THE GREYHOUND. 153 



In preparing a dog for a certain meeting, or a special 

 event, he should be specially taken in hand not less than 

 four weeks in advance; and if he has not had sufficient 

 active and regular work previously to keep his muscles 

 hard and his flesh down, five weeks will be necessary. The 

 first 'point to be ascertained is the general health of the 

 dog, and he should be watched carefully and closely for a 

 few days. To insure his being free from worms, after a 

 twenty-four-hour fast, he should be given a pill of thirty 

 grains of areca-nut and four grains of santonine, followed 

 two hours later with a dose of castor-oil. 



See that he is entirely free of vermin, eczema, and sores 

 of all kinds. Never trust an attendant to feed for you 

 see personally every mouthful the dog eats. It is the con- 

 stant watchfulness of a dog's every movement, action, and 

 mood that denotes the thorough trainer. The result to be 

 obtained should come from proper feeding quality, and 

 not quantity of food, being the end to be considered. No 

 rules as to the quantity of food can be given, as dogs vary 

 too much in their demands; the too rapid increase or 

 decrease of flesh should regulate this. I do not believe in 

 the sloppy food and stirabouts, containing oat and corn 

 meal, so highly recommended by many, but prefer slightly 

 cooked beef, with table-scraps containing, where possible, 

 vegetables and bread. 



The bowels can be kept in proper condition by an occa- 

 sional feed of Spratt's Greyhound biscuits, and where 

 these can not be had, corn-bread, with cracklings, baked 

 hard and brown, will be found a cheap and excellent sub- 

 stitute. If very constipated, boiled liver should be given, 

 in preference to harsh medicines. If the dog will eat it 

 raw, its laxative powers will be found more beneficial in this 

 state. The digestive canal of a dog is especially sensitive 

 to the action of medicines, and they should only be used as 

 a last resort. A couple of raw eggs once or twice a week 

 can be given, especially should the coat feel rough, and be 

 lacking in gloss. During the first few days of training, the 

 dog should be taught obedience; and this I have always 



