266 Modern Dogs. 



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/' and a skilled man is 

 well paid 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 dis- 

 posed, seeking to romp and play. To guard against 

 such canine breach of discipline, an arrangement can 

 be made by erecting long strips of canvas, and be- 

 tween each strip a dog runs, thus quite out of sight 

 of its opponent, until the judge and goal are reached. 

 This plan is frequently adopted, as some of the very 

 best animals, after competing repeatedly under the 

 ordinary system, become either careless or quarrel- 

 some, and refuse to '' try," contenting themselves by 

 running alongside an antagonist, and losing the race 

 by a head, and the owner's weekly wage and more at 

 the same time. 



Some time ago, Mr. T. Marples wrote an exhaus- 

 tive article on coursing and running by whippets. 

 He says that " at times, especially in winter, when 

 snow has to be cleared from the ground which is 

 harder than usual, many of these dogs run in what 

 are called ' stoppers ' — leather gloves that are placed 

 over the claws of the fore feet, the latter being apt 



