650 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



That the former is much the rarer style I know to my 

 sorrow, for in breeding from as good hairless stock as could 

 be found, three out of four puppies would exhibit the 

 unsightly pink points, and half of the litter would be 

 blessed ( f t) by nature with a slight covering for the head 

 and tail. 



In Mexico, among the natives, these dogs are used 

 externally for the treatment of rheumatism, and internally, 

 sometimes, to assuage the pangs of hunger. There would 

 necessarily be more virtue in their warm little bodies as a 

 substitute for the hot- water bags than as an article of diet, 

 at least judging from our civilized stand-point. 



The hairless dog is a pet and house-dog only, and as 

 such has some good qualities that his hairy brethren have 

 not. He is naturally cleanly a peculiarity not possessed 

 by any other native Mexican never leaves hair about on 

 furniture or clothes, does not have fleas or any odor, other 

 than that of the soap with which one can keep his skin 

 as sweet and pleasant to the touch as one's own. Like 

 any other good house-dog, he is naturally watchful and 

 suspicious of strange footsteps, and he is strongly affec- 

 tionate. 



There is an erroneous idea prevalent that these hairless 

 dogs have to be kept blanketed in all but torrid weather. 

 They do not require any more artificial warmth than the Ital- 

 ian Greyhound, but, like them, should always be blanketed 

 when exposed to outdoor winds or wintry air, but never in 

 the house. Much covering or coddling has a peculiar effect 

 on the color of their skin, bleaching it more or less, accord- 

 ing to the warmth and duration of the extra protection. 



Puppies are at birth much lighter in hue than when 

 older, many of the white spots becoming "by degrees 

 smaller and beautifully less," and some entirely disappear- 

 ing. In several litters out of the dogs referred to, three 

 or four puppies only have been born dark all over. 



It is essential to success in breeding, in the North, that 

 puppies should not be whelped in winter. The early 

 spring-time is best, when it can be so arranged, as they are 



