Origin.—On account of it being little else than a small English greyhound, its origin is traced to that breed, by which standard it is judged.
Uses.—Occasionally for coursing rabbits, but chiefly for trials of speed of about 200 yards. The dogs are run in couples, the waving of a handkerchief or other cloth being the incentive to run.
Height.—At shoulders about 18 inches.
TREATMENT OF THE DOG IN HEALTH.
First Principles.
Teach your dog to obey you through kindness if possible, but teach it. Remember always that it has as much feeling as the average human being, and wonders can be worked through kindness. Rather than strike it with a whip, strike at it, the swish of the whip generally having about as much effect as a well-delivered “strike.”
The next duty is to teach the dog to be clean about the house. Should it forget itself, make its nose well acquainted with the “offense,” rubbing it as hard as you please, “warm its jacket” well, and then turn it out of doors with a well-delivered slap on the body. A repetition of the “moral suasion” act is rarely necessary. In the morning let it out of the house into the yard the first thing you do, and repeat it the last thing before retiring; it will soon learn to understand the meaning of all this and cease to cause trouble. Patience—and sometimes a great deal of it, too—is required to make the dog “well mannered,” but perseverance will achieve the desired result. Never strike a dog on the head; the body presents sufficient surface.