224 FEEDING 



pan of this mush in which is put some of the cut-up cooked meat, and this 

 well mixed or stirred up in the mush, so the dog can't pick out just the 

 meat. After supper, then the hones, every dog getting one or two to gnaw 

 on — as their desert, and they all love a hone to chew up, which is good 

 for all dogs. If any chicken bones, or small bones that they would be likely 

 to split up and make slivers of, these are put in the stove, as they are 

 dangerous. The soup is occasionally varied by adding to the cooking of the 

 meat, vegetables, but which are hard to get here, and this adds a relish to 

 it. You must use your judgment as to how much meat to give each dog, 

 some dogs that are too fat, and too greedy, must not be given all they 

 would eat. If a dog leaves any of his meal in his pan, don't let it remain 

 there to get stale, but gather it up. -Quite a lot of the dogs, those I can 

 depend on to not fight at meal time, are fed together in the main yard 

 from traps or larger pans. Pans are all gathered up and washed that night 

 so as to be sweet and clean for next day — cleanliness very important always. 

 Now comes the "dessert" — the bones, which we throw out in the yards so 

 that each one has a large bone to gnaw on — and don't they enjoy this. We 

 watch them while they are at the bones, where "the push" are together, to 

 guard against fights that might occur, as dogs, like some children, are sel- 

 fish and greedy, and try to take the other dog's bone from him. Generally, 

 a word from me will stop this trouble, but if not there is a whip handy and 

 it is properly used to quell the disturbance promptly. Chicken bones, or 

 any small bones like from a lamb chop, are very dangerous — bones that 

 they can chew up into slivers; as you must know that all such must pass 

 down and through all the intestines, which means a dangerous, risky trip, 

 as it is not straight, but a very winding and crooked one, the great danger in 

 this sliver, if it passes through the throat, is in puncturing or getting lodged 

 in its trip through, which would mean death to the dog. Burn all your 

 Chicken Bones excepting the necks. 



Vegetables and rice mixed in the mush you have made are very good 

 for a change, and the bill of fare can be thus varied once a week or so, 

 which will be appreciated by the dog. Carrots and beets are the beat to 

 use, cabbage not agreeing with all dogs; potatoes are too fattening and 

 possess very little nourishment. A baked sweet potato is relished by dogs, 

 but the same objection applies here, besides leaving a sweet taste, and dogs 

 should never have anything sweet. 



All dogs should have more or less hard feed two or three times a week 

 at any rate, a bone or a biscuit, or something they can use their teeth upon 

 and not bolt. A dog's teeth are just as Important to its continued well- 

 being as those of a human being, and as we cannot provide our four footed 

 friends with a false set, every care should be exercised in order to preserve 

 the teeth. 



Of vegetables, onions, carrots, turnips, beet root, and a few potatoes 

 are the most nutritious and fat forming. Cabbages and similar kinds are 

 good for the blood, but contain few positive properties. Oatmeal is fatten- 

 ing but heating; rice forms an ideal food for toys, being very easily digested, 

 satisfying, but not too stimulative; pearl barley, sago, tapioca, and semolina 

 may all be made use of as changes. If you do use milk, see it is fresh, and 

 then boil it. Milk, in combination with other material, as for instance in the 

 way of a rice or bread pudding, would be all right, or, used with eggs. 



Eggs are especially useful when nourishment has to be given with a 

 spoon. Cooked liver is not a bad thing to mix in the food once in awhile, 

 but not oftener than once a week. 



Cornmeal much or baked corn bread for a change in winter is all right, 

 but much too heating to the blood in summer. Candy, cake, or anything 

 sweet or too greasy should never be given a dog — you might just as well 

 give them poison in small doses. Many a dog has died before its time due 

 to this mistaken kindness of its master or mistress. When darling Fido so 

 frightens his mistress with that low moan, succeeded by that painful and 

 prolonged howl, with his back arched, his feet tucked in towards each other, 

 and vainly trying every possible posture to escape the pain, he is merely 

 suffering the natural result of that last lump of sugar. True, Fido may 



