150 KENNEL SECRETS. 



for all dogs that are built for speed, and nearly all of the 

 exercise for greyhounds, for instance, should be given on 

 the chain. Really it is much harder work for a dog to 

 walk to heel — on chain — than go his own gait, yet there 

 is no danger of draining as it were the muscles as there 

 might be in hard runs. Beyond this there is still another 

 argument of no little importance in favor of chain work, 

 namely, the freedom from danger of fights, picking up 

 unwholesome food, spurts after cats, — which means the 

 loss of an eye, perhaps, — etc. 



Dogs when kept in training for a great time if given 

 excessive work, and especially fast work, are liable to 

 become "stale" and lack "fire" at the critical time; yet 

 without hard work the fire is merely a flash, — it cannot 

 be depended upon to last through a series of long and 

 punishing courses. Nice judgment is therefore required 

 lest by overwork a dog be overdone and he become 

 "stale," or that owing to incomplete training and a lack 

 of sufficient work his wind be not in the best possible 

 condition. 



But this, like many other difficulties which confront 

 the practical courser, need not trouble the conditioner of 

 show dogs. They will be able to stand more chain work 

 than he is likely to give them. And he knows that those 

 important factors of success in the field — stamina and 

 good wind — cannot be tested in the judge's ring, there- 

 fore his efforts will be directed to having his dogs hard in 

 flesh, large and prominent in muscle and as good as pos- 

 sible in coat. He will also bear in mind that road work 

 hardens the pads ; and as good feet in this breed count 

 for much before a capable judge he will see to it that 

 nearly all the exercise is taken on hard ground. 



The dogs may be permitted to extend themselves for 

 short distances every day. This will do good, for it will 



