HOUSEBOAT-GUN-DOG 53 



their feet, while the "set" of the short hair 

 of their coats is not favourable to their 

 lodgement. 



" What seems to be required for shooting 

 throughout a season is a strong, well- 

 broken, but, perhaps, not too highly-bred 

 pointer : one that will take the water, face 

 the thick covers, and possibly retrieve ; 

 and there are such dogs in the place. The 

 coats of some setters lie very flat, and they 

 are the next best dogs to pointers; 

 but the long-haired varieties, all good and 

 useful in their way, had better not be taken 

 up-country until they can work the covers 

 with impunity to themselves. A sentiment- 

 al objection to pointers is that they are not 

 so companionable as the other breeds, which 

 is true to a certain extent ; but it must be 

 remembered that when a pointer is on 

 business he means business, and that is 

 exactly what he is wanted for. In choosing 

 a pointer, always try to get one with sloping 

 shoulders, long, airy neck, a deep but not 

 broad chest, and a loin, arched, very wide, 

 strong and muscular. Some useful pointers 

 occasionally arrive here from Germany. 

 For the most part they are well educated 



