TRAINING GREYHOUNDS 



the time at which the man arrived and left, a check upon 

 shirking the walk will have been arrived at. 



Of course greyhounds in training require a certain 

 amount of fast work to clear their wind ; but it need not 

 be given them too frequently else they may grow stale, 

 and on no account should they see a hare too often, else 

 they are certain to get cunning sooner or later and begin 

 to cut corners when slipped instead of keeping as close 

 to the scut of their hare as they can. The best way to 

 indulge them with the necessary fast gallop is for the 

 trainer, or somebody the dogs are fond of, to leave them in 

 charge of another man whilst he proceeds the required 

 distance away, and then calls to them. On being released 

 the greyhounds will always make the best way they can 

 to their trainer, and hence the gallop will come off all 

 right. It may be added that it is necessary to strip the dogs 

 of the clothing they usually wear when taking walking 

 exercise before they are galloped ; and with reference to 

 this clothing, it may be added that it is customary to protect 

 them with a waterproof sheet if the weather is wet. 



As regards feeding arrangements, it may be observed 

 that Spratt's greyhound biscuits, or Rodnim soaked in the 

 broth of bullocks' or sheep's heads, is a very excellent 

 staple food if some of the meat from the heads is cut up 

 small and mixed with the stew, and a few green vegetables 

 which have been boiled separately can also be added. 

 Oatmeal, treated similarly to the biscuits, may be given as 

 an alternative ; but it heats the blood of some dogs and 

 causes looseness in the bowels of others when first given 

 them, and therefore it is not wise to commence feeding 

 greyhounds in training upon oatmeal just before they are 

 expected to run. As the eventful day approaches a larger 

 allowance of meat should be given them, lean mutton being 

 the best, as it is both nutritious and easy of digestion, two 

 feeds a day being amply sufBcient in the case of healthy 

 animals ; but bad doers which require to be coaxed may be 

 fed oftener and in smaller quantities. 



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