drfatguy,
I see what you mean there. Still, I believe a good hunting dog, no matter what you hunt, needs both the ability to do what it does (point, tree, etc) and the drive. To me they are not exclusive. Any dog might bark up a tree at a coon or squirrel if they see one in the yard, but not any dog has the drive to look for them and accurately pinpoint the tree in a whole forest of woods. As for pointing dogs, I don't believe that a pointer that has no drive is going to make a useful hunting dog no matter how staunch he is on point. What good would it be to take a pointer out in wide country if he doesn't care to "look hard" for birds? Sure, he might point when he's near some, but if he doesn't have drive, that inborn "need" to go looking, then you won't have the same luck 9if you want to call it luck) as you would with a pointer that puts his nose to work as soon as the tailgate opens. Now when you get a pointer that goes to work immediately and naturally goes on point, then you've got a dog. Now, I must specify what I meant from earlier. I agree that a good pointer may need "training" to hold their point. The "whoa" command is not naturally understood, obviously, so the dog needs to learn what it means. I consider that different than actually teaching a dog to point. Naturally pointing dogs still need guidance to learn what you want, such as waiting on point for you before trying to flush a bunch of birds while you're still 40 yards back. I agree with you there that a strong flusher may need guidance to hold his point, but I still wouldn't want a dog that didn't have the natural drive. To say they are exclusive is an opinion. I say they go hand in hand with natural ability. I would hope that breeders would agree in their programs.