WA TCH-DOGS — WA TER 



Watch-dogs. — Of late years the large-sized watch-dog, 

 such as our forefathers used to rely upon for the guardian- 

 ship of their lives and property, has fallen out of fashion, 

 the result being that such varieties as the mastiff have 

 found their occupation gone. No doubt this in a great 

 measure is due to the methods of housebreakers having 

 undergone a change, but be this as it may the watch-dog 

 of the period is one of the smaller breeds, which is kept 

 indoors in order to arouse the household by his barking 

 should intruders appear upon the scene. For this purpose 

 there are no better breeds than the Pomeranian or the 

 Schipperke, but most of the terrier varieties are alert and 

 reliable ; whilst for outdoor work of the kind a retriever 

 will usually be found to be very useful. A good deal will, 

 however, depend upon how an animal is brought up and 

 managed ; as a dog which is pampered and coddled cannot 

 reasonably be expected to have his wits about him, and 

 will possibly be lying fast asleep on his luxurious bed 

 whilst burglars are rifling his master's house. In short, it 

 is a very bad plan to make a watch-dog too comfortable or 

 to feed him too late of a night. A hearty morning meal may 

 be given him, and of course a run, and then he should be 

 shut up in a quiet kennel to sleep for the rest of the day, and 

 be brought indoors at night. The best place to locate him 

 is in the passage, and he should be chained up, as if he is 

 allowed to run loose he may select more comfortable sleeping 

 quarters, far removed from the part of the house at which 

 burglars may enter. It is always a great mistake to allow 

 your watch-dog, whatever his breed may be, to be made a 

 fuss of by strangers, and care should be taken to keep him 

 during the day out of the way of tramps, who may lay 

 pieces of poisoned meat about the premises in the interests 

 of their accomplices, the housebreakers. 



Water. — Most dogs drink far more water than is good 

 for them, and the habit is one that increases unless the 

 propensity is controlled. It is noticeable, too, that dogs 



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