184 BREEDING. 



PREPAEATION FOR WHELPING. 



The best mode of preparing a place for the bitch to whelp in ia 

 to nail a piece of old carpet over a smooth boarded floor, to a 

 re*nilar " bench," if in a sporting kennel ; or on a door or other 

 Hat piece of board raised a few inches from the ground, if for any 

 other breed. When a regular wooden box or kennel, as these are 

 called in ordinary language, is used for the bitch, she may as well 

 continue to occupy it, as she will be more contented than in a 

 fresh place ; but it is not so easy to get at her there if anything 

 goes wrong with cither mother or whelps, and on that account it 

 IS not a desirable place. A board, large or small, according to the 

 size of the bitch, with a raised edge to prevent the puppies roll- 

 ing off, and supported by bricks a few inches from the ground, is 

 all that is required for the most valuable animal ; and if a piece of 

 carpet, as before mentioned, is tacked upon this, and some straw 

 placed upon all, the hight of comfort is afforded to both mother 

 and offspring. The use of the carpet is to allow the puppies to 

 catch their claws in it as they are working at the mothers teats ; 

 for without it they slip over the board, and they are restless, and 

 unable to fill themselves well ; while at the same time they scratch 

 all the straw away, and are left bare and cold. 



HEALTHY PARTURITION. 



During whelping, the only management required is in regard to 

 food and quiet, which last should as far as possible be enjoined, as 

 at this time all bitches are watchful and suspicious, and will de- 

 stroy their young if they are at all interfered with, especially by 

 strangers. While the process of labor is going on no food is re- 

 quired, unless it is delayed in an unnatural manner, when the ne- 

 cessary steps will be found described in the Third Book. After it 

 IS completed, some lukewarm gruel, made with half milk and half 

 water, should be given, and repeated at intervals of two or three 

 hours. Nothing cold is to be allowed for the first two or three 



