412 THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



Pointer good looks go for very little. Such is, however, by no means the case, and if 

 the institution of dog shows has done nothing else, it has had the effect of improving the 

 appearance of the modern Pointer very considerably. Until owners were in a position to 

 be able to compare their dogs with those of their neighbours, naturally enough the 

 sportsman was to a certain extent indifferent about his dog's appearance. When, however, 

 it came to be a matter of winning credit for his kennel, a new aspect of affairs appeared, 

 and Pointer men seemed to be particularly affected by the craze for improving the appear- 

 ance of the breed, as before said. In selecting a Pointer a very great deal depends upon the 

 nature of the circumstances under which he is to be worked, and the strength of the 

 sportsman who wishes to use the dog. The small active dog is all very well if he is only 

 intended to be shot over in a country where there is not much hard work to be gone through, 

 and the big lumbering dog is also very serviceable under similar circumstances, or if the sportsman 

 who proposes to work him is unable to undergo a vast amount of work or hardship. Judging, 

 therefore, from the above remarks, it can be safely taken as a general maxim in Pointer judging 

 that a good middle-sized dog is the best to select for general purposes of sport, yet it is by 

 no means a wise proceeding to select an indifferent specimen of the middle-weight in 

 preference to superior large or small sized Pointers. There are exceptions to every rule, but 

 it is generally safer to trust in the undeveloped excellence of a good-looking dog than to rely 

 upon coming across a diamond in the rough ; so we will at once proceed to lay before our 

 readers a description of what a Pointer should be like. 



The Head should be rather wide between the ears, and of substantial appearance. It 

 should not be in one straight line from occiput to nose ; on the contrary, there should be 

 a decided fall at the stop, which should be well developed, as also the occipital protuberance 

 should be. 



The Muzzle should be long, wide, and blunt. 



The Nose must be large and moist, not black, but dark liver or flesh coloured. A black 

 nose is an especial blemish in a lemon-and-white dog. 



The Jaws should be powerful, with the teeth meeting evenly. 



The Lips should be fairly well developed, but not to any great extent, as in the 

 Bloodhound. 



The Eyes. The colour depends upon the colour of the dog, and are therefore either 

 dark or light, as the case may be. They should be moderately well developed, as a pig- 

 eyed Pointer is an abomination few can stand. 



The Ears should hang flat to the sides of the head, and be soft and thin, low set 

 on and long, may-be to reach. the throat. 



The Neck should be rather arched, and any dewlap is a serious fault. 



The Shoulders moderately sloping, and well set up. 



The Chest must not be too wide, as if so the dog's pace will be injured. It should be very 

 deep. 



The Body must be powerful-looking, and not too short, which is a fault, and well 

 ribbed up. Loins particularly strong, and a little arched. 



Fore-legs very strong and heavy in bone, and placed well under the body. 



Fore-feet round and compact. Many authorities express admiration at the long hare-foot, 

 but in our opinion there can be no question but that the cat-foot is infinitely preferable. 



Hind-legs should be very muscular in thighs, with stifles turning out a little. Hocks 

 powerful, and turning inwards very slightly, on account of the outward turn of the stifle joints. 



