THE BEAGLE 201 



hospital at some little distance from the kennels must also be 

 provided ; this can be as elaborate or as simple as the Master 

 pleases, but it must be warm and easily disinfected. Then there 

 should also be a small separate kennel for the reception of strange 

 hounds and for isolating those returned from strange kennels or 

 a show, until one is assured that they are free from disease. Use 

 every effort and take every precaution to prevent disease from 

 getting into your pack, for once it obtains a footing the loss and 

 trouble are often beyond calculation, and many a breeder has 

 seen the work and pleasure of years swept away in a month a 

 depressing and disheartening experience indeed. 



Having housed his Beagles, the Master will need to feed them. 

 If the pack is in regular hard work, there is nothing to equal 

 horseflesh ; but otherwise it will be found too heating, and of 

 course many Beagle packs would take too long getting through a 

 horse. Whatever food is given, it is best to allow one full meal 

 in the evening, and the smaller variety or delicate feeders will 

 be all the better for a good piece of bread or biscuit in the morning 

 from the Master's hand when making his inspection, which should 

 be daily as a matter of course. Such numbers of " foods " are 

 now made and advertised that every Master has an easy opportunity 

 of trying for himself which suits his pack and pocket the best; 

 but the results should be carefully watched. A change of food 

 is often desirable, and the writer keeps three different " makes " 

 of food going at the same time. 



When there is little or no work to be done, " wholemeal " 

 bread and oatmeal biscuits from a reliable maker will be found 

 excellent, healthy and staple foods at all times for a change. 

 Feeding is an important part of kennel management, and should 

 be attended to with the greatest care, greedy feeders being checked 

 and shy hounds encouraged and favoured : it will often be found 

 necessary to draw some hounds and feed separately. The smallest 

 Beagles generally do best kept in rather high condition of course 

 not pig fat, as sometimes seen. Try and exercise Beagles every 

 day, if only for a few minutes it helps greatly to keep them in 

 health. 



When at work, remember Beagles are not Foxhounds. They will 

 not stand much rating and very little whip-cord the less the better ; 

 but the necessity arises sometimes, of course. Leave them alone as 

 much as possible ; interference seldom helps a Beagle. Let them 

 trust to their noses and puzzle out a solution of the problem for 

 themselves that is true Beagle work. If you take no pleasure 

 in watching ten or twelve couples of highly bred beauties working 

 out the intricacies caused by the cunning of puss, but feel in a 

 desperate hurry to drive on and catch your hare, then for good- 

 ness' sake leave Beagles alone and patronise small Harriers ; with 



