GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 321 



which are chiefly abbreviated from them, most dogs may be brought 

 to the required condition. 



1. Give no more physic than is absolutely necessary, never 

 using the stronger kinds while the feet are capable of bearing 

 work. 



2. Grive as little bread, or other farinaceous food, as will keep 

 the dog in health, which may be known by the colour of his fasces, 

 too much flesh turning them more or less black or chocolate- 

 coloured, instead of that resembling gingerbread. 



3. Use as much and as prolonged exercise, either on foot or 

 on horseback, as the constitution and feet will bear, carefully 

 avoiding jading the dog, or carrying work to the extent known 

 as ' over-marking.' 



4. Use plenty of friction. 



5. Watch the feet carefully, and see that the cuticular cover- 

 ing of the pads is not worn too thin, so as to make them sore. 

 When this is likely to occur or has occurred, after washing them 

 with water to remove all grit, bathe them with a saturated solution 

 of alum, and when dry dress them with pitch ointment. 



By attention to these rules, from 3 Ibs. to 6 Ibs. a week may be 

 got off, and when the dog is within a pound of his contemplated 

 running weight, he may be considered to have completed this first 

 preparation, and to be ready to begin training in earnest. 



It was formerly the custom in some kennels to send out dogs 

 under heavy clothing, in the hope that it would have the effect of 

 sweating them and thus reducing their weight. This plan is now 

 exploded, as it is found that no such result takes place, the dog's 



