That is the key, try to be behind your target if you can. You might miss the target, but from behind I believe, as jinsu2301 points out, the position to fight from is behind the target for your best hit % and less likely to take damage also.
In the spell book one of the tabs shows a sling shot. The sling shot is the key, you click on the sling shot and you will see all the training available to you. One of the training hunters trains additional pet abilities. You can only train your pet an ability that is within his level the same constraint as put onto your character. If a pet has an innate ability, then that pet will teach it to you over time, such as "charge" (boar) or "screech" (owl) or "howl" (wolf). Your pet will always be below your character level. If you train a pet much below your character level he will not be able to h
Third slot is the pet you are running with not at the stables. You purchase the second stable shot. Two in the stable one you are playing with equals your three pets. That is it!