86 COURSING 



begin to discuss the pros and cons of a rery important step. 

 Personally \ve have no hesitation in advising the breeder to 

 keep his youngsters under his own watchful eye, if he is so 

 fortunate as to be able to afford them his undivided attention, 

 and if he has the space, accommodation, and exercise-ground 

 necessary to rear them to the pitch of strength and vitality to 

 which they must be brought before they enter upon their 

 training. Cramped quarters and overcrowding are fatal, and 

 space is a sine qua non when any number of young greyhounds 

 are to be considered. Presuming that the advantages we 

 speak of are at the command of our breeder in the shape of 

 a dozen acres of paddock land he cannot do better than en- 

 close six pieces of about half an acre each with iron fencing 

 of a sufficient height to imprison the inmates securely ; for, as 

 the youngsters wax big and strong, they develop marvellous 

 jumping powers. The grass in the enclosure should be cut, 

 and a roomy kennel on four small stout wheels should be 

 placed within. If it is convenient to enclose a tree, this should 

 be done, as the shade afforded thereby will be grateful during 

 the hot summer days ; failing a tree, a sheet of bevelled zinc 

 coated with whitewash may be shelved in one corner of the 

 yard. Such a place will hold half-a-dozen greyhounds from 

 three to nine months old ; but the whole paraphernalia must 

 be so constructed that it is easily taken down and re-erected 

 on another site. The youngsters should never be kept on 

 the same spot for more than a month at a stretch, nor must 

 they be left there when long-continued wet weather has 

 rendered the ground soaked and slushy ; in that case they 

 must return to their barn or stall, or wherever they have been 

 placed after leaving their dam, and road exercise in batches 

 for at least two hours daily must be the rule. We say advisedly 

 in batches, for several six-months-old greyhound puppies are 

 a rare handful for anyone to manage. Even when penned 

 oat in the way described above, the road exercise must not 

 be neglected, or bad feet, and legs far from straight, may be 

 expected. 



