THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG. 523 



for a time more or less wet by frequent licking with her 

 tongue. Hence it will be seen that for them to become 

 chilled would be easy; and a chill to a young puppy means 

 danger. 



Protection against cold is, then, one of the first essen- 

 ti^ls. Another, equally important, is that the puppies 

 should nurse soon after birth. If strong and hardy, they 

 will seek the breast of their own accord, but if weakly they 

 will need assistance. Any puppy which does not nurse 

 voluntarily must be held to the breast and encouraged to 

 suck within two or three hours after birth. This essential 

 is very often neglected, and the fault is largely accountable 

 for the great mortality among puppies. Once a puppy 

 nurses well, it can sal'ely be left to the mother; and the 

 ' ' let alone treatment ' ' is the best, coddling being most mis- 

 chievous. 



A bitch should nurse her puppies just as long as she and 

 they do well. Probably between the third and fourth week 

 their gain will be less rapid, and the circumstance may be 

 held as evidence that the dam needs assistance, and that 

 feeding the puppies artificially should be commenced.' The 

 first food should be cow's milk, diluted with two parts 

 water, and slightly sweetened with a little cane sugar. One 

 such feeding a day is enough for the first week; during 

 the second, two feedings at least will be needed, and the 

 following week three. After weaning, four meals a day up 

 to the fifth or sixth month are needed. The milk at first, 

 as already stated, should be diluted with two parts water. 

 How rapidly to lessen the dilution is a matter of experi- 

 ence no fixed rule can be established; all depends upon 

 how the food acts. Probably in the early part of the 

 second week half milk and half water will be suitable; in 

 the latter part, very likely, the milk can be given without 

 dilution. The puppies' discharges should be watched, for 

 they give evidence as to whether or not the food is too rich. 



As early as the sixth week, puppies should begin to have 

 meat broths, given very sparingly at first, however. Grad- 

 ually a more generous diet should be allowed. To secure 



