52 BRITISH DOGS 



kennels, small yards, hours at a time of being shut in, are the causes 

 of most of the crooked fore legs and cow-hocks. At five or six 

 months old the puppies may be taught to lead and go for short 

 walks, but not much galloping exercise should be indulged in till 

 their legs become firmer, and above all things they should not be 

 encouraged to jump till fully twelve months old, as their enormous 

 weight suddenly thrown on the young, unformed knee-joints causes 

 them to bend and contract, especially if the puppy is big and 

 heavy boned. On no account should a growing puppy be chained 

 or fastened up ; at any time it is a great mistake, as it tends to 

 make the best-tempered one savage. 



Distemper is almost certain to come after the first dog show, but 

 with care, the use of Rackham's distemper remedies, and keeping 

 the puppies warm by means of a rug and artificial heat if necessary, 

 they will usually weather the disease. The temperature of the room 

 should never fall below 60 Fahr., and on no account should the 

 dog be allowed outside for any purpose till his temperature is 

 normal and the worst symptoms are over. As well as Rackham's 

 Distemper Cure five grains of salicylate of soda twice a day will 

 help distemper patients wonderfully, but this should not be given 

 without the advice of a veterinary surgeon. Plenty of light 

 nourishment should be given to keep up the strength ; but beware 

 of the danger of drenching dogs with sloppy foods given by an 

 inexperienced person. This is often the cause of lung troubles 

 during this disease. Brand's Essence of Beef given in the jelly is 

 far safer. A tablespoonful put at the back of the tongue is easily 

 swallowed, and there is not so much risk of it going the wrong way. 



When preparing a Great Dane for exhibition, he should be well 

 brushed and rubbed over half an hour each day, and if deficient in 

 muscle, long walking exercise on the roads will put it on far more 

 quickly than galloping or any other kind of exercise. Boiled 

 linseed brightens the gloss of the coat and is useful to improve 

 the look of the skin. And now a hint (which may be of use to 

 novices, but which is probably known to experienced breeders) as 

 to the often unknown cause of skin troubles, such as eczema, blotch, 

 surfeit, etc. These skin diseases often arise from the grease not 

 having been carefully removed from the gravy before using it to 

 soak the biscuits. If the gravy is left to stand till cold, the grease 

 can easily be removed, and the gravy warmed up again if so required. 



The training of a Great Dane as^a companion requires great 

 care. He should be handled firmly, but as gently as possible. A 

 puppy ought never to be thrashed, even under the most provoking 

 circumstances. Its skin is very tender, and one or two cuts 

 with a thin switchy stick are quite enough. Violent beatings will 

 make a Great Dane grow up a cowed, slinking, cringing creature, 

 without any of the fire and spirit that he should possess, or he 



