WATER-DOGS — WEANING PUPPIES 



which get a good deal of sloppy food care very little for 

 water, which rather goes to prove that excessive drinking 

 is an acquired habit. Of course it is not suggested that 

 dogs should be kept short of water, but it is recommended 

 that when puppies they should only have it placed before 

 them at intervals, and if this rule is carried out they will 

 not drink much when they grow up. (See Training Grey- 

 hounds?) 



Water-dogs. — Apart from the water-spaniels, which take 

 to water like ducks, the best water-dogs are the Labrador, 

 the field-spaniels, the retriever, the Newfoundland, and 

 most breeds of terrier. Some of these animals, however, 

 possess a great dislike to entering a stream or pond, and 

 these rarely, if ever, can be made to conquer this aversion. 

 On the other hand, there are many representatives of other 

 varieties which take water well. 



Water Troughs should always be kept clean, and out 

 of the rays of the sun in summer. They are best made of 

 enamelled iron of a pattern that cannot be overturned, and 

 their contents should be frequently changed. 



Waterside Dog. (See Airedale Terrier.) 



Wavy-coated Retriever. — This variety is not encour- 

 aged nowadays, though he was in favour some years ago. 

 (See Flat-coated Retriever.) 



Weaning Puppies. — Puppies should be weaned gradu- 

 ally, their dam being taken away from them for an hour or 

 two a day when they are a little over a month old, by which 

 time they should have been taught to feed a little by them- 

 selves. The period of separation should be gradually ex- 

 tended during the daytime, the dam being left with them 

 of a night until they arrive at the age of six weeks, when 

 she may be finally removed from them. Of course there 

 are exceptional circumstances which may render it desir- 



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