Rearing. 473 



kept dry ; a southern aspect is the best. A few empty champagne cases 

 turned upside down make good seats for them to mount, and the pups 

 like to play hide and seek round them and get good exercise in clamber- 

 ing over or jumping on to them. 



Occasional runs in field or lane, where the pups can get couch grass, 

 is beneficial, besides which the change is in itself good for them. 



Weak legs and tendency to rickets is best corrected by the above 

 means, but as an aid lime water (a wineglassful to half a pint of milk) , 

 given daily, and Parish's syrup of phosphates, called by the druggists 

 " chemical food," given two or three times a day, often does great good. 

 Cod liver oil is prescribed very much at random. It should not be given 

 to puppies except in debility ; it fattens too much, and a fat heavy 

 pup is apt to go wrong in the legs. 



Vermin. Puppies are very often preyed on by parasites living on or 

 in the skin. Leaving out the parasites of mange, they are pestered by 

 fleas, and also, although not so generally, by lice and ticks ; the two 

 former living on, the latter partially burrowing in, the skin. 



Eegular search should be made for these, especially if a puppy is seen 

 to scratch himself much, which, if the parasites become numerous, he will 

 do till the skin is broken and nasty sores are formed. 



Spratts patent dog soap, which has the advantage of being absolutely 

 free from poison, is the best and the pleasantest to use I have tried ; it 

 kills all three parasites named. Field's medicated dog soap is also very 

 effectual, but hag the trifling disadvantage of being dark in colour. I 

 object to carbolic acid soaps, as they poison by absorption, several such 

 instances having come under my own observation. 



Perfect cleanliness in the kennel is the best preventive of parasites 

 in the pups. 



Removal of Dew Claws. This is best done when the puppies are still 

 with the mother. All breeds of dogs have these extra toes. In some 

 cases there is a bony attachment, in others the dew claw is held by a 

 loose ligament. The nail may be drawn out with a pair of small pincers, 

 or cut off close to the leg with a pair of sharp shears ; the latter is the 

 cleaner process. 



Cropping the Ears. This is done when the puppy is about seven or 

 eight months old. To make a neat job of it, cut a piece of paper the 

 exact shape it is desired the ears shall be ; spread on this some Canada 



I I 



