136 



TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



still greater degree ; at the same time it must be admitted, that 

 the pointer, by possessing still superior olfactory organs, being 

 much inclined to range, and of a docile and tractable temper, is 

 a better subject than any of those just enumerated for improv- 

 ing the instinctive pause into the regular, steady, statue-like set, 

 so essential to the pleasures derived from the fowling piece. 



The Russian pointer is merely the ugliest specimen of the 

 water spaniel, with a trifling cross perhaps of the setter ; and 

 from what has been stated, it will be easily perceived that he 

 might be taught to set. Chance, in all probability, first intro- 

 duced the Russian pointer to the notice of some fanciful sports- 

 man : to see a dog of this description set steadily would appear 

 strange ; and from this very circumstance the animal might ob- 

 tain credit for other qualities which he did not possess. How- 

 ever, though the Russian pointer was much spoken of a few 

 years ago, its introduction was very limited, and attended, for 

 the most part, with unqualified dissatisfaction. 



The writer once accompanied a gentleman on a shooting ex- 

 cursion, who had procured three of these Russian pointers ; and 

 from seven o'clock in the morning till eleven, the dogs ranged 

 the fields in an unruly manner, without even making a handsome 

 steady point, though it was in the early part of September, the 

 scent good, and plenty of birds : the impression left on the 

 writer's mind was, that the dogs possessed a headstrong disposi- 

 tion, and a bad nose. It is clear that the Russian pointer 

 would require incessant correction, and, after all, be good for 

 nothing. They are low rangers, >and on this account would 

 always be apt to get too near their game. Under all these 

 circumstances, therefore, of uncouth appearance, bad nose, and 

 refractory disposition, these dogs may be safely pronounced 

 utterly unworthy of the notice of the sportsman. 



