GREYHOUND AND DEERIIOUN^D. 219 



as the bitches come to their growth before the dogs, they may be 

 entered earlier than the latter. About the teuiu inoath is tue best 

 time for forward bitches, and the twelfth or fourteenth for do^^s. 

 If therefore a greyhound is to be allowed to see a hare or two ^t 

 this age, he or she must be bred early in the year, in order to have 

 a brace 'late in the spring, so as to be ready for the next season. 

 Some people invariably prefer keepmg them on to the autumn, and 

 for private coursing there is no reason whatever for beginning so 

 early ; but public coursers begin to run their dogs in puppy stakes 

 in the month of October, prior to which there is so little time after 

 the summer is passed, that they prefer beginning in the spring if 

 their dogs are old enough, and if they are not they will not be 

 fit to bring out in October. 



Before being entered the dogs must be taught to had quietly, 

 as they cannot be brought on to the ground loose ; if not pre- 

 viously accustomed to it, they knock about and tear themselves 

 dreadfully, and moreover will not go quietly in slips. As soon 

 therefore as the ground is soft, after they arc six or eight months 

 old, they should have a neck-strap put on, and should be led about 

 for a short time daily, until they folio w quietly. Some puppies are 

 very violent, and fight against the strap for a long time, but by a 

 little tact they soon give in, and follow their leader without resis- 

 tance. The coursing-field is the best school for this purpose, as 

 the puppies have something to engage their attention, and until 

 they will bear their straps without pulling against them, their edu- 

 cation in this respect is not complete. A dog pulling in slips will 

 do himself so much harm as often to cause the loss of a course, and 

 therefore every precaution should be taken to avoid this fault. 

 The leader should never pull against the puppy steadily, but the 

 moment he finds him beginning to hang forward, give him a severe 

 check with the strap, and repeat it as often as necessary. It is a 

 very common defect, but never ought to occur with proper man- 

 agement ; though when once established the habit is very difficult to 

 break. Two or three days* leading on the coursing-field will serve 

 to make any puppies handy to lead if properly managed, and they 

 may then be put in slips with perfect safety. 



