LEADING. 293 



first time he has a collar on, and should be taken into a grass field 

 before it is put on. Do not take any notice, but let him have his 

 fling, of course holding the strap the while, and, when he has 

 tired himself, go to him, and pat him with the hand, and en- 

 courage him by the voice. After this, try and persuade him to 

 follow, by gentle pulling at his neck-strap he generally begins 

 to fight once more, after which most dogs give in a little, and 

 follow more or less cheerfully. This should be continued till the 

 dog follows without pulling, when he may be encouraged by voice 

 and hand, and set at liberty. In a few days he will lead well, but 

 he should be taken out into the coursing field, and led about for a 

 day or two with other dogs before being put into slips. By these 

 precautions you get your dogs handy in the slips, they know what 

 to expect, and yet do not strain at their collars, as the badly-broken 

 dog so often does, thereby tiring himself before his course begins. 

 The young dog generally strains at first, from being led behind 

 other dogs, or more frequently from seeing his master in advance, 

 and if the leader resists steadily, he tugs as steadily at the strap, 

 and would soon be qualified for a dog-cart. Instead of resisting, 

 the man in charge should jerk the dog's leading-strap with a 

 sudden check, which brings him back, and, by repeating this* as 

 often as required, he soon leaves off the trick. If, however, it 

 once becomes a habit, it is most difficult to break, and, therefore, 

 it is better to be careful at first. It is also well to accustom your 

 puppies to wear the muzzle, for it will be found more easy to do 

 so at an early age than later, and if not wanted to be worn during 

 the cure of injuries, it is often required, as I shall by and by 



