Natural is better. I didn't even know you could just train a dog to point. Even if you could, you can't train in "drive." You might train a dog to point, but to get it to constantly seek a pointing opportunity like the genetically inclined dogs do is a big difference. Natural ability is by all mean the best way to go. Same with treedogs, which is my thing. Actually, believe or not, my 1 year old Original Mountain Cur is bred to be a treedog, and that he is, but he pointed a covey of quail this fall in the woods like a pro. It was great. I like the idea of having a treedog/birddog. You don't want this gritty pup retrieving for you, though. He may point but he is still bred for that gritty treedog style. To say the least, he would not likely be careful with your bird. Nice little pup there, Doc E. Looks like a birddog in the making.