40 HUNTING THE FOX 



handle them he will begin to get their confidence 

 in a very few hours, and after he has killed a brace 

 of Cubs with each pack they will not want to 

 attach themselves to any one else. 



Although the general plan of campaign during 

 Cub-hunting differs from that of regular hunting, 

 the actual method of handling Hounds is in prin- 

 ciple the same. The primary idea that the Hunts- 

 man should bear in mind is that the Hounds should 

 leave the Kennel in front of his horse and remain 

 there all day, except when he is riding well away 

 from them on a flank for the purpose of manoeuvring 

 them. This maxim may not be carried out to the 

 letter on the road. But even here the body of the 

 pack should always be in front of the Huntsman; 

 they will naturally be there if he is only proceeding 

 at what is called " Hound jog " ; if he wants to go 

 faster than this he should teach his Hounds to 

 conform to his pace by the influence of his voice 

 and manner, and not by having them whipped 

 and frightened after him. Foxhounds can be 

 taught to do almost anything if they are spoken 

 to civilly, cheerfully, and firmly. It is not con- 

 sistent with their dignity for the Huntsman to 

 ride away from them at his own pace in silence, 

 and for them to be rudely ordered to follow him 

 by the whipper-in scolding them from behind. 

 On the road, as elsewhere, a well-modulated dog 

 language on the part of the Huntsman is invaluable. 



