Training 37 



"My ideas of a good beagle are these: He should 

 be a good starter, for that is when the fun com- 

 mences, a good steady driver, a fast barker and a 

 stayer. With that kind of a dog, new beginner, 

 don't give him all you can stuff into him for break- 

 fast the day you are going to run him at the field 

 trials, for, my word for it, you will get left if you 

 do." 



Then comes Mr. C. S. Wixom, of Covert, New 

 York, who says that he agrees with Mr. Reed, for 

 he wants no beagle called from a good warm trail, 

 nor does he want one who expects him to follow 

 close on his heels to help him out should bunny be 

 a bit cunning and turn short corners. He says: 



"If I must start the quarry, I may as well shoot 

 at him when he starts, as I would a game bird. 

 I take my beagles to some place where I have some 

 likelihood of finding rabbits, turn them loose and 

 let them do all the hunting. If I see the rabbit and 

 shoot and miss, I whoop to the dogs and put them 

 on where I last saw the game. I always do this 

 to teach them to come to the gun. But I don't 

 teach them to charge, quarter, heel, and drop to 

 shot, etc., I hunt with beagles for pleasure, and I 

 can assure you it would be no pleasure for me if I 

 had to do all the hunting, starting, and give orders 

 to from six to twelve beagles all at one time — no. 



