PREPARING FOR SHOW 



into his kennel. Of course, too, the daily routine of groom- 

 ing should not be relaxed, in fact a little extra time may be 

 devoted to his toilet ; for grooming not merely stimulates 

 the growth of hair, but adds to its brilliancy, and therefore 

 suggests good health. It should also be remembered that 

 the dog should rest well, and therefore his bed should be a 

 good one, and his kennel ought to be kept clean ; and an 

 occasional dose of mild medicine may be necessary if the 

 bowels appear constipated, as some dogs are constitution- 

 ally disposed to suffer in that way. This may take the 

 form of a little flowers of sulphur given in milk, this being 

 a mild aperient and a capital purifier of the blood. An 

 occasional bone to gnaw is very good for dogs which are 

 being prepared for show, provided always that there are no 

 kennel companions to fight for possession of it ; and if 

 there are any signs of loss of appetite a few doses of 

 Spratt's Tonic Condition Pills will usually put matters right 

 very quickly. Of course toy dogs will not require so much 

 exercise as animals of more robust constitution, but air 

 and exercise will benefit them as well. They should not, 

 however, be overfed and stuffed with delicacies and a 

 superabundance of rich food. If they are, a catastrophe 

 is very likely to occur in the form of a breaking out of the 

 skin or disarrangement of the bowels. Spratt's malt milk 

 and oval biscuits soaked in it is an excellent food for toy 

 dogs when being prepared for show, and the value of con- 

 stant attention to the coats of the long-haired breeds must 

 not be overlooked. The question of washing is one that 

 causes many exhibitors a good deal of anxiety, as soap and 

 water is liable to make the coat soft, and therefore it is not 

 wise to make the dog undergo his ablutions just before he 

 has to leave home. On the other hand, he is apt to get his 

 coat dirty if he is washed too long before he does so ; but 

 the best thing to do is to wash him the morning before he 

 has to start, and to give him a clean bed to lie upon. If he 

 soils his coat in the interim the application of baked flour, 

 well rubbed in and then brushed out, will usually remove 



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