318 TRAINING. 



quarters and hind-legs. The dog may then be allowed to enter 

 his bed, where he remains quietly till feeding time, allowing him 

 a bone to amuse himself if he is alone, but this should not be 

 given him if he has kennel companions, as it is sure to lead to 

 quarrels, unless they can be carefully watched to prevent such a 

 result. At one o'clock feed upon the quantity decided on as neces- 

 sary for the reduction or increase of weight, according to circum- 

 stances, the average required being a pound and a half altogether, 

 and composed of equal quantities of meat torn or cut into small 

 pieces, and mixed with soaked bread or biscuit. 



In deciding on the proper allowance of food, both as to quantity 

 and quality, the trainer takes into consideration the previous habits 

 and diet of the dog. If he has been well exercised and regularly 

 fed, he will not at first require much alteration in his diet, and it 

 is only by ascertaining what effect has been produced upon his 

 weight that it is to be altered. When the dog has been fed upon 

 greaves and barley meal, as is often the case, without tasting flesh, 

 great care is necessary in gradually accustoming him to the latter 

 kind of food, as, though it is always preferred by the canine race in all 

 its varieties, it does not agree with their stomachs when given with- 

 out a liberal allowance of farinaceous food, and this is especially the 

 case where flesh is allowed in considerable quantity without gradually 

 accustoming the dog to it. The greater the proportion of flesh to 

 bread the more will the fat of the body be reduced, but this cannot 

 be carried beyond a certain point without leading to indigestion and 

 diarrhoea. After feeding, the dog is left in kennel till the next 

 morning, but many trainers prefer to let him out for half an hour 



