THE PUPPY AT WALK 



CHAPTER XX 



WITHOUT the Puppy Walkers— who deserve 

 capital letters — where would the Hunt 

 be ? Why nowhere ! The most im- 

 portant period of a fox-hound's life is the time 

 spent at walk. At this stage of his existence he 

 may be made or marred, and to the credit of 

 puppy walkers as a whole be it said the majority 

 of young hounds in their care receive the very 

 best of treatment. 



Many men, and women too, who do not hunt, 

 nevertheless walk puppies, and by so doing ex- 

 hibit a sporting spirit which is extremely pleas- 

 ing. The hound puppy is sent out to walk in 

 spring, so that in his very young days he gets 

 the full benefit of the warm weather. From the 

 time he is able to use his legs, he is imbued with 

 the spirit of mischief, and nothing left lying about 

 is free from his attentions. At first he will con- 

 fine his peregrinations within the limits of the 

 house and its near vicinity, but as he grows older 

 and stronger he will enlarge his sphere of opera- 

 tions. During infancy he is like a child, playing 

 one minute, and sleeping the next. For this 

 reason he should be supplied with a box or kennel 

 into which he can easily crawl when he feels 

 inclined for a nap. Good food, unlimited exer- 

 cise, and fresh air are what he requires, if he is to 

 thrive and do well. Oatmeal porridge and new 

 milk is a good diet for young puppies, but the 



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