258 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



success unless you breed with an object in view. If you 

 breed good dogs, the next consideration is that they shall 

 be well kept. A good kennel-man is as rare as a good 

 breeder. 



In preparing dogs for the show bench, one of the most 

 important considerations is that they shall be well broken 

 to the chain and shall not be afraid of strangers. Much 

 depends on the way a dog appears in the ring, before the 

 judge. The number of extra pounds of flesh which you 

 may crowd on the dog will not win the prize with a good 

 judge. 



He should be given a gentle run or walk twice a day, 

 much as has been his habit, and on his return he should be 

 groomed and given dry sleeping quarters. We often hear 

 this old adage, " A good grooming is better for a horse than 

 a feeding," and it is equally applicable to a dog. His gen- 

 eral appearance will depend very much on the grooming he 

 gets. Use nothing that will irritate the skin. N ever exhibit 

 puppies unless you are going out of the business. You may 

 escape distemper once, but the people who may possibly buy 

 your puppies may not be so fortunate. In shipping to the 

 show, it is better to go with your dogs yourself, or send a 

 man, to see that they get there safely, and also to take them 

 into the ring. Do not consider your kennels well kept 

 unless your dogs are always in condition for the show 

 bench. 



Nature has evidently intended the Bloodhound as a com- 

 panion, a guardian, a household pet. The difficulty that 

 has been experienced in England in rearing them does not 

 exist here. The change in climate, food, and surroundings 

 seems to have infused new life into the breed; and a Blood- 

 hound bitch that I received from England in whelp, and 

 from whom I was unable to raise more than three or four 

 puppies without foster-mothers, after the second or third 

 litter here raised eight to twelve. I have no difficulty now 

 in rearing as many puppies from my Bloodhounds as from 

 my Mastiffs. 



