CHAPTER VIII. 



TRAINING THE DEER HOUND. 



ON all things there is a main point, also 

 certain rules which should never be for- 

 gotten in training hounds, especially the 

 age and the way to train them. My ex- 

 perience has taught me that it is a big mistake to 

 allovr a young deer hound to go in the woods 

 before he is 12 to 15 months old,'' says a Cana- 

 dian hunter. 



At a year old a hound should know how to 

 lead well, that is not to pull on the chain for all 

 he is worth ahead of his master but to follow 

 behind him through every place he iDasses, if be- 

 tween, under or over logs as well as fences, to 

 follow exactly the same trail as his master. A 

 dog or a pair coupled together, so trained, can 

 be easily led in any bush without any bother 

 whatever. It is not at all necessary that a dog 

 should lead in front of his master to find a trail. 

 A dog with a keen nose can pick a trail from the 

 air several yards before reaching it. He will 

 then pull you in the direction of the same and if 

 the scent is fresh, he will be anxious to follow it, 

 then if the hunter is a man who understands his 



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