OTTER-HUNTING 275 



The greatest difficulty in breeding otter-hounds 

 is that the time they are wanted for hunting is 

 the time when the bitch would be suckling her 

 puppies. Of course, if you can get them to 

 whelp about January the pups will be weaned 

 before hunting commences, but unfortunately this 

 cannot often be managed. Few masters can 

 spare their best bitches and those that are most 

 reliable, which are the ones that should be bred 

 from. 



It is very important that the pack should be 

 in good condition and have their feet thoroughly 

 hardened. Being continually in the water and 

 scrambling over sharp rocks tries their feet very 

 severely, so that unless this has been attended 

 to you will have lame hounds all the summer. 

 Plenty of horse exercise on the roads for three 

 months previous to the commencement of the 

 season will put their feet right and lay on the 

 muscle which will be wanted for continual swim- 

 ming. The master who thinks, because otter- 

 hounds are not required to do fast work, that 

 it is unnecessary to give them a lengthy pre- 

 paration, will have very indifferent sport. 



There are some packs that have been in exist- 



