DOGS 499 



tain the point. This is not always an easy task to 

 accomplish. While the act of pointing is commonly 

 considered as a marvelous exhibition of the dog's scent- 

 ing powers, it really is not any more so than is any 

 other organic function. 



Drawing and reading are terms used to denote the 

 manner in which a dog approaches the birds by means 

 of their scent. 



Drawing has reference to the approach by the body 

 scent. The dog, when drawing, carries his nose well 

 up above the ground, and, if he performs in the best 

 manner, goes to the birds with quickness and precision. 



The dog which follows the birds by reading may 

 do so with reasonable quickness and accuracy, or with 

 such awkwardness, slowness and inefficiency that he 

 is next to worthless. 



In respect to locating the birds, all that the trainer 

 can do to assist is to afford the dog proper opportuni- 

 ties for practice. Each dog selects his own methods, 

 and arbitrary methods cannot be forced on him. 



There is a vast difference in the functional powers 

 of dogs' noses and intelligence, therefore all dogs can- 

 not work up to the same standard. 



Drawing is far away the best method of locating 

 birds, although in certain conditions of weather, when 

 the scent lies low, the dog which carries a high nose 

 on the trail encounters a difficult problem. But, un- 

 der favorable conditions, when he strikes a trail he 

 may follow it at top speed and locate the birds with 

 marvelous quickness and sharpness. Such a performer 



