GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 9 



Exercise. 



Exercise develops the muscles of the body, increases their functional 

 activity, hastens the digestion of food, and renders its assimilation easier. 

 It improves nutrition by elevating the temperature, opens the pores of the 

 skin, stimulating its functions, and through the lungs, by the stronger 

 movements excited, it favors the exhalation of impurities and excesses. 



Too much importance cannot be attached to this subject. Keeping a dog 

 confined with insufficient exercise is cruelty itself, which no excuse can 

 justify. Never chain a dog should be the rule, but unfortunately it cannot 

 always be observed. Certain methods may, however, be resorted to, and 

 a confined animal have greater freedom and still be restrained. 



A post can be set up as far from the kennel as the limits of the owner's 

 premises will allow, a wire fastened to it and passed through a ring, the 

 other end attached to the kennel and drawn taut. The dog can then be 

 chained to the ring, which will slide freely the entire length of the wire, 

 permitting greater latitude and the animal still be held in check. This 

 means may be employed in cities, and where it is impossible to allow them 

 to run at large. 



When dogs are kept in yards, the plan adopted by the writer can be re- 

 sorted to. Fences or hurdles can be built entirely across the inclosures. 

 These must be placed low at first, simply high enough to force the animal 

 to make an easy jump, then in three or four weeks raised a few inches, 

 another interval allowed to pass, and raised again. The results from the 

 employment of this means are admirable, especially in the case of dogs 

 inclined to be weak in the loins, and needing development behind. 



In conditioning dogs, especially for exhibitions, no better exercise can 

 be recommended than slow walking; the distance being from two to four 

 miles daily. By this means they will eat more, digest it better, and accu- 

 mulate flesh more rapidly. 



While exercise is imperative, extremes must be avoided and caution 

 used. If a dog is habituated to following a team, there is less danger oi 

 over exertion ; if not so accustomed, care must be observed lest the sys- 

 tem be disordered by too great effort. In winter, if a hard run is taken 

 and he returns in a heated condition, he must not be shut into a cold' ken- 

 nel, but be allowed to cool gradually in a warm room. 



After a hearty meal the dog retires to his kennel to sleep, as did the 

 ancients, while the first part at least of digestion is being performed. 

 Violent exercise should never be allowed until the process is completed. 

 By unduly great muscular exertion, while the stomach is loaded, the 

 food is but imperfectly acted upon by that organ, is hurried into the 

 intestines; diarrhoea and other affections follow. 



