THE WHIPPET OR SNAP DOG. 257 



" In Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, and districts, the rules vary, the dogs there run according 

 to weight. The distance of the race is generally the same as further north viz., 200 yards. 

 The rule is to allow 2^ yards per pound ; therefore, the great object in these districts is to 

 obtain as tall and light a dog as possible, whereas, in Newcastle and neighbourhood the object 

 is to procure as speedy a dog as small as possible. 



" Conditions of course vary in matches. These are arranged by mutual agreement." 



From what has gone before, it will be seen that Whippets differ little from diminutive 

 Greyhounds in their general outline, though the difference in speed, of course, is very con- 

 siderable. 



In training a Whippet for racing there is so far a difference between this and preparing 

 a Greyhound, that the Greyhound trainer has to keep in view the importance of stamina 

 as well as' speed, whilst great pace is what is most required in a Whippet. The length of the 

 courses over which dog-races are held, rarely exceed 200 or 250 yards, and as the track is 

 level there are no natural obstacles to be overcome. Thus the work that a Whippet is 

 called upon to do is of a far lighter character than that of his larger relative. Superfluous 

 flesh must, however, be removed at any cost, or the dog could never go the pace which he 

 would have to do to have a chance of success in racing. It is not, however, by any means 

 desirable that he should be over-trained, or there will be a decrease in pace through 

 weakness, and to obviate all chance of this a Whippet should be steadily worked to get off 

 his flesh, and only occasionally indulged with a full-speed gallop which if too often repeated 

 would defeat the object for which it was given the dog. 



The food which is given to this class of dog when in training is the best which the 

 master can procure; and many a supporter of dog-racing goes without himself in order that 

 his dog may have the dainties which he cannot afford to give them both. The quantity, 

 however, is necessarily limited, the general maxim of the trainer in such cases being, " the 

 best that can be got, but not too much of it." 



It is most necessary that the dogs in the course of their preparation should be fre- 

 quently schooled in the parts which they will have to play upon the day of the race, and 

 taught to toe the line at starting in the correct and orthodox fashion. 



As before stated, dog-races are conducted on the handicap principle ; it must, there- 

 fore, be apparent how many temptations there are to induce a novice to be. unsteady at the 

 mark. When in their proper places each dog is held securely by his owner or attendant, 

 and their attention is directed to a person near the judge's box, who waves some object in 

 his hand and encourages them to run after him to secure it. All being ready, the starter 

 fires a pistol, and those holding the dogs release their hold and let them start on their 

 journey to the judge's box. To distinguish one dog from another it is customary to make 

 each competitor wear a coloured collar, so that the judge can at once deliver his decision 

 without assistance from the lookers on. It may be here remarked that each dog is allowed 

 but one person to encourage him by waving an object in his hand as above described, and 

 each of these must be ten or fifteen yards beyond the winning-line when the dogs reach it, 

 so as to prevent any chance of an opponent's dog being interfered with. It is particularly 

 enacted that the object which the runners as the attendants at the winning-post are styled 

 wave to attract the dogs' attention shall not consist of anything alive; and usually that any 

 one attempting to weigh or measure one dog in place of another shall be prohibited from all 

 future competition for a greater or less period. The dog which was to be benefited, also, is 

 83 



