Many sportsmen believe that flesh destroys a gundog's scenting power, and others that it makes thin dogs hard-mouthed. The author cannot share this belief. For the satisfactory performance of work, a dog must be allowed flesh, and shortness of this--a dog's natural diet--is one of the chief causes of so many dogs breaking out in skin eruptions. In addition to good food, regularly given in suitable quantities, it is necessary to see that the dogs have a plentiful supply of pure water, but it is not a good plan to give water immediately after feeding. Another matter, in connection with feeding, that gamekeepers, etc., will do well to bear in mind, is to avoid feeding a dog on the entrails, etc., of rabbits and hares--a fruitful source of worms. =Conditioning Dogs= First of all, let us ask the apparently simple question, what is meant by "Condition?" Our answer is: "The highest standard of excellence for a given purpose." To the uninitiated, it may seem a very simple matter--only a question of plenty of food--to get a dog into condition--or, we ought to say, with a good layer of flesh upon his ribs. But the huntsman, sportsman, and exhibitor know different to this. It is not merely a question of food, but one of well-carried-out training--at anyrate in the eyes of the two first-named. Foxhounds, Harriers, Greyhounds, Beagles, Otterhounds, Whippets, etc., must be "well winded," and this can only be obtained by daily exercise, first on foot, and then on horseback, gradually increasing the distance and pace. The late Mr Apperley ("Nimrod") said: "That the highest virtue in a Foxhound is his being true to the line his game has gone, and _a stout runner at the end of the chase_." In the words printed in italics is embodied the term "Condition," as understood by the huntsman and hound-master. Accepting the statement as correct, it is not necessary to say the amount of flesh a dog should carry. With the exhibitor, matters are rather different, _show_ condition being his desideratum. If a sporting dog is going to a show, feed night and morning on meat and bread, so that by the time fixed for the show the ribs will have a good layer of flesh over them, being felt in outline only when the fingers are passed across them. When a dog is very thin, give him a tablespoonful of malt or cod-liver oil and malt, night and morning. Raw flesh will help matters greatly. Before starting to lay on flesh by extra feeding, oil, etc., it is generally advisable to satisfy oneself that the dog is practically free from worms, otherwise the extra nourishment will be wasted. Try for tape-worm with a dose of areca nut, and for round-worms, three days afterwards, with 10 grains of santonin, mixed with a dessertspoonful of treacle and one tablespoonful of castor oil. The use of a hound-glove, chamois leather, and brush and comb, with an occasional bath, will do the rest.