384 British Dogs. 



hope to be successful treats his dogs as if they were lumps of inorganic 

 matter, to be individually kneaded by identical processes into exactly the 

 same thing. 



Dogs vary in constitution, and on that depends the amount and quality 

 of the training he must receive in preparation for a show ; some are gross 

 feeders, others very dainty ; some are naturally disposed to lay on flesh, 

 others the reverse ; and these and many other peculiarities will be 

 observed and acted on by the intelligent kennelman. Again, the state of 

 health at the time the dog is to commence his preparation must not be 

 overlooked. A single dose of physic will rarely do harm, and if the dog 

 is sluggish, and especially if there appears a tinge of yellowness about 

 the eyes, such a pill as the following will be most suitable : Podophyllin 

 resin 3gr., powdered rhubarb 24gr., powdered compound extract of 

 colocynth 36gr., extract of henbane 24gr., mixed and divided into 

 twenty. four pills, two of which should be sufficient for the largest breeds, 

 and others in proportion. It should be made a rule in giving dogs pills 

 which are to act on the bowels that they have soft sloppy food the day 

 before, and also the day the pill is given. For toy and very delicate dogs 

 a dose of castor oil and syrup of buckthorn combined may be sub- 

 stituted. 



It should also be considered whether the dog is at the time infested by 

 worms. Few dogs escape these pests, and, although some dogs remain 

 fat and sleek whilst enduring their presence, as a rule the animal has an 

 unthrifty look ; the food he takes seems to do him no good, the coat is 

 either harsh or constantly coming off, and, under these circumstances, 

 the extra feeding and all the unusual care to get him fit is thrown away. 

 A vermifuge or worm medicine, judiciously selected and properly given, 

 may always be tried with safety and hope of advantage, and if worms are 

 present it should be repeated in a week. The time to give it is the morn- 

 ing, after the purge has been administered, and, whatever the worm 

 medicine, it should be followed by a dose of olive or castor oil in two 

 hours. Areca nut is a good vermifuge ; it should be given freshly grated, 

 and a sound and heavy nut selected a worm-eaten nut, as many of them 

 are, is of no value. The dose may be taken as two grains for every 

 pound weight of the dog. Spratts Patent Cure for Worms is in the 

 form of a powder very easily given, and I have found this invariably 

 effective in expelling worms of all kinds, and safe to give even to the 



