BREAKING AND HANDLING. 187 



sometimes present, in certain individuals, to an abnormal 

 degree. Dogs having it to such a degree may be pointing 

 perpetually on any strange scent, or by sight on any strange 

 object, when taken afield, and ac such times can only with 

 difficulty be stirred; and then the next instant but to point 

 again. A chip, stump, a bright flower, rock or likely place 

 for game, all serve the purpose to point. Sometimes a dog, 

 having this infirmity, will point immediately after being 

 taken out of a wagon or taken into the field. Such dogs 

 are wholly worthless for field work. The pointing instinct 

 is sufficiently developed if present in a useful degree, and 

 as it is so present in the greater number of individuals, it 

 needs no intensifying. 



Both setters and pointers stand to their points naturally, 

 although some, having more caution than others, crouch 

 more or less, while a small percentage drop to the ground, 

 this manner being more frequent with setters than with 

 pointers. With many it is only occasional, as when they 

 suddenly discover that they have unconsciously drawn too 

 close to the birds and are in danger of flushing, the act 

 undoubtedly being one of concealment rather than one of 

 inheritance. However, habitually dropping to point is fre- 

 quently the result of too much discipline in dropping to 

 wing, the training not remaining fixed at the degree which 

 the trainer intended. At the first flutter of wings the dog 

 drops instantly; as the habit becomes more and more fixed 

 by constant repetition, he anticipates the rise of the bird, 

 and drops too soon. Finally he will stand during a second 

 or two and then drop, which soon ends in dropping to his 

 points regularly. This is hastened if the handler, from fear 

 of not having steadiness, as frequently occurs, drops the 

 dog on his point before the birds rise; or if he is worked 

 hard day after day, he may drop on his points from fatigue. 



By far the greater number of expert breakers train their 



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