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or many other clogs about, it is impossible to take the pups out without 

 leads, as they chase every "mortal thing they see, and chastisement, 

 especially when little, is most injurious, as it kills all the finest instincts 

 in the greyhound, and destroys their fire and dash. To a certain extent 

 Sussex is well situated, as once on the South Downs, with no flocks of 

 sheep about, you can walk for miles, with the puppies playing about loose. 

 You must, however, have a couple of men — one on either side of the "pack'^ 

 — to prevent them from getting too far away. 



Greyhound rearing is a most fascinating occupation. To see a favourite 

 win a stake or to go well, is ample recompense for many disappointments ; 

 while the summer spent in the fields watching tlie gambols of the youngsters 

 makes many amends for their obstinacy and foolishness when they arrive 

 at more mature age. One thing is certain — if a puppy can get killed it 

 will ; therefore too many precautions against casualties cannot be taken. 

 The chances against success in breeding good greyhounds are great. Much 

 depends upon the kennel a puppy goes into for his running career. Inju- 

 dicious treatment in running or feeding quickly spoils a good one. Some 

 coursers seem to think that a greyhound can run for ever. Others think 

 that they can keep dogs cheaply. A greater fallacy never existed. The best 

 of food and plenty of work is the only recipe for getting to the end of a good 

 stake. The dog most likely to succeed is one who goes into a small kennel. 

 A large kennel is generally fatal unless he is a flyer of the first water, 

 and his trainer finds it out. How few big kennels succeed unless they are 

 split up and put in diff'erent parts of the country. Tiie best trainers of 

 the day refuse, however tempting the offers may be, to train more than 

 a certain number. It is impossible also to do more than a fixed number 

 of saplings properly, and I think six to each man kept is ample. It is far 

 better to do a few well than a lot badly, and the success will be much 

 greater. 



The only other important points I can bring before a would-be breeder are 

 to spare no expense as to straw and keeping his puppies warm, also keep 

 very clean, with plenty of sawdust on the floors. Directly you notice a 

 puppy not quite the thing, give it a dose of castor oil (with warm milk after- 

 wards), and knock off" his feed for a few hours. Then if no better isolate it, 

 and if the case is bej^ond your knowledge send for your vet at once, as a few 

 hours' delay in many illnesses proves fatal. The less physic puppies have 

 the better, and if healthy, and kept and fed as directed, they will seldom, if 

 ever, require it. I have found Messrs. Holman and Harris' (Exeter) pills 

 for distemper and yellows very useful, and Shawyers' tonic pills are excellent 

 for dogs not quite the thing. This letter merely deals with practical 

 breeding and rearing of greyhounds, and, therefore, does not touch on their 

 later management. 



Another breeding season has passed since I wrote the aljove, and I find 

 my ideas are practically the same. I have experienced good luck on the 

 whole, and have as grand a lot of whelps as a man need wish to see. Un- 

 fortunately my best bitch was full of worms, and unable to eradicate them, 

 I lost five out of seven of her whelps at six weeks old. I was sure what was 

 wrong, and told my man to kill one at once and open its inside. He tells 

 me it was " heaved some minutes " by the worms inside. This was a bitch 

 which was the best performer I had, but whose coursing career had been too- 



