THE POINTER 119 



our friend, the more likely is he to translate our 

 wishes into acts, and it is obviously a pleasure to 

 be on good terms with the animal who is doing so 

 much to minister to our needs. The multiplication 

 of field trials during the last few years has done 

 much to increase the popularity of both Pointers 

 and Setters, and a good worker is a valuable posses- 

 sion. Unfortunately, show bench man and field 

 trialers are frequently at variance with one another, 

 but to the outsider it seems a pity that they should 

 not be able to work hand in hand for the advance- 

 ment of the variety they both so much admire. In 

 the show ring, of course, it is impossible to test the 

 scenting powers of the dog, but at any rate it should 

 be easy to aim at those points which are most neces- 

 sary in order that he may stand the rigours of a 

 long day's work, and to minimise anything that may 

 be objectionable in the conformation. The head of 

 the ideal Pointer should be fairly long and well- 

 balanced, being evenly divided by the eye between 

 the occiput and the point of the nose. The stop 

 beneath the eyes is well accentuated. Between the 

 ears there is good width. The eyes should be large 

 and full of intelligence, and preferably dark in 

 colour ; they are usually a good guide as to the 

 character of the animal. The ears are soft to the 

 touch and of medium length, set high on the skull 

 and hanging flat to the cheek. The neck should be 

 long, muscular, and well placed on good sloping 

 shoulders without any throatiness underneath. A 

 dog with a loaded or straight shoulder cannot be 

 expected to gallop easily. Room in the chest comes 

 more from depth than from spring of rib. The 

 forelegs should be straight and powerful. The feet 



