FEEDING 



sufficiently nourished, and the toy will become a trial 

 and an eyesore to its owner if its diet is not based upon 

 correct principles. Hence the importance of proper 

 feeding. 



It is not by any means a difficult matter to attend 

 to the subject properly if a little common sense and 

 fairness is brought to bear upon it, and to commence 

 with, two important facts ought always to be borne 

 in mind — first, that all dogs do not require the same 

 course of feeding ; and secondly, that a dog's diet 

 should be regulated by the work he has to do and the 

 amount of exercise he gets. There can be no doubt 

 that, excepting the state of his health ordains it other- 

 wise, all dogs are benefited by having meat to eat, but the 

 quantity should be regulated judiciously, and the quality 

 must be good. For instance, an animal which enjoys a 

 great deal of exercise can consume more flesh with benefit 

 to itself than one which lies all day long in front of a fire ; 

 and it may here be added that a constant diet of flesh, 

 especially if it is in the form of a stew and mixed with fat, 

 is sure to be injurious to its consumer. 



Hence the necessity of providing a supply of farinaceous 

 food for all dogs. This can be given to them in the form of 

 meal well boiled in the broth of bullocks' or sheep's heads 

 and mixed up with green vegetables (also boiled), and if 

 desired, a portion of the meat from the heads chopped up 

 small. The above is a very good food for the large breeds, 

 and if variety is desired, bread, ship's biscuits, rice or 

 pearl-barley may occasionally be substituted for the meal. 

 There can, however, be little doubt that for most dogs 

 Spratt's biscuits form an ideal form of food, as they con- 

 tain meat in different guaranteed proportions, and hence the 

 owner knows exactly how much flesh his dog is getting, 

 and is able to regulate the quantity as occasion demands. 

 These biscuits are equally nutritious if given soaked in 

 broth or dry, and in the latter form if placed whole before 

 the dogs they fulfil the purpose of a bone, as by gnawing 



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