472 British Dogs. 



used. If she is kept away from her own pups for a time, until the udder is 

 full of milk, she will be more likely to let the strange pup suck, as it 

 will relieve her ; or she may be cheated into accepting the strangers by 

 putting them, one at a time, whilst she is kept away, in the nest with 

 her own, and in this way gradually removing her own and substituting 

 the others. In any case watch her behaviour to the stranger ; if she 

 licks it all is well, but if she treats it as an intruder she should be 

 muzzled or held ; but this is rarely needed if plenty of time is taken, and 

 patience and gentleness exercised. 



Feeding Puppies. On the feeding the growth and health of the puppies 

 largely depends. I find them thrive best on a varied diet, everything I 

 give being well cooked, except that occasionally I give a little sound 

 lean beef or mutton raw, and this I find, if not overdone, of great benefit 

 to weak puppies. It should be given finely minced to young ones. 



Cows' milk, it has been contended, produces worms in puppies if 

 given unboiled. I have never found a single person holding this 

 opinion who could produce a shred of proof in support of it, and I 

 think it a theory most unlikely to be correct. Cows are, unlike dogs, 

 very little subject to worms, and if they were, I doubt very much if the 

 milk is at all a likely secretion in which to meet with the embryo of 

 these parasites. I have no doubt, however, that cows' milk is often too 

 rich for the assimilative powers of puppies and makes them ill when 

 given undiluted. 



Oatmeal porridge, stale bread, puppy biscuits, with milk, or broth 

 from sheeps' heads, rough bones, or pieces of lean meat, a few green 

 vegetables being added, generally suit puppies well ; and a little bit of 

 dry biscuit and a rough bone too big for them to break, to play with and 

 exercise their teeth on, is also beneficial. 



For the first three or four months they should be fed four times a day, 

 letting them at each meal eat as much as they will but removing any food 

 remaining as soon as they appear satisfied. 



The dishes should be thoroughly cleansed after each meal ; clean cold 

 water should be always within their reach. The antiquated practice of 

 putting a lump of roll brimstone in the water has no practical value, the 

 sulphur being as insoluble as a paving stone. 



Fresh air, sunshine, and exercise are as necessary to healthy develop- 

 ment as good food and water. The kennel yard should slope so as to be 



