THE HOME AND CARE OF THE DOG 187 



and the toys, need beds almost as soft and as 

 well protected as our own, such as a half-cov- 

 ered dog basket, or a box of the right size 

 with cushions and blankets. Letting a dog 

 sleep in, or even on the bed with his master 

 or his mistress is good for neither man nor 

 beast, though it may be well to have him in 

 the room, so that he can make it known if he 

 needs attention in the night. 



The question of the diet of a pet is, if one 

 would keep him in perfect condition, as im- 

 portant as that of our own. At the same time, 

 it is much more difficult to manage than our 

 own, for it is almost impossible to harden the 

 heart against the coaxings of a loving, win- 

 some creature who is accustomed to share 

 one's joys and sorrows ; and to yield and allow 

 him to partake of the family food is certain, 

 sooner or later, to ruin his health. With the 

 big out-of-doors dogs it is easy to make rules 

 and hold to them, but the pet who follows at 

 one's heels, who understands the call to lunch- 

 eon as well as any one, who sits up and " begs " 

 so prettily, it requires a really Spartan firmness 

 to resist, though it must be done or he will 

 suffer. 



