:

A practical coat

Due to their low body fat and short coats, sighthounds feel the cold more than other breeds. They’ll let you know — shivering, chattering teeth, or refusing to go out in the cold or rain. A well-fitting, warm coat is a must.

A warm layer for chilly evenings

A vest, tee, or jumper is perfect for layering under a coat on colder days, or for wearing indoors at night. Keeping cosy helps sighthounds settle and sleep more soundly, which means better rest for everyone.

A travel mat

These are great for training and help your hound feel safe and secure when out and about. Because of their bonier build, many sighthounds will refuse to sit or lie on hard floors. A travel mat gives them a soft, familiar place to rest.

A secure collar

This is vital for newly rescued sighthounds. Their slim heads and wide necks, combined with potential nervousness or prey drive, mean they can easily slip out of standard collars. A secure, well-fitting collar is key to keeping them safe while you build trust.

4. How do you decide which products to stock or design? What makes something a “Pointy Faces” product?

Every product must meet four criteria: it must be purposeful, high-quality, practical, and suitable for the breed.

We trial and test every single product ourselves. Between Bella, Olive, and my mum’s sighthounds Nellie and Patti, we’ve tested hundreds of items. If we wouldn’t use it for our own dogs, we don’t stock it.

That said, I know that even within the same breed group, different dogs have different needs. I always welcome customer feedback and often source items based on specific requests. Listening to our customers helps us constantly improve and expand the range.

5. What advice would you give to someone adopting a sighthound for the first time?

Be prepared to give plenty of love, patience, and time.

Creating a calm, quiet, and relaxed environment is key when welcoming a rescue into your home. Many need space to adjust and learn to feel safe. Sometimes, the less we fuss over them, the more quickly they begin to relax.

Also, take the time to learn about the breed. Understanding sighthound behaviour and needs will help you keep them safe and comfortable and allow you to enjoy the journey as you find your feet (and paws) together.