272 USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING DOGS. 



his dogs, whereas the new beginner is often too fond of leaving servants 

 and other disinterested persons matters which he should attend to himself. 



Take, for instance, the matter of feeding. How many dog owners 

 there are (especially in the upper class of society) who never give the least 

 attention to their dog's feeding, leaving it entirely to others, and only 

 waking up now and again when something has gone wrong. Feeding, if 

 left to any careless person who chances to be employed about the premises, 

 is certain to be irregular and unsatisfactory, and every owner ought to 

 consider it his bounden duty to superintend regularly the feeding of his 

 dumb friends. 



Many dogs are given — especially when hungry — to "bolting" their food. 

 This is a" bad habit, and is sure to have an ill effect sooner or later. To 

 prevent a dog from habitually doing this it is best to give him, before his 

 proper meal, a hard, dry biscuit. This will take off, as it were, the edge 

 of appetite and so, when the usual basin is given, it will be consumed 

 more moderately. 



Large bones should be regularly given to dogs, because they act splen- 

 didly as cleaners to the teeth, the rasping of every vestige of meat doing 

 this most effectually. Large bones only should be given, because if too 

 small the dog will crunch them up and swallow them, which is dangerous. 



The best way to give a pill to a dog is to sew it up in a piece of meat. 

 Then tossing the animal one or two pieces of similar size, which are at 

 once bolted, the piece containing the pill may follow successfully. It is 

 important that from first to last the dog be kept ignorant of what he is 

 taking. Once bitten, twice shy applies here. 



So the pill or powder must be well concealed. In giving a liquid, 

 instead of forcing open the jaws and pouring the liquid into the mouth, 

 where it will remain and half choke the creature, since he can not swallow 

 while his mouth is wide open, it is much better to use the lower part of the 

 lips as a sort of funnel and slowly pour the medicine into that, when 

 it will be impossible for the dog to avoid swallowing it. 



Many fanciers — novices that is — experience a great deal of trouble 

 in physicking their dogs, simply from want of knowledge of how to go 

 about it, and it often happens more harm is done to the dog by the strug- 

 gling and fright than good by the medicine; and not only so, but it is well 

 nigh impossible to give a proper dose unless the dog is kept absolutely 

 quiet, and that only can be when either the medicine is tasteless or the 

 administrator of it skillful. 



If a person wants a dog for a pet only, he can make a pet or a genial 

 companion of any of the recognized breeds, and his accomplishments will 

 only be limited by the amount of companionship and education granted 

 him, and your choice should be based simply on choosing a breed you 

 most admire. Your choice of a companion rests also with you. Different 

 men admire different kinds of companions. 



Hot Weather on Uogs. — Every provision should be made during the 

 heated season to protect the dogs, especially suckling puppies. Whereas a 

 dry cellar is convenient, it is a good plan during the extreme heat of the 

 day to make arrangements for their comfort in this cool retreat. 



Particular attention should be paid to providing cool and frequent 

 changes of drinking water. Water placed in porous earthenware pots 

 will be found to keep cooler and sweeter than in metal vessels, and these 

 should be washed out thoroughly every day. The intelligent kennel man- 

 ager will always provide artificial shade in kennel yards when Nature has 

 not done so, and it is well to have awnings over kennel windows and doors. 

 Exercise only during the early morning hours and in the evening, the rest 

 of the day let the dogs lie quietly. In arranging kennels it is always a 

 good plan to build the kennel floor two or three feet from the ground. 

 This space makes an admirable retreat in hot weather and, admitting of 

 a free current of air at all times, provided the kennels are built on a natur- 

 al drainage slope, there is no fear of a damp kennel floor in winter, which, 

 for obvious reasons, is a serious defect in kennel architecture. 



