CLASSIFICATION OF DOGS. 67 



has already been said on the importance of the best of 

 legs and feet in hunting dogs. As they have to stop sharp, 

 " or point," when in rapid motion, there is a great strain 

 on the ligaments and a tendency to become out at elbow, 

 or still more to walk with the fore-feet either out or in 

 (" pigeon-toed "), or to " knuckle over " i. e., with the 

 knee and pastern not in line. To avoid this, young dogs 

 should not be exercised too much nor over too rough 

 country, and the exercise gradually increased. 



Lengthy and too often bitter controversies have raged 

 over the respective merits of the different breeds of set- 

 ters and pointers. Such discussions should be conducted 

 in a calm, if not a scientific, spirit ; but we venture the 

 opinion that they are in general productive of little good 

 and much harm, and lead to a great waste of energy and 

 the engendering of bitter feeling. The best dog is that 

 which suits his master best, and as no two men are alike, it 

 follows that the breed best adapted to one man is not ne- 

 cessarily the best for another. There is room for all ; and, 

 indeed, this diversity of qualities is an advantage. The 

 setters may be better able to resist the effects of wet, cold, 

 briers, and rough footing, but they catch up more burs, 

 bear heat and drought badly, as compared with the pointer, 

 and are neither so easily trained nor so tenacious of what 

 they learn as a class ; and if pointers are not less liable 

 to skin disease, they are more easily treated, being short- 

 haired dogs. The Irish setter may be faster, have more 

 dash, vim, and endurance than the English setter, but he 

 is not very readily broken or very easily restrained in 

 the field ; and so we might continue the discussion. But 

 dog and man must be considered together. Besides, it 



