52 FOXHUNTING ON LAKELAND FELLS 



Until the craze for show competition has run its 

 course, both hounds and gun-dogs will suffer from 

 it. Working ability should be the main object of 

 the man who breeds for sport, and if he crosses 

 workers with workers, Nature will see to it that 

 beauty and good looks suited to the particular 

 type will eventually accompany that ability. 

 It is much better to do this than allow the beauty 

 standard, or perhaps I had better say the humanly- 

 conceived type of beauty, to take preference of 

 working capabilities. 



One of the most important points about a 

 hound is his feet. Without sound feet he is 

 severely handicapped from the very beginning. 

 Many hounds of the exclusive type are so handi- 

 capped, their feet bemg nothing less than mal- 

 formed. Owing to the shortening and cramping 

 up of the feet, and the knuckhng over at the knee, 

 a hound of this type is useless for work in rough 

 country. 



On the fells, where hounds are bred for work 

 and not for show, the natural or hare-foot is 

 universal. Possessed of a lengthy surface, weight 

 is evenly distributed along the latter, while wear 

 and tear on the foot is properly taken up. Such a 

 foot gets a firm grip on rocks, and offers a smooth 

 surface to the ground on steep descents. If 

 to such a foot we add a long, sloping pastern, 

 jar and concussion will be brought to a minimum, 



