386 British Dogs. 



and immediately on the return to the kennel the process of grooming 

 should be undertaken. 



Grooming. This is far more important than many people suppose. It 

 is not merely for cleanliness, although that in itself is much, for dirt is, 

 in all forms, as injurious to health as it is offensive to the senses ; but 

 judicious grooming not only brightens the coat, giving to it a lustre 

 additional to that of health, but it develops the muscles, and thereby 

 improves the form. 



In long coated dogs an ordinary stable dandy brush suits in some, in 

 others the metallic brushes, specially designed for the kennel by Messrs. 

 Ashworth, of Manchester, answer best. In smooth coated dogs Dine- 

 ford's hound glove answers well, but even the old fashioned hard straw 

 swab works wonders if there be patience and elbow grease behind it. 

 It is very important that the friction be applied along the line of the 

 muscles ; the groom must not, for instance, rub down the top of the dog's 

 back, but along each side of the spine, right from occiput to stern, 

 and particularly at the loin where bands of sinews connect the hind- 

 quarters with the trunk. 



Washing. When this is necessary is should be done with consideration. 

 The water should be not more than tepid. Soda, potash, or any strong 

 alkali should be avoided, as they rob the coat of its natural yelk. 

 Carbolic acid soaps, too, make the coat harsh and dry. 



The best water softener and cleanser for our purpose is Hudson's 

 extract of soap, sold by grocers in Id. packets, and by far the best 

 soap yet introduced is the dog soap, made by Spratts patent, it is equal 

 in quailty to a toilet soap, is non-poisonous to animals, yet a perfect 

 insecticide, killing fleas, lice, and ticks instantly, and being colourless, or 

 nearly so, is far more suitable for washing white dogs than others. 



In cases where the hair has become matted it will be easier combed 

 out when saturated with water. 



Always finish by thoroughly rinsing in clear water with the chill taken 

 off, and in the case of white dogs if the water is tinged with indigo blue 

 it improves their appearance. 



Drying should be most thorough. In the case of large dogs those who 

 can let them have a roll among clean straw will do well to do so, but 

 small pets should be hand dried, before a fire or in the sun. 



Putting the Polish on. After all has been done it will be found that 



