PREPARATORY WORK. 151 



bring into play muscles which should not be permitted to 

 be idle. Coursing the hare, however, is not allowable as a 

 means of either training or conditioning for shows. And 

 a dog in a half-trained condition if slipped on a good, 

 strong hare would likely be injured rather than benefited 

 in condition, and his courage might meet a severe shock. 

 But a dog that is "fit " might be given a hare once in a 

 while, yet only very seldom, for with frequent coursing 

 most dogs become " cunning," and when asked to do their 

 best in competition will not respond. 



Greyhounds, like other dogs, vary considerably in mus- 

 cular development and firmness of flesh. Some are as 

 hard by nature and without training or conditioning as 

 others which have undergone a most thorough prepara- 

 tion ; and the rule for this breed is a good, stimulating 

 and solid diet, with plenty of work that they may be able 

 to carry their food without the blood getting into a bad 

 condition. 



Feed at, say, six p.m. Brush and hand rub for an hour 

 or more daily. Give ample kennel room ; let the same be 

 thoroughly dry, well ventilated and free from draughts, 

 and these dogs should show up hard in flesh, fine in coat, 

 prominent in muscle, bright in eye and high in spirits. 



Deerhounds also do well on slow work, and a walk or 

 an easy jog behind a team for ten or fifteen miles every 

 day for six weeks will develop muscle and health more 

 efficiently than faster work, and without the danger which 

 attends it where the subject is or has been recently out 

 of condition. They may be made right for the show 

 bench in the same way as greyhounds, but as their coats 

 ought to be hard the hand rubbing must be dispensed 

 with except as a means of developing the thighs ; and 

 brushing sufficient to keep their coats and skins clean is 

 all that is necessary. 



