The Pointer. 121 



hunting rough heather. His feet seemed to stand the work better. Ifc 

 has also been said the setter can do more hard work ; but I think that, 

 the fact of the old-fashioned pointer being so heavy in frame and build 

 that he could not bear the strain of continued hunting, has produced an 

 unmerited prejudice as to the powers of endurance of the breed. 



I possess pointers (and I do not for one moment suppose I am 

 an exception) equal to any amount of work. The subject of the 

 illustration, Special, I have hunted daily week after week, and never 

 saw him either footsore or come to a trot. And the pointer, I am fully 

 persuaded, is more readily trained to his duties than the setter. He 

 seems to take more kindly to his work, and is generally kept up to his 

 training with less trouble. I have seen pointers that have not been 

 turned into a field for a year or two go and do their work in rare form, as 

 if they had been in full training. I do not think the pointer is such a 

 companionable dog as the setter. He is " all there " when at work, but 

 afterwards the kennel seems his proper place. He does not acquire so 

 much affectionate amiability of character from his association with man- 

 kind as does the setter and other sporting dogs. Of course there are 

 exceptions to every rule, and I know some few pointers that are remark- 

 able for their attachment and sagacity. 



By old sportsmen, and in books, too, we have had some truly 

 astonishing accounts given of intelligence displayed by them when at 

 their legitimate work, and I feel bound to say that, after what I have 

 seen, I am inclined to believe quite possible much that I thought wholly 

 incredible. Had it not been for the high authority who stated the fact 

 that a dog, when used by him with a puppy, would worry the puppy 

 because he flushed game, I could not have credited it for one moment ; 

 but, since this has appeared in print, a similar fact has been demonstrated 

 before my eyes ; and more, the dog that would do this would also, when 

 told, run after and bite the puppy that persisted in chasing game. 

 I have also seen a pointer leave his " point " and go round the birds that 

 were running from him, apparently to prevent them getting up " out of 

 shot," and this without the least instruction. 



These facts serve to show what a high degree of sagacity it is possible 

 to obtain in the pointer. I feel sure that it will be said by many of my 

 readers, ' ' No matter what you say in favour of the pointer, he is of less 

 service to the sportsman than he has ever been. ' ' As far as partridge 



