DOCKING TAILS — DOG BASKETS 



which should always be at hand for use in times of emer- 

 gency, as the sooner a distemper patient is treated the 

 better. 



Good nursing, a warm, dry place to rest in, proper 

 ventilation and fresh air, strengthening food of the kinds 

 recommended above in sufficient quantities, and plenty of 

 fresh milk to drink, are all most important factors in the 

 successful treatment of a disease which if neglected may 

 cause the death or lifelong injury to a valuable dog. It 

 may also be added that the patient should be fed and 

 made comfortable the last thing at night and the first 

 thing in the morning. (See Nursing.) 



Docking Tails. — A very great deal of well-intentioned 

 nonsense has been spoken and written against the alleged 

 pain that is produced through docking a dog's tail. 

 Whether there is anything but custom that can be quoted 

 in support of the practice is another matter, but certainly 

 if conducted on intelligent principles, the operation is 

 practically painless. The best age to dock the tail is 

 when the puppies are about a month old, that is, before 

 they are weaned, the way to proceed being to draw up 

 the loose skin of the tail towards the body of the pup, 

 to feel for a joint, and to cut through at that part with 

 a sharp, strong pair of scissors. It is usually the custom 

 to remove about two-thirds of the entire length, but this 

 must be a matter for the operator to decide. After the 

 scissors have done their work there will be very little 

 bleeding, and the loose skin which has been drawn up 

 will fall back and cover up the wound, which in the case 

 of a healthy animal will heal very quickly. 



Dog Baskets should always be used when valuable 

 dogs are travelling by rail, as they prevent injuries from 

 articles falling on the canine traveller, and when they are 

 used he cannot slip his collar and bolt. (See Dog Boxes^ 

 Journeys^ 



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