The Whippet. 173 



to them, and dangling something attractive a 

 chicken's or a pigeon's wing, perhaps, or a piece of 

 rag ; rabbits or live stock are not allowed. These 

 owners or trainers having reached the limit of the 

 course, the pistol is fired, the dogs are slipped, and 

 at their full pace urge on to the goal where their 

 trainer awaits them. Near there the judge is placed, 

 who quickly and promptly pronounces which dog 

 wins, and so the fun goes on. The rules are 

 stringent to a degree, as all rules ought to be 

 (subject even to no appeal in a court of law), and 

 any man slipping his dog before the pistol is fired 

 is disqualified, not only for that heat, but for the 

 whole stake. The sport is exciting enough, and if 

 it does not attract the thousands that gather to 

 see the " final " of a Sheffield handicap, the atten- 

 dance is usually quite large enough to be pleasant. 

 I need scarcely say that the training of these running 

 dogs is made a " profession," a skilled man obtaining 

 good pay for his work. 



There are dogs that will not run these races to 

 the best of their ability, some preferring to have a 

 growl or fight with an opponent ; others, more kindly 

 disposed, seeking to romp and play. To guard 

 against such canine breach of discipline, an arrange- 

 ment can he made by erecting long strips of canvas, 

 and between each strip a dog runs, thus quite out of 



