642 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



or an old bitch. This will keep her from fretting, and will 

 keep her in good cheer and humor during her confinement. 

 The confinement usually lasts about twenty-one days, and 

 a cheerful companion doubtless adds to the number of 

 her puppies. 



The bitch should be bred on the twelfth day after the 

 first signs are given. One service is sufficient, and more 

 than two should never be given. These should be twenty- 

 four hours apart. She should whelp in sixty to sixty-three 

 days. 



During her pregnancy the breeder should take particular 

 care to give the bitch a sufficient amount of exercise. The 

 more she is left in the open air the* better it will be for her 

 and her offspring. There is no definite way of ascertaining, 

 until twenty-one days have passed, whether or not she is in 

 whelp. About ten days before she is due to whelp, rid 

 her of fleas, if she has them, by an application of insect 

 powder. 



I consider a well-tanned sheep-skin, with the wool on, 

 the best bed for a bitch to whelp on. Care must be taken 

 to have it well tacked in a tight box. The puppies will be 

 born, one after another, at intervals of a quarter to three, 

 quarters of an hour. During this time allow nothing what- 

 ever to disturb her. Keep her warm and quiet, and as 

 soon as she is through remove her and puppies to clean, 

 dry quarters. Restrict her food, for the first ten days, to 

 sweet milk, boiled rice, oatmeal, and meat-broth. After 

 that time has elapsed she may be fed on any kind of suita- 

 ble food. She should be allowed free access to open air and 

 yard for exercise, etc. 



Puppies should be taken from the bitch when five weeks 

 old. The important process of rearing Pug puppies should 

 begin when they are three weeks old. They should be taken 

 separately and placed to a dish containing two-thirds milk 

 and one-third warm water, adding a little sugar; by touch- 

 ing their lips to the mixture they will instinctively begin to 

 lap it with an apparent appreciation. This process should 

 be continued three times a day for the space of ten days, 



