THE AMERICAN FOXHOUND 15 



and utterly ruins a pack of fox dogs, unless it might be the 

 advent of two or three confirmed sheep-killers in the pack. 

 Drag hunting causes hounds to become "road-runners." I have 

 known a good pack of dogs, after being run a few drag races, in 

 a case where a fox had ran in a public road for some distance, to 

 keep right on down the road for a mile, the fox in the meanwhile 

 liaving went about his business. All things being equal, breed 

 from the best broken, and the most level-headed and sensible 

 hounds. I have seen puppies that were born broken, and that 

 never run anything but a fox or deer. If you breed from 

 babblers, road-runners, and dogs addicted to running stock, you 

 may expect their offspring to be fools. By the term "road- 

 runner" is meant the hound, who, from a nervous, excitable 

 nature and a consequent lack of brains, when a fox has passed 

 down a road, corn -row, or cotton -middle, instead of turning with 

 his game, just keeps going. I have seen some so-called w^ell bred 

 hounds that would run a road for miles after a fox had 

 turned out, if some one with as little intelligence as the hounds 

 would only gallop after them and yell a few times. This 

 proneness to give to give tongue when no game is smelt is the 

 most undesirable trait a hound can have. Do not breed from 

 hounds that will quit and pull out when tlie screws are put to 

 them, no matter how fast. I want a hound dead game to the 

 finish, no matter how cold or hot. I have carried hounds back 

 home on my horse that had gone to absolute exhaustion on very 

 hot summer days. 



In conclusion I would say, get any good strain that suits you. 

 Breed from fast, game, dashy, level-headed hounds that are good 

 hunters or rangers, and tliat have good noses and tongues, and 

 dead game stayers in a chase. Feed the puppies all they need 

 and let them grow into large, strong hounds. Hunt tliem hard 

 and often, at least three times a week, oftener if you can. Have 

 a good, true "strike" dog, and when he opens on wliat you know 

 to be a fox trail, go to him, carry your puppies, put them in and 

 then stay close up with them until the chase is over. When you 

 have your pack well trained it is not necessary that you keep so 

 close with your pack wiien running, but as for me, I never like 

 to be out of hearing distance of my dogs at any time during tlie 

 chase. The same thing will apply to any pack for any kind of 

 hunting. 



