PUBLIC COURSING. 289 



of these latter animals out for two or three hours a day on the 

 greensward, simply keeping him moving, and. encouraging him 

 to play with his fellows till he is tired. Less than three hours' 

 exercise can never be sufficient, as the dog is only compelled 

 to walk, and any faster pace is voluntary, and will not be 

 attempted if he is at all exhausted. From this it will appear 

 that the trainer's art greatly consists in apportioning the proper 

 quantity of work, which he can only do by studying the con- 

 stitutions and breeding of the dogs under his charge ; after 

 which he will determine in his own mind the probable amount 

 of work which each will bear, and will proceed to put his 

 theory into practice, always carefully watching the progress 

 which is made, and altering his plans as he goes on, according 

 as he finds that he has calculated erroneously. One great guide 

 which he has is the weight which is gained or lost ; for if he 

 finds the dog is putting on flesh when he wants some ofi", or 

 if he is losing it when he is already too light, there must be 

 some alteration made, or the dog will not come out fit for his 

 duties. Thus, then, the trainer first fixes in his mind the weight 

 to which he wishes to bring his dog on a certain day, and 

 then, by apportioning the work, physic, and food according to 

 his ideas of the dog's constitution, he endeavours to attain that 

 standard of proportion ; altering his plans as he goes on if 

 necessary. It must, however, always be remembered, that train- 

 ing should not attempt to produce an unnatural condition, but 

 rather the highest state of health consistent with that free play 



of the lungs and heart which will enable the dog to continue 



U 



