138 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



working to the gun, points, in the great majority of 

 instances, by the sense of smell, and if he then seeks 

 to point by sight, as he does when dallying with the 

 barnyard fowls, he flushes oftener than he points. 



The functional powers of dogs' noses vary greatly. 

 Of two dogs of equal intelligence, pace and stamina, 

 one may far excel the other in finding and pointing, 

 and this due alone to the greater keenness of his nose. 

 Many unintentional errors are made by dogs whose 

 noses are dull. An intelligent dog, with such infirm- 

 ity, will possibly develop into a useful performer, his 

 superior knowledge enabling him to use his nose to 

 the best advantage. 



As to the length of time required to establish the 

 point stanchly, nothing can be said definitely. It all 

 depends on the pupil and the trainer's ability to per- 

 mit him to learn. After a short schooling, some 

 dogs of a gentle, deferential nature learn to point 

 quickly in the interests of the gun, and even defer to 

 a bracemate, preferring the back to the point. Some- 

 times, when they observe their fellow reading, they 

 play to take the back, thus anticipating the act of 

 pointing. Others again play to get to the front at 

 the earliest possible moment when a point is impend- 



