THE sportsman's VADI! mecum. 43 



bones without fat. As he grows in substance, increase and 

 quicken his work. Any person living in the country does or 

 ought to take his dogs out when he rides or drives. The 

 pace is fast and severe enough for them, and generally lasts 

 sufficiently long. My dogs are exercised this way every time 

 the horses go out, and are kept in fine order, if anything too 

 fine, perhaps ; but, then, what there is, is all muscle and hard 

 flesh. During tiie shooting season, always feed your dogs 

 with warm meals. Three o'clock is the best time at that 

 season of the year, and a separate mess kept warm for your 

 brace at work, when they return. Nothing conduces more to 

 the keeping your dogs in condition than regular feeding- 

 hours and regular work. One meal a day is sufficient. 

 Three o'clock is the best hour, as the dogs have tolerably 

 emptied themselves by the next morning. I omitted to 

 mention in the proper place to accustom your pups to the 

 same food as when kennelled they will get. For this pur- 

 pose, as soon as they feed well, give them regular kennel 

 food, except that they must have three feeds a day for some 

 six months, and after that two, till they are full grown. Use 

 as little medicine as possible. Always feed your worked 

 dogs immediately they get home. If you wait awhile, .ind 

 they are tired, they curl themselves up, get stiff, and don't 

 feed properly ; and if they so refuse their food, and are by 

 any accident to be out next day, they will not be up to the 

 work. No dogs, however, can stand daily work properly for 

 more than three days, and even that is more than enough 

 for them, but they will stand every second day, if well 

 attended to, for a considerable time. Always see your dogs 



