Shy feeders should either be allowed to have the first cut at the food, or else fed by themselves, say two couples at one time. Horse-flesh and good oatmeal—or some form of Hound meal—constitutes the best staple food for Hounds. During the hot weather the flesh requires to be boiled twice or thrice weekly. As a substitute, skimmed milk can be used.
Nothing but sound horse-flesh ought to be used. Cattle, sheep, or pigs, that have died suddenly—unless certain that cause of death is of a harmless nature—should be avoided.
There is a risk of the animals contracting anthrax, deaths from this malady amongst dogs by no means being unknown.
Tuberculous cattle are equally objectionable as food for dogs.
In every instance the author recommends boiling the flesh, so that no redness, or uncooked portions remain.
The Hounds should be fed at least a couple of hours before starting off. Nothing can be worse than to run dogs with a full stomach.
Precisely the same remark applies to all other Sporting Dogs, but to the working Hound in particular.
The advantages of placing puppies "out at walk" is, as in the past, largely carried out, and the system leaves little to be desired. Most puppy walkers do justice to their charges, but huntsmen and others will do well to see that thin puppies are kept in fat conndition, and not low. The erroneous opinion, though so general, that a puppy ought to be kept down in condition when distemper is approaching, is the greatest fallacy under the sun, and one that ought to have exploded long ago.
My advice to "walkers" and to owners is to feed your puppies well and get them fat, because distemper will soon plough out their ribs, etc., if unfortunate enough—as most of the good ones are—to contract it.
A little black treacle (teaspoonful), mixed with meal, rice, etc., and given once a week, is beneficial. If too much be used, it makes the bowels loose, especially after the dogs get warm with work, etc.