ON TRAINING FOXHOUNDS 653 



as the sooner they acquire a knowledge of it the 

 better ; and when they are thrown out, or left behind, 

 are more likely to find their way home. 



In entering foxhounds, it should always be at their 

 own game, although some are foolish enough to 

 begin them with hares, which just requires a second 

 training to break them from that pursuit. Nothing- 

 is so good for rendering young hounds obedient as 

 walking them frequently out amongst sheep, hares, 

 and deer, and restraining their pursuits of these 

 animals. This probation will teach them to be steady. 

 A fox-cub should then be turned out before them, in 

 company of some old hounds, as leaders, which has 

 the effect of training them in a short time instinctively, 

 as it were, to hunt themselves. After they have tasted 

 blood, it will be more difficult to repress their ardour 

 than to excite it. Every means of encouraging them 

 should be used in the earlier stages of their training, 

 and punishment only administered after they have 

 made some progress. In flogging a hound for a 

 fault, the whipper-in should use his voice at the same 

 time ; this teaches him to know for what he is beaten. 

 It has been recommended, and successfully adopted, 

 that a live hare should be introduced into the kennel, 

 and the dogs soundly flogged whenever they attempt 

 to approach her. 



Hounds at their first entering cannot be en- 

 couraged too much. When they are become hardy, love 

 a scent, and begin to know what is right, it will be 

 soon enough to chastise them for doing wrong ; in 

 which case one severe beating will save a deal of 

 trouble. It should be recommended to the whipper- 

 in, when he flogs a hound, to make use of his voice 

 as well as his whip ; and let him remember that a 

 smack of the whip is often of as much use as the lash, 



