General Management of ttj^e Dog. i o i 



readers for information on this subject to British Rural 

 Spo?-ts^ by Stonehenge. Of the treatment necessary for the 

 pointers, setters, spaniels, retrievers, and Newfoundland, 

 we must say a few words. 



All these dogs are, in the usual way, chained up to a 

 wooden kennel, with a length of chain which allows of no 

 exercise ; and the only advantage which they have over 

 neglected hounds is, that they are generally kept clean for 

 the sake of appearances. But too often they are fed irrc 

 gularly and on improper food, and almost invariably proper 

 exercise is denied them. For these dogs Indian meal is 

 by far the cheapest and the best kind of food, and with 

 greaves- it will keep them in good health, if they are only 

 sufficiently exercised every day. But in many cases horse- 

 flesh, being at times very cheap, is given raw, and often 

 unmixed with vegetable food \ and the master is then sur- 

 prised if an eruption appears over the bodies of his dogs, 

 when the chief reason for wonder is that any ever escape, 

 with such a diet to stimulate and inflame their blood, and 

 nothing to carry it off. This improper feeding and neglect 

 of exercise are fertile sources of madness, and should be 

 avoided by all who value their own safety ; but besides 

 this motive, which some may perhaps disregard, there is 

 another, which every sportsman will carefully consider, 

 namely, that dogs so mismanaged are almost always de- 

 ficient in nose. It is very often said that there is no scent 

 for pointers or setters early in the season, but quite as 

 frequently they have not come to their noses, and it is only 

 after a fortnight's work that they carry off the stimulating 

 results of bad feeding. No sporting dog ought ever to be 

 neglected, for he will seldom entirely regain his health, and 

 without a full share of that commodity he will not be 

 capable of making out a scent. Servants, therefore, ought 

 to be well watched during the spring and summer, that the 

 dogs may be attended to by them ; and if they do their 

 duty there will be very little reason to complain of birds 

 flushed, or of sore feet, or knocking-up. Sporting dogs 

 (not including greyhounds) will seldom exercise themselves 

 at a fast pace unless they are allowed to hunt ; and as this 

 is impossible in the summer, they should be taken out 



