ii6 



as possible acquainted with the peculiarities 

 of his constitution. 



Salt is not a necessity for the dog as^ for 

 graminivorous animals, and in large quantities 

 it is poison to him. 



Salt meat is also unfit for dogs. 



Small high-bred dogs, such as the toy terrier 

 and Italian greyhound, that are always shiver- 



Thc Country Gcntlczvoman 



mg, even m summer. 



would be the better of 



fat instead of lean meat, where any at all is 

 given. The stomach must be either originally 

 trained or gradually accustomed to it ; but fat 

 is known to generate heat. 



For many reasons our pets ought to be fed 

 upstairs. Independently of their recognising 

 their master or mistress in the person who 

 feeds them, it is a safeguard, not so much 

 against starvation as against improper, or too 

 great an abundance of food being given ; 

 moreover, strictness is necessary in denying 

 the little fellows stray bits, even when their 

 friends are at table upstairs. 



The habit of begging or scratching at people 

 when they are eating, is very troublesome, to 

 strangers at all events ; and as dogs have no 

 company manners, they must be taught always 

 to remain quietly under the table or chairs 

 till their own dinner is ready. We regard it 

 as a duty to abstain from making either our- 

 selves or our friends slaves to our domestic 

 pets, however valuable and dear they may be. 



Where doggie is allowed to visit the kitchen 

 at pleasure, the cook, if fond of him, will be 

 sure, in spite of all directions to the contrary, 

 to give him sly bits ; and if, on the other 

 hand, the servants dislike him, he will not 

 only be starved, but teazed, and his temper 

 spoiled. 



There is also greater risk of losing an ani- 

 mal that is left to roam about the house at 

 pleasure, as nobody misses him. Where a 

 dog is valuable, it is well to make some one 

 servant responsible for him, with the under- 

 standing that the loss of the dog is the loss of 

 place. 



We would never keep a servant who was 

 habitually unkind to a little dumb beast; the 

 disposition is evil, and, to our mind, not to 

 be trusted, if chance placed one's self in its 

 power. 



As to allowing bones to dogs, there are 

 many conflicting opinions ; some consider that 

 they aid digestion, others that they lacerate 

 the intestines. We do not care to let our pets 

 have bones, as they reduce even large ones 

 to splinters, and are then apt to give trouble 

 by choking themselves, whilst upon us de- 

 volves the unpleasant duty of extracting the 

 offending morsel, by forcing a finger and 

 thumb down the throat to draw it out ; the 

 dog, too, not being quite aware of your friendly 

 intentions, may bite ; upon the whole, we pre- 

 fer withholding an indulgence that can be well 

 dispensed with. 



Though large bones are said to be useful 

 in fining down the sharp edges of puppies' 

 teeth, it is obvious that for dogs more grown 

 such an effect is not desirable. In any case, 

 care should be taken, before giving a bone, 

 that no smaller one or such loose gristle be 

 attached as might choke the animal ; and ser- 

 vants should be particularly cautioned to 

 throw what is called the dog's bone of the 

 leg of mutton, also fish bones, behind the 

 fire. Accidents have frequently ensued from 

 their sticking in a dog's swallow. 



