Wichita eagle., 1888-02-22
A BULLDOG IN TRAINING.

! Long Walks-WOrryinS tho Bag-TurA.
| ing the Wheel-Keduced in Flesh.
A dog is usually in training six or eight
weeks and it will cost about $50. The
first thing good trainer does is to give
| his dog some powdered africa nut. In a
day or two after that he gets a stiff dose
OF strip of buckthorn, and either this or
powdered magnesia is given every few
days during the ensuing week or ten
days. If very fat, the dog is reduced in
flesh by degrees. He gets long walks
| night and morning, and for the first two
or three weeks his food is principally
boiled bran, mixed with half teacup of
beef tea from which the grease has been
carefully skinned. During the winter it
takes pretty game dog to stand the train
ing which the best conditioners resort to.
Take dog, for instance, that weighs IS
pounds, and he is matched to fight in six
weeks at % pounds. Reducing dog Is
pounds in winter makes him very sensi-
tive to cold and though he is well blan-
keted in his walks he will often rebel
against this branch of treatment A con-
scientious trainer will be up early with
his charge for an eight or ten mile walk in
the fresh morning air. When they return
the dog is rubbed for half an hour with
the bare hands. Sometimes diluted
whisky is used, but in any case he is
rubbed until he is thoroughly dry. His
feet are also dipped into substance that
hardens them. A warm blanket is then
placed on him and he is placed on a bed
of straw and allowed to sleep until mid
Dday, when he is taken out and given
couple of miles and perhaps ten minutes
work at the bag, when he is put to bed
again. He requires great deal of sleep.
Work at the bag is good exercise. A
strong bag is suspended from the
ceiling to within twenty inches
Of the floor, filled with straw
Inside the bag is smaller one, in which
is placed a cat. The bag is set swinging
and the dog goes for it, pulling, tugging,
and biting in great shape in his efforts to
get at pussy; but she is safe from his
strong jaws. After q four or five hour
rest he is taken out again for five or ten
mile walk
Another mode of exercise is the wheel
The axle of sulky wheel is cut in two in
the middle and placed perpendicularly on
the floor. The wheel is covered with
planking, a thick layer of straw evenly
distributed over it, and over this is tackled
a carpet, making soft walk for doggy.
To an upright close to the wheel is fast
ened singletree with traces, and to this
the dog is hitched. He is then induced to
pull, and the harder he pulls and the
faster he goes, the faster the wheel will
revolve. AS this exercise is trying to the
dogs feet, he is generally booted, that is,
chamos skin tied on his feet A trainer
must be careful not to give his charge too
much of this sort Of work. He is then
rubbed again for half an hour, and if the
time is about three weeks before the fight
he gets good supper, which is prepared
with great care. 1t will consist of about
three-quarters Of pound of round steak
or lean mutton. broiled or fried, not too
well cooked, and toasted brown bread.
This is then cut up fine, and a cup
and a half of tea or the juice of the
pan poured over it until it is of the proper
This amount of food is given |
night and morning as dog in training |
is only fed twice a day. A dog is weighed |
every night before going upon the wheel. |
If not too fat when he begins training the |
decrease in weight will be scarcely per-
ceptible. The great trick is to reduce
him slowly, with a view to bringing him
to the exact weight on the day of fighting.
-Pittsburg Dispatch.