430' THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



seen that a dog, in order to get winners, need not neces- 

 x sarily be himself a winner. 



Many people are prejudiced against Bull Terriers on 

 account of their alleged temper; but I have owned in the 

 neighborhood of one hundred of these dogs in the past six 

 years, and while I acknowledge that there is some founda- 

 tion for this prejudice, still I unhesitatingly affirm that it is 

 greatly exaggerated, for, if properly brought up, the Bull 

 Terrier has more affection for his master than any other 

 dog. 



The Bull Terrier is at a greater disadvantage when shown 

 out of condition than any other dog, and the following 

 points in regard to putting specimens of this breed in 

 proper condition, gleaned from my own experience, should 

 be of great service to the novice. 



It usually takes at least six weeks to put a dog of this 

 breed into good form; and to do it in that time, the dog 

 must be physically well at the start. 



The first thing to do is to give him a dose of opening-med - 

 icine. Syrup of buckthorn and castor-oil are my prefer- 

 ence, and should be given the last thing at night. The 

 dog's food, for a day or two, should consist of oatmeal 

 gruel and a little meat, and he should be given gentle 

 exercise. After that, work begins in earnest. His exercise 

 should be gradually increased from a slow walk of from two 

 to five miles in the morning; and the same distance should 

 be given him in the afternoon. After returning from exer- 

 cise he should be thoroughly dried with a coarse towel, then 

 well groomed with a hair-glove, which, in my estimation, 

 is the best method of grooming. 



After this, the dog should be given a good hand-rubbing. 

 All grooming should be done one way, running with the 

 hair. The dog should then be put in a kennel supplied 

 with clean straw, which should' be changed daily. As the 

 exercise is increased, the meat portion of the food should 

 also be increased. One Spratt's biscuit, given dry, for 

 breakfast, and meat and vegetables for supper, with plenty 

 of the former, are, in my opinion, the best diet. The 



