708 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



their well-doing. Most female dogs will breed twice a year at regular periods under favorable 

 circumstances, but individuals vary in this respect, the period of oestrum occurring in some 

 every four or five months, in others every seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve months; 

 but with the larger proportion it occurs twice a year quite regularly. The time between the 

 first and second periods will generally indicate the length of time intervening between 

 succeeding ones. 



During parturition do not meddle unless the time of birth be protracted considerably. 

 When assistance is necessary, it should be done in the most careful and gentle manner, so as 

 not to injure either the mother or offspring. Keep her warm and feed on light, easily 

 digested food, such as soup, mush and milk, etc. She should be given some cooked meat 

 every day while suckling her puppies. If her appetite fails at this period, she will be apt to 

 become very weak and emaciated. If the teats or any part of the udder become sore or 

 or swollen, bathe in warm water several times a day, and when dry rub well in the following 

 lotion: one ounce of gum camphor well mixed with four ounces of olive oil. If the puppies 

 should die, the inflammation of the udder should be kept down by milking the teats carefully 

 two or three times a day. The puppies may be weaned at from five to six weeks of age. 



Period of Gestation. The reproductive power in dogs generally lasts eight or nine 

 years; the number of offspring produced at a single birth varying with different breeds, but 

 with most breeds averaging five or six, the average period of gestation being sixty days, 

 the shortest period fifty-five days, and the longest sixty-four days. 



General Management of Dogs. Dogs should have good care and kind treatment 

 in every respect. There are many persons owning a dog who, without intending to be at all 

 cruel to the animal, but through lack of thought or on account of indifference, fail to give 

 him that considerate and kind treatment that he should receive. Perhaps he is not provided 

 with any shelter in cold, stormy weather, while the amount and quality of food is scarcely 

 sufficient to keep him from starvation. When we add to this that he is frequently tied to a 

 short chain most of the time, and never permitted to have the exercise that is essential to his 

 health, and 1 too often under such circumstances, has an insufficient supply of water, which is 

 generally warm or otherwise unfit to drink, it is no wonder that the poor faithful animal 

 either sickens or dies, or becomes morose and peevish. 



In order to be healthy and useful, dogs should be well and regularly fed. A half-starved 

 dog is not half a dog in any respect. Before being weaned it is well to commence feeding 

 the puppy a little with milk that is slightly sweetened with sugar. When first weaned, he 

 should be fed as many as four times a day with milk, or perhaps once or twice a day instead, 

 milk gruel thickened with wheat flour or cornmeal, occasionally giving him small scraps of 

 cooked meat, boiled potato, etc. -When three or four months old he should be fed three 

 times a day, changing his diet somewhat, but making oatmeal and cornmeal pudding from 

 water in which coarse meat has been boiled, the principal food, allowing him the bones to 

 gnaw and some of the meat. After he is six months old he may be fed with this, and table 

 scraps, such as meat, potatoes, corn bread, biscuit, etc. Clean, fresh water should be within 

 his reach at all times, and an abundant supply of it. 



The house dog should be regularly cleaned. This he requires as much as a horse. A 

 dog that is washed thoroughly at least once a week, using soap, will not be much troubled 

 with fleas. Wash with soap and water, carefully rinsing out all of the soapy water from the 

 coat. They should also be brushed once a day. The membranes of the toes sometimes get 

 sore. When this occurs wash carefully with soap and water, and apply cosmaline. With good 

 and suitable food regularly given, a plenty of clean, cool water, cleanliness, and a sufficient 

 amount of exercise, a dog may not only be healthy and serviceable to his master, but be a 

 happy animal as well, which is the only condition that will secure the best service from him. 



