130 HUNTING DOGS. 



good covering of hair to protect the soles or 

 pads. A foxhound sliould not have a second 

 claw on the hind leg for this shows a cross in 

 his breeding. A dog tliat has these claws will 

 not stand much hard running in crust for by 

 rubbing against trees, etc., thej will gradually 

 become sore and bleeding, and the hound al- 

 though willing enough is handicapped with a 

 pair of sore legs. Some hunters cut these claws 

 off Avhile young. In the pure strain of fox dogs 

 this would be unnecessary as thej would not 

 have them on. 



The first cost of a young hound is nothing 

 compared Avith the time and trouble it takes to 

 bring him to a hunting age. Therefore, it is ad- 

 visable to bu}^ the best obtainable for even 

 though the price be high at first cost, the hunter 

 will be better satisfied for his time and money 

 when tlie dog 1ms fully developed for the chase. 

 In making a choice for breeding, select a pair 

 that has been thoroughly tried and are known to 

 have no weak points, such as poor voice, quit- 

 ters, back trackers, etc. It is also advisable to 

 hunt witli the bitch as much as possible up to 

 the very time the pups are whelped. The pups 

 will be stronger and better in every way than if 

 the mother had been housed in all the time, and 

 a hunter will find that a pup so bred will take 

 to hunting almost as soon as he can run. 



