334 TRAINING. 



kennel till the evening, when he should be walked out for half an 

 hour, and again dressed. 



On the morning of the trial, walk the dog out for an hour, till he 

 has thoroughly emptied himself, when he may be taken home and 

 well frictioned, after which he is ready to take into the coursing field. 



If the owner has not confidence in his own judgment, or in that 

 of his trainer, he had better consult some more experienced friend, 

 to assist him in this arduous task. He should remember how much 

 inclined we all are to make allowances for the faults of our pets ; 

 and if his friend condemns his dogs more decidedly than he does 

 himself, or than his trainer does, who is likely to be still more pre- 

 judiced in their favour, he should not be surprised. These private 

 trials are almost more annoying to the owner than the public ones, 

 because there is less excuse to be made for his dogs. If a dog has 

 an accident in the trial, so long as it does not disable him, he may be 

 put down again to another hare ; but in public, when the judge has 

 given his fiat, no second chance is allowed, and all sorts of excuses 

 may be made by the owner for failures which, to the looker-on, are 

 manifestly the fault of the animal. The young hand is, however, 

 sometimes led to condemn his puppies without cause, fancying 

 that they run cunning when they are only deficient in experience. 

 Many young dogs will, for the first course or two, prick their ears 

 and run behind their companions, because they really do not know 

 how to take part in the fray, but only let them once get a chance, 

 and, if their breeding is good, they will not repeat the misde- 

 meanour. The experienced eye will readily detect the difference, 

 but the tvro should be made aware that it does exist. 



