100 THE AMERICAN HUNTING DOG 



I would put exercise as the next important thing 

 in the puppy's care. At first he is just a waddling 

 billiken, hardly able to hold up on his pins, and 

 will achieve a walk with you of about a block from 

 the house and back, which is plenty. Watch his 

 tail; when it drops and is inclined not to wag, he 

 is tired and you had best pick him up or stop a 

 little while for a rest. In snowy weather he will 

 get wet and cold, so wrap him up or build a fire 

 and let him lie down on your coat before it for a 

 spell before pushing on. When Scout was three 

 months old we had an example of that very situa 

 tion. Our walk to the woods proved to be in 

 rather deep snow for the pup, and he tired and 

 began to shiver before we had gotten into them 

 very far, maybe half a mile. I noted the hanging 

 tail and listless expression, and so made a little 

 camp at once, building a fire and spreading out my 

 coat before it for the children and pups to sit on. 

 Blaze was afraid of the fire and had to be held 

 near it before he would get used to the sensation ; 

 otherwise he preferred to sit and shiver out in the 

 snow, which was just what I would not let him do. 

 Scout, however, lay right down with his wet belly 

 to the fire and let the heat warm and dry him. 

 After half an hour we pushed on back home and 

 both pups arrived in good shape ; without this stop 



