72 THE GREYHOUND. 



market were right, and that the very charming and 

 well-informed sporting writer I have quoted was, in 

 that instance, wrong. 



Although the serious business of training is not to 

 be carried on the year round, yet for saplings, and 

 for older dogs also, attention is constantly needed, and 

 the noble Greyhound must not, during his summer holiday, 

 be allowed, like Artemus Ward's dog, to "lay about and 

 look ornery." Attention to health is always needed, and 

 from the close of the coursing season in March till active 

 training operations in preparation for the opening of the 

 following season in September or October, the dogs should 

 have sufficient of active and regular work to keep them 

 from getting soft in muscle and over fleshy, and also to 

 keep them in discipline. 



The dog walks on his toes, and these are an elastic 

 cushion, with a hard, almost horny, covering. Some 

 strains of dogs have naturally better feet than others, 

 but all get soft pads if allowed to lie about idle, or only 

 given exercise on soft turf. The process of hardening the 

 feet is very important and takes a long time, for the 

 harder the tissue the slower the growth. 



Kegular, but comparatively slow, work over turnpike roads 

 and the like, by following a trap or man on horseback, 

 is the best plan of hardening the pads; but care must be 

 taken not to run the dogs fast where the road has been 

 recently macadamised or covered with flints, or serious, 

 if not permanent, injury may be done. 



Dogs with feet naturally soft and prone to spread 

 should have them dipped night and morning in a decoction 

 of oak bark and alum, made in this way: lib. of dry oak 



