446 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



This weekly process must be continued through life, if one desires to have the 

 dog's coat perfect. Some dogs grow much more coat than others, however, 

 and all the care and attention in the world won't make some dogs carry more 

 than a moderate amount. 



It is not advisable to give a small dog of this breed much 

 meat; but a small quantity, well cooked and cut up, mixed 

 with cooked vegetables or bread and gravy, may be fed, to 

 advantage, occasionally. Their diet should consist mainly 

 of plain food, of a farinaceous and not heating quality; and 

 while some feed but once a day, it is believed to be better 

 to feed them twice. Care should always be taken not to 

 overfeed. The long hair on the head should be carefully 

 tied back on top of the head, especially while feeding; for 

 if allowed to become dirty, it will rot and break at the ends 

 until it is eventually spoiled. For their treatment in sick- 

 ness and disease, the general subject, by " Ashmont," con- 

 tained in another part of this work, should be carefully 

 studied. They require very little medicine, however, and 

 proper care and nursing will frequently do more good in case 

 of sickness than any other treatment. If a laxative is needed, 

 there is nothing safer than a tea-spoonful of castor-oil. 



It is likely that some suffering is endured by puppies in 

 shedding their milk, or deciduous teeth; and in the York- 

 shire Terrier, like most other toy breeds, this begins about 

 the fifth month, and it is several months before the per- 

 manent set is established. The complete possession of the 

 permanent set should occur before they are nine months 

 old, but this is only the rule. 



It is considered necessary by some to extract the milk- 

 teeth with instruments as soon as they show signs of loosen- 

 ing; but usually it is best to let nature perform its work in 

 this respect, and lamb or other soft bones may be given at 

 this time. A tooth may be extracted with the finger and 

 thumb if loose enough, but, as they are very sensitive about 

 an operation of this kind, it is better not to apply the 

 instrument, except in a case where a tooth bas remained so 

 long as to become re-fixed, and affects the regular and even 

 growth of permanent teeth. 



