FELIv HOUNDS 



mosphere. An important point to remember is 

 not to let the patient go out too soon after re- 

 covery, even though the hound may appear 

 perfectly healthy and well. When you do let 

 him out, choose a fine day for the purpose. 



Until recently the hound show was an 

 unknown quantity in Ivakeland. Years ago the 

 exigencies of the country called for a special 

 type of hound, and that type has been preserved 

 until the present. That it can do the work for 

 which it was intended — not only in the wild 

 fells of the Lake District, but in ordinary enclosed 

 countries as well — has been proved up to the 

 hilt again and again. Seeing that the show 

 business is a new thing in Lakeland, we may 

 perhaps be forgiven for offering a word of caution 

 with regard to it. Hound shows are all very- 

 well if not carried to excess, or in other words, 

 if exhibitors continue to breed solely for working 

 ability, and do not let the idea of winning prizes 

 run away with them. We all like to see good 

 looking hounds, but unless their working qualities 

 are fully developed, good looks do not help to 

 catch foxes. The purpose of a hound show is or 

 at any rate should be, to encourage the breeding 

 of " hounds for countries," and to preserve or 

 improve balance and symmetry. As far as the 

 fell hounds are concerned, they are of a type 

 admirably suited to their country, as their long 

 record as fox catchers undoubtedly proves. The 

 trouble with hound shows in general is that they 

 offer insidious encouragement towards breeding 

 for certain points upon which undue stress is 

 laid, to the neglect of such qualities as nose, 

 cry, and stamina. The first show for hounds 

 confined to the five fell packs was held at 

 Applethwaite, Windermere, in 1919, and it was 



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