338 TRAINING. 



hour, more or less, according to the distance to the ground and the 

 mode of conveyance, but sufficiently long to induce the dog to empty 

 himself. In case the stake is a good one, I should always advise 

 the use of a muzzle, as it not only prevents all chance of wilful 

 poisoning, but it also keeps the dog from picking up any carrion 

 or other accidental matter which would do him no good. After 

 this the gloves should be used, and the dog is ready. 



A dog-cart should always be provided whenever the ground is 

 more than two or three miles from the kennel, and in all cases 

 it is necessary when the trainer has several dogs engaged. 

 Without it, he may be obliged to keep his whole lot walking or 

 standing about during nearly the whole of the day, in all kinds of 

 weather, and in a state of excitement which does nearly as much 

 harm as cold and wet. Provided with his card, the trainer knows 

 exactly in what order his turn will come ; but he does not know at 

 what hour, for hares are not always found when and where they 

 are expected, and the courser is often kept on f tenter hooks ' 

 for hours, waiting till one is found. When his turn comes next 

 the trainer should keep within a reasonable distance of the slipper 

 and should at once go up to him when the last brace is slipped. 

 Then loosing, but not taking off his cloth, he allows the slip-collar 

 to be properly adjusted, still keeping his own neck-strap on till 

 both dogs are in the slipper's possession, and then, removing both 

 neck-strap and cloth, he should interfere no more unless his dog 

 is so badly educated as to be awkward in the slips. A great deal 

 of trickery is practised by cunning trainers in insisting upon the 

 slip-collar being buckled very loosely, by which the slipper often 



