26 
THE AMATEUR TRAINER. 
POINTING. 
The pointing instinct of the dog, if well bred, is 
one of the natural gifts or qualifications of the 
Pointer and Setter, but is developed at quite differ¬ 
ent ages in puppies, some taking to it at the age of 
two or three months, while others (even of the same 
litter) will not stand or point game satisfactorily 
before maturity. If such deficiency in the natural 
development is found, it will be best to trust to 
time, and not endeavor to effect this by training, 
which, however, can be done, but is never performed 
in a satisfactory manner to the sportsman, and 
would also have a bad effect on the dog’s future 
sagacity. 
RETRIEVING. 
Retrieving is one of the most useful accomplish¬ 
ments of the practical field dog, and does in no wise 
injure or affect his nose and finding abilities, as is 
often claimed. A dog that is not taught to retrieve 
cannot be considered fully trained, and if a sports¬ 
man has but the one dog, this accomplishment is 
obviously indispensable. 
ADVANCED EDUCATION. 
1 he dog is capable of receiving a high degree of 
education, which may be carried on in his sphere 
ad infinitum. 
Ihe average sportsman w T ants a dog principally 
to accompany him in the field for the purpose of 
