PUBLIC COURSING. 291 



certain amount of road-work is essential to the hardening of 

 the feet, but this should be commenced two or three months 

 prior to the time of training, as it cannot be done without 

 time to cause the growth of the thick horny matter which 

 covers the sole of the foot. If, therefore, horse-exercise is to 

 be adopted, it is better to commence it two or three months 

 before the meeting for which the dog is to be trained, and 

 after giving him two or three days a week, up to within a fort- 

 night of the time, discontinue it, and proceed to develop the 

 highest degree of wind, by slij)ping the dog to its trainer's call. 

 A short gallop of a couple of miles on turf will be nearly as 

 beneficial, but the long dragging road-work, which will serve 

 to prepare the dog earlier in his training, is now to be dis- 

 continued, because it interferes with the spirit, and will render 

 him disinclined to exert himself with that fiery courage which 

 is requisite for success. The slipping-work is effected by the 

 aid of an assistant, who leads the greyhounds oflf in one direc- 

 tion, while the trainer walks to another point ; and when half a 

 mile apart or thereabouts the dogs are let loose, one after another, 

 the trainer whistling and shouting to them, so as to excite them 

 to their highest speed. The assistant should be a stranger to 

 them, and it is better to buckle a stirrup-leather round his 

 waist with the noose at the end of each leading-strap inserted, 

 so that he may have both his hands at liberty to unbuckle the 

 collars in succession. If there is a gently sloping valley com- 

 posed of ground similar to that over which the public coursing 



is to take place, it is better to select it, as the dog then sees 



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