DOGS 493 



durance without the usual supply of water, but this is 

 the rare exception, and furnishes no data on which to 

 formulate any rule applicable to either breed. 



It is claimed as a point of superiority for the setter, 

 that his longer, protecting coat enables him to take 

 punishing cover much better than the pointer can. The 

 claim is fallacious. Many setters are quite intent on 

 saving their precious skins when working where there 

 is brush or bramble ; on the other hand, many pointers 

 will face punishing cover without flinching. This 

 phase of work is dependent on the dog's individual 

 courage and his love of hunting, naturally possessed, 

 much more than upon the physical attribute of coat. 

 Some dogs can go through cover without much suffer- 

 ing, while others are punished severely. Some dogs 

 are continually suffering injuries under any condi- 

 tions. It all resolves itself into whether the dog tries 

 to save his skin, or is so stupid and awkward that he 

 cannot do so. 



As to the general traits of the two breeds, the pointer 

 is much the greater glutton on opportunity, is much 

 more likely to go stale, and so remain indefinitely, from 

 overwork, and to lose his dash and industry in middle 

 life. As a breed, the pointer does not display the fire, 

 endurance and sharp quickness in his bird work that 

 the setter does, and so is greatly handicapped in field- 

 trial competition. However, he takes to pointing much 

 earlier in life, and more naturally, than the setter, and 

 therefore is much easier to train, and retains his train- 

 ing much better. 



