CHAPTER XV. 



PECULIARITIES OF DOGS AND PRACTICAL HINTS. 



nEVER purchase a dog from an unknown 

 party unless the said party can supply 

 good references and testimonials regard- 

 ing the square dealing and the merits of 

 his strain of dogs. If a man cannot give you 

 this, wait until you find one who can. 



Some people are inclined to believe that a 

 big dog cannot compete with a smaller one. 

 Most of them have to come to this conclusion be- 

 cause they have seen some big sloppy and lazy 

 hound, but take a big, well built, lively, fleet and 

 nervous hound, and full of grit and he win hold 

 his own and more. It is just like trying to ii:'ake 

 a pony cover the same ground as a roadster, df^- 

 clares a lover of hounds. 



A pup of most any large breed of dogs will 

 make a good watch dog if properly brought up. 

 If fondled and played with while young by every- 

 body that happened to come to the house, then 

 the dog will be playful and friendly with people 

 always later on. If to be made cross and shun 

 strangers, the pup should be reared in a lot with 

 high board fence to prevent him seeing what goes 



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